The cup, which was on display for 70 years at the Auschwitz Museum, has recently begun to decompose, revealing a secret hiding place inside. (Page 2 ) | April 9, 2025

In this case, the ingenious hiding place of a cup has survived the decades. Its bottom, as it degraded, revealed a gold ring and chain. Who was the person who hid these jewels? What hopes were they clinging to by hiding them? Unfortunately, it’s likely they never had the opportunity to find them again.

A discovery by accident

The Auschwitz Museum houses thousands of objects belonging to the deportees. Among these silent relics, this cup had been on display for decades, its secret intact. It was only thanks to the natural deterioration of the material that the discovery was made.

A museum employee, intrigued by the signs of wear on the case back, noticed an anomaly. Upon closer examination, he discovered a carefully concealed false case back. Inside, a small treasure: a gold ring and chain, meticulously hidden by their anonymous owner.

Silent witnesses to a painful past

The objects found in concentration camps are much more than mere relics. They bear witness to the victims’ daily lives and capture their last hopes in time. This discovery is a reminder that, despite the horror and suffering, some inmates retained hope for a future where they could recover what they had hidden.

The Auschwitz Museum preserves these relics to honor the memory of the millions of those lost and to remind future generations of the importance of never forgetting. This simple, now famous cup has become a powerful symbol of human resilience in the face of the unspeakable.

A precious memory, a memory to preserve

This discovery reminds us that history continues to reveal its secrets, even decades later. Each object found creates a direct link to those who suffered, and it is our duty to preserve their memory and share their stories.

So, this cup is no longer a simple container. It has become a moving testimony to the past, carrying within it the story of a person whose name may remain unknown, but whose hope has stood the test of time.