During an investigation into black market art deals, German police found two bronze horse statues that stood outside Adolf Hitler’s chancellery building in Berlin during his reign. Other lost Nazi-era art pieces were uncovered in the investigation.
Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf told the Associated Press that the yearlong investigation resulted in the recovery of the horse sculptures, which were created by artist Josef THorak and a granite relief by Arno Breker.
The horses stood at the front of the chancellery building, which was heavily damaged during World War II. The Soviets ended up demolishing it and used the red marble for their own memorial in East Berlin.
The statues hadn’t been seen since 1989, when they were at a sports field in East Germany. They were found at a warehouse in Bad Duerkheim, but it’s not known how they ended up there.
According to BBC News, police are investigating eight people possibly involved in the black market art ring.