The War and Art Treasures in Germany

Abstract

This account of the fate of works of art and architecture in Germany during the war is at most a preliminary sketch. In default of detailed reports, it derives either from personal observation or hearsay. Observation was limited to one brief trip into the present British Zone of Germany, two into the U. S. Zones of Germany and Austria, and residence in Frankfurt and Berlin. The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section of the Office of Military Government for Germany will eventually, it is hoped, make available full reports, at least for the U.S. Zone, on the fate of buildings, collections, and persons. In the meantime, the following remarks should be regarded only as a partial and tentative report. In particular, it can offer no information on the fate of personalities of the German art world. Moreover, the impressions are those of last summer and may no longer be valid.