The Looting of Jewish and Cultural Objects in Former Yugoslavia

Transcription

The Looting of Jewish and Cultural Objects
in Former Yugoslavia
The HAG Südosten
&
The Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg in Belgrade,
Agram (Zagreb) and Ragusa (Dubrovnik)
Belgrade
Prepared for the Looted Art and Cultural Property Initiative of the Conference on Jewish Material
Claims Against Germany and the World Jewish Restitution Organization
June 2012
This report was prepared by Dr. Ruth Weinberger, Researcher, Conference on Jewish Material
Claims Against Germany.
The report is based on archival records regarding the former Yugoslavia identified in Dr. Patricia
Kennedy Grimsted, Reconstructing the Record of Nazi Cultural Plunder: A Survey of the
Dispersed Records of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR)
(www.iisg.nl/publications/errsurvey). The report and the Survey are activities of the Claims
Conference-WJRO Looted Art and Cultural Property Initiative (see www.claimscon.org/art).
Research at the Bundesarchiv Koblenz was carried out by Dr. Jens Hoppe.
DISCLAIMER
This report represents the results of the current best efforts research of the Claims Conference and
is based upon information obtained by the Claims Conference to date. The Claims Conference
makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and the report should not be relied
upon or used as proof, legal or equitable, as to urrent or past ownership of the items described
within.
This document is a working draft prepared by staff of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims
Against Germany in furtherance of the Claims Conference/WJRO Looted Art and Cultural
Property Initiative. It may contain factual or other errors. Although an attempt has been made to
be comprehensive, there undoubtedly is much information that needs to be added to the
document. Please send corrections and comments to Dr. Wesley A. Fisher, Director of Research,
Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, at wesley.fisher@claimscon.org or to
Dr. Ruth Weinberger, Researcher, Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, at
ruth.weinberger@claimscon.org.
2
This report represents the results of the current best research efforts of the Claims Conference and is based upon
information obtained by the Claims Conference to date. The Claims Conference makes no representation as to its
accuracy or completeness and the report should not be relied upon or used as proof, legal or equitable, as to current
or past ownership of the items described within.
Table of Contents
Introduction
a. Overview of Archival Records
1. Records held at the Bundesarchiv: BArch NS 30 (Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg)
and BArch B 323 (Treuhandverwaltung von Kulturgut bei der Oberfinanzdirektion
München)
2. Records held at the Russian State Military Archive (Rossiiskii Gosudarstvennyi
Voennyi Arkhiv, RGVA) Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg für die besetzten Gebiete
(ERR) (Berlin-Charlottenburg) Fond 1401, 1918-1945 (77 storage units), with copies held
at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: RG 11.001M.21 Einsatzstab
Reichsleiter Rosenberg (Fond 1401), 1939–1943
3. Records held at the National Archives and Record Administration (Fold 3)
3.1. Archival Depiction of Yugoslavia’s Erroneous Restitution: the Ante Topic
Mimara story
4. Records held at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
5. Records held at the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine
6. Records held at the Politisches Archiv Auswärtiges Amt
7. Records held at the Central State Archive of the Highest Agencies
Of Power and Administration of Ukraine
b. Overview of Looted Cultural Objects from Serbia
1. Identifiable Looted Objects
2. Looted Objects with No Identifiable Previous Owners
3. Looted Paintings
3.1. Paintings by Marko and Alexander Celebanović
3
4. Looted Books
4.1. The Nincic Archive
4.2. The Südost Bücherei
4. Looted Objects Identified by ERR Stamps in post-war “Property Art Cards”
c. Overview of Looted Cultural Objects from Croatia
1. Identifiable Looted Objects
2. Objects that were Probably Looted
d. Appendix:
Appendix 1) – M 1942, Offenbach Pictures: Library Markings From Looted Books
Appendix 2) – Ante Topic Mimara Shipments (June 1949)
Appendix 3) – Transport Lists to Yugoslavia (October 1947 – June 1949)
4
Introduction
Picture (1): Partition of Yugoslavia, 1943
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_nm.p
hp?MediaId=2119
Yugoslavia prior to World War II
was home to a thriving Jewish
community. While there are no exact
numbers as to how many Jews had
made Yugoslavia their home,
estimates number around 71,000 to
82,000 Jews. The reason for this
range of estimates is that there were
no statistics, nor exact
documentation on the subject. In
addition, Yugoslavia had a rather high rate of intermarriage, and many Jews regarded themselves
first and foremost as Bosnians, Serbs or Croats and only secondarily as Jews. According to Jozo
Tomasevich1 there was no great anti-Semitism in Yugoslavia prior to the rise of Nazi Germany.
But by the 1930’s Yugoslavia had started to become a transit area for Jewish refugees from
Germany, Austria and other parts of Central Eastern Europe.
While Serbia was under Germany’s direct influence, Croatia, which included Bosnia and
Herzegovina, remained under the control of the Independent State of Croatia. The remaining parts
of Yugoslavia, as shown in the map above, were divided into Hungarian, Italian and Bulgarian
regions of influence. Of the estimated 82,000 Jews living in Yugoslavia on the eve of World War
II, 67,248 or about 82% were murdered during the war years.2
By the end of World War II, all Yugoslav areas under direct or indirect German influence except
for Zagreb were left without Jews. Tomasevich noted that “of the 115 Jewish religious
communities in Yugoslavia, in 1939-40, only the one in Zagreb survived the war.”3
During 1942 and 1944, the ERR (Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg) was operational in Serbia
and in Croatia already by 1941. While its main activities centered around Belgrade, Serbia, which
was under of Nazi military control and referred to as the “altserbisches Reich”,4 the ERR also
1
Tomasevich, Jozo. War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941-1945. Occupation and Collaboration. Stanford
Unversity Press, Stanford: 2001.
2
Tomasevich, Jozo. Chapter 13, Kindle edition.
3
Ibid.
4
NS 30/193: Arbeitsberichte (Jahres-, Monats- und Wochenberichte), Arbeitsunterlagen und Personalnachrichten der
Arbeitsgruppe bzw. HAG Suedosten (Belgrad), 1941-1944; OCC E5g-4, AG Belgrade.
5
reached Agram (Zagreb) and Ragusa (Dubrovnik) in Croatia. Croatia, while an independent
country, was regarded as a Gastland, as a friendly-minded country to Nazi Germany.5
By May 1941, the ERR Dienstelle in Agram
(or otherwise referred to as “Der Deutsche
General in Agram6”), today’s Zagreb, was
fully operational and had already carried out
116 house searches, mostly of members of the
Jewish B’nai’ B’rith Loge.7 In a letter written
by Croatia’s Foreign Ministry on 24 June
1941, the then foreign minister noted that “Das
Sonderkommando Einsatzstab RR für Kroatien
unter der Leitung des Obersturmführers Herrn
Dr. Lauber [head of the ERR in Croatia, sic]
ist bevollmächtigt, in Zusammenarbeit mit den
kroatischen Behörden jüdisches und
Freimaurer-Material sicherzustellen.“
At the end of 1941, Hille succeeded Dr.
Lauber as the ERR’s head in Croatia.
Picture (2): BArch NS 30/193
5
According to the Feldkommandantur 725 (Agram, 27 May 1941),
„Geheim – An sämtliche Einheiten des Standortes Agram,
Der Kampf gegen Juden, Freimaurer und der ihnen verwandten sonstigen weltanschaulichen und
generischen Mächten ist eine vordringliche Aufgabe des Nationalsozialismus während des Krieges. In
Würdigung dieser Tatsache hat der kroatische Staat die Mitarbeit des Einsatzstabes des Reichsleiters
Rosenberg bei den Aktionen gegen Juden und Freimaurern erbeten. Ziel der Arbeit ist, in Kroatien
bestimmtes literarisches und wissenschaftliches Material sicherzustellen, das Aufschluss gibt über die
inneren Verhältnisse der jüdischen Gruppe und ihre internationelen Beziehungen.“ (...)
„Die kroatische Regierung hat angefordert, dass dem Einsatztstab R.R. alles erforderliche Material
unverzüglich zu übergeben ist.“ (...)
„Ich gebe den Offizieren hiervon Kenntnis und habe auch meinerseits die erforderlichen Unterstützung in
Aussicht gestellt. Von Nutzen dürfte es sein, wenn alle diesbezüglichen Wahrnehmungen betreffend
Bücherschränke von Juden und Freimaurern, Aktenschränke usw. dem Einsatzstab R.R. Tomasićeva 10 Tel.
7947, dienstlich übermittelt würden, der dann von sich aus der Beschlagnahme und Sichtung veranlasst.“
Reel 131, Fonds 1401, Opis 1, Folder 3, Center for Preservation of Historical Documentary Collections (formerly
Osobiy Archive), now Russian State Military Archive: Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg für die besetzten Gebiete
(ERR) (Berlin-Charlottenburg) Fond 1401, 1918-1945 (77 storage units), with copies held at the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum: RG 11.001M.21.
6
By 1 November 1942, the office was renamed into “Deutscher Bevollmächtigter General in Kroatien” Kommandanturbefehl Nr. 212, 4 November 1942, Agram (signed by Kossack, Generalmajor) - Reel 131, Fonds
1401, Opis 1, Folder 2, Center for Preservation of Historical Documentary Collections (formerly Osobiy Archive)
7
Reel 131, Fonds 1401, Opis 1, Folder 2, Center for Preservation of Historical Documentary Collections (formerly
Osobiy Archive);
6
Among the ERR’s main tasks in Croatia was scientific research on Jewish influence in the
Balkans.8 However, it was also responsible for the looting of books and archival records,
especially those of the Jewish Community.9
According to a memorandum entitled “Entwurf eines Südosteuropaeinsatzes,” the ERR’s overall
emphasis in Belgrade was similar to that in Croatia: it focused on the looting of libraries and
archival records, and on Jewish ritual objects only in as much as they did not duplicate objects
already confiscated in France, and ideally only if they offered new information.10
Picture (3): M 1946, Yugoslavia Claims, Numbered: 9-312
According to the head of Belgrade’s ERR office,
Dr. Kraft, the Arbeitsgruppe Südost, the ERR’s
internal name for its office in Yugoslavia, only
started its practical work in the Balkans in mid
February 1943. Its office was located in Gospodor
Jovanova 36, Belgrade, in the former offices of
Belgrade’s chief rabbi. 11 It later moved to Obilicev
Venac 27 II u.III.12
By 15 February 1944 the Arbeitsgruppe Südost
(Belgrade) was renamed into the
Hauptarbeitsgruppe Südost and started operating
as an official independent entity.
In 1943 and 1944, in the Hauptarbeitsgruppe
Südost’s most active years, the office was headed
by Obereinsatzführer Dr. Günther Kraft. His
deputy was Werner Untermann.13
8
CXIII, Nr. 287, Memorial de la Shoah, „Haushaltsvorschlag“ (31.12.1941), p. 2.
Grimsted, Patricia Kennedy. Reconstructing the Record of Nazi Cultural Plunder. A Survey of the Dispersed
Archives of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR). IISH Research Papers, 2011, p. 215.
10
Entwurf eunes Südosteuropaeinsatzes, Paris 12 February 1941, Reel 131, Fond 1401, Opis 1, Folder 8.
11
NS 30/193: Arbeitsberichte (Jahres-, Monats- und Wochenberichte), Arbeitsunterlagen und Personalnachrichten
der Arbeitsgruppe bzw. HAG Suedosten (Belgrad), 1941-1944; OCC E5g-4, AG Belgrade.
12
Wochenbericht 22, 23/43 vom 34.5-6.6.43 sowie 7.6-13.6.43, YIVO: Microfilm Nr. MK 542, Berlin Collection,
RG 215, OCCE5G – 4.
13
See NS 30/193, p. 205, 216.
9
7
And while the ERR was able to loot some fine arts,
other Nazi units, including the operational unit
Kunstschutz14 (as part of the Wehrmacht) often
reached the territory earlier and probably
confiscated the majority of the art collections. The
same was probably true for musical instruments and
music scores. In a letter written by Dr. Gerik, the
Bereichsleiter, in May 1943 and addressed to the
Sonderstab Musik, there is a note that the ERR was
too late to participate in the confiscation of musical
instruments from apartments in Belgrade that had
belonged to Jews.15
In one of the ERR’s weekly reports from May 1943,
there is a mention that it had agreed with the
Sicherheitsdienst, the SD, to take over material that
was previously confiscated by the SD.16 Other
archival records, especially regarding the
confiscations of objects in Croatia, also allude to the
fact that similar agreements were probably reached
with other Nazi agencies, such as the Wehrmacht or
the Gestapo, albeit only in very specific cases.
Available restitution documents at the National Archives and Records Administration of the
United States provide an insight into what kinds of objects – other than libraries - were taken by
Nazi agencies operating in Yugoslavia, and not only by the ERR, and of what “value” they were.
Generally speaking, most objects were considered “household” items, such as carpets, forks,
spoons, knives, coffee cups and furniture. Artworks were few and far between.17 Among the
unique objects claimed by Yugoslavia after the war (“Application for the Restitution of Property
from Germany to the Yugoslav Government”) were a Rembrandt stolen from the Yugoslav Royal
14
Grimsted notes in the survey that „,most of the art would probably have been seized by the Kunstschutz, but ERR
book and archive seizures in Croatia and Serbia have been recorded.” Grimsted, Patricia Kennedy. Reconstructing
the Record of Nazi Cultural Plunder. A Survey of the Dispersed Archives of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg
(ERR). IISH Research Papers, 2011, p. 215.
15
NS 30/173, Schriftwechsel mit verschiedenen Rosenberg-Dienststellen in verschiedenen Angelegenheiten.
16
„Besichtigung von eingezogenem Buchbestand im SD. Übernahme des einschlägigen Materials wurde vereinbart.“
Wochenbericht N. 18/43 vom 3.5 – 9.5.43, YIVO, Microfilm Nr. MK 542,Berlin Collection, RG 215, OCCE5G – 4.
17
For more information, see: M 1946, Publication: Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points (“Ardelia Hall
Collection”): Munich Central Collecting Point, 1945-1951, Category: Yugoslavian Claims, Alphabetical and
Category: Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 9 – 312.
8
Family, a flag of Frederick the Great, a painting attributed to Raphael’s school as well as a
painting by Caravaggio, both of which were from the monastery Ostrog-Yugoslavia, and the
inventory books of the Historical Museum Collection Zagreb.
All together, by 1948, the Office of Military Government for Germany (US) Property Division
had received 41718 applications for the restitution of Yugoslav property transmitted by the
Yugoslav Restitution Mission in Germany.19 Among these restitution requests for looted property
were some objects that were clearly looted from Jews. Presumably not all confiscations of Jewish
property were noted as such on the restitution request applications filed with the American Allies
after the war. Equally, the fate of the artworks’ pre-war owners was only rarely mentioned.
18
These included claims for objects looted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia or Slovenia. For example, one
restitution application filed on 31 May 1948 referred to 60 paintings that were stolen from the Jewish Cultural
Society “La Benevolentia” in Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1941, or another restitution application filed on 31 December 1948
referred to 6,500 looted from the Stosmajer gallery in Zagreb, Croatia. M 1946, Category: Category: Yugoslavian
Claims, Numbered: 9 – 312; Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 455A – 1659;
19
M 1946, Category: Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 9 – 312.
9
10
a. Overview of Archival Records
1. Records held at the Bundesarchiv (BArch NS 30, B 323)
Germany’s Federal Archives holds two relevant record groups in regard to the ERR’s activities in
former Yugoslavia.
The first record group is BArch NS 30 „Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg“. Several specific file
records are of interest:
BArch NS 30/1 Einrichtung des ERR, Aufgabenbereiche, Allgemeines 1940-1943
BArch NS 30/32 - Schriftwechsel mit der HAG Südosten, Belgrad, dem
Sonderkommando Italien, Verona, dem Sonderkommando Dänemark,
Kopenhagden 1943-1944
BArch NS 30/77 Berichte über Archive, Band I, 1941-1944
BArch NS 30/173 - Schriftwechsel mit verschiedenen Rosenberg-Dienststellen in
verschiedenen Angelegenheiten
BArch NS 30/174 - Schriftwechsel mit verschiedenen Rosenberg-Dienststellen in
verschiedenen Angelegenheiten
BArch NS 30/175 - Erfassung von Büchern und Versendung an die
Hauptabteilung IV in Ratibor 1943-1944
BArch NS 30/176 - Ausleih-Quittungen für Bücher und Bilder 1943-1944
BArch NS 30/178 - Kunstgegenstände aus Jüdischem Besitz bei der HAG
Südosten (1943)
BArch NS 30/193 - Arbeitsberichte (Jahres-, Monats- und Wochenberichte),
Arbeitsunterlagen und Personalnachrichten der Arbeitsgruppe bzw. HAG
Südosten (Belgrad), 1941-1944; OCC E5g-4, AG Belgrad
The record group BArch NS 30 holds a number of records that detail the function of the HAG
Südosten. The documents provide a unique insight into the activities of this office, it’s
“acquisitions” as well as attempts to successfully compete with other looting agencies in the
plundering of specifically artworks. The record group BArch NS 30 is available online at:
http://startext.net-build.de:8080/barch/MidosaSEARCH/NS30_25600/index.htm
The second record group is BArch B 323 “Treuhandverwaltung von Kulturgut bei der
Oberfinanzdirektion München“. Several specific file records are of interest:
BArch 323/453 - Bearbeitung jugoslawischer Restitutionsansprüche allgemein
[including shipment lists to Yugoslavia]
BArch 323/454 - Bearbeitung von Einzelfällen (Eigentümer/Antragsteller A-Z)
[Files refer to property losses of the Jewish Community in Sarajevo, in particular
those of Dr. Vito Kajon, a Jewish lawyer. However, there is no indication that the
loot was carried out by the ERR.]
11
BArch 323/551 - Rückgabe von Kunstgegenständen an Griechenland, Ungarn,
Italien, Jugoslawien, Luxemburg, Polen [Including shipment lists to Yugoslavia.]
BArch 323/572 - Restitutionen und Rückgaben nach Griechenland,
Großbritannien, Italien, Jugoslawien, Luxemburg, Norwegen, Spanien und in die
Tschechoslowakei (inkl. Irrtümliche Restitutionen nach Jugoslawien)
12
2. Records held at the Russian State Military Archive (Rossiiskii Gosudarstvennyi Voennyi
Arkhiv, RGVA) Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg für die besetzten Gebiete (ERR) (BerlinCharlottenburg) Fond 1401, 1918-1945 (77 storage units), with copies held at the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum: RG 11.001M.21 Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg
(Fond 1401), 1939–1943
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum holds the file record RG 11.001M.21, reel 131
and 132. All of these documents were filmed at the then Center for Preservation of Historical
Documentary Collections (formerly the Osobiy Archive), now the Russian State Military Archive
(Rossiiskii Gosudarstvennyi Voennyi Arkhiv, RGVA). The specific records are entitled
Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg für die besetzten Gebiete (ERR) and range from Fond 1, Opis
1, Folder 5 to Folder 47.
The records provide invaluable information on the looting of the ERR in Croatia. After a few
general documents that provide a necessary background on the environment established by the
ERR in Croatia and by the Ustasa regime, the files hold index cards of house raids that were
carried out by the ERR mostly in Zagreb, formerly Agram and to a lesser extent in Dubrovnik,
formerly Ragusa. These index cards not only provide information on whose house was looted, but
also who conducted the raid, when it took place, what was taken and in some cases what the fate
of the victim was (i.e. arrest or if he/she managed to escape). The index cards also provide
information on the ethnic background of the victim, if he or she was Jewish, but also if the person
in question was a Freemason and which association he/she had as a result of it. Lastly, the index
cards also describe the ERR’s ongoing frustration with the fact that it was not the first Nazi
looting agency, or simply Nazi agency, that reached Agram. For example, the index cards
mentioning the “Juedischer Nationalakademischer Verein”, the “Juedischer Akademischer
Unterstuetzungsverein” or the “Zionistenbund,” note that due to the fact that the Gestapo took
over the house/institution no material could be sealed off and consequently looted. The ERR
faced similar obstacles with the Ustasa regime, the Wehrmacht or the Sicherheitsdienst.
Reel 132 repeats most of that information in yet different index cards that were mostly aimed to
exemplify Freemason memberships and associations. Reel 132 also provides ample information
on the anti-Semitic conditions that started to take a hold in Croatia, from the elimination of
Jewish medical professionals to for example the exclusion of Jewish music teachers from the
work force.
Other information contained in these records are for example:
Fond 1401, Opis 1, Folder 32 – provides a listing of Jewish authors
Fond 1401, Opis 1, Folder 34 – provides a Curriculum Vitae of Rabbi Schwarz
Fond 1401, Opis 1, Folder 36 – provides a listing of book titles
Fond 1401, Opis 1, Folder 45 – provides a listing of Jewish authors
13
3. Records held at the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) (Fold 3)
Several record groups are of interest:
M 1941 - Records concerning the Central Collecting Points (Ardelia Hall Collection):
OMGUS
Series: General Records
Category: E9 Summaries, PWE/OSS Daily Intelligence (By December 2011, 11%
of the images had been digitized by Fold 3.)
The record group contains applications for the restitution of property from
Germany to the Yugoslav Government
M 1942 - Records concerning the Central Collecting Points (Ardelia Hall Collection):
Offenbach Archival Depot, 1946-1951
Series: Cultural Object Restitution and Custody Records
Category: Yugoslavia OAD 19
The record group contains for example a section on “Shipments to Yugoslavia” or
among the subcategory Ardelia Hall Collection: Offenbach Photographs, there is a
separate section on library markings of looted books, including Yugoslavia.
(By December 2011, the archival section had been 100% digitized by Fold 3.)
M 1944 - Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic
and Historical Monuments in War Areas (The Roberts Commission), 1943-1946
Series: Country Card File; Geographical Working Files
Category: Yugoslavia Cities; Yugoslavia
This section provides, for example, an overview of libraries and archives (based
on the United Nations Office from 1943)
M 1947 - Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points ("Ardelia Hall Collection"):
Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point, 1945-1952
Series: Restitution Claim Records
Category: Claim: [Yugoslavia] – Royal Family of Yugoslavia
M 1946 - Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points (“Ardelia Hall Collection”):
Munich Central Collecting Point, 1945-1951
1) Series: Restitution Claim Records
Categories: Yugoslavian Claims, Alphabetical; Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 9
– 312, Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 455A – 1659; Yugoslavia: Identification
of Paintings of Doubtful Origin (1945-1951), Yugoslavia: Mersmann Statements
To Stefan Munsing And Lists Of Items, Yugoslavia Minor Arts Claim,
Yugoslavia: Munich 5058/Berchtesgaden 20/25 [Property Card], Yugoslavia:
14
Munich 5530/Berchtesgaden 485 [Property Card], Yugoslavia: Munich
5577/Berchtesgaden 532 [Property Card], Yugoslavia: Munich
7035/Berchtesgaden 1985 [Property Card], Yugoslavia: Munich 47865/Ansbach
1234 [Property Card], Yugoslavia: Receipts, Yugoslavia: Transport Lists,
Yugoslavia: Carpets and Tapestries; Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution,
Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution Communications, Erroneous Restitution,
General Information
2) Category: Custody Receipts on Restitution to Yugoslavia
Series: Cultural Object Movement and Control Records
The records held at the National Archives provide a very unique overview of what kind and how
many artworks were claimed by Yugoslavia at the end of the war. This is especially interesting,
as the looting of Yugoslavia’s artworks, of Jewish, Masonic or other origin, was not carried out
by one Nazi looting agency, such as the ERR, rather by many Nazi agencies. Dr. Meresman at the
Office of Military Government for Bavaria pointed out to Mr. Stephen P. Munsing, Chief,
MFMA Section, Restitution Branch, Munich Central Collecting Point, in a letter from April 1949
that “In many cases the documentation of the Yugoslavian claims is very small. The confiscations
in Yugoslavia have been executed by various single units of the German Forces (SS). Therefore
no lists and proper catalogisation was made (as f.i. in France). Fully documented traces lead to
the collection of Göring (silver bar) and Hitler (the gobelins). In view of the fact that the
Yugoslav claim will last against Germany in case we can’t correspond to it, and in view of the
fact that the Yugoslavian mission is the last of the foreign missions in CCP, it seems available to
accept such documentation as given in the Yugoslavian claims except for items of high artistic
quality. The possessors of a real work of art can be supposed to give a detailed description in
case of loss, whereas for forks, dishes or textiles such description seems nearly impossible.”20
The American Allies approved and sent seven restitution shipments to Yugoslavia, or in other
words shipped 175 objects to Yugoslavia. The first shipment was sent on 27 October 1947, and
held 6 objects. The second shipment on 10 May 1948 held one object, the third, sent on 28 May
1948, held two objects, the forth, sent on 2 June 1949, 108 objects, the fifth, on 2 June 1949, 4
objects, the sixth, sent on 10 June 1949, one object and the seventh shipment, sent on 10 June
1949, held 53 objects. Aside from these shipment lists, the archival record group 1946 also
contains information on the provenance of some of the objects “restituted” to Yugoslavia, or in
other words, their erroneous restitution to the country.
20
M 1946, Yugoslavian Restitution, 12. April 1949, Office of Military Government for Bavaria, APO 407.
Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section, Central Collecting Point, Date: 12 April 1949, Subject: Yugoslavian
Restitution; http://www.fold3.com/image/#270069300.
15
The records held at the National Archives therefore provide information on one of the biggest
fake claims for artworks and other cultural objects in the history of restitution, the case of Ante
Topic Mimara.21
21
The available records on Mimara’s coup can be found in the record group M 1946, Yugoslavia: Identification of
Paintings of Doubtful Origin (1945-1951), Yugoslavia: Mersmann Statements To Stefan Munsing And Lists Of
Items, Yugoslavia: Receipts and Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution.
16
3.1. Archival Depiction of Yugoslavia’s Erroneous Restitution: The Ante Topic Mimara
Story
Ante Topic Mimara was a Yugoslav national, an art collector and dealer before and during the
war, and by 1946 the appointed official advisor to the Yugoslav Military Mission for restitution
matters. In 1949, Mimara submitted a claim for restitution covering 166 art objects, including 56
paintings, which “he maintained, had been looted from Yugoslavia by the Nazis.”22
The claims for restitution by the Yugoslav Mission came rather surprisingly. Until that point, the
American Allies had not considered Yugoslavia to be one of the main countries to file for
restitution of artworks. However, the 166 claims submitted provided details that were considered
to be truthful.23
Picture (6): M 1946, Yugoslavia: Receipts
Picture (7): M 1946, Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution
The same year, Stephen Munsing, a
representative of the Office of Military
Government for Bavaria, authorized four
shipments which contained these 166 objects.
Only three out of these 166 objects originated
from Yugoslavia, or in other words, 163 objects
were falsely restituted. The American Allies
soon realized their mistake and put a lot of
effort into rectifying their mistake, by
contacting Yugoslavia and trying to track down
22
Akinsha, Konstantin. "The Master Swindler of Yugoslavia" ARTnews, September 2001 (article available at:
http://www.lootedart.com/MFEU4T15383)
23
Kemp, Wolfgang. Lizenz zum Raffen. Die Geschichte des legendenumwobenen und höchst zwielichten
Geheimagenten und Kunstsammlers Ante Topic Mimara aus Kroatien. Zeit Online, 28 Februar 2002.
17
Ante Topic Mimara24, however to no avail. At the end, the US State Department decided to better
not notify the affected countries but to cover up their mistake. The files available at the National
Archives provide in-depth insight into the efforts taken and the final decision that it better not risk
any diplomatic misunderstandings with other countries or even risk America’s standing in the
world and what was otherwise seen as a very successful restitution process.
A confidential note by Ardelia Hall from August 14, 1956, notes that:
Picture (8): M 1946, Category: Yugoslavia:
Erroneous Restitution Communications
According to record group
“Yugoslavia: Erroneous
Restitution” 166 items were
delivered erroneously to Yugoslavia
in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th shipments.
These objects, including 47
paintings, belonged to France, Italy,
Germany, Netherlands or for
example Austria.25
Picture (9): Yugoslavia: Erroneous
Restitution
24
In a Foreign Service Dispatch on May 6, 1954 to the American Embassy in Belgrade there is a note that “.. they
have been unable to locate Mr. Topic nor have they been able to establish pertinent facts about the alleged
restitution.” M 1946, Category: Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution Communications; In a Department of State
Memorandum from October 10, 1955, there is even mention of the CIA’s involvement in tracking down Ante Topic
Mimara. M 1946, Category: Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution Communications.
25
In a letter from Mr Crutcher to Ardelia Hall on March 10,1954 with the subject header “Restitution in Error to
Yugoslavia,” he notes that “in June 1949, restitution receipts were signed by Stefan P. MUNSING Chief, MFMA
Section, Restitution Branch, Munich Central Collecting Point, Germany and Mr. Mate TOPIC, Yugoslavian
Restitution Mission for the delivery of the following works of art:
2 June 1949, Restitution Receipt No. 4 for 105 items
10 June 1949, Restitution Receipt No. 6 for 1 item
Making a total of 166 items (approximately 47 paintings), 54 carpets and other objects of art.
M 1946: Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution Communications
18
Among those objects erroneously restituted were for example two paintings that originally had
belonged to the Rothschild family and had been looted by the ERR. Most of the artworks
“restituted” to Ante Topic Mimara were paintings collected by such notorious Nazis as Hermann
Goering or Martin Borman. Some paintings were even destined for Hitler’s Führer Museum in
Linz.26
ERR loot was part of these erroneous restitutions to Yugoslavia; especially was ERR loot among
the 6th and 7th shipments to Yugoslavia, since many of these items had originated from the
Buxheim ERR depository.27 In a letter with the subject header “Documentation for 166 objects
delivered in error to Mr. Topic” to Mr. Raymond from Ardelia Hall on 5 March 1956, she notes
that “the 166 objects can be readily identified (from the repository and identifying mark), as
having been in Hitler’s collection (Aussee), Goering’s collection (Berchtesgaden), or ERR loot
from France (Buxheim) with a few stray items picked up separately by U.S., place and holder in
the MCCP file.” (…) “Any previous information relating to history and ownership apparently had
been deleted. Only ‘confiscated in Yugoslavia’ had been typed on each card, under history.”28
Some of the objects claimed by Ante Topic Mimara were not “restituted” to Yugoslavia. In those
instances it was rather obvious that the claimed objects belonged to another country, which in
some cases had already submitted evidence: Among these cases was for example restitution
record 1408, Munich Number 35224, which involved one copy of a valuable Koran.
In 1973, Ante Topic Mimara gave a large portion of his remaining collection to the Croatian
Republic for the soon be established Mimara Museum. Other works probably found their way
into the National Museum in Belgrade.29
He died in 1986.
26
The Datenbank zum Central Collecting Point Munich, which was created by the German Historical Museum
(http://www.dhm.de/datenbank/ccp/dhm_ccp.php?seite=9) lists a few artworks that were erroneously restituted to
Yugoslavia and were originally destined for the Führermuseum in Linz. For example the painting Früchte-Stillleben
mit Melone by Beyeren (1945), carrying the Munich ID number 3951, was destined for the Führermuseum, but ended
up in Topic’s hands. (“Einlieferung: Heinrich Hoffmann / München, Kunsthandel Deutschland, 1940 verkauft;
Verbleib: Jugoslawien (irrtümlich dorthin restituiert“).Or, an other example: Tanz um das goldende Kalb, by Nicolas
Poussin, carrying Munich ID number 4841: „Einlieferung: Dorotheum Versteigerungs-Anstalt / Wien (Kunsthandel
Österreich, 1944 verkauft); Verbleib: Jugoslawien (irrtümlich dorthin restituirt).
27
The former Cistercian abbey of Buxheim was especially used for ERR loot from France (Grimsted, Patricia
Kennedy. Reconstructing the Record of Nazi Cultural Plunder. A Survey of the Dispersed Archives of the
Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR). IISH Research Papers, 2011, p.36.)
28
M 1946, Yugoslavia: Erroneous Restitution Communications.
29
Akinsha, Konstantin. "The Master Swindler of Yugoslavia" ARTnews, September 2001 (article available at:
http://www.lootedart.com/MFEU4T15383).
19
4. Records held at YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
The records held at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research are for the most part the original
records that were subsequently scanned in by the Bundesarchiv and are now online accessible as
part of BArch NS 30.
The following records are not available among the Bundesarchiv records:
Microfilm Nr. MK 542: Berlin Collection, RG 215, OCCE5G-5
This specific record group holds very few relevant documents regarding the ERR’s plunder of
Jewish or other property. Overall most documents deal with educational material regarding what
was then labeled as “Bolschewismus,” or center on the acquisition of scientific and/or academic
material that dealt with Jews or for Freemasons. One relevant document points to the potential
looting of the Reichskreditkasse Belgrade.

Microfilm Nr. MK 542: Berlin Collection, RG 215, OCCE5G – 3
(Sorted in the YIVO Archive into OCCE5G 3.1. – 3.4.)
This record group contains an overview of book lists collected by the Hauptarbeitsgruppe Südost
OCCE5G 3.1.
Sachgruppe VIII –Kiste 30 „Allgemeine Sachliteratur zur Juden- und Rassenfrage in anderen Sprachen
(nicht über Jugoslawien)
Sachgruppe XVI – Bücherkiste 40 „Verschiedenes (politische Literature, fremdsprachige Bücher)
Sachgruppe V – Bücherkiste 41 „Ungarische Belletristik“
Sachgruppe VI – Bücherkiste 41 „Ungarische Wissenschaften“
Sachgruppe XII – Bücherkiste 41 „Romanliteratur zur Judenfrage (in allen Sprachen)“
OCCE5G 3.2.
Sachgruppe XIII – Bücherkiste 6 „Antideutsche Literatur (in allen Sprachen), Emigranten Literatur,
Marxistische Literatur, politische Literatur, Bolschewismus“
Sachgruppe II- Bücherkiste 51 „ Balkanwissenschaften S.K.S. (Balkanpolitik)“
Sachgruppe VIII – Bücherkiste 6 „Allgemeine Sachliteratur zur Juden- und Rassenfrage in anderen
Sprachen (nicht über Jugoslawien)
Sachgruppe VIII – Bücherkiste 28 „Allgemeine Sachliteratur zur Juden- und Rassenfrage in anderen
OCCE5G 3.3
Sachgruppe I – Bücherkiste 44 “Belletristik in serbischer, kroatischer & Slovenischer Sprache”
Sachgruppe I – Bücherkiste 45 “Belletristik in serbischer, kroatischer & Slovenischer Sprache”
Sachgruppe VIII – Nachtrag zu Kiste 46 „Allgemeine Sachliteratur zur Juden- und Rassenfrage in anderen
Sachgruppe II- Bückerkiste 49 „ Balkanwissenschaften S.K.S. (Balkanpolitik)“
OCCE5G 3.4
20
Sprachen (nicht über Jugoslawien) & Nachtrag
Sachgruppe XVI – Bücherkiste 40 „Verschiedenes (politische Literature, fremdsprachige Bücher)
Sachgruppe XII – Bücherkiste ? „Romanliteratur zur Judenfrage (in allen Sprachen)“
21
5. Records held at the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine
The Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine holds one file record that is relevant to the
ERR’s activities in Yugoslavia:
1) CX III, Nr. 287 - Cartons from the Collection Archive de Nuremberg, Rosenberg
The files provide background information on the formation of an ERR mission in Zagreb
(Agram) as part of the Deutsches Kulturinstitut. There are also a couple of
Haushaltsvorschläge dated with December 1941, that illustrate the cultural and scientific
mission of the ERR to Zagreb (Agram).
22
6. Records held at the Politisches Archiv Auswärtiges Amt
The files Archivband Paris 1321 held at the Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes provide
rather little detail on the activities of the ERR in Belgrade. While most files refer to the
Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg in general (i.e. a letter signed by Göring noting that
Rosenberg’s ERR is to be supported) and its mission, a letter by the Auswärtiges Amt, dated with
16 May 1941, notes that the ERR had moved to Belgrade and Athens in order to carry out
Rosenberg’s mission to secure material on Jews and Freemasons.
23
Picture (10): Archivband Paris 1321, Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes
24
7. Records held at the Central State Archive of the Highest Agencies of Power and
Administration of Ukraine
Picture (11):
Standorttagesbefehl Nr. 110
(Cipher, p 3676, Op. 2, 26),
Central State Archive of the
Highest Agencies of Power
and Administration of
Ukraine
The records held at the
Central State Archive
of the Highest
Agencies of Power and
Administration of
Ukraine provide very
little information on
specific looting
activities of the ERR in
Belgrade or elsewhere
in Yugoslavia. Rather
are these documents
testament to the
ideological warfare that
was carried out by the
ERR, including the
ERR offices in
Yugoslavia.30
The only relevant
document is a
Standorttagesbefehl
Nr. 110 (Cipher, p
3676, Op. 2, 26) page 4
entitled “Erfassung
gegnerischer Archive,
Bibliotheken usw”
noting that “alle Inhaber von Unterkünften und Quartieren zur geistigen Bekämpfung der
30
For example, a report produced by the ERR office in Belgrade was entitled “Die russischen Emigranten und ihre
kulturelle und politische Bedeutung in Serbien (Jugoslawien) von 1920 bis zur Gegenwart” (1944),
„Stimmungsberichte,“ produced in March of 1944, or for example, „Beiträge zur Geschichte der Freimaurer in den
südslawischen Ländern (March 1944).
25
gegnerischen Mächte die übernomene Bestände von Bibliotheken, Bücher, Archive u. dergl. auch
geringeren Umfanges, zwecks ordnungsgemässer Erfassung unmittelbar an Sonderkommando
des Einsatzstabes Rosenberg Belgrad, Gospodar Jovanova 36 zu melden.“
26
b. Overview of Looted Cultural Objects from Serbia
I. Identifiable Looted Objects
Source31
Looted Object (s)
BArch NS
30/173
scientific material
University Professor
(manuscripts, lectures,
Dr. Berth Hatschek
correspondence,
(Vienna)32
including correspondence
with Dr. Ernst Haeckel,
etc.);
BArch NS
30/193
Owner
Date
Notes
1943;
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Einsatzstab
Reichsleiter
Rosenberg,
Arbeitsgruppe
31
The following information is taken from documents held at the Bundesarchiv, Germany’s Federal Archives.
According to BArch NS 30/193, Monatsbericht Februar 1943:
„Ferner Übernahme einiger grosser Koffer mit Korrespondenzmaterial, Personalien, wissenschaftlichen
Manuskripten und Vorlesungen des Juden Prof. Dr. Matschek (Hatschek) – ehemals Prag und Wien, desgl. aus dem
Nachlass seiner Frau geb. Rosenthal, Kunstmalerin, Fachzeitschriften und Skizzen, Portraits und einger Requisiten.
(...)
1. Juden – zur Überführung nach Frankfurt a.M.
2. Kunstschriftum – zur Verfügung Sonderstab BK
3. Belletristik, Reiseschrifttum, Naturwissenschaften, - zur Verfügung des I c, Truppenbetreuung für
Soldaten- u. Lazarettbüchereien, nach vorheriger Sichtung –
4. Emigrantenschrifftum – Belletristik, Politik, Kulturgeschichte, Sittengeschichte, unerwünschtes
Schrifttum – zur Überführung nach Berlin, Stabsführung.
5. fremdsprachliches Schrifttum (serbisch, kroatisch, ungarisch, französisch u.a.), darunter
Übersetzungen von Emigranten (Zweig, Mann u.a.), Überführung an Stasführung, nach vorheriger
Sichtung –
6. Wörterbücher – fremdsprachige, werden zunächst in der Dienststelle konzentriert
7. Classica – zur Überlassung an das Deutsche Wissenschaftliche Institut Belgrad, vorgeschlagen
(Goethe, Grillparzer, Shakespeare - ?- , Koerner, Schiller, u.a. einwandfreue Ausg.)
8. Antiquaria – alte deutsche Enzyklopädien und Wörterbücher, Klassiker, Bibeldrucke u.a. zur
Verfügung Stabsführung nach Aufstellung –
9. landeskundl. Schrifttum – über den ehem. Jugoslawischen Raum – wird in Diensstelle zunächst
konzentriert, das politisch-historische Schrifttum (z.B. zur Kriegsschuldfrage 1914) in einer
kleinen Sonderabteilung hier aufgestellt –
- WEITERE ARBEITSVORHABEN UND BEARBEITUNGEN –
B) Sichtung und Auslese des Archives Prof. Hatschek (etwa 3 grosse Koffer Material von Feldkommandatur
übernommen), darunter: pers. Briefwechsel, Stammbücher m. Eintragungen von Prof. Ernst Haeckel, der (mit)
Hatschek befreundet war -, Fotosammlungen, Diapositive, Urkunden, wissenschaftliches Arbeitsmaterial aus der
Lehrtätigkeit von Hatschek –
C) Sichtung und Auslese des Nachlasses Frau Hatschek Rosenthal (Kunstmalerin)
D) Sichtung, Auslese und Bereitsstellung für Sonderbeauftragten Bildende Kunst des Gemäldesammlung (aus
dem Besitz Hatschek-Rosenthal u.a. Juden) in der Feldkommandatur.“
32
27
BArch NS
30/193
260 paintings
BArch NS
30/173
Cultural estate of Marie
Rosenthal-Hatschek;
collection of paintings,
antiquities, as well as
letters and pictures, with
the known Jewish pianist
Moritz Rosenthal
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/32
BArch NS
30/174
Dr. Berth Hatschek
(Vienna)
Marie RosenthalHatschek
Estate Rosenthal
Pianist Moritz
Rosenthal
archival material;
Hebrew books; Jewish
newspapers in SerboCroatian; books on
Freemasons;
Jüdisch Sephardische
Kultusgemeinde
Belgrad
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
collection of paintings
(30 wall paintings, oil on
canvases, portraits)
archival material in
Serbo-Croatian
(Jewish Sephardic
Community, Belgrade)
Jewish Community
Belgrade
Rotary-Club (Kralja
Petra Belgrade)
Südosten
Anlage II, zum
Monatsbericht
März 1943
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944;
Einsatzstab
Reichsleiter
Rosenberg,
Arbeitsgruppe
Südosten
Anlage II, zum
Monatsbericht
März 1943
Einsatzstab
Reichsleiter
Rosenberg,
Arbeitsgruppe
Südosten
Anlage II, zum
Monatsbericht
März 1943
1944
(Auswertung);
Jahresbericht des
ERR in Belgrad
1943/1944
The entire Marie
RosenthalHatschek estate
was confiscated by
the ERR in 1941;33
Brother of Marie
RosenthalHatschek;
Part of the material
was forwarded to
the Sonderstab
Musik;
Wochenbericht
des ERR Belgrad,
No. 20/43
1944
(Auswertung);
33
According to a letter written by Dr. Wunder, Obereinsatzführer, to the ERR Stabsführung/IV on 28 August 1944,
the paintings by Ms. Rosenthal were to be sent to the Sonderstab Bildende Kunst in Kogl close to St. Georgen.
(BArch NS 30/32; Schriftwechsel mit der HAG Südosten, Belgrad, dem Sonderkommando Italien, Verona, dem
Sonderkommando Dänemark, Kopenhagden 1943-1944)
28
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
BArch NS
30/174
archival material in
Serbo-Croatian.
Bnai B’rith, Belgrade
Sheets of music
Jewish Communal
Property (same as
Jewish Community
Belgrade?)
Grossloge Jugoslavija
(Kralja milutina
Belgrade)
archives
[protocols, pictures,
newsletters, stamps, etc.)
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/175
BArch NS
30/175
BArch NS
30/174
ritual objects
library (6000 volumes);
[s. Sonderbericht
Bel/113];
Grossloge Jugoslavija
(Kralja milutina
Belgrad)
Minister Nintschitsch
(Education ministry)
[alternative spelling:
Nincic]34
BArch NS
30/175
BArch NS
34
1944
(Auswertung)
Aktenvermerk
Nr. 3, 27.10.1943
(NS 30/175)
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
Jahresbericht des
ERR in Belgrad
1943/1944
1944
(Auswertung);
Jahresbericht des
ERR in Belgrad
1943/1944
archive [letter exchange
with Benesch, Graf
Sforsza, Mussolini,
Pasic; reports on the
Foreign Minister
Nintschitsch (Oblicev
Venać 27)
1944
(Auswertung);
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944;
Wochenbericht
des ERR No
21/43; Erfassung
von Büchern und
Versendung an
die
Hauptabteilung
IV in Ratibor
1943-1944
1944
(Auswertung);
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
[there is an additional
note of the acquisition
in YIVO: Microfilm
Nr. MK 542, Berlin
Collection, RG 215
OCCE5G – 4,
Wochenbericht 13/43
vom 29.3. – 4.4.43]
Archive was looted
in May 1943. (NS
30/77; letter, dated
with 20 February
Grimsted provides the following spelling of his name: Dr. Moimčilo Ninčić (1876-1949). Grimsted, p. 421.
29
30/193
BArch NS
30/77
diplomatic mission to
Paris, London, Berlin);
(s. Sonderbericht
Bel/109)]35
BArch NS
30/174
10,000 books in Serbian,
German and Hungarian
City hall library Semlin
books
Jewish library in
Dedinje
Jevtic (Min. Jevtitch)
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
BArch NS
30/174
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/174
books
archive
1943/1944;
BArch NS
30/174
letters, documents,
photos
BArch NS
30/17436
archive
BArch NS
30/193
2,500 books
Jüdischer
Kulturverband für
Jugoslawien (Jewish
Cultural Union for
Yugoslavia)
Zionistischen
Auswanderungszentrale
(„zionist“ emigration
office)
Jugoslawische
Emigranten –
Betreuungszentrale
(Yugoslavia’s office for
emigrants)
Bosnic estate
BArch NS
30/193
library: 10,725 books
[philosophical and
Dr. Vladimir Corović
Berichte über
Archive
Band I
1941-1944
1944
(Auswertung);
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
1944
(Auswertung)
1944
(Auswertung)
Wochenbericht
des ERR No
21/43
1944
(Auswertung)
1944, and signed
by Dr. Kaft, Leiter
der Dienststelle,
Haupteinsatzführer)
1944
(Auswertung)
1944
(Auswertung)
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
35
Please see section 4.1. for a detailed list of Dr. Nincic’s archive.
The archival record group BArch NS 30/173 also holds information on the amount of books that were looted
sometime before March 1944, however there is no reference as to which specific books nor who the original owners
might have been. Additionally, archival holding BArch NS 30/193 refers in its “Jahresbericht 1943/1944” to about
108 boxes of books that were already looted (presumably before 1943) and were partially forwarded to Ratibor.
36
30
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/193
BArch NS
30/175
BArch NS
historical reports; loan to
the Deutsches
Wissenschaftl. Inst.
Belgr.]
Certificate from Maria
Theresia and the
„Germanenzeit“.
[Sonderliste 1941 nach
Bln]
historical and political
literature, about 1,200
books
medical, political and
historical literature, light
fiction; 2-2500 volumes37
(600 newspapers)
30 books (Jewish
[Rackog. 6, Belgrad]
1943/1944
Patriarchat Karlowitz
(Croatia)
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Prof. Djordje Bazsrević
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Dr. Alexander Petrović, Jahresbericht des
Arzt, head of the
ERR Belgrad
Zentralhygienischen
1943/1944;
Institute, Belgrade
Wochenbericht
des ERR No
[resided in: Radzi
27/43;
Milentijeva 4]
Wochenbericht
des ERR Nr. 41;
Aktenvermekr fü
den
Dienststellenleiter
(13.7.43; NS
30/175)
Julius Schalllinger,
Jahresbericht des
37
According to BArch NS 30/193, Wochenbericht No. (?), v. 11.7. – 17.7.43 and Wochenbericht No. 29/43 v. 18.7 –
23.7.43:
„Nach Sprachen geordnet sind vorhanden:
Deutsch............... 467 Bücher
Französisch ........... 420 Bücher
Englisch ..............790 Bücher
Serbisch ....... 320 Bücher
Russisch, ital. ..........300 Bücher
Sprachbücher ...............100
Kalender .............20
Die Gruppe „Deutsch“ wurde nach Untergruppen geordnet und durchgesehen. Der gesichtete Bestand enthält:
Medizin.............113 Bücher
Lehr- und Unterrichtsbücher ................186 B
Jüdische Bücher ........21 B
(für die Südostbücherei wurden ausgesucht – 37 Bücher, geeignet für eine Ostbücherei waren: 129)
„Unter den 21 jüdischen Büchern ist Heinrich Heine ‚Buch der Lieder’ (3x). ‚Klabund’ (3x) vorhanden. 3 Bücher
stammen aus Emigrantenverlagen.“
31
30/193
literature)
architect, Belgrade
BArch NS
30/193
250 books und
newspapers in Hungarian
Michael Goldner,
Belgrade
BArch NS
30/193
books
Serbian Cultural
(Büchererfassungsaktion) Ministry, Belgrade
BArch NS
30/193
books
Deutschen
(Büchererfassungsaktion) Volksgruppe im Banat
BArch NS
30/193
books (600 volumes;
historical and agricultural
content) (second
mention: 1,200 books)
Prof. Dr. Lazarovitsch
(Prof. Djordje
Lazarevic) [resided on
Jove Illica 90]
BArch NS
30/193
ca. 300 volumes of
Serbian and German
literature
Lazar Millin (Milan
Lazar)
BArch NS
30/175
book collection (Die
diplomatischen Akten des
Auswärtigen Amtes - 6
Bde.; Die deutschen
Dokumente zum
Kriegsausbruch - 1
Band)
Reichskreditakasse
(Kralja Milana II,
Belgrad)
[previously: Jadranska
Banka]
about 500 books, musical
sheets and magazines
Alkayla (Alkalay)
BArch NS
30/175
YIVO,
Berlin
Collection,
RG 215,
OCCE5G-5
YIVO,
Berlin
Collection,
RG 215
OCCE5G –
4
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Jahresbericht des
ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
Wochenericht des
ERR Belgrad,
No. 20/43;
Wochenbericht
des ERR No
27/43;
Aktenvermerk für
den
Dienststellenleiter
(5.7.43)
Wochenbericht
des ERR No
21/43;
Wochenbericht
des ERR No.
37/43
Aktenvermerk für
den
Dienststellenleiter
(21.6.43)
Wochenbericht
19/43 vom 10.5 –
16.5.43
32
BArch NS
30/193 Jahresbericht
des ERR
Belgrad
1943/1944
33
II. Looted Objects with no identifiable previous owner
Source38
Looted Object (s)
BArch NS 30/173
BArch NS 30/32
painting of Johann Strauss with dedication
music supplies (i.e. sheets of music)39
BArch NS 30/32
books (including The Jewish Encyclopedia,
Jewish themed books) – TOGETHER:
1,756 books40
BArch NS 30/193
– Jahresbericht
des ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
BArch NS 30/193
– Jahresbericht
des ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
BArch NS 30/193
– Jahresbericht
des ERR Belgrad
1943/1944
painting depot of the Feldkommandatur
(Jewish origin), Belgrade
1943
Letter: Hauptarbeitsgruppe
Südosten, Belgrad 1.8.44
An ERR, Hauptabteilung IV,
Ratibor
Betrifft: Musikalien –Bezug
Schr. H.A.II v. 28.3.44
Letter from the
Hauptgruppenleiter, Belgrade to
the ERR Hauptabteilung IV,
Ratibor, on April 28, 1944
about 100 paintings; as well as
paintings by Jewish artists
book depot D
about 2,000 books, which were
looted by the SD, were taken
over by the Dienststelle
Jewish library Decinje
„Hier sind eine Reihe von
Aktionen angelaufen, die noch
einige hundert Bände
Büchermaterial ergeben
durften.“
Publishing Houses
[Source: BArch NS 30/193 - Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg Arbeitsgruppe Südosten“
Anlage I, zum Monatsbericht März 1943]
Verlag Grill Karoly (in Versch. Farben und Verfassung).......... 63 Stück
Verlag Genius Piadau (?, unleserlich).......... 74 Stück
Verlag Atheneum........................ 50 Stück
38
The following information is taken from documents held at the Bundesarchiv, Germany’s Federal Archives.
According to a letter by the Hauptarbeitsgruppe Südosten, Belgrade, to the ERR Hauptabteilung IV, Ratibor, on
August 1, 1944, the music sheets were intended to be sent to the ERR Sonderstab Musik. (BArch NS 30/32
Schriftwechsel mit der HAG Südosten, Belgrad, dem Sonderkommando Italien, Verona, dem Sonderkommando
Dänemark, Kopenhagden 1943-1944)
40
Please see section 4.2. for a detailed listing of books looted by the ERR Belgrade.
39
34
Verlag R. Kiadss (schwarz und blau) ............... 31 Stück
Verlag Rodern (Modern) ??? ............... 22 Stück
Verlag Einger und Wolfner ..............38 Stück
Verlag Nova ........................ 12 Stück
Verlag Pantheon ...................15 Stück
Verlag Franklin .....................38 Stück
Verlag Ady ............10 Stück
Verlag Tornai ........... 8 Stück
Verlag Revai .............16 Stück
Verlag Zampel (??) (klassische ill. Bücher) .............. 64 Stück
Eine Encyclopedie in 5 Bd. ..................... 5 Stück
Verlag Weltgeschichte .............. 4 Stück
Verlag Lexikon ............ 8 Stück
Verchiedenes ................ 498 Stück
Insgesamt: 996 Stück
35
III. Looted Paintings
Paintings looted by the HAG Südosten, Belgrade, were either sent to the Sonderstab Bildende
Kunst, as for example noted in a report entiteld Sonderkommando R.R. beim Militärbefehlshaber
Südost (Source: NS 30/178: Aktenvermerk betr. Bilderlager und Erfassungsaktion, Belgrad, 8
März 1944), or were sent as property of the Wehrmacht to the ERR’s Bergungslager in Buxheim
b./Memmingen, attention Otto Letner.41
Picture (12): BArch NS 30/178, Kunstgegenstände aus
jüdischem Besitz bei der HAG Südosten (1943) 1944
41
BArch NS 30/178: Sichergestellte Kunstgegenstände bei der Hauptarbeitsgruppe Südosten, Belgrade, 6 November
1943
36
There is no clear evidence as to how many paintings were acquisitioned by the HAG Südosten
and consequently passed on. A document from 8 March 1944 refers to 98 paintings and 46
wooden sculptures which were held by the HAG Südosten, Belgrade at that time.42 In an earlier
document, from May 1943, there is a mention of 172 paintings.43 There is also no clear evidence
as to how many paintings were already sent to the Sonderstab Bildende Kunst or were sent as
Wehrmachtsgut to the ERR’s depository in Buxheim. A note within the ERR’s weekly report
from 10 May 1943 to 16 May 1943 simply notes that 260 paintings, pictures and other artworks
that were owned by Jews were sent to the deposit of the Aktion Sonderstab Bildende Kunst.44
Source:
Sonderkommando R.R. beim Militärbefehlshaber Südost, Belgrad
„Aktenvermerk Betr. Bilderlager und Erfassungsaktion“ (file notice regarding the deposit of
paintings and the acquisition process)
8 März 1944 (March 8, 1944)
Liste der beim Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, Arbeitsgruppe Südost/Belgrad befindlichen
Gemälde und Plastiken (list of paintings and sculptures at the ERR working unit Belgrade)
(p.19)
Lfd. Nr.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Bezeichnung
Mann mit Pfeife
Heizwagen mit zwei Pferden
Mann mit Vollbart
Bewegte See
Schalken, Mann mit zwei Knaben
Triumph of Poetry/the Proposal
Seebild mit Mole und Kahn
Mädchen mit Tragkorb
Morko, Tisch mit zwei Schüsseln
Schraga, Turm in Castagnola
Les Moustaches
Biedermeierfrau
Mädchen mit Sichel und Mann
Stilleben mit Weintrauben
Biedermeierfrau in Blau
Lausanne
Rahmen
Nr. Des SD.
R
R
R
R
R
68
R
R
R
R
42
BArch NS 30/178: Aktenvermerk betr. Bilderlager und Erfassungsaktion, Belgrad, 8 März 1944
BArch NS 30/178: Bericht der Feldkommamdamtur 599, 13 Mai 1943
44
Wochenbericht 19/43 vom 10.5 – 16.5.43, YIVO, Microfilm Nr. MK 542, Berlin Collection, RG 215, OCCE5G –
4
43
37
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
Mädchen mit Schleier
Mann mit Vollbart
Madonna
Rote Dame mit Turm
Rumpler, Mädchen mit Giesskanne
Christuskopf
Schraga, Alte am Brunnen
Mann mit Speer und Buch
Männliches Portrait
Mädchen mit Schafen
Blumenstrauss
Junger Mann
Haus mit Baum
Blumenstrauss
Frauenkopf
Frau mit Pelzkragen
2 Frauen mit Kind
Landschaft mit Christus
Mann mit Vollbart
Gesellschaft
Mädchenbildnis
Dame mit Hut
Stilleben mit Blumenvase
Blumenvase mit Glas
Portrait einer alten Dame
„Goldene Jugendzeit“
Kopf mit grüner Schüssel
Mann am Tisch mit Obstschale
Dame in Grün
Kinderbildnis
Kinderbildnis
Bildnis einer Braut
Kleines Mädchen mit Buch
Mädchen im roten Kleid
Weiblicher Rückenakt
Stilleben mit Fischen
Dame mit Haarknoten (profilstück)
Stilleben mit Plastik und Spiegel
Stadtbild (Strasse)
Damenbildnis mit Schleier und Kreuz
Mädchen in Rot mit Spitz
R
R
R
R
R
86
R
R
R
53
22
39
53
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
65
83
87
67
78
77
21
80
79
75
20
50
63
59
R
19
38
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
Landschaft mit entlaubten Bäumen
Dame in blauem Kleid
Tierstudien
Mann mit roter Mütze und Geige
Zwei Frauen mit Krug
Landschaft mit Strasse
Stilleben mit Bildern und Spiegel
Stilleben mit Flasche und Vase
Madonna mit Kind
Zug der Ägypter durch das Rote Meer
Schlafendes Mädchen mit Rosenstrauss
Betende Madonna m. Landschaft
Mann mit Federhut
Männliches Porträt mit Bart
Rosenstrauss
Pavillon mit Schwanenteich
Dame mit Mittelschitel
Gelage
Eremit mit Buch
Vase mit Totenkopf
Madonna mit Kind
Stilleben mit Papagei und Blumen
Damenporträit mit Kopftuch
Kinderbildnis
Mann mit rotem Halstuch
Damenporträit
Danae mit dem Holdregen
Anbetung des heiligen Kindes
Frau mit Buch und Kerzen
Männerporträt
Stilleben mit Äpfeln und Weintrauben
Biedermeiermädchen
Wiese mit Sonnenblumen
Zwei Frauen mit Engel
Stilleben mit Hase
Herrenporträr mit weissem Kragen
Die Heilige Damilie
Damenporträt in Weiss
Männerporträt m. Weissem Spitzbart
Stilleben mit Büste und Spinnrocken
Spanische Szene
R
40
R
89
56
R
11
R
R
R
R
R
18
R
86
R
33
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
55
25
72
17
91
62
66
6
39
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109 – 113
114
115
Herrenporträt
Herrenporträt
Mädchen mit Kopfputz
St. Hubertus
Stilleben mit Weintrauben
Das heilige Abendmahl
Ehepaar
Häuser mit Garten
Dame in Blau
Bildnis zweier Kinder
Kompositionsbilder
3 Stahlstiche
Kompositionsbild
22 Fotografien
4 Holzplastiken45
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Anlage zu der Bilder-Liste (Gemälde in der Wohnung von Herrn Dr. Kraft)
Lfd. Nr.
Bezeichnung
Rahmen
116
Blumenstrauss
117
Mädchen in Blau vor einem Spiegel
R
118
Holm, Venedig
R
119
Damenporträt
R
120
Venus mit Putten
R
121
Oberst Lawrence
R
90
85
9
12
Nr. Des SD.
A letter from the Feldkommandantur 599, Verwaltungsgruppe (Einnahme Bescheinigung) notes
that „Die Dienststelle Sonderkdo. Reichsleiter Rosenberg, Einsatzstab für Südost beim Kdr.
General u. Befh. in Serbien Belgrad, Jovanova 36” received from the Feldkommandatur 599,
more specifically from the Judenmöbellager, 172 paintings, 5 photos and one photocopy in May
of 1943. Of these 172 paintings, 82 were oils.
A similar letter from the Feldkommandantur 599, Verwaltungsgruppe (Einnahme Schein), from
13 May 1943, notes that „Die Dienststelle Sonderkdo. Reichsleiter Rosenberg, Einsatzstab für
Südost beim Kdr. General und Befh. in Serbien Belgrad, Jovanova 36 hat von der
45
In a letter dated 12 October 1943, (Feldkommandantur 599, Verwaltungsgruppe O.U.) there is a note that „Der
Einsatzstab Rosenberg hat heute aus dem Judenmöbellager folgende Gegenstände erhalten:
1 grössere Holzplastik „Elisabeth“ mit Mantel und Krone
1 kleine Holzplastik „Madonna“ mit Kopftuch und Kind
1 kleine Holzplastik „Madonna“ mit Krone und Kind
1 grössere Holzplastik „Gruppenbild“ Madonna mit Kind und 2 Gestalten.
It is possible that the four wooden sculptures mentioned in the above list refer to these four items.
Source: BArch NS 30/178, Sonderkommando R.R. beim Militärbefehlshaber Südost, Belgrad
„Aktenvermerk Betr. Bilderlager und Erfassungsaktion“, 8 März, p.23
40
Feldkommandantur 599 aus dem Judenmöbellager richtig erhalten“ received 91 paintings, 30 of
which were oils.46
Nr.
46
1
2
3
1
1
1
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
25
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
40
42
43
44
45
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Familienbild v. Marko
Bild ungar. Landschaft mit Schafherde v. Lajoch (besch.)
Bild Akt von W. Albert nach Lampi k.u.k. Hofmuseum Wien
(besch.)
Bild Stilleben v. Marko
Bild Porträt v. Marko
Bild Vorzimmergemälde
Bild Porträt Frau mit Gitarre
Bild Doppelpoträt (Familienbild) beschädigt
Vorzimmerbild „Pose Natur“
Vorzimmerbild „Pose Natur“ beschädigt
Bild Motiv „Altes Belgrad“
Bild Motiv „Altes Belgrad“
Speisezimmerbild
Familienbild
Familienporträt
Porträt von Vagy
Bild herbstl. Park beschädigt
Bild Frau am Gartentor
Damenporträt von Jermovic
Bild Blumenstrauss
Knabenporträt beschädigt
Bild Künstler beim Malen
Damenporträt
Bild Oberst Lawrence
Bild Bergsee
Herrenporträt beschädigt
Damenporträt
Bild Muttertraum von A. Szabolotny
Bild Blumentopf
Bild Alt Belgrad
Damenporträt
Herrenporträt
Herrenporträt
Damenporträt
Oelgemaelde
BArch NS 30/178: Kunstgegenstände aus Jüdischem Besitz bei der HAG Südosten (1943) 1944
41
46
47
49
50
51
52
53
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
72
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
85
86
87
88
89
90
1
1
1
1
1
1
Blumentopf
Bild Halbakt
Bild Landschaft mit Haus
Bild Akt
Damenporträt
Bild Motiv aus Belgrad
Bild Blumentopf
Herrenporträt
Oelgemälde von unbekannten Maler
Oelgemälde „Tote Natur“
Porträt
Buchdruckgemälde Rahmen beschädigt
Jagdgemälde auf Sperrplate
Oelgemälde
Oelgemälde „Arhaut“ von Marko
Damenporträt
Gewöhnliches Druckbild beschädigt
Damenpoträt von Marko
Kl. Oelgemälde „Tote Natur“
Oelgemälde on unbekannten Maler
Kl. Oelgemälde „Landschaft“
Kl. Oelgemälde von unbekannten Maler
Kl. Damenporträt
Kl. Oelgemälde
Kl. Oelgemälde
Kl. Oelgemälde
Kl. Oelgemälde „tote Natur“
Kl. Oelgemälde „Statuenkopf“
Kl. Oelgemälde „tote Natur“ beschädigt
Kl. Kreidezeichnung
Oelgemälde
Gr. Oelgemälde Kopie von alten Meister alligerische „Jugend und
Alter“
Oelgemälde „das Opfermahl“ Kopie von altem Meister
Oelgemälde „Das Gebet des Priesters“ stark beschädigt
Oelgemälde „der Schwan“ von altem Meister Stark beschädigt
Oelgemälde „Kind im Mutterschoss“ Kopie von alten Meister
Oelgemälde „Erquickung“ Kopie von alten Meister
Kl. Oelgemälde „Stilleben“ von unbekannten Maler
42
91
91
91
91
91
91
91
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Kl. Oelgemälde „Stilleben“ von unbekannten Maler
Oelgemälde „Kinderbildnis“
Oelgemälde „Frauenkopf“
Oelgemälde „Männerkopf“
Oelgemälde „Jesus mit Aposteln“
Oelgemälde „Dame vor dem Spiegel“ Grösse 78x98 v.E.
Oelgemälde „Vase mit Blumen“ Grösse 70x100
An Empfangsbescheinigung from 29 July 1943, noted that the ERR Belgrade received 6 more
small paintings including 2 by the painter Rosenthal (presumably Marie Rosenthal-Hatschek):
“Die Bilder werden leihweise zur Ausstattung der Quartierräume unter dem Vorbehalt
abgegeben, dass jederzeit wieder darüber verfügt werden kann.“47
A letter a few months later, from November 8, 1943, notes that the ERR office Belgrade received
an additional four more paintings:
1. „Landschaftsbild eines serbischen Malers, Nr. 30
2. Fjordlanschaft mit Wasserfall, Nr.49
3. 1 weiblicher Akt (Kohlezeichnung) eines kroatischen Malers
4. Stilleben v. Willy Hanft.“
All of these paintings were destined to decorate the Vila of the ministerial director Schreiber
(Vlateta Kovacevica 8, Belgrade).
A month later, an other Empfangsbestätigung by the ERR in Belgrade from December 20, 1943
referred to the receipt of one other painting entitled “Stilleben, Rosen in der Vase: von
Fowinhage (1919).48
Lastly, another Einnahmeschein, dated again with 13 May 1943, by the Feldkommandantur 599,
noted that the additional objects were received from the Jewish furniture deposit:
13 books, 1 waste paper basket, 1 notebook (with beadwork), 1 picture album, and 2 containers
with Jewish themed wooden carvings.
47
48
BArch NS 30/176, Ausleih-Quittungen für Bücher und Bilder 1943-1944, p. 18.
BArch NS 30/176, Ausleih-Quittungen für Bücher und Bilder 1943-1944, p. 10.
43
III.1. Paintings by Marko and Alexander Celebonović
Marko and Alexander Celoban (Celebonović, Celobanowitsch) were the sons of Jakov
Celebonović, the former president of the Jewish Community in Belgrade. The family lived in the
Celebonović palace, which since the end of World War II is occupied by the state run museum of
Applied Arts in Serbia.
Since the ERR considered works by the Celebonović brothers as having high market value, their
paintings were collected.49
According to Bundesarchiv documentation (BArch NS 30/178, Aktenvermerk: Sichergestellte
Kunstgegenstände bei der Hauptarbeitsgruppe Südosten, Belgrad, 6 November 43), the following
paintings by the Jewish painters Marko und Alexander Celebonović were taken by the ERR
Belgrade.
Bilder der Jüdischen Maler Marko und Alexander Celebonović
Porträt eines jungen Mannes
43 (Nummer des SD)
Sitzende und stehende Frau
15
Kinderbild in Rosa R
Haus mit Brunen
R
76
Stilleben mit Krug und Tisch R
81
Frau am Zaun
Mann mit Vase und Flasche
16
Stilleben mit Zitronen
14
Mädchen in rot-weisser Tracht R
Halbakt mit Blume
Mädchen mit Mandoline
7
Porträt eines jungen Mannes
58
Junger Mann mit Schnurrbart
42
Maler mit Staffelei und Pfeife
24
Krug und Vase vor einem gestreiften Wandbehang
57
Mädchen in Weiss
51
Sitzender Akt
47
Interieru mit Globus
6
Dame mit Pelerine
5
Dame mit Blumenstrauss
R
60
Häuser
R
13
Sitzender mit Krug
R
45
Interieur mit Wäscheleine und Krug R
83
Stadtbild
R
35
49
BArch NS 30/178, Aktenvermerk: Sichergestellte Kunstgegenstände bei der Hauptarbeitsgruppe Südosten,
Belgrad, 6 November 43
44
Sofa und Tisch mit Blumenstrauss
Stilleben mit zwei Kürbissen
R
R
10
4
According to NARA documents, some of the artworks originally owned by Jakov Celebonović
were claimed by family members after the war [see: M 1946, Publication: Records Concerning
the Central Collecting Points (“Ardelia Hall Collection”): Munich Central Collecting Point, 19451951, Category: Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 9 – 312]. 50 There are no indications on these
applications for restitution that the items pursued by the Celebonović family were looted by the
ERR.
On a restitution application from May 31, 1948, filed by the Celebonović family, 13 paintings by
Marko Celebonović were being claimed:
1. Potrait of Ginette Signac, oil on canvas, 65 by 54 cm, painted in 1932
2. Interior, oil on Canvas, 81 by 65 cm, painted in 1933
3. Figure of a woman at a table with flowers, oil on canvas, 65 x 54 cm, painted in 1931
4. Oriental woman, oil on canvas, about 30 by 50 cm, painted in 1934
5. Paysage, oil on canvasm 92 by 73 cm, painted in 1936
6. Portrait of woman in red blouse, oil on canvas, 92 by 73 cm, painted in 1936
7. Woman on divan, oil on canvas, 180 by 160 cm, painted in 1939
8. Flowers, oil on canvas, 81 by 65 cm, painted in 1927
9. Girl with Straw-Hut, oil on canvas, 33 by 24 cm., painted in 1939
10. Still-life (Bread), oil canvas, 178 by 60 cm., painted in 1939
11. Winter Landscape in Belgrade, oil on canvas, 92 by 73 cm., painted in 1939
12. Belgrade Landscape, oil on canvas, 92 by 73 cm., painted in 1939
13. Albanian, oil, 30 by 50 cm., painted in 193951
The available documentation does not provide evidence if or when the paintings were restituted
as well as their current whereabouts.
50
It should be noted that while some of the digitized NARA documents provide an overview of what was looted
from the Celebonović family, it is not clear what was looted by the ERR or potentially (or even more likely) by a
Nazi looting agency that operated before the ERR’s arrival in Serbia. The M 1946 NARA documents, Category:
Yugoslavian Claims, Numbered: 9 – 312, mostly refers to objects that were taken from the Celebonović’ palace and
notes” “The entire building was requisitioned by the Germans in 1941 and handed over to the Kulturbund, which
stayed there through the occupation. The owner was not allowed to remove its belongings.”
(http://www.fold3.com/image/#114|270071455)
51
http://www.fold3.com/image/#114|270071463: Specification of cultural, historical and art property subject to
restitution according to application No. 19/A, M 1946, Yugoslav Claims, Numbered: 9-312.
45
IV. Looted Books
Picture (13):
NS30/175
“Erfassung von
Büchern und
Versendung an die
Hauptabteilung IV in
Ratibor 1943-1944”
The archival
record NS30/175
“Erfassung von
Büchern und
Versendung an
die
Hauptabteilung
IV in Ratibor
1943-1944”
provides an
overview of not
only how many
books were
collected by the
HAG Südosten,
but also what
kind of books
were looted:
The following is
taken from NS
30/175:
On May 13, 1944
part of the
extensive Nincic
book collection
was sent to
Ratibor. The
collection,
labeled as BE
143 and BE 144,
contained 112
books.
46
On March 21, 1944, an additional 12 boxes were sent to Ratibor (Oberwallstrasse 25). [See
document below.]
Picture (14) NS30/175
“Erfassung von Büchern
und Versendung an die
Hauptabteilung IV in
Ratibor 1943-1944”
These 12 boxes
contained the following
collections:
Shipment Nr. 109 – 70
books; shipment Nr.
110 – 88 books;
shipment Nr. 111 – 128
books; shipment Nr.
112 – 143 books
(“Verbotene
Emigranten Literatur;
Jüdische und
Ausländische
Schriftsteller”);
shipment 113 – 162
books (in Hungarian);
books (“Medizin,
Recht, Handel,
Gewerbe und
Technik”); shipment
Nr. 115 – 76 books (in
Hungarian); shipment
Nr 116 – 142 books in
Serbian; shipment Nr.
117 – 48 books
(“Jüdische Bücher”,
including the
Encyclopedia Judaica);
books (in English);
shipment Nr. 119 – 221 books (in French); shipment Nr. 120 – 92 books (“Hebräische, Religiöse
Bücher, und Bücher von Juden und über Juden”). All together, all of these shipments contained
1,521 books that were sent to Ratibor.
47
Shipment Nr. 120 contained Jewish religious books, Judaica as well as books about Jews and by
Jews. See document below:
Picture (15) NS30/175 “Erfassung von Büchern und Versendung an die Hauptabteilung IV in Ratibor 1943-1944”
48
49
50
IV.1. The Nincic Archive
Among the more valuable libraries that were looted by the ERR in Serbia, was the so-called
Nincic Archive:
Picture (16): BArch NS 30/77 Berichte über Archive, Band I, 1941-1944
BArch Bel/109 - „Politisches Archiv Nincic“
51
52
53
54
55
56
IV.2. Südost Bücherei
Picture (17):
BArch NS 30/175, Erfassung von Büchern und Versendung an die Hauptabteilung IV in Ratibor 1943-1944
57
58
V. Looted Objects Identified by ERR Stamps in “Property Art Cards”
The following information is taken from the scanned in records of the National Archive,
specifically publication number M 1946 (Category: Yugoslavia Minor Arts Claim
Roll: 0055, National Archives Catalog ID: 3725265, National Archives Catalog Title: Restitution
Claim Records, compiled 1945-1951, Series: Restitution Claim Records, online accessible at:
http://www.fold3.com/image/#270069565).
While this specific catalog offers more of an overview of what was looted by Nazis agencies
other than the ERR, and subsequently claimed by the Yugoslav government, it also provides a
few mentions of potential loot by the ERR itself.
Property Art Card http://www.fold3.com/image/#270070797
Mun. Number
Mun. 21909/Kogl/67
Classification
Sculptures
Author
Russian?
Measurements
W 23 x 11
Depot Possessor
ERR
Identifying Marks
J 1593 e)
Subject
Cross with reliefs and writing
Material
Wood
Archival condition
Description
Kiste 7084
Presumed Owner
Yugoslavia, unknown owner
Inv.No.
id.acc.to Y-Sl Claim 312
Photo
OK
Reverse side/
19.3.46
(http://www.fold3.com/image/#270069692)
Arrival Date
Exit
2.6.49 to Yugoslavia
History and Ownership
confiscated in Yugoslavia
http://www.fold3.com/image/#270070806 (pictures)
Property Art Card http://www.fold3.com/image/#270067620
Mun. Number
Mun. 18461 Buxheim 169
Classification
Textiles
Author
Seraband
Measurements
L 575 W 395
Depot Possessor
ERR
59
Subject
Material
Archival condition
Description
Presumed Owner
Inv.No.
Arrival Date
Exit
Carpet
Wool
Good, undamaged
blue ground, pears in red and white, grey and
yellow (Kiste 18592)
Yugoslavia unknown owner
S. Sl Claim 1201
18.1.46
10. Juni 1949 to S-Sl
Confiscated in Yugoslavia
Property Art Card (http://www.fold3.com/image/#270067637)
Mun. Number
Mun. 18464 Buxheim 172
Classification
Textiles
Author
Persia, Zentralpersia
Measurements
L 460 W 340
Depot Possessor
ERR
Subject
Carpet
Material
wool
Archival condition
good, undamaged
Description
blue ground with rows of pears in yellow and
red-border of 8 stripes
Presumed Owner
Yugoslavia unknown owner
Inv.No.
S. Sl Claim 1201
Arrival Date
18.1.46
Exit
10. Juni 1949 to S-Sl
Confiscated in Yugoslavia
60
c. Overview of Looted Cultural Objects from Croatia
I. Identifiable Looted Objects
Source52
Looted Object (s)53
Owner
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 5
book collection (2,434
volumes):
Dr.
Wladimir
Čorović
AGRAM
(ZAGREB)
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
[172 volumes German classics
57 volumes European classics
28 volumes Latin classics
107 volumes Croatian language
political writtings
33 volumes „Nova Europa“
2037 volumes still not catalogized
of literature in Croatian, French
and for example by Jewish
authors.]
30-40 numbers of the
Freemason newsletter
„Sestar“
50 books, mainly Jewish
literature
Peter
Acinger
iterature
Wladimir
Altmann
book collection
Dr
Andres
Ivan
(21 volumes in French, 3 volumes
in English, 6 volumes of Jewish
authors in German, 11 volumes in
Croatian or Serbian, 3 volumes in
German – not of Jewish authors)
literature
David
Alkalay
Anton
Antunovi
ć
Address
Date
Notes
July
1942
All books carried the stamp
of the „Hohe Schule“
Agram,
Radićeva
26.
Agram,
Heinzlova
69
Agram,
Jelačićev
trg 10a
Trg Kralja
Tomislava
21
18
July
1941
8 July
1941
Agram,
Martićeva
70/II b.
Milković
16
July
1941
4 June
1941
8
Augus
t 1941
52
The information for this overview is taken from records held at Russian State Military Archive: Einsatzstab
Reichsleiter Rosenberg für die besetzten Gebiete (ERR) (Berlin-Charlottenburg) Fond 1401, 1918-1945 (77 storage
units), with copies held at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: RG 11.001M.21.
53
All descriptions of looted objects are taken from the original documents;
61
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
25 books and booklets
Dr
Branko
Arko
Agram,
Kaptol 2
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
15 books and 20 booklets
(Jewish literature)
Alexande
r Ausch
Agram,
Ilica 232
30 books (freemason/
Jewish and English
literature)
35 books (Jewish authors)
Viktor
Badalić
400 books, documents and
film material
Dr Hugo
Bauer
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
books
Dr.
Marko
Bauer
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
literature
Dr.
Richard
Bauer
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
2 books
Felix
Baum
125 books
Edmund
Blühweis
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
6 booklets
(Yugoslavian and Jewish
literature: 13 volumes in Croatian;
7 volumes by Jewish authors in
German; 5 volumes in German,
but not of Jewish authors)
Alexande
r Balaš
(210 books in Croatian – Politics,
History and Freemasonry; 117
Jewish books – mostly historical;
93 German books)
(101 German literature by Jewish
authors; 14 Croatian literature; 2
French and 11 Jewish “Zionistic”
literature)
Dr,
Viktor
9
Augus
t 1941
23
July
1941
Agram,
24
Gunduliće July
va 2
1941
Agram,
30
Palmotićev July
a 64 a
1941
Agram,
7 June Director of Pokorny
Jabukovac 1941
company located at
15
Wlaschka Ulica, as well as
director of company Meba,
Fijanova Ulica
Agram,
Jelaćić
Platz 15/III
St. (earlier
apartment)
Keglvićev
Platz 14/
II. Re
(current
apartment)
Agram,
Precadović
eva ulica
5/I.
Agram,
Grahorova
3/II
Agram,
Domagoje
va 2
Agram,
Vlaška 70
24
May
1941
A few books were looted
(mostly Jewish authors)
9 July
1941
16
June
1941
9 June Fond 1401, Opis , Folder 47
1941
refers to 140 books
6
Augus
62
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
862 books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
24 books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
12 books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 47
175 books and newsletters
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
book collection
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
archival records, including
the“Ehrenbuch,” as well as
paintings
(615 Jewish authors; 168 Croatian
and 79 Jewish books)
(23 volumes in Croatian/Serbian;
2 volumes Jewish literature; 1
newsletter in French)
(books on Freemasonry and
Yugoslavian history)
(270 books, including: 78 German
language books on the “Jewish
Question”, 49 Croatian language
books, 12 political literature
books; 14 books by Jewish
authors)
Boić
b.
t 1941
Alfred
Bondi
(Bondy)
apartment:
Agram,
Bosanska
33 (Villa)
factory:
Cankarova
19.
Agram,
Boškoviće
va 42/ I.
12
June
1941
Dr.
Zvonimir
Bratanić
Mirko
Breyer
Agram,
Samostans
ka 8 (later:
Varšavska
8)
Pavle
Agram,
Breyer
Frankopan
ska b;
office:
Masarikov
a5
Dr.
Agram,
Rudolf
Palmotićev
Buchwald a ulica 20
Chevra
Kadisa
10
Augus
t 1941
13
Augus
t 1941
Bookshop
18 June Dr. Rudolf Buchwald was
1941
a member of Agram’s
Jewish Community;
Amruševa 21 May The document states:
“Es konnten sichergestellt
8,
1941
werden:
Palmotićev
1. Sämtliche
a 14
Aktenvorgänge über die
Unterstützung der
Emigranten – insd.
Etwa 5000
Aktenvorgänge,
2. Das Ehrenbuch der
Chevra Kadisa
3. Bildnisse der
bedeutsamen Rabbiner
bzw. Förderer der
Chevra Kadisa.)
63
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
39 books and booklets
(23 books in Croatian/Serbian; 9
books in French; 2 German books
by Jewish authors, 6 German
books by non-Jewish authors)
Dr. Adolf
Cuvay
12 booklets (Jewish
literature, etc)
Vilim
Ćmelik
book collection (57 volumes
concerning the “Jewish question”,
13 political volumes and
newsletters; 6 volumes in
German)
Albert
Deutsch
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
15 books, mainly by Jewish
authors
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
22 books and 3 booklets
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
12
August
1941
Agram,
Kamaukov
a 13/I
Jurišićeva
ulica 24,
22. floor
7
August
1941
19 June “Wohnung bereits einmal von
der Gestapo besichtigt, Deutsch
1941
Dr.
Andrija
Deutsch
Agram,
Vlaška
25/I.
1
August
1941
4 books (Jewish literature)
Dr. Edo
Deutsch
24 July
1941
118 books
Dr.
Samuel
Deutsch
Agram,
Masarykov
a 13
Agram,
Miramarsk
a 20
Slavko
Deutsch
Agram,
Miramarsk
a 20
11
August
1941
3 books
Slavoljug
Deutsch
6 June
1941
38 books
Šandor
Deutsch
Agram,
Peradoviće
va b, III
Agram,
Miramraka
20
Agram,
Bosanska
6/II.
(16 books in Croatian/Serbian; 5
volumes of a Jewish
Encyclopedia; 30 Jewish authors
in German; 53 Jewish non-fiction;
9 German non-Jewish books )
(Jewish literature, 5 Jewish
encyclopedia)
book collection
(65 books and newspapers about
Freemasonry in German, French
and English; 5 books concerning
the “Jewish question”; 15
Rotarian literature; 50 books on
politics, sociology (30 of which
Dr. Ante
Dražič
musste viele Schmucksachen,
Silber und Perserteppiche
abliefern.“
12
August
1941
Together with Alexander
Deutsch, the following books
were looted: 13 volumes in
Croatian/Serbian; 33 Jewish
authors in German; 2 German
books by non-Jewish authors; 14
English newsletters; 5 volumes
of a Jewish encyclopedia
11
August
1941
26 July
1941
64
are in German, 10 in Croatian and
Serbian, 4 in French and 2 in
English); 114 books on the study
of religion (62 of which were in
German; 33 in Croatian, 11 in
French and 8 in English); 36
volumes on Yugoslavian politics
and history; 24 volumes on the
subject of law (in Croatian,
German and French); 16 volumes
on mnemonics, (11 of which are
in German, 4 in French, 1 in
English and one in French); 29
philosophical books (18 in
German, 6 in French, 1 in English
and 1 in Croatian); 66 literature
books (16 in Croatian and
Serbian, 22 in French, 4 in
Russian, 8 in English and 16 in
German);
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
59 books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
“Collection” on
Freemasonry
Viktor
Frank
book collection
Dr. Ivo
Fuchs
4 books
Dr David
Eisenstäd
ter
Marino
Fertilio
26 books (about
Freemasonry and by Jewish
authors)
1 painting (“Karikatur auf
einen Juden”)
Bozidar
Filipović
Book collection
Julio /
Julius
Fischer
(Books in Croatian and Serbian:
33 volumes; German language
books concerning the „Jewish
Question“: 135 volumes; books
by Jewish authors in German: 148
volumes; non-Jewish literature:
271 volumes
(books concerning the “Jewish
Question”: 30 volumes; Jewish
authors in German: 9; non-Jewish
literature in German: 68; French
Ignjat
Fischer
Agram,
Gjorgjićev
a 3b.
Agram,
Ksaverska
47 c.
Agram,
Palmptičev
a 35/I.
Agram,
Demetrova
3
Agram,
Trg Kralja
Petra 5
4 June
1941
Agram,
Josipovac
11
Agram,
19 May
1941
5
August
1941
28 July
1941
23 May
1941
16 May Julio/Julius Fischer was the
1941
last president of B’nei
B’rith
19 May
1941
65
literature: 9, English literature: 3;
Croatian literature: 8)
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
120 books (Jewish
literature)
Dr David
Furmann
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
8 books
Edo Funk
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
31 books (Jewish and English
literature); an almost complete
collection of the monthly
magazine “Isbor” as well as the
monthly “Vidici”)
50 books (including 42 volumes
of “Judaica” and 8 volumes by
Jewish authors)
Milan
Glaser
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
41 books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
18 books
archival records
30 books
Dr.
Lawosla
w
Glesinger
Dr.
Robert
Glückstha
l
Dr. Karlo
Goga
apartment:
Agram,
Gunduliće
va 4/II.
(Geschäft)
villa: Donji
Stenjevac
83
Apartment:
Stan
Kurdǒva 4;
office:
„Obnoca“,
Magasinsk
a broj 21
Agram,
Svaćićev
Trg 17/I.
11 July
1941
19 May
1941
28 July
1941
Agram,
16 June
Ilica 17/III. 1941
Agram,
11 July
Draskovice 1941
va 62/II.
Agram,
Herzegova
cka 71
Theodor
Agram,
Gruenfeld Ilica 48
28 July
1941
Dr.
Božidar
Grünwald
Žiga Graf
17 July
1941
Agram,
Gunduliće
va 19
Agram,
Trg Kralja
Tomislava
6.
17 May
1941
4 June
1941
66
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
book collection (Books
concerning the “Jewish
Question”: 19 volumes; Jewish
authors in German: 3 volumes;
non-Jewish authors in German: 28
volumes; Hungarian literature: 2
volumes; English literature: 23
volumes)
157 books (23 books in
Hebrew; 25 books on the topic of
the ”Jewish Question” in German;
6 newsletters on the topic of the
“Jewish Question”; 11
“Communist Literature”; 14
“Jewish Literature”, 78
“pornographic books”
Günsberg
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
books
Dr. Bruno Agram,
Srečke
Havlikova
6
Dr. Ralph Agram,
Halle
Borošina
4/1
Srećko
Agram,
Halle
Djordževic
eva 11
David
Agram,
Herzog
Vončinina
8
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
34 books
Dr. Ivo
Herzog
40 books
Olga
Hercog
35 books (Jewish authors;
Hebrew books)
Dr.
Bogomir
Hiršl
Josef
Hoffman
n
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
3 books
book collection
book collection
400 books
(208 German books,
40 books in Croatian and other
languages, 35 books concerning
the “Jewish question”,
120 „Jewish“ books,
34 Judaica)
Dr.
Željko
Hahn
Agram,
Hatzova
10/I.
Agram,
Martićeva
6.
29 July
1941
13 June
1941
15 June [see list above]
1941
9 June
1941
12 June According to the archival
1941
record, there is an attached
list detailing the books;
however, list was not
present;
30 July
1941
16 May
1941
Agram,
Jurišiceva
25/II.
Agram,
Boškovice
va 31/II
29 July
1941
27 May Listing includes the
1941
brother: Rudolf Rosner
67
30 numbers of the
newsletter Šestar,10
numbers of the newsletter
Historja Slobodnog
zidarstva; 30 books
26 books (Jewish Literature)
Radoslaw
Horvat
Agram,
Medulicev
a3
22 July
1941
Dragan
Hruš
30 July
1941
4 books
Franjo
Huber
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
21 books
Dr. Djuro
Jelinek
Agram,
Vinkovice
va 33
Agram,
Preradovic
eva 5, II.
Stock
Agram,
Marticeva
4, 3. Stock
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
81 books
Mavro
Kandel
Agram,
Boškoviće
va 32
29 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
140 books
Milan
Kastel
7 June
1941
1 book and 8 booklets
Dr.
Vladimir
Katićić
Alexande
r Klein
Agram,
Krajiska
18
Agram,
Vinkovice
va 11
Agram,
Bogisacev
a 2/II.
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
(Croatian literature and books
concerning the “Jewish
Question”)
(5 volumes - Jewish lexica
1 picture album of Jewish actors
30 German books concerning the
Jewish question
24 Hebrew books/booklets
15 Croatian books/booklets
1 Polish book
2 monthly magazines in German
and Yiddish
1 volume of the
“Völkermagazin”)
10 books and Jewish
newspapers
Stanko
Kliska
Agram,
Tratinska
8 June
1941
7 June
1941
24 July
1941
24 June Alexander Klein was the
1941
secretary of the Jewish
Community and was,
according to this index file,
able to keep some of his
possessions due to a
protective status he
apparently had with the
Ustasa regime;
1
August
68
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
40 books
(10 German literature books, 15
Jewish History/Zionism books)
Hermann
Kraus
Dragutin
Krekovic
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
book collection
Dr. Juraj
Krnjević
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
25 books
(37 French, English and German
books; 341 books and newsletters
in Croatian and Serbian; 590
books in other languages)
38/II.
Agram,
Strosmayer
ov trg II/I
Agram,
Dvornicice
va 10
(Villa)
Agram,
Mesinskov
a ulic a 53
1941
9 June
1941
30 July
1941
4 June
1941
Ernst
Kronfeld
Agram,
26 May
Ilica 15/III. 1941
books
Mirko
Lederer
21 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 27
books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
460 books
Agram
Praška 6
29 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Dr.
Vladimir
Leustek
Dr.
Dragutin
Lieberma
nn
Minerva
“Verlagsb
uchhandl
ung”
Dr Armin
Moskovic
Agram,
TuškanacGvost 17/
since 16
May 1941:
Keglvicev
Platz 14/II.
Li.
Agram,
Medvescak
59
Agram,
Medulicev
a9
4 books by Jewish authors
Dr.
Bernhard
Mostar
4
August
1941
4 June
1941
Fond 1401,
7 books
Herman
Agram
Mihanovic
eva 14/III.
Agram,
Trg Kralja
Tomislava
6
Agram,
(12 volumes - political/Jewish
literature; remainder literature)
26 books
30 July
1941
21 May
1941
17 June
69
(1 book in Croatian; 1 Jewish
literature; 1 theological book; 1
“Communist” novel)
Book collection (8 volumes on
the “Jewish Question”; 17
German Jewish authors; 10
Croatian Jewish authors; 103
Croatian Literature; 17 German
literature)
Book collection (40-50 books:
10 volumes by Schalom Asch, 8
volumes by Bettauer, Remarque
„Im Westen nichts Neues“, „Der
Weg zurueck“, nd 16 other
literature books such as
Arnold Zweig „Herkunft und
Zukunft“, or
Artur Landsberger „Das Volk des
Ghetto“)
Müller
Ilica 220
1941
Dr.
Neuberge
r
Pavao,
Marticeva
8/II/
27 May
1941
Adolf
Neumann
Agram,
Marticeva
14 D/ 1
floor
17 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
185 books (Serbian
literature)
Salamen
Nevorah
6 June
1941
63 books, 29 booklets and
Jewish newspapers
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
5 Hebrew books
Mr And
Mrs
Njemirov
ski
Peter
Orlić
Agram,
Solovjeva
18
Agram,
Mulica 6
24 July
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
13 books
16 June
1941
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
395 books (“propaganda
material”), monthly
newsletter (“Nova Europa”)
2 books
Paul
(Pavle)
Ostović
Silvio
Papo
46 books
Eugen
Podaubsk
i
Agram,
Hercegova
cka 81
Agram,
Preradovic
eva 39/III.
Agram,
Waashingt
onov 5
Agram,
Kamaufov
a 4/I.
Dr.
Sigmund
Agram,
Hrvojeva
(Jewish literature, Yugoslavian
history:
German books by Jewish authors:
7
Non-Jewish literature in German:
8
Croatian-Serbian literature: 23
French literature: 7
English literature: 1)
16 May
1941
31 July
1941
12
August
1941
12
August
1941
70
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
14 books
Pordes
Dr.
Vladimir
Prelog
Dr.
Maksim
Pscherhof
10/I.
Agram,
Novakova
26/II.
Agram
2
August
1941
28 May Dr. Pscherhof was the
1941
president of the Jewish
Community between
1940/41; arrested on 14
May 1941 by the SD and
sent to Graz;
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 47
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
4 books
Hermann
Müller
Agram,
Ilica 210
Library:
Rabbi Dr
Gavro
Schwarz,
chief
rabbi of
Agram
(Oberrabi
nat)
Agram,
Chebra
Kadisha,
Amruševa
8
21 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
1 booklet
Agram,
Jurjevska
22
Dr Rudolf Agram,
Rodanic
Meduličev
a 51/I.
9
August
1941
29 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
10 volumes of “Judaica”
Dragutin
Rosenbau
m
Max
Rosenblat
t
Agram,
Maksimirs
ka 2
Agram,
Bosiievska
4
20 June
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
208 books
Dr.
Rudolf
Rosner
Agram,
Bogsicva 2
27 May
1941
1. Library of the head rabbi, about
1,600 volumes (“Handbücherei
des Oberrabinats), 2. Library of
the Jewish Community, about 300
volumes (“Jüdische
Gemeindebücherei”)
[Midrashim, Tanach
commentaries, numerous
protocols of the
‘Zionistenkongress’]
207 books
(102 books on the “Jewish
Question”, of that 73 in foreign
languages; 17 political books; 88
novels, by mostly Jewish authors)
24 books
( 2 volumes – German non-Jewish
authors; 6 volumes – non-fiction
on the „Jewish Question; 12
volumes – German Jewish author;
1 volumes – Croatian literature)
(40 books in Croatian and other
languages;
35 books on “Jewish Question”;
120 Jewish books and
Franjo
Raverta
13
August
1941
71
“Schuldliteratur”;
34 Judaica
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
book collection
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
45 oboks
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
2 books and letters
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
1 book
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Dragutin
Šrepl
1 book
Dr.
Stanke
5 volumes, Jewish
Encyclopedia
(3 books on the “Jewish Question;
Judaica – 8 volumes; Jewish
authors – 25 volumes in German,
1 volume in Croatian;
Political Literature – 3 volumes
(German), 5 volumes (Croatian)
(books on the “Jewish Question”
– 34 volumes; German Jewish
authors – 6 volumes)
18 books (English literature)
131 books
(101 Jewish literature; 29 Jewish
books in Hebrew; 3 books on
Socialism in Croatian; 1 French
book;)
Mirko
Schönber
ger
Emanuel
Schotten
Armin
Schreiner
Alexande
r
Schwabe
nitz
Dr. Gavro
Schwarz,
head
rabbi
Dr
Slavisa
Senoa
Dr
Alexande
r Šmit
Dr. Karlo
Spiller
Agram,
Marticeva
14
Agram,
Starcevice
v trg 4
29 July
1941
Agram,
Varsavska
2 a/II.
12
August
1941
24 June (The Wehrmacht had taken
1941
over the apartment; more
confiscations were
therefore not possible)
Agram,
28 May
Dezelioeva 1941
30
Agram,
Marticeva
14 D, 4th
floor to the
right
17 May (According to the
1941
document, only very few
items were found since the
Sicherheitspolizei had
already sealed his house;
most of his documents
were stored at the Petrinska
address)
Agram,
5
Heinzlova August
64
1941
Agram,
4
Plmoticeva August
10
1941
Agram,
16 June
Kraljice
1941
Marije
Agram,
Pavla
Radica 26
Agram,
Eduarda
5
August
1941
2
August
Gifted his library of about
8,000 books to the
72
Švrljuga
Jalacica 2
1941
Bozo
Superina
39 books (books on the “Jewish
Question”, including Theodor
Herzl; 7 books in Croatian; 1 book
in Serbian; 1 folder of Newspaper
clips)
Dr Benno
Stein
Agram,
Gunulicev
a 40/II.
Agram,
Varsavska
8/ I. Re.
6
August
1941
17 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
104 books
Maskim
Stern
Vojnovice
na ul. 71
26 May
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
3 books
Dane
Singer
8 July
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
131 books (101 books - Jewish
literature; 26 “Jewish/Hebrew”
books; 3 books in Croatian; 1 in
French)
Dr Karlo
Schiller
Agram,
Marulicev
trh 4, 1
floor
Agram,
Kraljice 15
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
book collection
Alfred
Spitz
Agram,
Zvonimiro
va 6/I.
11 July
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
10 Torah scrolls
7 ceremonial objects
3 altarpieces
Numerous Torah covers etc
about 60 books
Synagogu
e Agram
Agram
26./28.
May
1941
Alexande
r
Szemnitz
Agram,
Zvonimiro
va 2
30 May
1941
Leo
Tobolski
Agram,
Subiceva
28/I.
24 June
1941
Folder 28/
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 47
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
(Jewish literature – 74 books;
non-fiction books on the “Jewish
Question” – 5 books;
Literature on Freemasons – 10
books;
Croatian Literature – 15 books)
(13 Judaica
32 German language books on the
“Jewish Question”
15 Croatian languages books on
the “Jewish Question”
38 books Jewish literature)
13 books
University Library;
16 June
1941
book collection was first
donated to the ERR, since
Mr Spitz was ordered to
empty his apartment within
24 hours
73
Veljko
Tomic
Agram
July
1941
Dr.
Franjo
Tucan
Oskar
Vadnai
Agram,
Milinarska
49
Agram,
Gundulice
va 19/ II.
B. H.
Kalan
Agram,
Gundulice
va 35/III.
Agram,
Kralj,
Maria
25/IV.
Agram,
Kraiska
11/II.
5
August
1941
29 May
1941
Janko
Zimmerm
nn
Agram,
Novakova
20/II.
18
August
1941
Vladimir,
Žepić
Agram,
Pod Zidom
3/I.
11
August
1941
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
book collection
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
12 books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Political literature
Većeslav
Vilder
25 books (Jewish authors,
etc.)
Dr.
Vladimir
Vranić
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
monthly magazine „Izbor“
Jakob
Vivoda
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
Book collection
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
10 newsletters „Service“
(English edition)
(collection included: Storch,
Freimaurer u. Jesuit
Bojnicic, Die Loge
‚Ljubabkiznjega’
Peregrinus ‚Freimaurerei’
Burckhardt, Geheimnis des
Freimaurers
Prigorski, Listi o zlobostnom
ziolarston)
(Jewish literature; monthly
magazine „Vidici“)
130 books
(including books on Communism
and English language books)
(8 volumes of Jewish literature; 1
German volume, non-Jewish
authors, 6 volumes of Crotian
language books)
SD already confiscated the
book collection, but
handed over the listed
books;
18
August
1941
August
1941
6
August
1941
According to the index
card, the library of the
Freemason loge
“Drašković“ was given to
the university library;
2,000 voumes of the
monthly magazine „Sestar“
were seized by the Police
department or were handed
over to the Getapo.
74
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
23 books and newspaper
collection
Karl
Ebenspan
ger
Agram
26 May
1941
75
RAGUSA – today’s Dubrovnik
Fond 1401,
14 „Jewish“ Spanish and
Opis 1,
Italian language books;
Folder 29
6 „Jewish“ books in Hebrew
3 „Jewish“ books in
Croatian
Fond 1401,
11 books
Opis 1,
Folder 29 /
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 47
Fond 1401,
3 books
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
book collection (225 books
were
sealed)
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection and
Opis 1,
correspondence
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection and
Opis 1,
correspondence
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection and
Opis 1,
correspondence
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
book collection (180
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Jewish
Communi
ty Ragusa
Ragusa
16 July
1941
Josip
Soldat
Ragusa II
12 June
and 17
July
1941
Tolentino
family
Ragusa,
Zudojska 3
2 June
1941
Ragusa,
Mazuranic
ev kbr. 5
Joisp
Ragusa,
Fuks
Put Vrana
Subila 15
Leo Klein Ragusa
7./18.
June
1941
9 June
1941
Josef
Berner
Josip
Lujak
18 June ”...einige Deutsche und
1941
hebräische Bücher...“
Ragusa,
GradacGasse 4
Ragusa,
Bodkovice
va 22
Ragusa
9 June
1941
Prota
Mitrovic
Ragusa,
Polsca 5
2 June
1941
Josip
Soldat
Ragusa II
12 June „180 Bücher in serbokroat.
Sprache wurden in einem
1941
Josef
Mandel
Mirko
Mandic
6 June
1941
2 June
1941
„Freimaurer Loge Sloboda“
Schrank versiegelt. Am 17.7.41
wurden 11 Bücher davon
beschlagnahmt, und zwar 10
kroatisch geschriebene jüdische
Autoren (Überseztungen) und 1
englisches politisches Buch...“
76
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 11
correspondence and book
collection
Vilim
Stainc
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 11
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 11
book collection
Family
Tolentino
book collection and
correspondence
Maša
Tolentino
correspondence and book
collection
Dr. Milan
Venzilovi
ć
Ragusa,
Fran
Supilo put
25
Ragusa,
Zudojska 3
6 June
1941
Ragusa,
Budanigas
se 1
Ragusa
6 June
1941
2 June
1941
3 June
1941
77
I. Objects that probably were looted
According to Reel 131, Opis 1, Folder 11, the following book collections from people living in
Ragusa (Dubrovnik) were sealed for a later review (some of the names mentioned below, will
also be listed in a separate Excel sheet of items “sealed” off by the ERR):
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29 /
Fond 1401,
opis 1, Folder
47
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
221 books
Josip
Berner
Ragusa,
Mazuranic
ev kbr. 5
book collection and letter
correspondence
Jovo
Bravcic
information concerning the
„Rotary club“
Miko
Ersegovic
Ragusa,
10 May
Korculansa 1941
k4
Ragusa
3 June
1941
book collection
Josip
Fuks
book collection
sealed packages and
correspondence
6 June
1941
Dr. Ivo
Gracic
Ragusa,
Puc Vrana
Sublin 15
Ragusa,
Vill Iris
Mato
Jakšići
Ragusa, v
2
16 July
1941
Jeglic
Oskar
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
book collection (German
and Hebrew language
books), correspondence
book collection
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
book collection
7. and
18.
June
1941
Ragusa,
Hotel
Excelsior
(room nr.
20)
Leo Klein Ragusa
Dr.
Harold
Kućera
Joisp
Lujak
Ragusa
(Dubrovni
k II),
Bilečke 1.
Ragusa,
Gradac
12 June
1941
9 June
1941
(no explicit statement as to what
was sealed off)
18 June
1941
10 June
1941
9 June
1941
78
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
book collection and
correspondence
Josef
Mandel
book collection and
correspondence
Mirko
Mandic
book collection and
correspondence
Prota
Božidar
Mitrovic
Milivoj
Sokolovic
books
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
books
Vilim
Stainc
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 29
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 11
cooks and correspondence
Vitro
Tolentino
books and correspondence
Dr. Milan
Venzilovi
c
Dr.
Matija
Vidoević
Fond 1401,
Opis 1,
Folder 28
library
Dr.
Ladislav
Schick
Gasse 4
Ragusa,
Boskovice
va 22
Ragusa
6 June
1941
2 June
1941
Ragusa,
Polaca 5
2 June
1941
Ragusa:
Lapad,
Beogradsk
a Obala 97
(private
apartment)
Gravosa,
Splitski put
63 (office)
Ragusa,
Dran
Supilo pu
25
Ragusa,
Bumanigas
se 1
Ragusa
3 June
1941
Ragusa
4 June
1941
6 June
1941
6 June
1941
3 June
1941
Both the office and the
apartment were sealed (no
information as to what was
looted)
(In a letter written by Dr.
Lauber, the head of the ERR in
Croatia to the Ustasa chief of
police and dated with 14 June
1941, he noted that „Ich bitte Sie
nunmehr im Sinne des
obenerwaehnten Umstandes, die
Freigabe der Buecherei bzw. den
Schluessel zur Uebernahme
durch meinen Mitarbeiter
veranlassen zu wollen.“ He
further referred to the library as
79
a “wertvolle jüdische
Leihbibliothek”)
80
Appendix (1):
M 1942, Offenbach Pictures: Library Markings From Looted Books
(http://www.fold3.com/image/#114|232008202)
81
82
83
Appendix (2)
Ante Topic Mimara Shipments
M 1946 - Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points ("Ardelia Hall Collection"): Munich
Central Collecting Point, 1945-1951
Series: Restitution Claim Records
Category: Yugoslavia: Receipts
Ante Topic Mimara – 4th Shipment
http://www.fold3.com/image/#114|270070997
84
http://www.fold3.com/image/#269971072
4th Shipment – 108 objects
85
86
87
6th Shipment – 1 object
88
89
90
Appendix (3)
Transport Lists to Yugoslavia
M 1946 - Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points ("Ardelia Hall Collection"): Munich
Central Collecting Point, 1945-1951
Series: Cultural Object Movement and Control Records
Category: Custody Receipts on Restitution to Yugoslavia
Overview of Shipments to Yugoslavia dating from October 1947 until June 1949
1st Shipment – 27 October 1947 (6 objects)
91
2nd Shipment – 10 May 1948 (1 object)
3rd shipment – 28 May 1948 (2 objects)
For the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th shipments to Yugoslavia, please see appendix (2) – “Ante Topic
Mimara Shipments”
92
Additional Information re 7th shipment (includes provenance information)
93
94
95
Second Additional Information List re 4th Shipment (includes provenance information)
96
97
98
99
100
101
Second additional list re 7th shipment
102
103
104