European Art Collections and the War

Abstract

War losses in art collections were extraordinarily few, and also, generally speaking, the objects were found in excellent condition. Among the exceptions were Signorelli's Pan and the Gods and some of the other objects stored in a flaktower in Berlin. Because of its large size the Signorelli was not removed from the flaktower when, in March and April 1945, museum personnel became panicky and took a few things out at night to places considered safe. In 1943 Germany boasted that no bombs would fall on Berlin, but when bombings did occur in northern Germany, art personnel became cautious and wished to evacuate the contents of museums. They could get nowhere with Hitler because of his fear of losing face with the people. However, he finally consented to the removal of some things to two flaktowers and, when it was too late to get anything out, to salt mines. It is reported that a few days after Berlin fell to the Allies a fire occurred in one of the flaktowers and not until all the repositories have been checked will the loss to art be known.1