Nazi Art Looting in the Records of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle Berlin
blha Custom Post Type Profiteer
Name: Versteigerungshaus Walther Achenbach
Owner: Dr. jur. Walther Achenbach; Philo Wuest, became acting director in 1935
Duration: Since 1933 at the latest
Business addresses: Hardenbergstraße 29a-e, Berlin W 50 (Mitte); Budapester Straße 9, Berlin W 62 (Tiergarten)
Traces in the files: Auctions of high-quality art objects, antiques and home furnishings
Name: Versteigerungshaus Edgar Lach
Duration: 1926 to unknown
Business address: Oranienburger Straße 2, Berlin C 2 (Mitte)
Traces in the files: Auctions of middle-class home furnishings. Member of the „Deutschen Rechtsfront“ (German Legal Front) in the Reich Student Council for Expertise and therefore also active as an expert witness.
Name: Versteigerungshaus Union Leo Spik; Kunstversteigerungshaus Union
Owner: Leo Spik (1894 – 1968)
Duration: 1919 Art dealership founded by Leo Spik, 1934 Takeover of the Union auction house, 1947 New premises on Kurfürstendamm, still active today.
Business address: Kurfürstendamm 201, Berlin (Charlottenburg); Tiergartenstraße 6, Berlin W 35 (Tiergarten); Rankestraße 5, Berlin W 50 (Mitte)
Traces in the files: Auctioned from 1933 onwards, initially on behalf of Jewish owners, later confiscated removal goods on behalf of the OFP. Specialised in art objects from 1941 onwards, with a focus on works of art, high-quality furnishings and antiques. Also auctioned outside his business premises (e.g. at Gerhard Harms).
Name: Versteigerer Rudolf Harms
Duration: Since 1910, Rudolf Harms took over the Gerhard Harms auction house in 1942
Business addresses: Pestalozzistraße 52, Berlin (Charlottenburg); Westfälische Straße 85, Berlin (Wilmersdorf)
Traces in the files: Sold entire home furnishings. Conducted auctions on behalf of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle (Asset Realisation Office) in 1942 and 1943.
Name: Paul B. Masurat
Duration: From around 1937 to the 1960s
Business addresses: Dircksenstraße, Bogen 121, Berlin (Mitte); Werderstraße 3/4, Berlin (Mitte)
Traces in the files: Sold apartment furnishings, household goods, art objects, etc. Conducted auctions on behalf of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle (asset realisation office) from 1942 to 1945.
Name: Versteigerungen Scheduikat
Duration: Since 1934 until unknown
Business address: Kurfürstendamm 122, Berlin (Halensee)
Traces in the files: Auctions of all kinds, furniture – bankruptcies – estates, flat clearances, business furnishings. Also acted as an appraiser, certified by the „Deutschen Rechtsfront“ (German Legal Front) as an expert.
Name: Hans W. Lange
Owner: Hans Wolfgang Lange (1904 – 1945)
Duration: Formerly Paul Graupe Auction House, Hans W. Lange worked there from around 1925. From 1937, „Arisierung“ (Aryanisation) by Lange, then Hans W. Lange Auction House until 1945
Business address: Bellevuestraße 7, Berlin W 9 (Tiergarten)
Traces in the files: Auctions of paintings, antiques and other high-value art. Hans W. Lange and his employees acted as buyers at auctions held on behalf of the tax authorities. Buyers at his auctions included museums, collectors, dealers, Nazi officials and the „Sonderauftrag Linz“ (Special Commission Linz).
Name: Versteigerungshaus Gerhard Harms
Owner: Gerhard Harms
Duration: Approximately 1910 to 1942
Business addresses: Prinzregentenstraße 2, Berlin (Wilmersdorf); Wildpfad 3, Berlin (Dahlem); Westfälische Straße 85, Berlin (Wilmersdorf)
Traces in the files: Conducted auctions on behalf of the Finanzamt Moabit-West (Moabit-West tax office) until early April 1941. Sold entire apartment furnishings. Probably in connection with the arrest of Gerhard Harms in March 1941 on suspicion of bribery, the Finanzamt Moabit-West distanced itself from the collaboration. Outstanding auction orders were taken over by the Union auction house.
Name: Charlotte Oellerich
Duration: From 1940 to unknown. From 1930, worked in the auction business; from 1940, obtained auctioneer's licence and became self-employed. After the war, she continued to work as an auctioneer.
Business addresses: Brabanter Platz 1, Berlin (Wilmersdorf); Neue Schönhauser Straße 16, Berlin N 54 (Mitte)
Traces in the files: Since November 1941, auctions for the Oberfinanzpräsidenten (Senior Finance President). Auction of home furnishings, primarily removal goods.
Name: Carl F. Schlüter
Duration: Founded in 1925, still active after 1945
Business address: Alsterufer 12, Hamburg
Traces in the files: Conducted auctions of packaged removal goods that had been seized in Hamburg's free port. Received a 15% commission, 5% more than other auctioneers.
