1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Do you think that there's truth to this, 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,000 or do you think it's all legend? 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 This officially wins the award for, like, 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,000 the most dramatic place ever to meet somebody. 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,000 Right there. There is something there. 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,000 So what is it? 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,000 I don't know. 8 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Let's go find out. 9 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,000 Oh, I'm not looking down, 10 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,000 because it is absolutely horrible. 11 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,000 It's opening up into a chamber. 12 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,000 Hook, hook, hook. 13 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Oh, my God. 14 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,000 That's a plane. Unbelievable. 15 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,000 Guys, come here. Look at this. 16 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,000 It's a box, for sure. 17 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,000 It's just that simple. Let's get rich. 18 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,000 When it comes to war, not all great military strategists 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,000 fought on the right side of history, 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,000 and few of them were as brilliant, as daring, 21 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,000 or as wrong as the Nazi general Erwin Rommel. 22 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,000 As Hitler's top commander, 23 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,000 Rommel leads a tank force through France and Belgium 24 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,000 before sweeping across North Africa like a sandstorm, 25 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,000 earning the nickname the Desert Fox. 26 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,000 But when he cleared out of Africa in 1943, 27 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,000 legend tells that Rommel took more than just his tanks. 28 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,000 An SS unit traveling behind Rommel 29 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,000 reportedly seizes whatever valuables they can grab. 30 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:39,000 Gold, as well as jewelry and art, worth tens of millions today. 31 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,000 Witnesses say the treasure was put on a boat 32 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,000 and snuck onto the occupied island of Corsica, 33 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,000 but where it was hidden remains a mystery. 34 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Now, one group of explorers believe they may have located 35 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,000 the hiding spot in a cavern deep beneath the island. 36 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,000 And newly uncovered eyewitness accounts are being used 37 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,000 to pinpoint the gold's location in frigid waters 38 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,000 just off the coast. 39 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,000 So I'm packing my bags for Europe to see if I can help 40 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,000 outwit the Desert Fox one last time 41 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,000 and recover Rommel's treasure. 42 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,000 My name is Josh Gates. 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Look at that! 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,000 With a degree in archaeology and a passion for exploration, 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,000 I have a tendency to end up in some very strange situations. 46 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,000 This is horrible. This is officially horrible. 47 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,000 My travels have taken me to the ends of the earth 48 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,000 as I investigate the greatest legends in history. 49 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,000 We're going to fly, let's go! 50 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 This is Expedition Unknown. 51 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,000 Welcome to the island of Corsica. 52 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Rising up out of the Mediterranean 53 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,000 in between France and Italy, 54 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,000 Corsica is technically part of France. 55 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,000 It has been for the last 200 years, 56 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,000 but it's really its own thing. 57 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,000 This place is an incredibly unique culture and spirit. 58 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,000 It even has its own language. 59 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,000 What's it like here? 60 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,000 Well, when your geographical neighbors are Provence and Tuscany, 61 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,000 you're destined for beautiful things. 62 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,000 And speaking of beautiful things, 63 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,000 my rental car is an absolute stunner. 64 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:30,000 This is a mid-60s Citroen d'Aux Chavaux d'Apheur, 65 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,000 which translated means two steam horses. 66 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,000 But don't let the name fool you. 67 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,000 This bad boy actually has 18 horsepower. 68 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,000 So pretty speedy. 69 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000 It also has a gear shifter that isn't exactly intuitive. 70 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,000 Shifting in the Citroen is more of an interpretation. 71 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,000 More of an interpretive art than a hard science, I would say. 72 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,000 That could be second gear. 73 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000 That could be reverse. I don't really know. 74 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:57,000 Okay. 75 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,000 One, two, trois? 76 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,000 No, that's cab. That's cab. 77 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,000 Trois. 78 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,000 Trois. 79 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,000 As I wind down the coast, 80 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:12,000 I'm awestruck by Corsica's quiet and rugged nature. 81 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,000 But back in 1943, quiet was in short supply. 82 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,000 Corsica was a battlefield, 83 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,000 as the French resistance fought to expel the occupying German army. 84 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,000 Meanwhile, in North Africa, 85 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,000 General Erwin Rommel's forces were being routed off the continent, 86 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,000 as they fled a unit of the Nazi SS followed with them, 87 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,000 pillaging homes and museums as they went. 88 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,000 A huge collection of gold, jewels and artwork was stolen, 89 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 worth untold millions of dollars. 90 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,000 When Rommel finally left Africa, 91 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,000 the treasure was supposedly secreted from Tunisia to Corsica. 92 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,000 Ever since the end of the war, 93 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,000 the legend of Rommel's treasure has only grown here. 94 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,000 My first stop is to head to a southern port city here in Corsica, 95 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,000 where a group of explorers believe they're close to proving 96 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,000 that that legend is a reality. 97 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,000 I ditched my wheels and hiked uphill toward a massive citadel, 98 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,000 a stone fortress that has guarded Bonifacio for 1100 years. 99 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,000 The city itself is a weathered maze of stone buildings, 100 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 sitting on top of alabaster cliffs. 101 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,000 And the city's strategic location 102 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,000 means that it's been one of the most conquered places in history, 103 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,000 everybody from the barbarians and the Moors, 104 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,000 to the Romans, the Genoans, 105 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,000 and of course, the fascists of World War II. 106 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:43,000 The streets of Bonifacio are narrow, old, and brimming with charm. 107 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,000 I duck into a local shop for a cup of coffee, 108 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,000 but instead, find this. 109 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,000 Bonjour. 110 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:53,000 Bonjour. How are you? 111 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,000 Good and you? 112 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,000 I'm good. 113 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:56,000 You want a drink? 114 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:57,000 I love a drink. 115 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,000 Yeah. 116 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,000 Are you having a party here? 117 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:00,000 No, it's a... 118 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,000 ...spontine. 119 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,000 Spontine? 120 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:03,000 What's a spontine? 121 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,000 It's a snack with a Cascan food. 122 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,000 This is just a snack? 123 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,000 Yes. 124 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,000 And you do this every day? 125 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Every day. 126 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,000 Every day? 127 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,000 I just moved to Corsica, please forward my mail. 128 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,000 It's 10.15 a.m. on a Thursday, 129 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,000 and I am just now realizing that I've been doing my work days all wrong. 130 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,000 You want to test a very special cheese? 131 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,000 Special cheese? 132 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,000 Yeah. 133 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,000 I do. 134 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,000 Why are you laughing? 135 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:26,000 What special how? 136 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,000 This is a sheep cheese with alcohol, 137 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,000 closed for two years on. 138 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:32,000 Okay. 139 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Yes, yes. 140 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,000 That is the strongest thing I've ever smelled. 141 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,000 Wow. 142 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,000 That is like nitroglycerin. 143 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,000 Okay, here we go. 144 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,000 Good luck. 145 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,000 Oh my God. 146 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,000 Oh, man. 147 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,000 It's like a complete sensory overload. 148 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,000 Here's the thing though. 149 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,000 It's kind of amazing. 150 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,000 It's really rich. 151 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,000 I mean, no one's ever going to kiss me again, 152 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,000 but it tastes incredible. 153 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Cheers. 154 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,000 Cheers. 155 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,000 Welcome to Corsica and welcome to Bonifacio. 156 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:14,000 Cheers. 157 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,000 Oh, even the wine is great. 158 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,000 This place is magical. 159 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,000 Thank you. 160 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,000 As much as I'm like to stay here for the rest of my life, 161 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,000 I'm off to meet with an explorer who's using eye-witness accounts 162 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,000 to pinpoint the location of Rommel's treasure. 163 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,000 Her direction said to meet her nearby 164 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,000 at the bottom of the stairs. 165 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,000 Anna, come on. 166 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:43,000 Okay. 167 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:51,000 The King Aragon steps are hand cut into the side of Bonifacio's cliffs 168 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,000 and drop 230 feet down to the ocean. 169 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,000 How long it takes to descend depends entirely 170 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,000 on how much wine and cheese you've just eaten. 171 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,000 Just a minute. 172 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Okay. 173 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Right about now, my quads are begging for the King Aragon escalator. 174 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,000 Finally at the bottom, I end up ducking through a deeply worn 175 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,000 ocean side passage to a small grotto where I find explorer, 176 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 Mary Ann Boulanger. 177 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,000 Mary Ann. 178 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:24,000 Nice to meet you. 179 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Nice to meet you too. 180 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,000 Okay, this officially wins the award for like the most dramatic 181 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,000 place ever to meet somebody. 182 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,000 Yes, it's a unique place. 183 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,000 It's stunning. 184 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,000 And so why here? 185 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,000 Why did you want to meet here? 186 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,000 Because right beyond you, there is a grotto. 187 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:41,000 And the legend says that Rommel's treasure was hidden right there. 188 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,000 Here? 189 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,000 Yes. 190 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,000 How do we know that it might be here? 191 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:50,000 So in 1952, there was a newspaper account that said that a Nazi 192 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,000 official named Walter Impe was on the ship that brought the treasure 193 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,000 to Bonifacio. 194 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:57,000 From Africa? 195 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,000 Yes, from Africa. 196 00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,000 Okay. 197 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,000 Impe claimed that the treasure was kept in wooden chests and was 198 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:05,000 taken ashore in Corsica to a secret location on the island. 199 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:09,000 Later, Impe said that scuba divers concealed the treasure in an 200 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,000 underground lake. 201 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,000 Mary Ann, it turns out, knows of a place that fits the description 202 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,000 perfectly. 203 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 This grotto is actually another one lake. 204 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,000 It is? 205 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,000 Yes. 206 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,000 So it actually goes further back? 207 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,000 Yes. 208 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,000 You want to take a look? 209 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,000 Yeah, I would like to. 210 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,000 Wow, look at that. 211 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:34,000 And it goes way back. 212 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,000 And there's water back there? 213 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Yes. 214 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,000 Right in the back, there is a lake. 215 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,000 Do we know how far back it goes? 216 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Do we know how large the chamber is? 217 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:47,000 No, we're really not sure how big is it because most of the place is 218 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,000 underwater. 219 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,000 And so it hasn't been fully explored? 220 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,000 No, it hasn't. 221 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,000 That's why my team and we want to explore and try to figure out 222 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,000 if there is something inside. 223 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,000 If there is a treasure in there? 224 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Yes, absolutely. 225 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:00,000 So can you get through this? 226 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,000 No, it has been sealed many years ago, but we discovered another way 227 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,000 to get in. 228 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,000 And where is that? 229 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,000 It's back up on the city. 230 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,000 Does that mean we have to go back up the stairs? 231 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,000 Yes. 232 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:12,000 OK. 233 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:23,000 But only because I want to get rich. 234 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,000 And so, Diane leads me back up the staircase to join her spelunking 235 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,000 team hard at work, preparing to explore Corsica's hidden caverns. 236 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,000 Hi, guys. 237 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:32,000 Josh. 238 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,000 This is Pierre-Jean. 239 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,000 This is Marie. 240 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,000 Marie. 241 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,000 And this is Alain. 242 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,000 Bonjour. 243 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,000 Since we can't access the lake through the ocean side, we're planning to descend 244 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,000 something called Saint-Bartalamie's Holy Well. 245 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:47,000 And so to get down to the grotto, it's, you use a well? 246 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:48,000 Yes. 247 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,000 It's a well that has been built around 1850. 248 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,000 And how far down is it? 249 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,000 200 feet. 250 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,000 200 feet? 251 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,000 Yes. 252 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,000 The good news is you don't have to take the staircase. 253 00:10:58,000 --> 00:10:59,000 Aha. 254 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,000 The bad news is it's straight down? 255 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Yes. 256 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:07,000 In order to find Rommel's treasure in the underground lake, we have to be equipped to both drop 257 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,000 and dive. 258 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:13,000 And so, laden with scuba gear and harnesses, they lead me into the crumbling and normally 259 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,000 sealed off remains of an abandoned building. 260 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,000 This is it? 261 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:18,000 Yes. 262 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,000 Yes. 263 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:26,000 And so, we're going to go down to the bottom of the lake. 264 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:31,000 Oh, my God. 265 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:36,000 I'm on the Mediterranean island of Corsica on the hunt for evidence of a multi-million-dollar 266 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:37,000 treasure. 267 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:42,000 Legend says that gold and jewels looted as part of the campaign by Nazi commander Erwin 268 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:47,000 Rommel were taken out of North Africa and hidden somewhere on this island. 269 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:53,000 A group of local explorers believe it's concealed in an underground lake in the city of Bonifacio. 270 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:57,680 And there's only one way to get there, by repelling down more than 200 feet inside a 271 00:11:57,680 --> 00:11:59,000 crumbling well. 272 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,400 Oh, my God. 273 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,000 That goes all the way down to the ocean level. 274 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,760 Yes, almost 200 feet. 275 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:09,000 The well is unstable and is ringed by a hand-carved spiral staircase. 276 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,000 And why aren't we taking the stairs? 277 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:12,000 They're collapsing. 278 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,000 Oh, they're more dangerous than going down that hole? 279 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:19,000 More dangerous. 280 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,000 The staircase has been condemned and the well is strictly closed to the public. 281 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:27,000 Almost no one alive has laid eyes on the cavern below. 282 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,000 Is this floor stable? 283 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,000 No, no, it's very dangerous. 284 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,000 No, so nothing is safe? 285 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:32,000 No thinking is safe. 286 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,000 Nothing is safe. 287 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,000 That's my new motto. 288 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,000 Okay, here we go. 289 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,000 I'll see you at the bottom, guys. 290 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:49,000 Okay, the floor is super-rodded and I'm headed down, but I'm not looking down because it 291 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:54,000 is absolutely horrible. 292 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,000 This repel is a special kind of scary. 293 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:02,000 It's 230 feet straight down and I'm free-hanging in complete darkness. 294 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:10,000 It's helling the well already. 295 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,000 Okay, oh, God, don't look down. 296 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,000 Don't look down. 297 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Don't ever look down. 298 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:17,000 It's bottomless. 299 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,000 This is a bottomless pit. 300 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:26,000 Okay, it's opening up. 301 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,000 It's opening up into a chamber. 302 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:34,000 Okay, definitely water underneath me. 303 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:42,000 I'm going to drop a couple of chem lights. 304 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:47,000 In the dim light of my glow sticks and headlamp, I find myself dangling above the cave floor 305 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:51,000 with no sense of just how big this room really is. 306 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,000 Oh, my God. 307 00:13:53,000 --> 00:14:03,000 I'm in the grotto. 308 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:07,000 Okay, I'm down. 309 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Unbelievable. 310 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:20,000 Marianne is the next to drop into the well and she carefully descends through the darkness to the cavern floor. 311 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,000 Is she down? 312 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,000 This is outrageous. 313 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,000 Yes, I told you. 314 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,000 It's unbelievable. 315 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,000 It just goes and goes. 316 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:34,000 Marianne, the scuba gear is lowered. 317 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:35,000 Okay. 318 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,000 Then the rest of her team. 319 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:45,000 This has been months in the planning and they arrive ready to get to work. 320 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,000 Welcome. 321 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,000 Okay, so first of all, we're alive, which I'm very excited about. 322 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,000 That's a good thing. 323 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,000 Okay, now what do we do? 324 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:55,000 Let's get the scuba gear on and then we go underwater. 325 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,000 Okay, and does anything live in this water? 326 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:02,000 There is a six foot hill. 327 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,000 Okay, come on. 328 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Let's go diving. 329 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,000 Okay. 330 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:23,000 We launch ourselves into the water and into an unseen world. 331 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:33,000 With the glow of our dive lights, the flooded caverns appear like an eerie dreamscape. 332 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:45,000 Though touching the fine sand on the bottom can fog the entire chamber in an instant. 333 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:53,000 We hover through the cave looking for any evidence of the wooden crates that an eyewitness claimed was hidden in an underground lake. 334 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:58,000 But we soon see that we're not the only ones poking around down here. 335 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,000 Whoa, there's an eel. 336 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,000 Thank God it's not six feet long. 337 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:13,000 Marianne and her team lead on, but the walls seem to be closing in around us. 338 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:24,000 Tunnel is narrowing, heading to the surface. 339 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,000 Okay, so it looks like that's the end of the line in here. 340 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,000 It's just nothing but rock. 341 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Is this it? 342 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,000 Is this the end you think? 343 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,000 It looks like it keeps going. 344 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,000 It looks like it keeps going. 345 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,000 Yes. 346 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,000 Okay, let's stick our noses through. 347 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,000 We'll see if anything's in there. 348 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Marianne has spied what looks like a passageway into another chamber, but since it appears to be entirely underwater, with no air pocket above, and with visibility deteriorating, we proceed cautiously. 349 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:55,000 I see it! There's a way through! 350 00:16:55,000 --> 00:17:00,000 The opening is tight, so we squeeze through in single file into a second chamber. 351 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:08,000 It's possible we're the first people to swim in here since World War II. 352 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:12,000 Look! A bottle! 353 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:20,000 Unlike the first chamber, this one contains artifacts, a clear indication that someone has been down here before. 354 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:28,000 Looks like a metal fuel canister, maybe from a boat. 355 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:39,000 As we push on, we notice what appears to be another air pocket above us, so we ascend to see exactly where we are. 356 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:44,000 Look at that! It's a big chamber! 357 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:49,000 Unbelievable! Beautiful! 358 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,000 Yeah, it's amazing. 359 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,000 Look at those stalactites! Incredible! Why are they yellow? 360 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,000 It's because of the sulfur. 361 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,000 That is something else. The room is huge. 362 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:06,000 It's absolutely incredible. Nobody's coming here. It's very difficult. 363 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:11,000 Yeah, it's like some dry land over there. Let's see if we can get up there. 364 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:24,000 Our investigation moves to solid ground. We're looking for anything that backs up the eyewitness account. 365 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,000 There he is. Looks like maybe a piece of wood. 366 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,000 Where? Oh, yeah! 367 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,000 You see? 368 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:30,000 Yes, I see. 369 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:31,000 Yeah, let me go over there. 370 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,000 Yeah, definitely wood. 371 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:40,000 Looks like a plank. It has old nails in it. It's really rotted. 372 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:46,000 I mean, it's literally just disintegrating in my hands, so whatever it is, has been down here for a very long time. 373 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:53,000 We fan out to check every corner of the cave for anything else that might be down here. 374 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,000 Guys! Guys, come here! Look at this! 375 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,000 It's a box, for sure. 376 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:16,000 With a team of explorers led by Marianne Boulanger, I'm in search of a lost Nazi treasure beneath the island of Corsica off the coast of France. 377 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,000 Guys! Guys, come here! Look at this! 378 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,000 It's a box, for sure. 379 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,000 Look at this! 380 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:32,000 It's a box! 381 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,000 Oh, look at that! 382 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,000 Is there anything in it? 383 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,000 It's just disintegrating. There's nothing in it. I mean, that has been down here for ages, I assume. 384 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:43,000 Yes, I think so. 385 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Why? Why is that even in here? 386 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:46,000 That's the question. 387 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,000 I mean, that is the question. Who brought it here and what was in it? 388 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,000 We don't know about this. 389 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:57,000 Yeah. Well, let's certainly have a look around underneath this to see if the contents have slipped out of it and to see if there's any more of these boxes down here. 390 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:03,000 If it was Rommels, the crate could have held millions in gold, but there's no indication of its origin. 391 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:10,000 The visibility in here is nothing, so you literally have to just reach down and pick everything up one piece at a time. 392 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,000 If I bring up a handful of gold, I'll tell you what. 393 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,000 Come on. What are the odds that whatever I'm touching right now is just a huge handful of gold? 394 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:24,000 Paloax. 395 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,000 Who will be the next one? 396 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:34,000 We grope in the murky water, looking for the contents of the crate while the rest of the team searches the remainder of the cavern. 397 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,000 Hey, Joe! 398 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,000 Yeah? 399 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,000 I've seen something. 400 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,000 You found something? 401 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,000 Yeah, I found something. 402 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:42,000 Okay, good thing. 403 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,000 Okay, yes. 404 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,000 Yes. 405 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:46,000 You think it goes under? 406 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,000 Yes, yes. 407 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:56,000 It looks like one of our divers has discovered a passageway leading to a never-before-seen chamber, but the opening is too tight to safely pass through. 408 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,000 I'm out of here. Get to it. There's a camera over there. 409 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:03,000 To look inside the chamber, we mount a camera on an extension pole. 410 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,000 There's definitely a room. Look at that. 411 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:10,000 It goes way back. 412 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,000 Any more wood? Anything man-made back there? 413 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,000 Yeah, there's another plank down there. 414 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:22,000 The planks in this new chamber are intriguing and may be from larger crates that have disintegrated here. 415 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,000 Can you see how far back it goes? 416 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,000 I don't see. 417 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,000 I think the room is bigger than we can see. 418 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,000 So what's the next step? How do you get back there? What will you do? 419 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:39,000 So in the future, I think to go in there, we have to find something to support the roof. 420 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,000 Right, stabilize it. 421 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:41,000 Yes. 422 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,000 Okay, when that happens, please call me. 423 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:45,000 Okay, I did it. 424 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,000 Okay, we should probably get out of here before we suffocate to death. 425 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,000 Yeah, okay. Great work guys. That was amazing. 426 00:21:53,000 --> 00:22:00,000 The antique artifacts and remnants of wood may be the first in many discoveries waiting for Marianne and her team, 427 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,000 but there are other potential locations on Corsica for Rommel's lost treasure. 428 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:14,000 In order to learn about another version of the legend, I'm going to have to take a little trip and pay a visit to Rommel's hometown in the hills of Germany. 429 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:32,000 This is Blaustein, Germany, charming little city nestled in the hills of... God, it is freezing here. It's freezing. 430 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,000 It's a cute town, it's in the hills. That's all I got. 431 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:50,000 Just outside of town on a quiet country road is a nearly forgotten plaque that marks the final battle of the Desert Fox. 432 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:59,000 By the middle of 1944, Rommel began to lose faith that the Germans could actually win the war. 433 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:04,000 He even openly advocated to Hitler to sign a treaty with the Brits and the Americans. 434 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,000 In July, Rommel was almost killed when an Allied plane shot up his car, 435 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:13,000 and three days later, a bomb nearly killed Adolf Hitler in a failed assassination attempt. 436 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:17,000 Well, rumors began to swirl that Rommel had been in on the plot, 437 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:23,000 and either way, Hitler could no longer stand his defeatist attitude about the war, so Rommel was given a choice. 438 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:29,000 He was going to be accused of treason, he'd have to face a trial, a trial which was certainly rigged against him. 439 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:34,000 His family would have been sent to the concentration camps, or he could quietly commit suicide. 440 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:41,000 So, on October 14th, 1944, Erwin Rommel was driven to this very spy by Nazi commanders, 441 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:48,000 and given a capsule of cyanide, a gruesome end to one of the most celebrated commanders of Nazi Germany. 442 00:23:54,000 --> 00:24:02,000 Rommel's actual grave is in a cemetery on the edge of Blausdain, but it's hardly the only sign of him here. 443 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:09,000 Next door is the eerie Villa Lindenhof, Rommel's last home, which has been converted into a museum 444 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:13,000 to offer visitors an unflinching look at his life and career. 445 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:20,000 Inside are Rommel's strategic plans, his Field Marshal Patan, and even his death mask. 446 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,000 Historian Carlo Hofner is the curator of the exhibits. 447 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,000 He was a very successful commander at first, right? 448 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:38,000 Yes, even Churchill, when he was in the houses of law, said Rommel is a great general in Africa. 449 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:42,000 Rommel was successful beating the English. 450 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,000 Rommel seems to captivate people. 451 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,000 Because he was not typical for a general, he came from an ordinary background 452 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:57,000 like Hitler too, he didn't only follow his books, he followed the feelings in his stomach. 453 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:03,000 So let's talk about the treasure. I've been to Corsica, I've searched in the south, 454 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,000 but I know that not everyone agrees where this treasure might be. 455 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000 In your mind, where does this legend really get going? 456 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:17,000 There was a Nazi soldier named Peter Fleig, and that's where the legend began. 457 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,000 Peter Fleig was a Nazi officer under General Rommel. 458 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:27,000 Fleig said that during the Allied bombings of the Corsican city of Bastia in 1943, 459 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:34,000 the treasure was moved for safekeeping onto a truck and put on a barge at the port to be shipped back to Germany. 460 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:43,000 The barge though was attacked by an Allied plane, and sank, taking the treasure with it. 461 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:49,000 The Allied plane however didn't make it far, it was said to have crashed nearby. 462 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:55,000 And Fleig was convinced that the treasure was somewhere around Bastia? 463 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:59,000 It seems that he was quite sure that he could find something there. 464 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:07,000 In those times there was a young guy, Tony Cullone, who was helping Peter Fleig to look for the treasure. 465 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:11,000 He's actually very old now, but I think it would be good to talk to him. 466 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:12,000 Still alive? 467 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,000 Yeah, still alive. 468 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,000 Wow, and he was there with Fleig? 469 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:15,000 Yeah. 470 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Amazing. 471 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,000 Do you think that there's truth to this, or do you think it's all legend? 472 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:24,000 Every legend has in the beginning some kind of truth. 473 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,000 Right. 474 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:30,000 And in Bastia, still today, they're divers looking for the treasure. 475 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,000 My next step is clear. 476 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:40,000 If there's someone still out there who knew one of Rommel's conspirators, I need to speak to him. 477 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:48,000 So I put the Desert Fox's lair in my rear view and prepare for a trip back to Corsica, and an appointment with history. 478 00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:05,000 Back on the island of Corsica in my adorable French car, I'm hoping to get some first-hand testimony about where Nazi general Erwin Rommel's looted treasure might be hidden. 479 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:13,000 I'm headed now to the opposite side of the island to the northern coast in the city of Bastia, where I'm set to meet this last living link to the Rommel legend. 480 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:28,000 Founded in the 12th century, Bastia looks like an oil painting come to life. 481 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:32,000 It's so damn quaint here, it feels like the set of a Disney musical. 482 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,000 Boy, I almost broke out of the song there. 483 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,000 Corsica. 484 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:46,000 The Bastia Citadel, known as Taranova, has a few tributes to the island's most famous son, Napoleon Bonaparte. 485 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:51,000 Yeah, right. I mean, have you ever seen Napoleon? 486 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,000 Get out of town. I'm gonna hire this sculptor to do my statue. 487 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:10,000 At a public park in the city center, the locals play a bowling game called Petanque. 488 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:17,000 There, I find the reigning champion and one-time confidant of Peter Fly, 88-year-old local Tony Coloni. 489 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,000 Nice to meet you. 490 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,000 Very good. How are you? 491 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:29,000 Josh, zeshui Josh. Nice to meet you. How are you? This is Petanque? 492 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:30,000 You know what I'm talking about? 493 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,000 I know Bacci. I know Bacci. 494 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,000 Okay. I'm gonna play? 495 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:37,000 Yes. 496 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:38,000 Of course I am. 497 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,000 I don't want to get right to business, but Tony isn't talking until after his game. 498 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,000 Nice to meet you. I'm gonna do my best not to embarrass you guys, okay? 499 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,000 These guys are playing for keeps. 500 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:03,000 These gentlemen are giving off a very specific vibe. Let's just say they all seem like family men. 501 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:10,000 I get the feeling if I don't perform well here, I could wake up next to a horse head tomorrow. 502 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,000 You know what I mean? 503 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:19,000 Rules of Petanque are fairly simple. You try to get your ball, the silver ball is close to the cushioned, a little red ball as possible. 504 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:24,000 Whichever team comes in last, ends up with a pair of cement shoes on the harbor. 505 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,000 I think that's how it works. 506 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,000 Nobody's gonna die here today, probably. 507 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,000 And with that, we get rolling. 508 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:40,000 Okay, ready? 509 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:44,000 Ah! 510 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,000 My first roll leaves much to be desired. 511 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:48,000 They're gonna kill me. 512 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,000 In this case, the desire to see my family and friends again. 513 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:56,000 Take it easy. 514 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Take it easy. 515 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,000 Okay, here we go. 516 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:04,000 Super, super. 517 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,000 I'm doing great, but I'm not on a national embarrassment either. 518 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,000 Fortunately, I get a bit better as the game continues. 519 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:16,000 Okay, ready? 520 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Yay! 521 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,000 We win, I think. Maybe. 522 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,000 I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live. 523 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,000 All that matters is that now Tony is willing to talk to me about Rommel's treasure. 524 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:41,000 So listen, I wanted to come and talk to you because you knew this guy Peter, Peter Fly, yeah? 525 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,000 Can you tell me about your relationship with him? 526 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,000 Over the years, people have told many versions of the story. 527 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:53,000 While I'm going to tell you the truth, as I lived it, my uncle was a fisherman. 528 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:58,000 After the war in 1948, a man named Peter Flag approached him to charter his boat. 529 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:05,000 Flag was an SS officer under Rommel and said he was there when they transported the treasure and knew where the barge sank. 530 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:10,000 He paid me and my uncle to take him out multiple times to surveil on the coast. 531 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:16,000 According to Tony, the local mafia got wind of the story and were putting pressure on Fly to find the gold. 532 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,000 Fly asked Tony's uncle to do a dive at night in secret. 533 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:25,000 My uncle refused, saying it was too dangerous. Then Fly got arrested. 534 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,000 When he was released from jail, he disappeared and I never saw him again. 535 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:37,000 So your recollection, did Flag seem confident that he knew where it was or was he kind of not sure? 536 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:43,000 Flag was extremely sure. Why would a man go through all this trouble if there wasn't a treasure? 537 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,000 He knew exactly where he intended to dive. I can show you here. 538 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:54,000 If you leave from the port and go out until the water is 40 meters deep, you can use landmarks to find it. 539 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:58,000 I have a friend who's planning to dive this area soon. All you need to do is talk to him. 540 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:04,000 Okay, okay, leave just that simple. Let's get rich. 541 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:14,000 And so the next morning, I prepare to sail out of the Port of Bastia with a friend of Tony Cologny, diver and salvage expert, Stéphane Legalle. 542 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,000 For years, Stéphane has been fascinated by the Rommel legend. 543 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:25,000 Now, with Tony's help, some cutting-edge sonar and a lot of dive gear, he's been able to narrow down a possible search zone. 544 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:38,000 First, he's taking me to a site that he believes is ironclad proof that Peter Fly's story is true. 545 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:40,000 How far to the site? 546 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,000 About 20 minutes or so. 547 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:43,000 20 minutes? 548 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:44,000 Yeah. 549 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:45,000 And so what is this thing? 550 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,000 I show you when you're under watch out with me. 551 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,000 Okay, man of secrets. Okay. 552 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:50,000 Yeah. 553 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:51,000 All right. 554 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:58,000 Using Stéphane's sonar and topographical maps of the sea floor, we arrive at his first site. 555 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:04,000 We drop anchor and prepare to dive in rough seas, sending down a guideline so we don't drift too far. 556 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:05,000 Okay. 557 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,000 And then it's into the drink. 558 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:11,000 Water is freezing. 559 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:13,000 Yeah, it's very cold. 560 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:14,000 Very cold. 561 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,000 We go down the line at 60 feet. 562 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:18,000 50 feet? 563 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:19,000 Yeah. 564 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,000 Okay, right behind you. Here we go. 565 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,000 Disability, not very good. 566 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,000 Disability is poor. 567 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,000 Stay with me. We go this way. 568 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,000 Okay, right behind you. 569 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:34,000 The deep waters of the Mediterranean turn dark and cloudy as we descend. 570 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:39,000 We need bright lights to make out objects right in front of us. 571 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,000 We quickly get to the bottom of the ocean. 572 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,000 We're going to get to the bottom of the ocean. 573 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,000 We're going to get to the bottom of the ocean. 574 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,000 We're going to get to the bottom of the ocean. 575 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:55,000 We need bright lights to make out objects right in front of us. 576 00:33:55,000 --> 00:34:00,000 We quickly encounter something though that doesn't require a flashlight to see. 577 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,000 Cook, cook, cook. 578 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:10,000 Oh my God. That's a plane. Unbelievable. 579 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:27,000 My search for Rommel's treasure has brought me face to face with a historic sunken aircraft. 580 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:32,000 Oh my God. That's a plane. Unbelievable. 581 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,000 It's from the war. 582 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,000 1943. American plane. 583 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,000 It's American. 584 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:39,000 Yeah. 585 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:40,000 What time? 586 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:41,000 B-47. 587 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:42,000 The fighter plane. 588 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:43,000 Yeah. 589 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:46,000 Wow. Unbelievable. 590 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:52,000 The story told by Peter Flag had a plane just like this one shooting down the barge with the treasure on it, 591 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,000 before itself being brought down nearby. 592 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,000 It's possible that this is that very plane. 593 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:04,000 You can still see the controls in here. You can see the foot pedals. Amazing. 594 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:08,000 There is an octagon here on the plane. 595 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,000 This is where the guns were mounted. 596 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:14,000 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 597 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,000 There is a damage of the plane. 598 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:21,000 On the side panel. 599 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:22,000 Yeah. 600 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,000 You think it took fire here? 601 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,000 Yeah, you can see the damage. 602 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:34,000 The plane is historic, but it may also be an important reference marker for locating Stefan's next dive site. 603 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,000 Let's go back to the surface. 604 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:39,000 Yep, up right behind you. 605 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,000 Wow. Beautiful. 606 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,000 Yeah. 607 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,000 You think that's the plane from the attack, yeah? 608 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:52,000 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 609 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,000 So you think that means that the treasure is nearby? 610 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:56,000 This. 611 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,000 This direction. 612 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:58,000 There's a piece of mid-order. 613 00:35:58,000 --> 00:35:59,000 We have to boat it. 614 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:00,000 Aha. On the sonar. 615 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:01,000 Yeah. 616 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:02,000 Let's go look at it. 617 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:03,000 We dine. 618 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,000 Lunch? 619 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,000 Yeah, we dine. 620 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,000 I think we go and dive, no? 621 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,000 We dive, then we eat lunch. 622 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,000 God, the French. 623 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,000 We're on the heels of treasure here, man. 624 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:13,000 Yeah. 625 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:20,000 We move up the coast, scanning the rough waters to pinpoint our next target. 626 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:24,000 And then suddenly, our sonar kicks up a signal. 627 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:25,000 We can go. 628 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:28,000 Yeah, you can see in the sonar now. 629 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:29,000 Right there. 630 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:30,000 Yeah. 631 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,000 There is something there. 632 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,000 So what is it? 633 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,000 I don't know. 634 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:35,000 We are going to see it. 635 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:36,000 Let's go find out. 636 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:37,000 Yeah. 637 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:38,000 You ready? 638 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:39,000 Yeah. 639 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:40,000 Let's go. 640 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:43,000 The sonar hit confirms there's some sort of wreckage beneath us. 641 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,000 But what exactly? 642 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,000 There's only one way to find out. 643 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,000 How far down are we going? 644 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:02,000 We'll stand at 100 feet. 645 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:07,000 It's pretty clear why nobody has found Rommel's treasure just laying around down here. 646 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:11,000 These waters are cold, dark, and deep. 647 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:16,000 This is not going to be a pleasure dive, but it doesn't take long to see what's set off the sonar. 648 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,000 There's definitely wreckage underneath us. 649 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:19,000 Yeah. 650 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:25,000 It's a sparse of wrecks, but I don't know what did it. 651 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:31,000 It's incredibly spooky down here. 652 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,000 Down to a strange atmosphere. 653 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:40,000 The wild card here is that while this could be a barge, it's mixed in with wreckage from what looks like a dozen other things. 654 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:45,000 This looks like gears, maybe part of an engine. 655 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:48,000 Yeah, you see middle pieces everywhere. 656 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:53,000 You think this is from a vessel? 657 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,000 This from a boat or a plane? 658 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,000 I don't know. 659 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,000 I don't know what is it. 660 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:04,000 Then you can see inside of it, it's all sinking in the sand. 661 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,000 Let's keep looking. 662 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:11,000 Absolutely. Let's see what else is here. 663 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:21,000 There's lots of stuff buried down in the sand here. 664 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,000 I'm going to just start sifting through. 665 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:35,000 Stefan and I begin systematically exploring around the wreckage, pulling out bits of metal and other clues from the past. 666 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:48,000 After working our way around to the back of the wreckage, we're about to bail and head to the surface, when our luck takes an incredible turn. 667 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,000 Stefan, come here. Look! Look! 668 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,000 Look at that! 669 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,000 This is a Nazi coin. 670 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:08,000 In the cold depths of the Mediterranean Sea, I've made an amazing discovery as I explore the legend of Rommel's treasure. 671 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,000 There's definitely wreckage underneath us. 672 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:15,000 More wreckage off the coast of Corsica and a coin from the Third Reich. 673 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,000 Stefan, come here. Look! Look! 674 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,000 Look at that! 675 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,000 This is a Nazi coin. 676 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,000 This is from the period. This is from the 1940s. 677 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,000 Yeah! Fantastic! 678 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,000 This is amazing! 679 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:41,000 This is history! Who knows? This could be part of the treasure. 680 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:50,000 This is a Reichsfenig currency from the Nazi regime, and proof that some of this wreckage is German in origin. 681 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:54,000 Let's keep looking. 682 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:56,000 Absolutely. Let's see what else is here. 683 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:14,000 At this depth, we can't stay down here forever, so we continue to search the ocean floor until we're dangerously low on air. 684 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:20,000 Stefan, time's up. We better head to the surface. 685 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,000 We are off to Kamakas. 686 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:29,000 For sure. A lot more diving to do here, Stefan. Thank you so much. 687 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:30,000 God! 688 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:32,000 Let's go get warm, okay? 689 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,000 Okay, okay. 690 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:43,000 The coin we found is both from the right era and exactly where witnesses placed the treasure, and could therefore be part of Rommel's hoard. 691 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:52,000 With this site marked and other targets to explore along the coast in the coming months, Stefan could confirm the legend once and for all. 692 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:58,000 We speed back to Bastia, shaking cold and full of adrenaline at our find. 693 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:03,000 Beneath us, the dive site recedes into the darkness, but it still looms large in my thoughts. 694 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:13,000 The search for Rommel's treasure has been a trip through one of history's darkest chapters, but there has been surprising light. 695 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:21,000 In the wonder of Bonifacio's underground lakes and the discovery of their unexplored chambers. 696 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:28,000 In the making of new friends, along with some healthy competition. 697 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:38,000 And in the revelation of historic wrecks and the discovery of artifacts that may prove this legend is no mere folk tale. 698 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:41,000 Who knows? This could be part of the treasure. 699 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:51,000 Erwin Rommel may have been one of the 20th century's most cunning tacticians, but the Desert Fox was eventually outwitted. 700 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:56,000 And soon, his fabled treasure may finally surrender as well.