Jewish Museum in Berlin Traces Art Stolen by Nazis

Opening on Friday, Sept. 19, the exhibition consists of 15 artworks along with documents describing their seizure or forced sale, later changes in ownership and ultimate restitution.

Valuable porcelain and book collections from Dresden's intellectual von Klemperer family are included in the show. The Gestapo confiscated the family's collection in 1938, placing it in Dresden's municipal art collection and the Saxony state library.

Before the Second World War, Nazi Germany made it illegal for Jews to own art treasures, forcing them to sell them. Later during the Holocaust, Jewish property throughout eastern Europe was seized by Nazi officials.

Exhibition organizers said Thursday that many of the confiscated paintings and other treasures had still not been recovered by the lawful heirs of the original owners.

Taking responsibility for stolen art

Michael Blumenthal, director of the museum, charged that German art collectors, dealers and museums had all profited by being able to purchase art at reduced prices.

He praised Germany's current efforts to give back the art, but said he was disappointed that heirs had no absolute legal right to reclaim the artworks.

At a ceremony on Thursday evening, Minister of Culture Bernd Neumann called for "fair and just" solutions in returning the work stolen by Nazi officials.

"More than 60 years after the war's end, Germany is unrestrained in its moral responsibility for the restitution of art looted by the Nazis," he said.