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A new German documentary claims to lift the lid on the real reason behind the infamous Roswell UFO conspiracy.

It's nearly 70 years since the bizarre incident first captured the imagination of conspiracy theorists the world over.

The once sleepy New Mexico town became the focal point of the biggest extraterrestrial hunt in history following reports a flying saucer had crashed into the desert.

In 1947, the alleged sightings sparked worldwide panic until the US military claimed the incident was nothing more than a downed surveillance balloon.

Now a German documentary investigating the sightings on July 8, 1947 claims it has uncovered new evidence, claiming the mysterious flying saucer was in fact a top secret Nazi ROCKET.

The feature, entitled 'UFOs and the Third Reich', reports the 'incident' was actually behind closed doors tests on the 'Bell' - a futuristic three-metre aircraft which used electric particles to fly.

(Image: Discovery Channel)

Distinguished German aeronautical engineer Georg Klein said: "I don't consider myself a crackpot or eccentric or someone given to fantasies.

"This is what I saw, with my own eyes - a Nazi UFO."

The incident has captured the imagination of millions following reports of a flying saucer cash landing into the desert.

The US military has always claimed the sighting was nothing more than a weather balloon, sparking decades of conspiracy theories about an alleged extra-terrestrial cover-up.

Reported aliens in pictures:

The documentary claims the Nazi machine was the predecessor to today's stealth fighter and was created by dozens of rocket experts, who switched allegiance to the US after the end of World War Two.

Notorious Nazi war criminal, SS General Hans Kammler, who was behind the labour camps at Auschwitz, was allegedly among those who worked with the US during the Cold War.

Polish military historian Igor Witkowski wrote at length about Hitler's determination to employ the greatest scientists and engineers to work on the "bell-shaped craft".

(Image: Getty)

During World War Two, bomber crews from the US and Britain reported seeing strange machines - now believed to have been the Bell.

The documentary also investigates whether the Roswell Incident was caused by the Schriever-Habermohl model - another supposed Nazi flying saucer - crashing.

The Luftwaffe machine, which combined rocket and helicopter technology, was designed in Prague until 1943 when the US took control of the plans.

(Image: Discovery Channel / Getty)

Following the end of WW2, Nazi prisoners claimed to have seen the vehicle fly numerous times.

A consultant engineer who worked on the project, Joseph Andreas Epp, claimed 15 models were built.

He said: "After this the wing-blades would be allowed to rotate freely as the saucer moved forward as in an auto-gyrocopter.

"In all probability, the wing-blades speed, and so their lifting value, could also be increased by directing the adjustable horizontal jets slightly upwards to engage the blades, thus spinning them faster at the digression of the pilot."

It's not the first strange encounter we've written about this week - have a look at the giant '50ft crab' or if you're brave then check out the alien with 100 tentacles in our video below.

poll loading What do you think was behind the Roswell incident? 2000+ VOTES SO FAR Nazi war machine Weather balloon Definitely aliens Not a clue