18 Dec. 45
see is representative of a number of volumes of similar
pictures, and each volume from which these single pictures were taken
represents approximately a tenth of the total number of volumes which
would be necessary to illustrate all the items actually plundered by the
Einsatzstab. We will now have the slides, just a few of them.
[Photographs were projected on the screen
in the courtroom.]
This first picture is a "Portrait of a Woman,"
painted by the Italian painter Palma Vecchio.
The next picture is a "Portrait of a Woman" by the Spanish
painter Velasquez.
This picture is a "Portrait of Lady Spencer" by the English
painter Sir Joshua Reynolds.
This picture is a painting by the French painter Watteau.
This is a painting of "The Three Graces" by Rubens.
This is a "Portrait of an Old Woman" by the famous painter
Rembrandt.
This painting of a young woman is by the Dutch painter Van Dyck.
Now this picture is a sample of 16th century jewelry in gold and
enamel, decorated with pearls.
This is a 17th century Gobelin tapestry.
This picture is of a Japanese painting from the catalogue volume on
East Asiatic art.
This is an example of famous china.
This is a picture of a silver-inlaid Louis XIV cabinet.
The last picture is of a silver altarpiece of the 15th or 16th century,
of Spanish origin.
I call to your attention again that each of the pictures you have just
seen is merely representative of a large number of similar items
illustrated in the 39-volume catalogue which is in itself only partially
complete. There is little wonder that the Führer's occupation with
these beautiful things of art, which were nearest to his heart, should
have sent a ray of beauty and joy into his revered life. I doubt that
any museum in the world, whether the Metropolitan in New York, the
British Museum in London, the Louvre in Paris, or the Tretiakov Gallery
in Moscow, could present such a catalogue a, as this; in fact, should
they pool their treasures, the result would certainly fall short of the
art collection that Germany amassed for itself, at the expense of the
other nations of Europe. Never in history has a collection so great been
amassed with so little scruple.
It is refreshing, however, to know that the victorious Allied armies
have recovered most of such treasures,, principally hidden