Woodworking technology details emerge as the IWF 2014 Challengers Award program announces the finalists. The original field of more than five dozen entrants, vetted to 33 semi-finalists in May, has now been narrowed to 20 finalists. The winners will be announced August 20, the morning the International Woodworking Fair opens.

Also popular this week, a D-Day story about a notorious oak desk, among the furnishings seized when U.S. forces took possession of Hitler's luxury apartment in Munich at the end of World War II.

The oak desk, along with a bookshelf, a table and chairs found in the apartment, was manufactured by the former Bavarian court furniture maker, M Ballin. 

In 2006, the desk was to be offered for sale by a London dealer. Apparently that sale never took place, as the German government retains ownership of the desk. The rectangular desk has a leather writing surface and a drawer on each side. The latches bear the Ballin company name.

Here are the rest of the week's most-viewed wood industry stories:

	Who Made Hitler's Desk? By Bill Esler | Posted: June 6, 2014 - 12:53 PM Hitlers desk - one of his desks - was recently rediscovered in a Berlin storeroom where it had been held since 2000. Before that it served anonymously in a rest home for U.S. veterans. But who made it?
	U.S. Logging Team Jailed by Honduran Police By Bill Esler | Posted: June 8, 2014 - 11:34 AM A U.S. ship, dredging old-growth cedar and mahogany from Honduran river bottom, has been seized in Honduras and its crew jailed. The Aqua Quest was on a mission to salvage submerged logs for Miskito Indians.
	Woodworking Inventors: How Your Peers Create New Products By Michaelle Bradford | Posted: June 1, 2014 - 1:03 PM Register now to hear six wood industry business creators tell how they built new business International Woodworking Fair 2014 day-long symposium on Aug. 19 in Atlanta. Registration includes free admission to IWF.
	Second Worker Dies from Injuries in G-P ComDust Blast By Rich Christianson | Posted: June 7, 2014 - 8:42 AM A second worker has died following an April 26 explosion and fire at a Georgia-Pacific plywood plant.
	Wood Step Ladder Retail Who Hid Defects Fined $3.1M By Rich Christianson | Posted: June 9, 2014 - 1:32 PM Cinmar LLC will pay a $3.1 million civil penalty to settle charges by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that it "knowingly failed" to immediately report defects of mahogany Frontgate step ladders for walk-In closets imported from Indonesia.
	Drive In Garage Closet: You Want Fries with That? By Denise Butchko | Posted: June 2, 2014 - 8:58 AM Celebrity Jennifer Aniston wants to turn her garage into a closet. She is willing to pay $60,000 for the project upon completion.
	20 IWF 2014 Challengers Award Finalists Announced By Bill Esler | Posted: June 7, 2014 - 3:54 PM The 20 Challengers Award finalists for 2014 have been named by the International Woodworking Fair, including five from Stiles and three from Holz-Her. Seven winners will be announced on August 20 at the IWF 2014 trade show in Atlanta.
	Lumber, Logs, Tables, Mantles: What's Up at WunderWoods By Scott Wunder Posted: 06/09/2014 1:31PM A video montage of daily woodworking involvement at WunderWoods--from milling to building custom furniture
	Cool Wood Creations Using CNC By Karen Koenig | Posted: June 6, 2014 - 12:41 PM Laminate Creations by Hand uses CNC machines and mixed media to create high-end interiors.
	Dremel Ultra-Saw Turns Convention on its Side Posted: June 5, 2014 - 8:31 AM Dremel's Ultra-Saw turns convention on its side. The multi-saw is a 3-in-1 tool that features a 7.5 amp motor, 4-inch abrasive wheels, longer lasting drivetrain and metal guards.