Plundered Nazi Art: Is This Fair?

[Juan Trickpony]

Okay.
We all agree the Nazis were evil, right?


And we all agree that all the artwork they plundered during World War Two should be returned to its proper owners, right?


Well, how about this.


After the war, the United States Government appropriated 4 watercolors painted by Adolf Hitler, along with a number of prewar and wartime photographs. These were used by the prosecutors at the Nuremberg trials.


Okay, right?


But now, the rightful owners of these material want them back.
And the US court of appeals have ruled against them.


These aren't nice people. They include the heirs to Hitler's friend and personal photographer Heinrich Hoffman. The case is being pressed by a Texas businessman whose hobby is collecting Nazi memorabilia.

Nice hobby.
Nice guy.


Still.
The artwork was plundered from it's rightful owners without compensation. When the situation is reversed, people justifiable go ballistic.
Fair is fair.
And in all fairness, shouldn't these works be returned?

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Nobody gives a shit when.....

bad guys loose.

They don't care how they loose or what they loose.

Bad guys always have "it" coming. They deserve the shaft and when the get it.......

Good people either cheer or just walk away.

But nobody cries for the bad guy.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

First of all let's recognize the difference between a masterwork painting which has become part of the national culture, and a crappy watercolor done by a housepainter. You cannot form any argument regarding this that includes the word "art".

Hitler's paintings are on par with other worthless personal items that the Allies have every right to control because could easily be used as holy icons. Spoils of war. Sparky's right. We won. We write the history. We keep the trinkets.