Cops recover Poland’s Order of the White Eagle following ‘largest heist in history’
An 18th century diamond-encrusted Polish Order of the White Eagle has been found among a haul of treasures stolen from Europe's largest treasure collection in Dresden in 2019.
Discovered in Berlin along with a trove of treasures, the Order established in 1705 by King Augustus II "The Strong", King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, is Poland's oldest and highest civilian and military order and one of the world's oldest still in use.
The thieves entered the Green Vault through a small window via a ladder. After grabbing the jewels, they then sped off in a getaway car.
The diamond-encrusted breast star which is beset with rubies, gold and silver is thought to have been made in Geneva or Vienna between 1746-1749.
Swiped from Dresden's Gruene Gewoelbe, (Green Vault) in the city’s Residenzschloss Royal Palace in 2019, the following year the jewel was reportedly offered for sale on the dark web when Israeli security company CGI Group made it public that their staff had received an offer to purchase the stolen Polish jewel.
Now German authorities have announced that a "considerable portion" of the items stolen have been found in the German capital and have been transported by special escort back to Dresden to be examined and verified by experts.
Barbara Klepsch, Saxony’s regional culture minister said: "I remain hopeful that the wound opened in the historic Green Vault in the 2019 robbery will soon be closed.
Now a "considerable portion" of the items stolen have been found in the German capital and have been transported by special escort back to Dresden to be examined and verified by experts.
This shows that, even three years after this painful break-in, it is worth not giving up hope and pursuing all tracks that arise.”
Six men, aged between 23-28 are currently on trial for the robbery.
To read more about the robbery click HERE.
