In 1937, the German Government under Hitler decided, that, under Hitler's instructions, much modern German art was classified as "degenerate" (not fitting to be called art in Hitler's view) and was confiscated from museums all over Germany. A travelling Degenerate Art Exhibition was set up where some of these pieces were displayed to the public to show their so-called "degenerate" nature. The government then decided that a system would be set up to sell as many as possible of the confiscated items abroad to raise hard currency for Government coffers. Four dealers, including Gurlitt, were then given permission to trade such pieces, seeking overseas buyers in return for an agent's commission (the others being Karl Buchholz, Ferdinand Möller and Bernhard Böhmer). When such pieces failed to sell, as was frequently the case, Gurlitt and others were often able, legitimately or illicitly, to add them to their personal collections, or purchase them for a low value. Gurlitt's name appears against many of the entries on a listing compiled by the Ministry of Propaganda and now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum that provides details of the fate of each object, including whether it was exchanged, sold or destroyed.