On March 22, 1945, the US Army crossed the Rhine River, and drove into the heart of Germany, advancing northeast from Frankfurt and pushing on to Gotha. Just before noon on April 4, the village of Merkers fell to the Third Army and soldiers began interrogating locals over rumours of a movement of German Reichsbank gold from Berlin to a potassium mine in Merker. In all of these instances, they quoted rumours, but none stated their own knowledge that gold was present in the mine until two French women admitted they had seen German gold reserves and valuable artworks being deposited into the mine several weeks before.

The Americans entered the mines on April 7, 1945, discovering a hoard of treasure worth more than $250million (£202million) in what was a significant blow to Adolf Hitler’s fascist campaign against Europe.

Professor Timothy Naftali, a leading expert on Nazi plunder returned to the same scene 74 years on during History’s ‘In Search Of’ series.

The narrator said in 2019: “Today, Timothy Naftali’s got a rare opportunity to visit what might be the Nazi’s favourite hiding spot for their secret stolen goods.

“The town of Merkers is still home to a working salt and potassium mine.

“Just like in 1945, the Nazi’s secret treasure room is not easily accessible.

“The journey starts with a 2,000-foot descent in the mine’s industrial lift.”

The series went on to lead viewers to room number eight, where the huge discovery was made.

The narrator added: “Dr Naftali has never had the chance to visit this site before, luckily, he has the advantage of a mining truck and a driver who knows the way, but a visitor in 1945 could have spent years wandering the tunnels without ever finding the stolen gold.

“He finally reaches a nondescript entrance to the room the Nazis called number eight.

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“Behind the doors sat one of the greatest treasure hoards ever assembled, 75 feet wide and 150 feet long, with 12-foot-high ceilings and its own tram railway leading in and out, this space once contained the lion’s share of Nazi Germany’s secret wealth.

“But the Nazis wouldn’t give up their treasure so easily, there was an intense battle before the US took control of the mine and discovered the door of room number eight.

“Fearing the door would be a trap, they blew a hole in the wall and it wasn’t until the dust settled that they realised the enormity of their discovery.”

Professor Naftali revealed what the US Army found, but admitted he thought some of the treasure had been misplaced at some point.

He said: “I can see why the Nazis had selected this place because I don’t know how anyone, without a little bit of luck, could have found it.

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“Two French women told American soldiers that they had seen sacks of money being taken out of the mine, and at that point, the US Army took notice.

“US soldiers broke into the room and they discovered 8.198 of these gold bars.

“But, the fact of the matter is, the sums don’t add up, there still is some mystery as to what happened to all of that gold.

“It is estimated that the Nazis stole $598million (£483million) worth of gold, what was found here was not all of it, what they found was worth about $250million (£202million), less than half.”