Hitler’s Stash of Cognac and Champagne Found

June 10, 2015 — The U.K. Telegraph is reporting that a stash of Cognac and Champagne has been found hidden in cellars under a part of the Moritzburg Water Palace near Dresden. Along with the good stuff, Hitler’s staff also hid cheese, salami, chocolate, coffee and cigarettes to protect them from Allied bombing raids in Berlin. It is believed that this happened at the end of 1944, a time when much of Germany was starving because of wartime food shortages.

The find was made by well-known restaurateur, Silvio Stelzer during renovation work in the garden near the portion of the palace that he owns. He claims to have also found ledgers recording the placement of the product by Hitler’s staff. It is likely that the Cognac and Champagne, as well as the food, was looted from France. The Cognac was mostly Hennessy and is surely very valuable, even with Nazi fingerprints — or even because of them.

In May 1945, the Russians moved into Germany and had their turn at looting. They took the food and cigarettes but left the wine and liquor. Who owns it now and what will happen to it remains a question.