Young Daniel Rom Kristiansen spent the entire fourteen years of his life on a farm in Birkelse, Denmark. The countryside peace was broken when the boy made international news in March 2017. What was it that Daniel found that would suddenly shine a spotlight on a small rural town like this?
Homework Turned into Historical Discovery
Like most people, Daniel had to study World War II for his history class. The teacher gave an assignment that would serve as the starting point for the project in question. Daniel’s father, Klaus Kristiansen, made a joking comment in passing and this would lead to the remarkable find.
Homework Turned into Historical Discovery
Have You Checked the Fields?
At this point, you are probably curious about the joke that Klaus made. He retold a story passed unto him by his own grandfather once he heard about his son’s history assignment. It was to first thing to come to mind once he heard about Daniel’s World War II project. Well, this joke would forever change their lives.
Have You Checked the Fields?
This Very Farm
As a young boy, Klaus heard his grandfather tell him that something happened on the farm about 73 years prior. The land has been owned by Kristiansen family for generations. Many of their ancestors also worked in agriculture and animal farming. However, seeds and animals aren’t the only things that their land has seen over the years….
This Very Farm
Mysterious Crash
The tale revolved around a fighter plane from World War II. Klaus was interviewed on the local Radio Station DR P4 Nordjylland, and he explained that upon hearing about his son’s homework, he made a joke about going out in the field to look for the plane. Klaus heard the story from his grandfather many times before, but he always thought that it was the stuff of legend.
Mysterious Crash
On The Hunt
Klaus didn’t expect his son to take the joke seriously either. Daniel took the fields and combed through it to search for the legendary plane. The boy’s efforts did not go to waste, however. Who knew that a joke could lead to something like this?
On The Hunt
Casual Search
Klaus decided to entertain his son’s plans, and they headed out into the field, a metal detector in hand. He was resigned to the fact that they would find something insignificant. He has admitted that he has set expectations low, maybe an old plate or something that Daniel can show to the class. Luckily for the father-son duo, they would get much more than antique dinnerware!
Casual Search
Hidden Treasure
It was obvious that Klaus thought that his grandfather’s story was pure fiction. His grandfather even talked about how the plane wreckage was removed from the land. So just imagine his surprise when the metal detector began going wild!
Hidden Treasure
Need To Go Deeper
The metal detector would lead the pair to plane fragments. Of course they began digging and the hole was about 12 feet deep when they found something. They immediately had to call for help with the excavation.
Need To Go Deeper
Continuing The Search
They borrowed an excavator from their neighbor to make the process easier. They found the plane carcass about four and six meters under the ground. They also came across bones after seven feet of digging. Klaus definitely got more than what he bargained for.
Continuing The Search
Laying In The Backyard For 75 Years
The Politiken, a Danish daily newspaper, Klaus mentioned that the plane crash had shattered it into thousands of fragments. Amazingly, the carcass has been preserved so well that it was almost impossible to believe that it had been there for almost 75 years at the time.
Laying In The Backyard For 75 Years
More Than A Plane
As the excavation process continued, the pair was able to find the motor. There was more than that, however. They also came across several personal effects. They found a wallet that still had money in it! Of course, they were shocked at the discovery and the actual remains they came across! The plane was already a big surprise, so imagine coming across human remains.
More Than A Plane
Unbelievable
In an interview with the BBC, Klaus mentioned that initially, it wasn’t a plane. It was just a couple thousand fragments. However, finding the motor provided the direction they needed. It was the bones and scraps of clothes that changed everything. At that moment, they knew that these findings were important.
Unbelievable
Extraordinary Find
No one expected that something like this would ever come from a plot of land used for farming and grazing. This small town farmer then approached the local authorities and World War II experts.
Extraordinary Find
Not A Clue
It was hard to believe that a family that’s lived and worked on the land for generations would only discover the plane after decades. Even Klaus, who had lived on the farm all his life never knew that something of this magnitude was waiting in the fields for them.
Not A Clue
Day Off
The school understood the scale of the discovery, and they let Daniel have the day off while the excavation was ongoing. Klaus explained that he was allowed to stay home so that he can watch the police and bomb disposal team doing their job. It was, he said, an exciting time for the family.
Day Off
Tall Tales Become Reality
After the officials surveyed the findings, the unknown plane was identified as a German WWII aircraft. It was believed to be a valuable Luftwaffe fighter plane! These vehicles played important parts in the European and Middle Eastern theatres of the war. This bit of information would lead to more findings.
Tall Tales Become Reality
Dating The Crash
Before the experts were able to date the artifacts, Klaus already had an idea of the timeline. He suspected that the crash might have happened sometime in November and December 1944. Why? His grandfather actually mentioned that the household members were making Christmas cookies when it happened.
Dating The Crash
A Secret Skeleton
As mentioned earlier, there were human remains inside the German aircraft. It was speculated to be the corpse of the Luftwaffe pilot. The discovery of the body was a great shock for everyone involved. The findings included the bones, as well as a jacket and pair of trousers that matched the Nazi pilot uniform.
A Secret Skeleton
Proving His Grandfather Right
Klaus was shocked to find out that the story he repeatedly heard about wasn’t the product of his grandfather’s imagination. Unbeknownst to him, the tale actually had historical value. Klaus and Daniel’s efforts paid off and professionals aided them to learn more about the mystery. There was more than just the pilot’s bones and personal belongings, however.
Proving His Grandfather Right
Belongings of a Nazi Pilot
The wallet they found in the pockets were covered in Nazi emblems and contained Reichsmarks, the German currency. They also found rolling paper used for cigarettes. Klaus said that they also found a book that they suspected to be either the Bible or Hitler’s Mein Kampf. The duo decided not to touch it and just locked it away in a bag for the experts to examine.
Belongings of a Nazi Pilot
Handing The Investigation Over
It was a smart move on their end to put the items in a bag and refrain from digging any more. They could have destroyed the findings if they continued. This is not something they could afford if they wanted answers to the mystery of the pilot’s identity.
Handing The Investigation Over
Discovering the Story
Klaus was able to tell that it was out of his depth. The two decided to let the authorities do the work. Luckily, the experts had the proper tools and body of knowledge to help identify the pilot and plane. The Kristiansen family wanted to know who this Nazi plot was and the circumstances that led him to their farmland. They knew that only the authorities could solve the mystery.
Discovering the Story
Help from Professionals
After asking for help from the local authorities and specialists, there was nothing else to do but cooperate and wait for the investigation to come to a close. The findings were retrieved by The Nordyjyllands Historiske Museum, also known as the Historical Museum of Northern Jutland. The world would be amazed at the discovery. The fact that it all came from a boy’s history homework just added to the appeal of the story.
Help from Professionals
Worldwide Attention
Daniel Kristiansen and his father didn’t expect the discovery to receive a lot of attention. However, word got out and the next day, journalists and reporters arrived. Everyone wanted to hear how the development of the story. It wasn’t just national media, either. Even people from other parts of the world wanted to find out who the pilot was.
Worldwide Attention
Up Close with History
The Kristiansen family still could not believe the discovery. Klaus likened the excavation to the act of opening a book from the past. What makes it truly remarkable is the fact that the pages of this figurative book had not been leafed through in several decades! Could it possibly tell us anything about that period in history?
Up Close with History
Hard to Believe
Klaus had been living nearby for four decades and not once did he notice any metal there. For some time, he was under the impression that the German forces took the plane. Mostly, however, he believed to be the product of his grandfather’s imagination. Klaus said that while it was a good story, the rest of the family didn’t take notice of it. Some even went as far as to say that his grandfather was turning senile. What a mistake this turned out to be!
Hard to Believe
Reflecting On His Grandfather
Klaus mentioned that he too discredited the story. The discovery has certainly proved him wrong. When asked where his grandfather is, he reveals that the older man died 15 years prior. He also said that he wished he had listened more to his grandfather more. Let this be a lesson: listen to what the elders have to say. Despite his passing, the elderly Kristiansen is still part of the unfolding mystery.
Reflecting On His Grandfather
Getting Closer to Uncovering the Identity
In order to safeguard the investigation, the site had to be closed off. Local police decided to shut down the area and asked for the help of a bomb disposal team. The reason for this is because the fighter plane had a lot of ammunition with it. Meanwhile, the human remains and the aircraft were both taken to the museum.
Getting Closer to Uncovering the Identity
Reaching Out To The Germans
The German embassy also lent a hand with the investigation, particularly when it came to combing through the records. A database of German soldiers helped with the identification of the body. The officials tried to match the known information with the documented records. This was a step in the right direction when it came to uncovering the identity of the pilot.
Reaching Out To The Germans
Possible Identity
Soeren Flensted, an expert in World War II German planes, shared his thoughts about the event. For him, it was clear that the pilot was on a training mission. He also mentioned that the records showed that someone crashed into a bog around November 1944 and that it proved to be impossible to retrieve him. It was highly possible that this is the mystery pilot. The pieces were finally coming together, but what was the mission that led him there?
Possible Identity
Famous Fighter Aircraft Slowly Unravels Mystery
During the war, the Luftwaffe had around 3,000 Messerschmitt Bf 109s. It was actually the most produced aircraft in history. It was initially used as an interceptor. But as the war continued, the plane had been used for other purposes.
Famous Fighter Aircraft Slowly Unravels Mystery
Other Purposes
These tasks included fighting, reconnaissance, bombing, and escorting bomber planes. When this piece of information came to light, the story was easier to piece together.
Other Purposes
Dissecting the Parts
It was necessary to inspect the situation further before coming to a conclusion. The discovered parts were all useful when it came to finding information about the crash. What was the reason the plane went down? The bones and personal effects of the pilot also proved to be important in the fact-finding process. Torben Sarauw from the museum helped in this aspect. How did his findings help solve the mystery?
Dissecting the Parts
Expert’s Comments
While it is true that there were many planes of the same model, this one was particularly rare. Not just because a 14-year-old boy found it, either. Saruw talked about how special the find was. According to him, it was probably the only time that a Luftwaffe plane was discovered in the region. This bit of information would prove to be crucial.
Expert’s Comments
Small Findings Making Big Impact
In an interview with Judith Vonber from CNN, Sarauw also talked about the other objects he found. The curator found some money, unused condoms, and food stamps. It was the last item that would be a breakthrough in the case.
Small Findings Making Big Impact
Aalborg Canteen
The food stamps were for a place located in Aalborg, Denmark. The city was used by the Nazis as a training base for the air force. It wasn’t just the food stamps that solved the case, however.
Aalborg Canteen
Food Stamps Reveal Possible Path of Pilot
Sarauw mentioned that the specific aircraft was the first of its kind to be found in that region of the country. It revealed a lot of new information about the German occupation of Denmark. He speculated that the stamps were an indication that the pilot came from the training base just before the crash. We might have an idea of the circumstances revolving around his demise, but who is the pilot?
Food Stamps Reveal Possible Path of Pilot
Crucial Artifacts
A service record was found in the midst of the wreckage. Thorough perusal provided enough information for the experts to identify the man. It might not have been in the best condition, but they were able to find his name on the document. Aside from this, a tiny calendar held a man’s name and a watch had been engraved with initials. There was now enough evidence to identify our mystery pilot.
Crucial Artifacts
The Story Behind Mystery Pilot
The German information office revealed the name of the 19-year-old man who met his demise in the farmland on October 10, 1994. He went by the name Hans Wunderlich. Aside from the evidence retrieved from the crash site, a flight logbook confirmed the identity of the pilot.
The Story Behind Mystery Pilot
Abandoned Search
Military records show that he was born in Neusorg in 1925. The reason the plane went down remains a mystery, however. The war records say that the plane collided in a mire, but that recovery was abandoned.
Abandoned Search
Rare Case
As aforementioned, there was something special about the case. The Germans claimed that recovering the pilot would be futile. They decided not to launch a recovery mission and that was why the wreckage was found in the fields. This also proved that the story Klaus heard about Germans retrieving the plane was false.
Rare Case
Danish Records Reveal More
Once the evidence collaborated the identity of the pilot, Daily Nordjyske released a story about his name. They also mentioned that it was likely he will be put to rest in a war cemetery in the country. However, plans changed after more research.
Danish Records Reveal More
What To Do With The Remains?
Where would Wunderlich be taken if he wasn’t going to be interred in Denmark? After all, he died without a wife or any children. His parents and sister passed away several years ago.
What To Do With The Remains?
Commission Makes Decision on Remains
The Danish officials allowed the German War Graves Commission to make the decision. The organization handles the funerals of World War II soldiers. They decided to send Wunderlich’s body back to his home country. They recorded the date of death as March 5, 1945. However, there were certain things to be accomplished before burying the body.
Commission Makes Decision on Remains
Delicate Investigation
The land was closed off due to the hazards brought by the ammunition. Only the authorities had access to the field. The rest of the findings were kept at the museum for the rest of the investigation.
Delicate Investigation
Keeping Findings Together
While Wunderlich’s body will be repatriated, the plane and his personal items will remain in Denmark. Sarauw mentioned that it was important to keep the artifacts together. The news has already sparked interest in WWII history among local children. He hopes that displaying the findings in the museum can further develop and sustain it.
Keeping The Findings Together
Checking Records for More Info
German embassy spokesperson Lins said that the archives played a significant role in finding out more information about the pilot. But what was his role in the occupation? Why exactly was he doing flying over the area?
Checking Records for More Info
History of Occupation
The German army launched a land, sea, and air invasion of Denmark in 1940. It only took six hours, making it one of the shortest operations in the war. It was part of Operation Weserübung, Nazi Germany’s plan to invade Denmark and Norway. The main goal was to occupy the Norwegian port of Narvik. However, the entire operation would fail if they didn’t manage to secure the airfield just outside of Aalborg.
History of Occupation
Attacking Denmark
This bit of information further shed light on Wunderlich’s mission. German High Command speculated that an assault on Denmark would also help their goal to take control over the Scandinavian region. The operation commenced on April 4, 1940.
Attacking Denmark
The Occupation
The Danes were able to predict the assault, but they chose not to act on the forecast. The Danish government chose not to deploy its military to avoid giving the Germans any provocation. The Germans invaded and would remain in power until 1944. It is easy to see that Klaus’s grandfather was actually right about the timing.
The Occupation
Grandpa’s Stories Were More Than Just Stories
In an interview with Carol Off, Klaus mentioned that the plane crash must have happened in November 1944 based on context clues. He recalled his grandfather saying that it was a mere seven months before the country was liberated. However, the late Kristiansen misremembered that the aircraft was removed. Regardless, everything else about the story proved to be true. Klaus’s joke would also become famous for being the instigator of an amazing find!
Grandpa’s Stories Were More Than Just Stories
What About That Assignment?
So what about Daniel’s history project? The press did not forget to ask questions about the assignment. Klaus assured everyone by saying that Daniel has enough material for his project and that they were excited to work on it. Hopefully, the younger Kristiansen would get nothing less than the highest grade possible! Daniel hopes that it will be possible to revise his work once the investigation wraps up.
What About That Assignment?
Special Find
Isn’t it amazing that 19-year-old Hans Wunderlich would be recovered in a quiet farmland in Birkelse? It’s more remarkable if you consider the fact that he has been there ever since October 1944. As Sarauw has said, it’s a rare find. The family’s next move was also something else.
Special Find
Witness
When the story hit the news, people all over the world were talking about the discovery. One person was able to come forward with something to contribute, however. Sigaard Jenson of Northern Jutland told the Politiken that he saw the plane crash! The 94-year-old man said that he was 22 at the time. He had been searching for peat when he witnessed a plane going in circles above him before it crashed at high speed. He said he had never before thought to tell anyone about it.
Witness
Family Farm’s New Role
Once the story reached the international radar, the family wanted to commemorate the discovery. In the summer of 2017, they opened an exhibit in their barn with large pieces of the aircraft. The show was open to the public and the Aalborg museum even helped them out with the display!
Family Farm’s New Role
Local History
Klaus and his wife Britt attempted to provide a local angle for the exhibit. Aside from the newly world-famous plane crash, there was also a resistance movement site only a 100 meters away from the crash site. The nearby artificial city constructed by the Germans was also incorporated into the Kristiansens’ plans.
Local History
Family Project
It’s not just the couple, though. The entire family helped in the undertaking. Each child played a part in creating the exhibit. Daniel has already contributed a lot, while 17-year-old Marie was responsible for advertising the event. The pair of 11-year-old twins, Laura and Kamilla, were assigned to sell tickets by the door. It became a huge summer job for the family! Even Sigaard Jensen was there to provide an eyewitness account of the plane crash.
Family Project
Fairly Common Occurence
Not to discredit the family’s findings, but it has become a little common to discover war artifacts across Europe. Mines are uncovered in the beaches of England all the time. Two kids were even able to find a German mine in the Seaford Beach during the summer of 2016.
Fairly Common Occurence
German Mine
The Newhaven Coastguard had to be called in. The beach had already been evacuated when they arrived. The officials were able to confirm that it was a German sea mine piece. They were able to identify that it was only the bottom plate, meaning it was not explosive.
German Mine
War Artifacts
We already mentioned that plenty of World War II explosives are discovered on England beaches. Aside from the 2016 discovery, someone found a bomb-like object on Birling Gap Beach, a mere five miles away from Seaford Beach. It had to be destroyed by a bomb squad. Another case involved a dog walker who found a shell right off East Worthing.
War Artifacts
The Bf 109
But let’s head back to the plane found in the Kristiansen’s farmland. It was covered in all-metal monocoque and it had several cutting-edge features. It had advanced landing gear, a closed canopy, and a V12 engine. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was truly a top-of-the-line aircraft at the time it was produced.
The Bf 109
What Was This?
While it has always been commonly referred to as the Bf 109, both sides of the war also called it the Me 109. The fighter plane made up the majority of Nazi Germany’s air force. The plane was named after the aircraft designer Willy Messerschmitt, who came up with the design in a collaboration with Walter Rethel.
What Was This?
Common Crashes?
The planes had crashed all over the European continent, from Britain all the way to Russia. The Danes were not the first to ever uncover one. In fact, archaeologists were able to extract another one from the bottom of a frozen Russian lake in 2003. Regardless, it is quite amazing to find one in your backyard. However, that was not everything that the family was able to find.
Common Crashes?
Listen to your Elders, Folks!
Klaus mulled over his naivety after the investigation was finished. He recalls how his grandfather always told him stories. Some might have been untrue, but this one was certainly true. He believes he should have listened to his grandfather when the elderly Kristiansen was still alive. Pay attention to your elders, everyone. Who knows, you might be the next person to discover an important historical artifact from World War II.
Listen to your Elders, Folks!
WWII Shipwreck Lard Found On Beach
Other World War II artifacts have been recently found. Barrels of lard had washed up on the shore of Scotland after a storm sometime in the late 60s or early 70s. It was speculated that these came from a bombed merchant ship during the war. The wood has since decomposed but the chunks of lard still held the form. These barrel-shaped pieces have been washing up on shore over the last few decades. In 2013, another bad storm caused more of these lumps to come up. What’s interesting is the fact that the fish grew bigger than usual after feeding on the lard and this drew fishermen to the area back in the 70’s.
WWII Shipwreck Lard Found On Beach
Missing Japanese Mega-Submarine Found
Meanwhile, a Japanese submarine was found along the coast of Oahu in Hawaii. It was recorded missing ever since 1946, but it had proven difficult to find since it was located at 2,300 feet deep! Back then, the I-400 was the most advanced submarine in the world. It could travel around the world one and a half times on a full tank of fuel and deploy up to three 1800 kg bombs in just a matter of minutes. This unit was captured by the Americans as the war drew to a close. During the Cold War, the Soviets wanted it as part of WWII treaty conditions but the Americans claimed not to know its location to prevent them from acquiring the technology.
Missing Japanese Mega-Submarine Found
$36 Million Of Silver Found From WWII Shipwreck
Who doesn’t love stories about sunken treasures? A Nazi U-boat reportedly sunk a British merchant ship that had 61 tons of silver on board. This happened on February 17, 1941. 70 years later, an American underwater archaeology group discovered the shipwreck approximately 300 miles away from the coast of Ireland. The silver weighed an impressive 1.8 million ounces! The ship was headed back to England after an expedition in India, and it had to separate from the military convoy due to insufficient fuel and the terrible weather conditions.
$36 Million Of Silver Found From WWII Shipwreck
WWII Bomb Kills Construction Driver
While the aforementioned discoveries have been fortunate enough to be non-threatening, that’s not always the case. In 2014, mechanical digger unwittingly set off a WWII bomb that ended up killing one person and injuring 13 others. The Allied forces actually planted bombs near factories to combat the Nazis. More of these bombs have been discovered in recent times.
WWII Bomb Kills Construction Driver
German Sub Found Near Nantucket
A German U-550 submarine was found near Nantucket in Massachusetts. The sub had been launching attacks on merchant ships. It had also been the cause of blackouts of cities located along the coast! It reportedly torpedoed a gas tanker sometime in April 1944. It might have hidden under the tanker, but the USS Joyce was still able to send down an anti-submarine rocket. The American tanker escorts were able to capture it before it was sunk.
German Sub Found Near Nantucket
Hidden Bunker for Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels
In the 90’s, another remarkable WWII discovery was made after the fall of the Berlin wall. When the city was undergoing its underground infrastructure and constructing the Holocaust memorial, construction workers uncovered Goebbel’s bunker! It was able to survive the Allied bombing of Berlin as the war drew to a close. Another bunker was found for the SS Chauffeurs and it was even decorated with Nazi murals. However, nothing can quite top the discovery of one of Hitler’s personal bunkers in 1999. The authorities decided to seal off the bunkers to prevent loyalists from making a shrine out of them.
Hidden Bunker For Adolf Hitler And Joseph Goebbels
Lost Battlefield Found in Papua New Guinea Jungles
Back to the Pacific, an untouched battlefield was discovered in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. The remains of Japanese troops were still scattered across the field! This discovery can be credited to Australian trekker Brian Freeman. After consulting the documents from the war, he learned about a large battle that happened in 1942 and resulted in 79 deaths. He searched the area until he found the site, which remained undisturbed by the locals as the Alola people were concerned about buried explosives and believed that the spirits of the soldiers haunted the fields.
Lost Battlefield Found In Papua New Guinea Jungles
Pigeon Carrier Message From WWII Found In 2012
Unbeknownst to many, various animals were used to deliver coded messages. These include cats, dogs, horses, and even pigeons. It was believed that 250,000 pigeons delivered messages for the British during the war! A couple from Surrey found the skeleton of a carrier pigeon in their chimney. There was a small red container attached to the pigeon. Inside was a coded message that dates back from the Second World War. Unfortunately, codebreakers from the Government Communications Headquarters were unable to decode it. It was Gordon Young from Canada who was able to crack a portion of the code with the help of a WWI codebook. According to him, it was sent by a soldier who was dropped behind enemy lines after the Normandy landings. It allegedly said that British and American soldiers had met up and included several fillers to confuse interceptors.
Pigeon Carrier Message From WWII Found In 2012
Forest Swastika Discovered in 1992
A pilot was flying above the Zernikow in 1992 when he spotted a swastika in the forest. The bright color of larch trees contrasted heavily with the dark green of the pine trees. Dozens of larches were cut down in order to remove the outlawed symbol. How did it end up there? It is speculated that it was planted there by a forest ranger either to show support or under official orders. However, cutting down the trees proved futile as it only grew back. Officials therefore had to chop down 25 more trees in 2000.
Forest Swastika Discovered In 1992
Color Photo Of German Surrender Finally Released in 2009
Photography was restricted when Nazi generals von Fiedeburg and Kinzel surrendered to British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. So who took these color photographs of Germany’s surrender on April 30, 1945? The answer would be Ronald Playforth, clerk to the Field Marshal! He kept it hidden for a total of 64 years before he finally decided to sell it in 2009. In the same year, more color photographs taken by Hitler’s photographer would be released to the public.
Color Photo Of German Surrender Finally Released In 2009