The cipher of Saint Xavier

Machine translation of the original editorial information.

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Inside this issue

1. 4 · A story rescued from the rubbish bin
2. 16 · In the Carpathian trenches
3. 22 · Grandma’s retreat story

Dear readers, the sixth issue of Detektor revue this year has just been published, and here is a brief overview of what you can look forward to in this issue. We trust that everyone will find something of interest to read here, which may serve as inspiration for your own searches, or perhaps even prompt you to write an interesting article.The editorial team wishes you a peaceful and merry Christmas and, for the New Year, as much peace, good health and treasure-hunting luck as possible.

The ‘Artefact of the Month’ in our opening feature is, on this occasion, an object from the end of the Second World War that serves as a reminder of how humanity fails to learn from its mistakes – the author of the article, Wood, has also aptly named it ‘A Timely War Memento’.

PetkoZberatel did not hesitate and, at the last moment, saved a complete collection of military artefacts from both world wars from destruction. You can find out exactly what he snatched from under the refuse collectors’ noses in the article ‘A Story Saved from the Rubbish Bin’.

Do you go treasure hunting on Christmas Eve? You will surely agree that this is a fitting topic for the ‘Christmas’ edition of Detektor revue; some of the treasure hunters’ answers in your favourite poll may well surprise you.

Gunter Von Sudetenland has once again been convinced that it pays to return to sites he has combed through a thousand times, and so in the article ‘Simply a Classic Family Weekend’ he can introduce you to another of his Sudetenland finds.

We all know that ‘you don’t go searching in Slovakia’. However, there are exceptions, as demonstrated in his report ‘In the Carpathian Trenches’ by treasure hunter Vojta Přibyl, who joined an expedition of Czech archaeologists following in the footsteps of our soldiers who fought here during the First World War.

Was it just luck, or did Kralix’s grandmother guide him from afar to the discovery of the 46 ‘ÍD’s’? You’ll find an almost spiritual story under the heading ‘Grandmother’s Retreat’.

In our regular column ‘Let’s Save History’, we use examples of artefacts that have been handed in to show how treasure hunters are helping to preserve our archaeological heritage. This time, for example, we might look at a hoard of bronze sickles, a Celtic coin or a unique piece of Byzantine-style belt fittings.

‘Luck will find you’ – that’s what Roman called his post; luck found him in the form of a gold signet ring belonging to an old noble family.

Josef Blaho, a collector and outstanding expert on WW2 decorations, presents the most interesting pieces from his collection in our magazine’s series ‘Medals Under the Magnifying Glass’. This time, it reveals the story hidden behind ‘The Order Born in Siam’.

Tomáš and his dad, die-hard war enthusiasts, have once again stumbled upon – as they put it – ‘the right spot’. They will share their finds with you in the article ‘Touches of the Past’.

US Army veteran Manuel F. van Eyck is dedicated to tracing American and Czechoslovak airmen who were killed in action or went missing during their missions in the Second World War, particularly over the territory of the former Czechoslovakia. To mark the 80th anniversary of the air battle over the White Carpathians, we present stories, some of which might well have been consigned to oblivion had it not been for Manuel’s many years of persistent effort. Under the heading ‘Stories That Have Not Been Forgotten’, we present the second part of the article chronicling his search.

Here is another chapter from the history of weapons, compiled for you by the renowned military historian Jan Škarka. It features a versatile cannon used by the German army not only in the field, but also on ships, submarines and even in aircraft – the 3.7 cm Flak 18 and 36/37 anti-aircraft cannons.

And, of course, we couldn’t leave out a treasure-hunting short story, this time with a mysterious Christmas theme penned by Patrik Schonberg, which the author has titled ‘The Code of Saint Xaveria’.

In this issue, too, you’ll find answers to your questions about button finds in the regular column ‘The Button Collector’s Advice’, prepared for you by button expert and collector Ivo Tomáš.

We wish you pleasant summer reading

Editor-in-chief Zdeněk Kasander Procházka and publisher Miroslav UC Kratochvíl.