SS Minden

The SS Minden was a German merchant ship, a 6,960-ton cargo vessel built in 1921 by Bremer Vulkan in Vegesack, Germany. The Minden is best known for its alleged involvement in a controversial incident in the early days of World War II.

In September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of war, the Minden was en route from South America to Germany. According to official records, the ship was carrying iron ore. However, unsubstantiated rumors and conspiracy theories persist that the Minden was also carrying a significant cargo of gold, allegedly plundered from Polish banks and national reserves during the German invasion of Poland.

The British cruiser HMS Calcutta, along with the French destroyer Le Terrible, intercepted the Minden in the North Atlantic. Rather than surrender, the captain of the Minden, Captain Rogge, reportedly ordered the ship to be scuttled to prevent its capture by the Allied forces. The crew was rescued by the British ships, and the Minden sank approximately 120 nautical miles southwest of Iceland on September 26, 1939.

The sinking of the Minden, and especially the persistent rumors surrounding a hidden gold cargo, have made it a target for treasure hunters. Several attempts have been made to locate and salvage the wreck. The exact location of the Minden remained unknown for many years, fueling speculation about its contents. In 2017, a British company, Advanced Marine Services, claimed to have located the wreck, but they were denied permission by the Icelandic government to drill into the hull, ostensibly to confirm the presence of gold, leading to further controversy. The true contents of the Minden and the veracity of the gold claims remain unconfirmed, and the ship's story continues to be debated and investigated.