Nazi Art Looting in the Records of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle Berlin
The German federal government, the federal states, and municipalities establish a new arbitration court for disputes concerning cultural property confiscatedBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More as a result of Nazi persecution. It replaces the Advisory Commission.
The Deutsches Zentrum Kulturgutverluste (German Lost Art Foundation) is established as a nationwide institution for supporting and coordinating provenance research.
For the first time, the German federal government provides targeted funding for the systematic research of cultural property confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution. Museums, archives, and libraries can now apply for provenance research projects.
The Beratende Kommission (Advisory Commission) is established as an independent body to issue recommendations in disputed restitution cases. It is intended to enable fair solutions when claimants and public institutions cannot reach agreement.
In the Gemeinsame Erklärung (Joint Declaration), the German federal government, the federal states, and municipalities commit themselves to implementing the Washington Principles in practice.
At the Washington Conference in 1998, forty-four states – including Germany – agree on eleven principles for dealing with cultural property confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution.
The Bundesgesetz zur Regelung der rückerstattungsrechtlichen Geldverbindlichkeiten des Deutschen Reichs und gleichgestellter Rechtsträger (Federal Law Regulating Restitution‑Related Monetary Obligations of the German Reich and Equivalent Legal Entities) governs the return of assets taken from victims of Nazi persecution.
The Bundesgesetz zur Entschädigung für Opfer der nationalsozialistischen Verfolgung (Federal Law on Compensation for Victims of National Socialist Persecution) is enacted in the Federal Republic of Germany. Claims could also be made for “Schaden an Vermögen” (damage to property).
The Allied Kommandatura issues an order requiring that all identifiable assets be returned to victims of National Socialist persecution.
The German Reich surrenders. Around 6,000 to 8,000 Jewish people are still living in Berlin.
