Written by Jesse Beckett and Clare Fitzgerald
Mysteries have a unique way of catching people’s curiosity, and those from World War II are no exception. The war’s immense scale and intense battles resulted in disappearances, lost technologies, and a host of baffling events.
Many of the individuals who held the answers to these mysteries took their secrets to the grave, fueling the quest for answers even decades after the war. Here are some of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries from the Second World War.
Foo fighters
Unidentified flying objects have long interested enthusiasts of the unexplained, and World War II was no exception. During the war, numerous accounts of weird aerial sightings were reported. Pilots reported encountering flying objects of various shapes, sizes, and colors, which came to be collectively referred to as “foo fighters.”
At first, US military officials attributed these sightings to factors such as combat fatigue, exhaustion, or atmospheric phenomena. However, as the number of reports grew, an official investigation was launched to uncover their origins. Although there were concerns that these objects might be advanced enemy technology, their seemingly harmless behavior made this theory less likely. Despite thorough investigation, no conclusive explanations were ever found, leaving the mystery of the foo fighters unresolved.
We’re not saying it’s aliens, but…
Disappearance of Flight 19
The Bermuda Triangle is often linked to strange events, making it unsurprising that one of the most bizarre unsolved mysteries occurred there just months after World War II came to a close. On December 5, 1945, the US Navy sent 14 aviators on a navigational training mission, which took them through the Bermuda Triangle, a notorious stretch of the Atlantic Ocean known for unexplained disappearances and odd occurrences.
Shortly after takeoff, all five General Motors TBM Avengers lost communication with their base. An investigation was launched to determine what happened, and while an initial conclusion was drawn, it was later retracted. To this day, the case remains unsolved, with the disappearance of the airmen still marked as “cause unknown,” as they were never recovered.
Adding to the enigma, the aircraft sent to search for the missing bombers, a Martin PBM Mariner, also disappeared, leaving the fate of its 13 crew members a mystery. Such stories make us reconsider the risks of entering that region.
Columbus Globe for State and Industry Leaders
The Führer‘s love for grandeur was evident in his choice of tanks during the later years of World War II. However, none of his possessions hold as much intrigue as the Columbus Globe, designed for prominent figures in State and Industry. Created by a Berlin-based company in the 1930s, the globe came to represent his authoritarian ambitions.
After the war, the globe disappeared. Although similar models were produced at the time and a few have appeared on the market over the years, none have been definitively linked to the Führer. It may have been lost amid the chaos of the war’s final days, or perhaps a soldier took it as a keepsake, keeping it hidden ever since.
Battle of Los Angeles
One of the most unusual incidents of the Second World War was undeniably the so-called Battle of Los Angeles. What makes it so remarkable? Simply put, it never actually took place. At that time, California was consumed by fears of a potential Japanese invasion, further stoked by rumors of their proximity to the US mainland.
The alleged “battle” occurred following the Ellwood bombardment, prompted by a warning from the Office of Naval Intelligence that predicted an imminent attack on California within the next 10 hours.
In the early hours of February 25, 1942, radar systems detected what appeared to be hostile activity 120 miles west of Los Angeles, setting off the air raid sirens. Over the next few hours, the 37th Coastal Artillery Brigade fired 1,400 shells into the sky, while residents reported sightings of Japanese aircraft, paratroopers, and even unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
In the end, the city faced no actual danger, and the US Navy credited the chaos to heightened fears. However, the incident remains wrapped in mystery, with many feeling that no explanation provided so far fully explains the events of that night.
Who turned in Anne Frank and her family?
During World War II, a lasting mystery surrounds the reveal that led the German Army in the Netherlands to discover the hiding place of the Frank family. Their story achieved worldwide recognition following the publication of the diary by 15-year-old Anne Frank, whose writings have become a staple in classrooms around the globe.
The Franks were captured, with Otto Frank being the sole survivor of their wartime ordeal. Despite nearly eighty years having passed, the identity of the person who revealed their location remains unknown. In 2022, a book titled The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation claimed to expose the betrayer but was later retracted by its publisher after being discredited from historians and researchers.
Gold Train
Another German-related topic, the infamous Gold Train is one of the greatest unsolved World War II mysteries of them all. While stories vary, many believe the German Army loaded up a train with gold, art, treasure and other valuables when all hope of winning the war had vanished. The locomotive was then hidden, likely in a sealed-off tunnel, and has never been found. If true, the haul could be worth millions of dollars on its own, before accounting for the incredible history attached to it.
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The story has essentially become an urban legend, but that hasn’t stopped many from taking it seriously. The Polish military hunted for the train following the war, but were unsuccessful. No evidence has been found to suggest it ever existed. However, the hunt was reignited a few years ago by two Polish men who claimed to have received a deathbed confession about its whereabouts.
Once again, no Gold Train was found.
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