Nazi-looted art : the Federal government should give back the pictures to Emden's heirs

After a years-long dispute over Nazi-looted, the Federal government will give the two paintings to the heirs of a Jewish owner. The Advisory Commission for the return of Nazi persecution due to missing cultural goods, on Tuesday in Magdeburg.

There is a return of the in the Federal-owned plants, "the view of the Zwinger moat in Dresden" and "the view of the Karl's Church in Vienna" as Canaletto famous Italian landscape painter Bernardo Bellotto (1721-1780) was recommended to the heirs of Max James Emden.

A justification, it was first published. Therefore, was received from the Federal government yet, so no opinion. The competent Authorities of the German Federal office of administration were surprised by the decision. Also, there is no justification.

paintings for the private collection of Hitler purchased

The dispute of the heritage family to take, according to lawyers for 15 years. The city of Emden from Hamburg-born Department store magnate, who was persecuted during the Nazi regime as a Jew, and all his possessions lost.

The paintings were acquired according to lawyers of a Nazi art dealer under value, for the private collection of Adolf Hitler. The photographs taken 1949, and relating to a collection of the allies to the Federal government and later with other works of art owned by the Federal government.

"We are grateful to the Commission for recognising the injustice they have suffered, and our Belief that the sale of the paintings in 1938, was under duress, has confirmed," to quote the lawyers, the Grandson of Max Emden, Juan Carlos Emden, Santiago de Chile.

assets to descendants of the victims to return

From the point of view of the lawyers, the decision involves also the acknowledgment that "the assets of which victims of the Nazi regime to Finance their escape from Nazi Germany, or to the best cost of living in exile have sold to the descendants of the victims should be returned".

conference on Nazi-looted art, much remains to be done in the case of Restitution

Currently, the painting "view of the Karl's Church in Vienna" as a loan to the Museum kunstpalast in Düsseldorf and the "view of the Zwinger moat in Dresden" at the military historical Museum in Dresden. (dpa)