Bavarian Government Accused of Concealing Nazi-Looted Art
In the ongoing debate surrounding accusations of concealment in the handling of Nazi-looted art, lawyers representing descendants of Jewish art collectors have placed the blame squarely on the Bavarian state government, particularly Art Minister Markus Blume (CSU).
Years of Struggle for Restitution
Descendants of art dealers such as Alfred Flechtheim, Paul Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, and the Lion brothers have been fighting for years to reclaim works stolen by the Nazis, which are now housed in the Bavarian State Picture Collections. Among these are "Madame Soler" by Pablo Picasso, and paintings by Max Beckmann and Paul Klee.
Allegations of Concealment
A report in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" accused the Bavarian government of a cover-up. The report claimed that an internal list of 200 works had been designated as looted art, but this information had been withheld from the public and even the heirs of the original owners.
Government Response Under Fire
In response, Blume stated that he expected the State Picture Collections to address the allegations thoroughly and promptly. However, this statement drew sharp criticism from the heirs’ attorneys.
Minister’s Responsibility Questioned
"The State Picture Collections are not the ones with the biggest problem here, it’s the ministry," said Markus Stötzel, who represents Flechtheim’s descendants. He accused Blume of attempting to deflect responsibility by shifting the blame to the institution.
"He cannot point fingers when he himself made the decisions," Stötzel emphasized. "The fish stinks from the head."
Publicity and Transparency Demanded
The lawyers argued that the Bavarian government had an obligation to make the internal list public and to inform the heirs of the stolen artworks immediately. They accused the government of withholding information and delaying the restitution process for decades.
"The free state must finally, after more than 20 years, create transparency and must no longer hold up the heirs, wear them down and degrade them to petitioners," they said.
Independent Investigation Call
The lawyers called for an independent investigation into the allegations of concealment, arguing that the government could not be trusted to conduct a fair and unbiased inquiry.
Historical Context
The issue of Nazi-looted art is a complex and sensitive one in Germany. During the Nazi era, numerous works of art were stolen from Jewish collectors and families and later ended up in museums and private collections.
In recent years, there has been a growing international movement to return looted artworks to their rightful owners or their descendants. However, progress has been slow in some cases, with governments and institutions often reluctant to part with artworks that have historical and cultural significance.
Conclusion
The accusations of concealment in the handling of Nazi-looted art by the Bavarian government have cast a dark shadow over the state’s cultural heritage and reputation. The demands of the heirs’ attorneys for transparency, accountability, and restitution are justified, and it is imperative that the government takes swift action to address these concerns.
