Monuments Men and Women Foundation Returns Historic Seals from Coffin of Frederick William I to the House of Hohenzollern

BURG HOHENZOLLERN, GERMANY (September 1, 2025)—Today, in a ceremony at Burg Hohenzollern, the Monuments Men and Women Foundation announced the restitution of the historic coffin seals of Frederick William I of Prussia, the Soldier King, to the House of Hohenzollern.

From right: Prince Georg Friedrich von Preußen, Mr. Robert Edsel, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Monuments Men and Woman Foundation, MMWF senior researchers Casey Shelton and Dorothee Schneider, Burg Hohenzollern, 1 September 2025. Photo: BHZ / Roland Beck.

The extraordinary journey of these small but significant historical artifacts spans centuries. Frederick William I of Prussia (1688–1740), known as the Soldier King, reigned from 1713 until his death in 1740. Father of Frederick the Great, he is remembered for transforming Prussia into a formidable European power with a disciplined military and centralized administration. Upon their deaths, both monarchs were interred in the royal crypt of the Garrison Church in Potsdam, a site long venerated as a symbol of Prussian greatness. The church’s association with Prussian militarism made it a potent propaganda site for the National Socialists, who staged ceremonies there and revered the tombs within. With Allied bombing intensifying in 1943, Adolf Hitler ordered the removal of the coffins for safekeeping. After temporary stays elsewhere, they were ultimately concealed deep inside the Bernterode mine in Thuringia during the final weeks of the war.

The seals discovered inside an envelope bearing a handwritten note by Hancock. Courtesy of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation.

On April 27, 1945, American forces discovered this hidden repository more than 550 meters underground. Inside lay the coffins of Frederick William I, Frederick the Great, and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and his wife, Gertrud. The repository also held the Prussian crown jewels, hundreds of military banners, archival material, and 271 paintings, hastily stored amid munitions and dynamite. On April 29, 1945, Monuments Man Capt. Walker K. Hancock arrived to document the find. He sketched the chamber’s layout, complete with object identifications and quantities, in his personal journal. In his official report, he recorded that the deliberate arrangement of the contents indicated this was no ordinary repository but an intended shrine to “perpetuate the tradition of German military glory.”

Monuments Man Capt. Walker Hancock’s personal journal, kept during his military service, contains meticulous records of the Bernterode mine repository. On the right-hand page, he sketched the layout and documented its contents with measurements, object counts, and identifications. On the left, he noted key findings and observations made during his investigation. Gift of Deanie Hancock French, The Monuments Men and Women Foundation Collection, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA.

It was in this setting that Capt. Hancock came across the coffin seals of Frederick William I, likely broken loose during the arduous maneuvers to lower the massive royal coffins into the subterranean chamber. Recognizing their significance, he carefully preserved them, a gesture of the meticulous attention with which the Monuments Men approached their mission.

Among Capt. Hancock’s personal papers, his heir discovered a small envelope with the handwritten note: “Seals of the coffin of Friedrich Wilhelm I. Found at Bernterode, May 1945.” She entrusted these objects to the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, so they could be properly cared for and eventually restored to their rightful owner.  

“Restitution of these seals to the House of Hohenzollern represents more than just the return of a cultural treasure,” said Anna Bottinelli, President of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation. “Ceremonies like this go to the heart of our mission: to complete the work of the Monuments Men and Women by ensuring that missing works of art and cultural objects are returned to their rightful owners.”

A personal connection adds further meaning to today’s gathering. Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia is the grandnephew of Princess Cecilie of Prussia (1917–1975), granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II and sister of his grandfather, Prince Louis Ferdinand. In 1949, Princess Cecilie married American Monuments Man Capt. Clyde Kenneth Harris (1918–1958), who, among other assignments after the war, investigated the theft of the Hessian crown jewels. Through this marriage, Capt. Harris became the Prince’s great-uncle—creating yet another direct link between the House of Hohenzollern and the legacy of the Monuments Men.

Reflecting on this connection, Prince Georg Friedrich remarked: “We receive these seals with gratitude, not only as symbols of our family’s history, but as a testament to the noble mission of the Monuments Men and Women. Their care and sacrifice ensured that objects such as these could one day come home. This restitution is more than the return of three small artifacts—it is a gesture that reconnects us with our past and reminds us of the responsibility we all share to preserve history. On behalf of my family, I extend heartfelt thanks to the Monuments Men and Women Foundation for carrying on their mission and ensuring that cultural heritage is never forgotten.”

We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in the Foundation to care for and facilitate the return of these significant historical artifacts—an effort carried out in the same spirit of care, precision, and humanity that defined the mission of Capt. Hancock and the other Monuments Men and Women.

Loading one of the coffins into a US Army truck on May 8, 1945.National Archives (239-PA-4-127-03).

About Monuments Men and Women Foundation

The Monuments Men and Women Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting our shared cultural heritage by honoring the legacy of the Monuments Men and Women of WWII. Through public awareness campaigns, restitution efforts, and partnerships, the Foundation continues their mission. Restitutions are made possible by the generous support of individuals and organizations, including Bank of America. Learn more at mmwf.org 

For press materials, including high-resolution logos, please visit our press kit at this link.

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