In a raid into black market art, the two bronze horse statues that once belonged to Adolf Hitler were recovered, as well as other Nazi-era art pieces.
The two horse statues used to stand in front of Hitler's Chancellery. As World War II turned against Nazi Germany and bombs rained down on Berlin, the sculptures were brought to a town east of the capital which was occupied by victorious Russian forces in 1945, ABC New reported.
The horses resurfaced around 1950, and were found on the grounds of a Red Army barracks near Eberswalde, known then as German Democratic Republic. It stayed there until it vanished again in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell.
Known as the Walking Horses by artist Josef Thorak, the sculptures were customized in the Berlin building, which was damaged during World War II, according to BBC News.
Eight people are being investigated regarding the sale of black market artworks.
The statues will now become the property of the German State. However, descendants of Thorak might launch a legal claim for them.
While the Walking Horses will now likely become the property of the German state, it is also possible Thorak's descendants could launch a legal claim for them.
