Return of Art Loot from and to Austria

Abstract

The main body of United States occupation troops entered Austria last August, after agreement had been reached on the demarcation of zones of occupation by the four occupying powers, the United States, Russia, Britain and France. The writer, as a civilian attached to the Army, was stationed three weeks in Verona, Italy, a few days in Salzburg and finally entered Vienna September 1, 1945. In August discussions had been begun with the United States Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives staff in Germany relative to the question of storing and shipping Austrian loot through Germany to the western owner nations and the return of Austrian-owned art property, then in Germany, to Austria. After considerable deliberation, from the highest levels on down, agreement was reached to use the Central Art Collecting Point in Munich, already set up and in operation, as a collecting and distributing point for loot from Austria as well as Germany. The advantages of this arrangement were great since it avoided any duplication of...