Nazi Soldau: Ashes of 8,000 victims found in mass grave in Poland

A mass grave containing 17.5 tonnes of human ashes has been unearthed in northern Poland, close to the former Nazi concentration camp of Soldau.

Tomasz Jankowski from Poland's national remembrance institute said the grave contained at least 8,000 victims.

The bodies are thought to have been dug up and burned in a Nazi operation to hide traces of their murders.

The Nazis murdered Jews, political opponents and members of the Polish elite at Soldau.

The concentration camp was built in 1939 for transit, internment and extermination and used throughout the Nazi occupation.

Up to 30,000 people are thought to have been killed there and researchers hope to carry out DNA analysis of the remains to find out more about the victims. Among the Poles who were murdered were members of the clergy and intelligentsia.

Archaeologists have found hundreds of traces of clothing, buttons and other items, but nothing of value, indicating the bodies were robbed before being set alight.

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