Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression C. Nature, Extent, and Value of Property Seized.
Virtually the entire art possession of Poland, private as
well as public, was seized by the General Gouvernement (1233-
PS). In a catalogue of the more important works of art
seized by the General Gouvernement, paragraph 1 of the
Foreword contains the following admission:
"On the basis of the decree of the General Governor for
the Occupied Polish Territories of December 16,1939,
the Special Delegate for the Safeguarding of Treasures
of Art and Culture was able in the course of six months
to secure almost the entire art treasure of the
country, with one single exception: the Flemish Gobelin
series from the castle in Cracow According to the
latest information, these are kept in France, so that
it will be possible to secure them eventually." (1233-PS)
The nature and extent of materials seized by the General
Gouvernement is indicated in Document 1709-PS. The document
inventories the objects seized, and divides them into two
classifications: those of primary importance ("Reich-
important"), and those of secondary importance. Articles of
primary importance, totaling 521 separate objects, are also
set forth in a descriptive catalogue. (1233-PS)
The articles catalogued include paintings by German,
Italian, Dutch, French, and Spanish masters, rare
illustrated books, Indian and Persian miniatures, woodcuts,
the famous Veit-Stoss hand-carved altar, handicraft articles
of gold and silver, antique furniture, articles of crystal,
glass and porcelain, tapestries, antique weapons, rare
coins, and medals. The objects were seized from both public
and private sources, including the National Museum in Cracow
and the National Museum in Warsaw, the cathedrals of Warsaw
and Lublin, a number of churches and monasteries, the
Chateau of the Kings in Warsaw, university and other
[Page 1110]
libraries, and a large number of private collections of the
Polish nobility. (1709-PS)
Items placed in the second category are of the same nature
as those placed in category I. Approximately 500 separate
items are catalogued, many of the items including a large
number of separate objects treated under a single catalogue
heading. (1709-PS)
The value of the objects seized from 22 collections is
stated to be 9,437,000 Zloty. The materials referred to are
only a portion of those selected as being of secondary
importance. No valuation is given as to the balance of the
items of secondary importance or as to the 521 objects
selected as being of primary importance. (1709-PS)
D. Evidence That Seizures Were Not Merely for Protective
Purposes.
In Dr. Posse's report (1600-PS), a number of items are
referred to which may be found in the catalogue of art
objects "made secure" (1233-PS):
"I was able to gain some knowledge on the public and
private collections as well as clerical property in
Cracow and Warsaw. It is true that we cannot hope too
much to enrich ourselves from the acquisition of great
Art works, of paintings and sculptures, with the
exception of the Veit-Stoss altar and the plates of
Hans von Kulmbach in the Church of Maria in Cracow, the
Raphael, Leonardo and Rembrandt from the collection
Czartoryski, and several other works from the National
Museum in Warsaw, *** works of a rather high value of
whose existence we in Germany had already known. Richer
and more extensive is the Polish stock of 'objects
d'art', such as handicraft in gold and silver, of
German origin to a large part, particularly from the
Church of Maria and the Cathedral of Wawel, tapestries,
arms, porcelains, furniture, bronzes, coins, valuable
parchment scrips, books, etc. ***"
*******
"As I said before, I shall not be able to make
proposals regarding the distribution as long as an
inventory of the entire material does not exist.
However, I should like to reserve for the museum at
Linz the three most important paintings of the
Czartoryski collection, namely the Raphael, Leonardo
and Rembrandt which are at present in the Kaiser-
Frederick Museum in Berlin. We in Dresden are
particularly interested in the interior decorations of
the castle of the Kings in War-
[Page 1111]
saw since Saxonian architects and artists have created
them; therefore, the suggestion is made that the
salvaged parts of it (panellings, doors, inlaid floors,
sculptures, mirrors, glass chandeliers, porcelains,
etc.) be used for the interior decoration of the
Pavillion of the 'Zivinges' in Dresden." (1600-PS)
The following items listed in the above report are also
listed in the catalogue:
Item Catalog No.
Veit-Stoss Altar 241
Hans Vol Kulmbach Works 22
Raphael 141
Leonardo 134
Rembrandt 81
Church of Maria Handicraft 262-265, 279, 280
From Jagellonic Library 166, 167, 186, 199-203, 206,
209, 212, 215-224
(See 1233-PS, 1600-PS) Appendix 8 of Document 1709-PS lists a large number of
objects which were turned over to Architect Koettgen. The
items listed include, in addition to paintings, tapestries,
etc., plates, dishes, cups and saucers, vases, cream
pitchers, glasses, a bread basket, a service tray, and other
items of table service. These objects were turned over to
the architect for the purpose of furnishing the Castle at
Cracow and Schloss Kressendorf for the Governor. (1709-PS)
A number of objects were transported out of Poland and
placed in Berlin in the Depot of the Special Deputy or in
the safe of the Deutsche Bank (1709-PS). Items at this
location are also listed in the catalog (1233-PS) as numbers
4, 17, 27, 35, 42, 45, 47, 51, 138, 141, 145, and 148.
Thirty-one sketches by Durer were taken from the collection
Lubomierski in Lemberg:
"The Special Deputy has personally handed over these
sketches in July 1941 to the Reichsmarshal who took
them to the Fuehrer at headquarters where they remain
at the present time. On express direction of the
Fuehrer they will stay in his possession for the time
being." (1709-PS)
All art objects seized were screened for those which were
important from the German point of view:
"The Reich-important pieces were collected in a
catalogue of the so called 'First Choice'. One copy of
this catalogue has been submitted to the Fuehrer who
reserved to himself the first
[Page 1112]
decision as to location and use of the art objects of
the 'First Choice' ". (1709-PS)
Dr. Muehlmann, the "Special Deputy for the Safeguarding of
Art Treasures" in the General Government, has confirmed that
it was the policy and purpose of the art seizure program to
confiscate the art treasures and to retain them for the
benefit of Germany:
"I confirm, that it was the official policy of the
Governor GeneraI, Hans Frank, to take into custody all
important art treasures, which belonged to Polish
public institutions, private collections and the
Church. I confirm, that the art treasures, mentioned,
were actually confiscated, and it is clear to me, that
they would not have remained in Poland in case of a
German victory, but that they would have been used to
complement German artistic property." (3042-PS)
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
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Volume
I Chapter XIV
The Plunder of Art Treasures
The General-Gouvernement
(Part 2 of 2)