Ansje Burdick schrieb:
> ART THEFT, WORLD WAR II AND MUSEUM ETHICS
>
> Greetings Museum Lovers-
>
> I am a relatively new member to museum-l and I have enjoyed reading your
> posts. As a student I am excited to participate in your discussions. What a
> wealth of information you all are!!
>
> I am a graduate student in the Arts Administration program at the
> University of Oregon and am currently involved in writing my thesis.  I
> have chosen a topic involving art theft, specifically the looting of works
> during World War II, ethics and  museums.  I just finished reading The Lost
> Museum by Hector Feliciano and was amazed.  I’d not only like to recommend
> the book for anyone interested in art theft or involved with museums but
> would also like to hear your thoughts on the issues raised by the book.
>
> Specifically, as a museum professional, how would you handle a situation
> where you found that your collection included a work that was stolen from a
> Jewish family by the Nazis over 50 years ago?  The original family heirs
> want the painting back and the painting is worth a considerable sum to the
> museum.  How does your museum protect itself from getting involved in this
> type of dilemma?  What resources would you call on to guide you through
> this type of situation?
>
> If you are interested in discussing these issues you may email me directly.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ansje Burdick

Dear Ansje,

I would recommend to you - if you have not already done it - to take a look at
the process of learning which is taking place in moment in the Swiss bank
business. What did they do when it was proved that Jewish money from people who
were murdered in German concentration camps (partly by cooperation of the Swiss
government) was kept there for decades waiting that all heirs would die? At
first they denied the whole thing. Than they made a very small offer. Than they
made a bigger offer. Than they realized that this method causes lots of troubles
for themselves. Finally, when this unbelievable behaviour was shown on TV, the
catastrophe was complete.
What I would be interested in, is: Is there a moral right of the winner of a war
(situation), to loot objects, if the agressor, like Hitler`s Germany, will be
judged worldwide as a terror regime? And: As we all know from some newer wars of
the nineties, it gets a custom to destroy willingly the so-called national
heritage. In so far, looting of troops guided by knowledgable men (officers with
higher education) leaves at least the chance to transfer the objects back one
day. It may even save the objects from damaging by vandalizing idiots.

Best regards

CMS

Verlag Dr. C. Müller-Straten / MUSEUMS AGENTUR             xxx  xx xx  xxx
Kunzweg 23, 81243 München                                  x    x x x    x
Tel./Fax: 089-839 690 43, http://WebMuseen.de/VERLAGCMS    xxx  x   x  xxx