Polish historical artefacts appear very often in many German auctions, for example, at auction at the Hermann Historica auction in 2022 and 2023.
The horrors of war inflict immeasurable human suffering and lead to the systematic looting of cultural treasures. Poland, a country ravaged by World War II, witnessed the plundering of its art collections, resulting in the loss of invaluable masterpieces. Decades later, a painful chapter of history continues to unfold as Polish artworks looted during the war resurface at German auctions.
Poland, home to a rich cultural heritage, suffered greatly during World War II. The German regime targeted Polish museums, galleries, and private collections, confiscating thousands of artworks. These stolen masterpieces were often shipped to Germany, where they were intended to serve as trophies or were sold at auctions.
It is estimated that the Germans looted about 516,000 individual works of art in Poland. Currently, the Ministry of Culture has catalogued over 63,000 objects.
Art looting in Poland began as early as 1939, with both German and Soviet occupiers actively participating in the systematic theft. This looting operation was meticulously planned and organised. The true scope of the plundering remains uncertain, as there were likely numerous instances where lower-value artworks, not officially recorded, were illicitly taken by ordinary soldiers.
According to estimates, covering only works documented and looted by the Germans, Poland lost 2,800 paintings by European artists, 11,000 paintings by Polish artists, 1,500 sculptures, 15 million books, 75,000 manuscripts, 22,000 old prints, 25,000 historical maps, 300,000 graphics, and 50,000 museum manuscripts. The overall impact on libraries was immense, with a total loss of approximately 22 million items.
These numbers, however, do not encompass the thefts committed by the Soviet army. Moreover, considering the broader context, Poland experienced a loss of over 70% of its cultural heritage.
According to Professor Jan Pruszyński, the estimated market value of works of art looted by German Nazis and Soviets in Poland in 1939–1945 is 30 billion USD. Many of them still have not returned to their rightful owners.
Over the last seven years, Poland has recovered about 700 works of art stolen by the Germans during World War II.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable emergence of stolen items from the Second World War. Notably, valuable and exceptional works often resurface at unofficial auctions conducted within a network of trusted individuals. However, many less valuable things come to light. These are the belongings that Germans and Russians stole, often from ordinary soldiers, not only from museums but also from Polish homes. These items may have been stored in cellars or attics, only to be forgotten or left behind when the original owners passed away, eventually discovered by their descendants.
Poland appealed to the UN Agency for Education, Arts, Sciences, and Culture (UNESCO) to ask for support in recovering numerous pieces of art that Germany looted during WWII. Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk was in Berlin to discuss the matter with his German counterparts. On his official Twitter account, he said he had written a letter to UNESCO’s director general “requesting cooperation in the return of cultural goods taken from Poland”.
More about the Berlin visit in our article Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister is in Germany to talk about war reparations.
Our interview with Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk: Germany does everything to postpone the topic of war reparations for Poland.
Author: Patrycja Bodzek-Kurzyńska
Photo: Hermann Historica auction.
