In the chaotic final days of World War II, as the Allied forces closed in on Berlin, a fortune in plundered gold, silver, and diamonds—valued at tens of millions of dollars—vanished from the vaults of Europe. While history suggests much of this loot was destroyed or seized, a persistent legend claims that a massive cache was hidden deep within the Bavarian Alps. In a gripping episode of Expedition Unknown, host Josh Gates travels to Germany to investigate a mysterious piece of sheet music that some believe is a coded map to Hitler’s lost millions.

The Secretary’s Secret

The story centers on Martin Borman, Adolf Hitler’s personal secretary and the “gatekeeper” of the Third Reich’s darkest secrets. As the regime crumbled in 1945, Borman allegedly orchestrated a plan to fund a post-war resistance group known as the “Werewolves.” To ensure the group had the financial means to survive, Borman reportedly hid a stash of gold and diamonds in the German countryside.

The key to this treasure, according to investigative journalist Karl-Heinz Hammer, is a musical score titled Marsch Impromptu by composer Gottfried Federlein. Hammer claims this document was drafted by Borman himself in the final days in the Fuhrer’s bunker. “It has all the makings of a blockbuster movie,” Gates notes, “but what if it’s all true?”

Cracking the Musical Code

Josh Gates meets with Hammer to examine the original sheet music, wearing white gloves to handle what could be one of the last documents ever handled by Borman. The score is littered with strange symbols, typed letters, and cryptic lines of poetry that seem out of place for a musical composition.

Working with researchers, Gates explores two primary interpretations of the code:

1. The Geometric Approach: Researcher Jean-Christophe suggests that the clues refer to four specific German towns. By connecting these towns on a map with string, he creates an “X” that marks the spot near an old firebombed airport in central Germany.

2. The Alpine Interpretation: Another team, led by Jurgen Prosy, believes the clues point directly to the mountain town of Mittenwald. They interpret the line “where Matthias strokes the strings” as a reference to Matthias Klotz, a famous violin maker from that specific region.

A Grim Discovery in the Forest

Following the Alpine lead, Gates joins Jurgen and Sebastian Eybal in the dense forests surrounding Mittenwald. Using sophisticated metal detectors, the team doesn’t find gold bars, but they do uncover a chilling relic of the war: an Italian-made Beretta submachine gun buried in the dirt.

The weapon, often used by German forces toward the end of the war when supplies were low, serves as a visceral reminder of the “Werewolf” units that were meant to occupy these woods. While it isn’t the gold they were looking for, the discovery confirms that the area was indeed a stronghold for Nazi militants during the transition of power.

The Dark Reality of the Hunt

Throughout the expedition, Gates balances the excitement of a treasure hunt with the somber reality of the history he is uncovering. “It may be exciting to look for buried riches,” Gates reflects, “but hovering over each step is the darkness of the Third Reich that cannot be dispelled”.

Whether the Marsch Impromptu is a genuine treasure map or an elaborate conspiracy theory remains a subject of debate. However, Gates’ journey highlights that the scars of World War II are still buried just beneath the surface of the German landscape. The hunt for Borman’s gold continues, but for now, the secrets of the Alps remain safely guarded by the mountains and the ghosts of the past.