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The bodies of 77 people were probably buried by the Nazis on the grounds of Graz’ Belgier barracks, where the Nazi SS’ Wetzelsdorf barracks was located, it emerged. Photo: Graza News

Vienna - Austrian government officials say they have identified at least two mass graves of Nazi victims on property used by the army.

Interior Ministry spokesman Rudolf Gollia says talks will be sought with the owners of the site to discuss possible exhumation. He said Friday he did not know whether the army owns the property or rents it.

The mass graves are located underneath an army sports field in the southern city of Graz. Government officials say they contain about 70 bodies.

The victims were concentration camp inmates and others, all killed by the SS to eliminate witnesses to Nazi atrocities shortly before Soviet troops arrived.

The graves were identified from wartime photos, made from U.S. bombers, showing open graves and bodies.

In this photo made available by the Austrian army, on Friday, March 12, 2010, a man holds a wartime photo, made from U.S. bombers, showing open graves and bodies. Seen in the background is the army sports field in the southern city of Graz, where the mass graves of victims killed by the Nazis are located. Austrian government officials say they have identified at least two mass graves of Nazi victims on property used by the army. (AP Photo/Bundesheer/Peter Lechner)

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