| TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 055-PS Source: Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, Vol. III. USGPO, Washington, 1946, pp.99-101 S E C R ET German Reichs Ministry for the Occupied Regions of the East, Berlin, 12 Sept. 1944 D E C R EE 1. To the Chief of the Political Directorate Staff, In the Building Subject: Presentation of a list of works of art which have been shipped back from the Ukraine. The Reichs Commissar for the Ukraine has stored the works of art and paintings shipped in from Kiev and Charkow, in the following storage places in East Prussia:
Concerned are 65 chests whose contents will be given completely in the enclosure. There is as yet no inventory of some further 20 chests, 57 folios and one role of engravings. There are a great many of the oldest icons, works of famous masters of the German, Dutch and Italian schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as works of the best Russian artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. On the whole, the contents include the most valuable works of the known Ukrainian art possession, which in themselves represent a value of many millions after a cursory appraisal. Beyond that they have a high ethical and cultural-political meaning as the only collections of this sort in the German orbit with international repute with which the Reich wishes to carry out a collaboration at present or in the future. In accordance with the ordinance of the Reichs Chancellery of 18 Nov. 1940-Rk. 15 666 B (enclosure 2) it appears necessary to submit a list of the contents to the Fuehrer. I request your signature on the proposed list which is enclosed. 2. Disseminate immediately. (Copies for signature were presented in pencil (to Ministry and Chancellery of party on 15 Sept. 1944.) sv. 9/ 15 German Reichs Ministry for the Occupied Regions of the East Berlin, 14 Sept. 1944 D E C R EE 1. To the Reichs Minister Subject: Works of art shipped back from Ukraine. The Reichs Commissar for the Ukraine has stored the works of art and paintings. shipped in from Kiev and Charkow in the following storage places in East Prussia:
Concerned are 65 chests whose contents will be given completely in the enclosure. There is as yet no inventory of some further 20 chests, 57 folios and one role of engravings. There are great many of the oldest icons, works of famous masters of the German, Dutch and Italian schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as works of the best Russian artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. On the whole the contents include the most valuable works of the known Ukrainian art possession, which in themselves represent a value of many millions after a cursory appraisal. Beyond that they have a high ethic and cultural-political meaning as the only collections of this sort in the German orbit with international repute with which the Reich wishes to carry out a collaboration at present or in the future. I request an acknowledgement. In accordance with the decree of the Reichs Chancellory of 18 Nov. 1940-RK. 15 666 B-a list of the contents was presented to the Fuehrer. 2. Disseminate. [initialed] US 14/ 9 September 1944 The Chief of the Political Directorate Staff DECREE P 894a/ 44g Re: Reservation for the Fuehrer [Fuehrervorbehalt] of works of art from the occupied territories of the East. According to an expression of the Fuehrer's will (communication to the Director of the Gallery of Paintings in Dresden-File number: RK 10 811 B) it is required to report all treasures of art which have been shipped back from the occupied territories of the East. I submit, therefore, in the enclosure a list of the items from the museums of Kiev and Charkow which are at present stored in East Prussia with a request for acknowledgement. 2. Disseminate. By direction. |
Document compiled by Dr S D Stein