World War II Artifact Returned to Douglas County

It disappeared for decades and now with a little detective work has returned.

Shortly after World War II ended a donor gave the Douglas County Historical society a donation that would bring controversy, mystery and surprise.

The item in question has ties to Adolf Hitler himself.

An ornament from his personal train was given to the museum in the forties. It disappeared for decades and now with a little detective work has returned.

Scrolling through the pages of what’s been called the mother of all scrapbooks at the Douglas County Historical Society in Superior, Tony Tracy has gathered all the articles related to items given to the museum. He has noticed a few things are missing.

“We have a list,” said Tracy.

One of those missing items was a Nazi emblem that supposedly was taken off Adolf Hitler’s personal train.

“Spoils of war go to the victors as does the history usually goes to the victors to write,” said Tracy.

Just a year after the war was over, the emblem was donated to the museum in 1946.

“It’s great that it wasn’t thought of something that would be nailed up on the deer hunting shed,” said Tracy.

Tracy often searches Craigslist for historical items and came across the emblem for sale in Eveleth.

“A bit of a mystery at the museum right here in Superior,” said Tracy.

He called the Superior Police Department who located the eagle and returned it to the museum. 

“We’re really glad to have it back in our hands,” said Tracy.

But just how did the eagle fly away and go missing for decades?

“We’re not sure,” said Tracy.

It’s a piece of history whose story goes way beyond its three foot wingspan.

“It’s really an amazing piece, unfortunately it’s an emblem of death and destruction. They produced thousands of them in Germany, in Nazi Germany. They were on everything, so it’s not an incredibly unique piece. It is a unique piece for us,” said Tracy.

The Douglas County Historical Society will display the emblem until the end of April. It will then go to the Richard Bong Historical Center.