Picture the scene. It is war-torn, ruined Germany, as the Third Reich collapses into chaos and starvation. The archives of the imperial city of Dortmund have been evacuated to escape the bombing ? but vital documents have gone missing.

 

Traded for food perhaps, or simply found in the street; two precious parchment deeds find their way to safety in the hands of a British officer.

 

Now ? after 65 years - they are going home.

 

They are being collected from the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland on Tuesday, 9 March by Professor Dr. Thomas Schilp of the Dortmund Archive.

 

One deed records a major step in Dortmund?s history; the transfer of half of the Count of Dortmund?s land to the city in 1343.

 

The other, from 1674, records a loan from the townspeople to Dortmund.

 

Councillor David Sprason, Cabinet Member for Adults & Communities comments: ?I am delighted that through the generosity of the officer?s daughter and the expert detective work of one of Leicestershire County Council?s archivists these key documents can be returned to their rightful home.?

 

The official transfer of the documents will take place at the Record Office in Long Street, Wigston at 11 am on 9 March 2010.

 

For further information please contact: Jess Jenkins (Archivist) on (0116) 2571080 or email: recordoffice@leics.gov.uk