Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Saturday 23 August 1947, page 1


CASTLE LOOTED BY BRITISH TROOPS HAMBURG (A.A.P.).—British troops are alleged to have broken into the Glucksburg Castle family mauso-leum in May, 1945, smashed open 38 coffins and looted the Royal jewels.

IN a statement to Reuters corres-pondent yesterday Prince Fer-dinand du Holstein, son-in-law of the Grand Duchess Alexandra of Mecklenburg, said the troops had forced the Duchess and the late Grand Duke out of the castle at pistol-point. They had then smashed open the jewel cases, trunks and drawers, and had crammed their pockets with jewels, dropping pieces in the hallways and yard as they left. Some of the jewellery had been later recovered. He had received a letter from the Control Commis-sion regretting the troops' action and promising compensation out of the German budget after investiga-tion of the claims. Appeal to Queen The "Daily Mail" correspondent reported on Thursday that the Duchess of Mecklenburg had ap-pealed to the King for compensa-tion. She staetd yesterday thta the troops had looted tile castle while they had been searching for Him-ler. The household had been

forced to stand in the courtyard. while the troops had filled special-ly-prepared bags with plunder. "I wrote to Queen Mary in Eng-land, who is my aunt," she said, "and asked her to help me. She replied, saying that she would do so.