World Notes NAZIS

The Berlin Document Center, housed in deceptively tranquil white cottages in the Zehlendorf district of West Berlin, is home to 30 million official Nazi files, including the complete records of the murderous SS. The papers are ! stored in underground passages, bunkers and labyrinths sealed with steel doors.

Nonetheless, police officials last week announced that some 30,000 files have been smuggled out of the U.S.-administered center in recent years. Dealers in Nazi memorabilia have offered some papers for prices ranging from $120 to $2,950. Others have shown up in auction houses in Hamburg, Munich and London. Police fear that some files may have been used to blackmail former Nazis trying to recast their lives.