Over the years, stories of hidden treasures have always fascinated people—and this one is no exception. Before he and his family were forced to flee their homeland, a man made a remarkable journey to recover a long-lost collection his father had secretly stashed away.
His father had taught him how to look for hidden valuables, but retrieving them after decades wasn’t simple. He didn’t even know whether the items had survived seventy years of time and weather.
To his amazement, the treasures were still there—and in incredible condition.
Returning to his childhood home, Schlattner searched the attic for a small cord attached to a wooden panel. Behind it was a secret compartment packed with relics from the past. For years, he had feared that repairs to the roof might have ruined everything. But his father had hidden 70 packages with extreme care.
Using a small hammer, he tapped along the wood, trying to follow the coded system his father used to conceal them. Some parcels were wrapped in brown paper, while others had been opened. Inside were objects like old newspapers, paintings, umbrellas, hat racks, cigarettes, school supplies, skis, badges, and even unused socks. Remarkably, most of the items were still in working order.
Due to their historical value, the hidden objects were moved to a museum in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. A curator noted how brilliantly they had been tucked into the skylight area, saying it was astonishing how much fit in such a confined space. It took over an hour just to retrieve everything.
The museum director commented on how rare it is to discover such well-preserved “German property” in the region.
Though Schlattner couldn’t keep the items himself, he was happy to help recover them. “We always hoped one day we’d return and find our belongings,” he said. And finally, he did.
