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Removal by Private Parties
Numerous objects from the Prussian collections disappeared during the Second World War as a result of theft or plundering. The Foundation is researching the whereabouts of such works and is seeking their return to Berlin.
In the chaos at the end of the Second World War, collections that were often inadequately guarded suffered additional losses through private thefts and plundering. These acts were committed both by private parties and members of the military of the Allied powers stationed in Berlin. Many of these objects have since changed hands, making it difficult to research their current whereabouts. Probably not a few of them are currently located outside Germany.
Whenever the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) learns of the whereabouts of a work removed from its collections in this way, it always attempts to secure its return. In recent years, numerous objects have been returned to the Foundation’s holdings in this way.