dtufail/nuremberg-trials-corpus huggingface dataset:
the Einsatzstab by my organizations." (1015-PS) E. Method of Operation. The staff of the Einsatzstab Rosenberg seized not only "abandoned" art treasures but also treasures which had been hidden, or were left in the custody of depots or warehouses, including art treasures that were already packed for shipment to America. (1015-PS)
Robert Scholz, Chief of the Special Staff for Pictorial Art, described the thoroughness with which the Einsatzstab conducted investigations and seizures:
"* * * These seizures were carried out on the basis of preliminary exhaustive investigations into the address lists of the French Police authorities, on the basis of Jewish handbooks, warehouse inventories and order books of French shipping firms as well as on the basis of French art and collection catalogs.
"* * * The seizure of ownerless Jewish works of art has gradually extended over the whole French territory." (1015-B-PS)
In the East, members of Rosenberg's staff operated directly behind the front in close cooperation with the infantry. (035-PS)
Von Behr, in a progress report dated 8 August 1944, described the method of seizing household furnishings.
"The confiscation of Jewish homes was effected in most cases in such a way that the so-called confiscation officials went from house to house when no records were available of the addresses of Jews who had departed or fled, as was the case for example, in Paris * * * They drew up inventories of these homes and subsequently sealed them ......... "The goods are dispatched first, to large collecting camps from where they are turned over, sorted out and loaded for Germany.
"* * * work shops were established for cabinet-makers, watchmakers, shoemakers, electricians, radio experts, furriers, etc. All incoming goods were diligently sorted out and those not ready for use were repaired
first, to large collecting camps from where they are turned over, sorted out and loaded for Germany. "* * * work shops were established for cabinet-makers, watchmakers, shoemakers, electricians, radio experts, furriers, etc. All incoming goods were diligently sorted out and those not ready for use were repaired. Moreover special boxes were dispatched for the use of special trades * * * "For the sorting out of the confiscated furniture and goods on the invisible assembly line and for the packing and loading, exclusive use was made of interned Jews. Because of its experience as to confiscation, as to working systems within the camps, and as to transportation, the Office West was able to reorganize their entire working system and thus to succeed in providing for the use in Germany of even things which appeared to be valueless such as scrap paper, rags, salvage, etc. * * *" (L-188).
F. Nature, Extent, and Value of Property Seized.
(1) Books, manuscripts, documents, and incunabula. A report on the library of the "Hohe Schule," prepared by Dr
in providing for the use in Germany of even things which appeared to be valueless such as scrap paper, rags, salvage, etc. * * *" (L-188). F. Nature, Extent, and Value of Property Seized. (1) Books, manuscripts, documents, and incunabula. A report on the library of the "Hohe Schule," prepared by Dr. Wunder, lists the most significant book collections belonging to the library and confiscated by the Einsatzstab Rosenberg in accordance with the orders of the Fuehrer, as follows (171-PS):
(approx.)
Alliance Israelite Universelle.................	40,000 Vols.
Ecole Rabbinique...............................	10,000 Vols.
Federation de Societe des Juifs de France.......4,000 Vols.
Lipschuetz Bookstore, Paris.....................20,000 Vols.
Rothschild Family, Paris........................28,000 Vols.
Rosenthaliana, Amsterdam........................20,000 Vols.
Sefardischen Jewish Community, Amsterdam........25,000 Vols.
Occupied Eastern Territories....................280,000 Vols.
Jewish Community, Greece........................10,000 Vols.
"Special Action", Rhineland.....................5,000 Vols.
Other sources...................................100,000 Vols
552,000
An undated report on the activities of the Einsatzstab Working Group, Netherlands, lists Masonic Lodges and other organizations whose libraries and archives have been seized. The report states that 470 cases of books had already been packed and reports materials seized from 92 separate lodges of the "Droit Human", the "Groot Oosten", the "IOOF" and the "Rotary Club". An additional 776 cases containing approximately 160,000 volumes were seized from the International Institute for Social History at Amsterdam. An additional 170 cases were seized from the "Theosophischen Society" and other organizations. (176-PS)
The report further states that the value of the above works is between 30 million and 40 million Reichsmarks
cases containing approximately 160,000 volumes were seized from the International Institute for Social History at Amsterdam. An additional 170 cases were seized from the "Theosophischen Society" and other organizations. (176-PS) The report further states that the value of the above works is between 30 million and 40 million Reichsmarks. Additional materials to be derived from other sources, including 100,000 volumes from the "Rosenthaliana" collection are estimated to have a value of three times that of the above, or an additional 90 million to 120 million Reichsmarks. The estimated over-all value is thus between 120 and 160 million Reichsmarks. (176-PS0
(2) Household furnishings. The entire furniture seizure action, known as "Action M", is summarized in a report of Von Behr, Chief of the Office West, dated 8 August 1944. The report furnished the following statistics on results up to 1 July 1944:
Jewish homes confiscated....................................71,619
Loading capacity required...........cu. ms..................1,079,373
Railroad cars required......................................26,984
Foreign currency and securities confiscated...RM............11,695,516
Scrap metal, scrap paper, and textiles dispatched....kgms....3,191,352
(L-188)
The report goes on to list i detail the number of boxes of miscellaneous items seized, including china (199 boxes), curtains (72 boxes), coat hangers (120 boxes), toys (99 boxes), bottles (730 boxes), etc. The report concludes with an itemized statement of the number of wagons dispatched to various cities throughout Germany, to German camps, to SS Divisions, the German State Railways, the Postal Service, and the Police. (L-188)
(3) Works of Art (East)
curtains (72 boxes), coat hangers (120 boxes), toys (99 boxes), bottles (730 boxes), etc. The report concludes with an itemized statement of the number of wagons dispatched to various cities throughout Germany, to German camps, to SS Divisions, the German State Railways, the Postal Service, and the Police. (L-188) (3) Works of Art (East). With reference to the work of the Einsatzstab in the Eastern Territories, Robert Scholz reported as follows:
"In the course of the evacuation of the territory several hundred most valuable Russian ikons, several hundred Russian paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries, individual articles of furniture and furniture from castles were saved in cooperation with the individual Army Groups, and brought to a shelter in the Reich." (1015-B-PS)
In August 1943, just prior to the loss of Charcow by the Germans, 300 paintings of West European masters and Ukrainian painters, and 25 valuable Ukrainian carpets, mostly from the Charcow museum, were packed and shipped by the Einsatzstab. (707-PS)
Reporting on the withdrawal from the Ukraine, Staff Director Utikal accounted for the removal of the following materials:
From the Museum of Art a Charcow:
Ukrainian paintings..................96
Western European paintings...........185
Wood carvings and etchings...........12
Carpets and tapestries...............25
From the Ukrainian museum in Kiev:
Textiles of all sorts.
Collection of valuable embroidery patterns.
Collection of brocades.
Numerous items of wood, etc. (035-PS0)
In addition Utikal reported shipment of a total of 131 cases containing: 10,186 books, the catalog of the "East" library, art folios, samples of magazines, Bolshevist pictures, and Bolshevist films
of all sorts. Collection of valuable embroidery patterns. Collection of brocades. Numerous items of wood, etc. (035-PS0) In addition Utikal reported shipment of a total of 131 cases containing: 10,186 books, the catalog of the "East" library, art folios, samples of magazines, Bolshevist pictures, and Bolshevist films. Utikal also stated:
"Moreover an essential part of the prehistoric museum was transported away." (035-PS)
Another report on the shipment of works of art from the Ukraine, 12 September 1944, indicated the value of the contents of 85 chests of art objects:
"There are a great many of the oldest ikons, works of famous masters of the German, Dutch and Italian schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as works of the best Russian artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. On the whole, the contents include the most valuable works of the known Ukrainian art possession, which in themselves represent a value of many millions after a cursory appraisal." (055-PS)
Attached to the above report is a detailed inventory listing hundreds of individual objects.
Additional evidence as to the extent of material seized in Kiev is found in a secret note, 17 June 1944, dealing with measures taken prior to the Russian Occupation. The note reported the taking of materials from museums, archives, institutions, etc., during the autumn of 1943 on the order of the Einsatzstab and of the Reichs-commissar. During October there were sent to the Reich 40 Railway trucks, carrying mostly goods belonging to the Central Research Institute of the Ukraine. The report concluded with the statement that when the Soviets entered the town nothing of value was left. (1109-PS)
On 28 September 1941, the General Commissar for White Ruthenia reported the seizure of art treasures in the area of Minsk, destined for Konigsberg and Linz. The value of these confiscations was stated to amount to millions of marks. (1099-PS)
(4) Works of Art (West)
town nothing of value was left. (1109-PS) On 28 September 1941, the General Commissar for White Ruthenia reported the seizure of art treasures in the area of Minsk, destined for Konigsberg and Linz. The value of these confiscations was stated to amount to millions of marks. (1099-PS) (4) Works of Art (West). The Robert Scholz report declared that.
"During the period from March 1941 to July 1944, the Special Staff for Pictorial Art brought into the Reich:
29 large shipments including 137 freight cars with 4,174 cases of art works." (1015-PS)
The report stated that a total of 21,903 art objects of all types had been counted and inventoried, and stated:
"With this scientific inventory of a material unique in its scope and importance and of a value hitherto unknown to art research, the Special Staff for Pictorial Art has conducted a work important to the entire field of art. This inventory work will form the basis of an all-inclusive scientific catalog in which should be recorded history, scope and scientific and political significance of this historically unique art seizure." (1015-B-PS)
The following is a summary of the inventory attached to the report:
Paintings....................10,890
Plastics........................583
Furniture.....................2,477
Textiles.......................583
Hand-made art objects.........5,825
East Asiatic objects..........1,286
Antiquities....................259
Total........................21,903
(1015-B-PS)
The report stated that the above figures would be increased since seizures in the West were not yet completed and it had not been possible to make a scientific inventory of part of the seized objects because of the lack of exports
Total........................21,903 (1015-B-PS) The report stated that the above figures would be increased since seizures in the West were not yet completed and it had not been possible to make a scientific inventory of part of the seized objects because of the lack of exports. (1015-B-PS)
As early as 28 January 1941, Rosenberg stated, with reference to properties seized in France alone:
"* * * the value involved will come close to a billion Reichsmarks." (090-PS)
Scholz, in his report on activities from March 1941 to July 1944, expressed the value of the seizures as follows:
"The extraordinary artistic and material value of the seized art works cannot be expressed in figures. The paintings, period furniture of the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Gobelins, the antiques and renaissance jewelry of the Rothschid's are objects of such a unique character that their evaluation is impossible, since no comparable values have so far appeared on the art market.
"A short report, moreover, can only hint at the artistic worth of the collections. Among the seized paintings, pastels and drawings there are several hundred works of the first quality, masterpieces of European art, which could take first place in any museum. Included therein are absolutely authenticated signed works of Rembrandt van Rijn, Rubens, Frans Hals, Vermeer van Delft, Valasquez, Murillo, Goya, Sebastiano del Piombo, Palma Vecchio, etc.
"Of first importance among the seized paintings are the works of the famous French painters of the 18th Century, with masterpieces of Boucher, Watteau, Rigaud, Largielliere, Rattler, Fragonard, Pater, Danloux and de Troy.
"This collection can compare with those of the best European museums. It includes many works of the foremost French masters, who up to now have been only inadequately represented in the best German museums. Very important also is the representation of masterpieces of the Dutch Painters of the 17th and 18th Centuries
with those of the best European museums. It includes many works of the foremost French masters, who up to now have been only inadequately represented in the best German museums. Very important also is the representation of masterpieces of the Dutch Painters of the 17th and 18th Centuries. First of all should be mentioned the works of van Dyck, Saloman and Jacob Ruisdal, Wouvermann, Terborch, Jan Weenix, Gabriel Metsu, Adrian van Ostade, David Teniers, Pieter de Hooch, Willem van der Velde, etc.
"Of foremost importance also are the represented works of English painting of the 18th and early 19th centuries, with masterpieces of Reynolds, Romney, and Gainsborough. Cranach and Amberger, among the German masters, should be mentioned.
"The collection of French furniture of the 17th and 18th centuries is perhaps even more highly to be evaluated. This contains hundreds of the best preserved and, for the most part, signed works of the best known cabinet-makers from the period between Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Since German cabinetmakers played an important part in this golden age of French cabinetry, now recognized for the first time in the field of art, this collection is of paramount importance. "The collection of Gobelins and Persian tapestries contains numerous world-famous objects. The collection of handicraft works and the Rothschild collection of renaissance jewelry is valuable beyond comparison." (1015-B-PS)
The report refers to 25 portfolios of pictures of the most valuable works of the art collections seized in the West, which portfolios were presented to the Fuehrer. Ten additional portfolios are stated to be in preparation. Thirty-nine leatherbound volumes prepared by the Einsatzstabl contain photographs of paintings, textiles, furniture, candelabra, and numerous other objects of art and illustrate the magnitude and value of the collection made by Einsatzstab Rosenberg.
2. THE GENERAL-GOUVERNEMENT
A. Confiscatory Laws and Decrees
In October 1939 Goering issued a verbal order to Dr
Einsatzstabl contain photographs of paintings, textiles, furniture, candelabra, and numerous other objects of art and illustrate the magnitude and value of the collection made by Einsatzstab Rosenberg. 2. THE GENERAL-GOUVERNEMENT A. Confiscatory Laws and Decrees In October 1939 Goering issued a verbal order to Dr. Muehlmann asking him to undertake the immediate securing of all Polish art treasures. (1709-PS)
On 15 November 1939, Hans Frank, Governor-General for the Occupied Polish Territories, issued a decree providing in part:
"Article 1. 1. All movable and stationary property of the Former Polish State will be sequestered for the purpose of securing all manner of public valuables." (1773-PS).
On 16 December 1939, Frank issued a decree providing in part:
"Article 1. All art objects in public possession in the General Government will be confiscated for the fulfillment of public tasks of common interest insofar as it has not already been seized under the decree on the confiscation of the wealth of the former polish State in the General Government of 15 November 1939 (Verordnungsblatt GGP, p. 37).
"Article 2. With the exception of art collections and art objects which were the property of the former Polish State, art objects will be considered as owned by the public:
"1. Private art collections which have been taken under protection by the special commissioner for the seizure and safekeeping of the art and cultural treasures.
"2. All ecclesiastical art property with the exception of those objects required for the daily performance of liturgic actions.
"Article 3. 1. In order to determine whether art objects are public property in the sense of this regulation, every private and ecclesiastical art possession has to be registered with exact data on the kind, nature and number of pieces.
"2
of those objects required for the daily performance of liturgic actions. "Article 3. 1. In order to determine whether art objects are public property in the sense of this regulation, every private and ecclesiastical art possession has to be registered with exact data on the kind, nature and number of pieces. "2. Everyone who possessed or at the present time is in possession of or else is entitled to dispose of such objects of art since 15 March 1939, is obliged to register the same." (1773-PS)
In order to implement the above decree, the following registration decree was issued in the name of the Governor General by Dr. Muehlmann, Special Deputy for the Securing of Art Treasures:
"Article 2. 1. Objects of artistic, cultural-historical and historical value which originate from the time before 1850, have to be registered.
"2. The registration includes the following:
"a. Paintings.
"b. Sculpture.
"c. Products of handicraft (for instance antique furniture, chinaware, glass, golden and silver objects, Gobelins, rugs, embroideries, lacework, parchmente, etc.).
"d. Drawings, engravings, etc.
"e. Rare manuscripts, musical manuscripts, autographs, book-paintings, miniatures, prints, covers, etc.
"f. Weapons, armors, etc.
"g. Coins, medals, seals, etc.
"3. Regarding the art objects mentioned in section 2, detailed information has to be given if possible, on the master, the time of production, the contents of the representation, measurements and material (for instance, wood, canvas, bronze, etc.)." (1773-PS)
The seizures authorized by the above decrees ripened into confiscation and assumption of ownership by the General Government, with the issuance of the following decree by Frank on 24 September 1940:
"Article 1
of the representation, measurements and material (for instance, wood, canvas, bronze, etc.)." (1773-PS) The seizures authorized by the above decrees ripened into confiscation and assumption of ownership by the General Government, with the issuance of the following decree by Frank on 24 September 1940: "Article 1. The property sequestered on the basis of Article 1, section 1 of the decree on the confiscation of the wealth of the former Polish State within the General government of 15 November 1939 (Verordnungsblatt GGP, page 37) will be transferred to the ownership of the General Government." (1773-PS)
Heinrich Himmler, as Reichscommissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism, issued an "urgent decree" to the regional officers of the Secret Police in the Annexed Eastern Territories and the Commanders of Security Service in Krakau (Charkow), Radom, Warsaw, and Lublin. The decree, 1 December 1939, was circulated on 16 December 1939, the same date as the promulgation for execution of the Art Seizure program. (R-143)
B. Purpose of Art Seizures.
The purpose of the Seizure Program is indicated in the aforementioned Himmler decree:
"I
"1. To strengthen Germanism in the defense of the Reich all articles mentioned in Section II of this decree are hereby confiscated. This applies to all articles located in the territories annexed by the Fuehrer's and Reich Chancellor's decree of 12/10/39, and the General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories. They are confiscated for the benefit of the German Reich and are at the disposal of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism."
IV
"All confiscations made before this decree by authorities of the Reich Fuehrer SS and the Chief of German Police and the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism are hereby confirmed
the German Reich and are at the disposal of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism." IV "All confiscations made before this decree by authorities of the Reich Fuehrer SS and the Chief of German Police and the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism are hereby confirmed. They are to be regarded as made for the benefit of the German Reich and are at the disposal of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism.' (R-143)
The methodical nature of the Art Seizure Program, and the existence of a general policy of confiscation of art treasures, is indicated in section V of Himmler's decree:
"In due course the usual questionnaires for cataloguing confiscated articles are to be sent to the Chief Custodian East." (R-143)
the intention to enrich Germany by the seizures rather than merely to protect the seized objects is indicated in a report by Dr. Hans Posse, Director of the Dresden State Picture Gallery:
"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....and several other works from the National Museum in Warsaw. * * *" (1600-PS)
The avowed purpose of the art treasure seizures was the promulgation of German Culture throughout the Occupied East:
"* * * the result is put down in the catalogue together with reproductions, and this is a definite proof of the penetration of the East by the German Cultural urge." (1233-PS)
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 Government (1233-PS)