Frozen Nazi base uncovered in Arctic

Russian Arctic National Park press secy Yulia Petrova

Russian Arctic National Park press secy Yulia Petrova

Moscow: Scientists have found a secret Nazi base built on direct orders from German dictator Adolf Hitler located 1,000 km from the North Pole.

For decades, the location of the mysterious site known as Schatzgraber or Treasure Hunter on Alexandra Land in the Arctic Circle had remained unknown. Researchers exploring the island, which is now a Russian Territory, stumbled upon over 500 relics, including the ruins of bunkers, petrol canisters and even paper documents - preserved by the island's freezing climate.

The supposed weather station is believed to have been constructed on direct orders from Hitler in 1942, a year after his invasion of Russia. It was in service from 1943, before being abandoned in July 1944 when its crew was poisoned after being forced to eat raw polar bear meat infected with roundworms while running low on supplies, Daily Express reported.

"Before it was only known from written sources, but now we also have real proof," said Evgeny Ermolov, a senior researcher at the Russian Arctic National Park.

Researchers found bullets, scraps of tents and personal items such as shoes; many of which appear to be dated and marked with the swastika. "About 500 historical items have been found on the grounds of the former Treasure Hunter German station that operated from Sept 1943 until July 1944," said Yulia Petrova, National Park press secretary.