Written by Jesse Beckett and Clare Fitzgerald
Mysteries have a unique ability to captivate people’s attention, and those that emerged during World War II are no different. The vast scale of the war and its fierce battles led to disappearances, lost technologies, and countless perplexing events.
Many of the individuals with knowledge of these unsolved mysteries carried their secrets to the grave, intensifying the search for answers even after the war ended. Here are some of the most interesting unsolved mysteries from the Second World War.
Foo fighters
Unidentified flying objects have fascinated enthusiasts of the unexplained for years. World War II was no exception, with several accounts of unusual aerial sightings. Aviators reported encountering flying objects of various shapes, sizes and colors, collectively known as “foo fighters.”
Initially, US military officials attributed these sightings to combat fatigue, exhaustion or atmospheric phenomena. However, as more reports came in, an official investigation was launched to determine their origins. While there were worries that these objects could be advanced enemy technology, their seemingly non-threatening behavior made this theory less plausible. Despite extensive inquiries, no definitive explanations emerged, leaving the mystery of the foo fighters unresolved.
We’re not saying it’s aliens, but…
Disappearance of Flight 19
Strange occurrences are often associated with the Bermuda Triangle, so it’s no surprise that one of the most unusual unsolved mysteries unfolded there just months after World War II ended. On December 5, 1945, the US Navy dispatched 14 aviators on a navigational training mission. Their route took them through the Bermuda Triangle, a region of the Atlantic Ocean infamous for mysterious disappearances and inexplicable events.
Shortly after the flight began, all five General Motors TBM Avengers lost contact with the base. An investigation was conducted to uncover what happened, and although an initial conclusion was reached, it was later retracted. Today, the case remains unresolved, with the airmen’s disappearance listed as “cause unknown,” as they were never found.
What adds to the mystery is that the aircraft sent to search for the missing bombers, a Martin PBM Mariner, also vanished, leaving the fate of its 13 crew members unknown. Stories like this make us think twice about venturing into the area.
Columbus Globe for State and Industry Leaders
The Führer was known for his fondness for grandeur, a trait reflected in the tanks he chose to use during the latter stages of World War II. Yet, none of his belongings are as mysterious as the Columbus Globe, crafted for State and Industry Leaders. Manufactured by a Berlin company in the 1930s, it came to symbolize his authoritarian aspirations.
After the war, the globe vanished. While similar models were produced at the time and some have surfaced for sale over the years, none have been conclusively tied to the Führer. It might have been destroyed during the war’s chaotic final days or perhaps taken by a soldier as a souvenir who has kept 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.