SECRET [rubber stamp]
German Reichs Ministry for the Occupied Regions of the East, Director of Group P4.
P 4/894 a/44g Department: Goepel
Berlin, 12 Sept. 1944 Prinz Louis Ferdinand Str.
Received. Bau 9/12
DECREE
1. To the Chief of the Political Directorate Staff, In the Building
Subject: Presentation of a list of works of art which have been shipped back from the Ukraine.
The Reichs Commissar for the Ukraine has stored the works of art and paintings shipped in from Kiev and Charkow, in the following storage places in East Prussia:
1. Domain Bichau bei Wehlau.
2. Manor House Wildenhoff (Owner Count Schwerin). Concerned are 65 chests whose contents will be given completely in the enclosure. There is as yet no inventory of some further 20 chests, 57 folios and one role of engravings. There are a great
99
055-PS
many of the oldest icons, works of famous masters of the German, Dutch and Italian schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as works of the best Russian artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. On the whole, the contents include the most valuable works of the known Ukrainian art possession, which in themselves represent a value of many millions after a cursory appraisal. Beyond that they have a high ethical and cultural-political meaning as the only collections of this sort in the German orbit with international repute with which the Reich wishes to carry out a collaboration at present or in the future.
In accordance with the ordinance of the Reichs Chancellery of 18 Nov. 1940—Rk. 15 666 B (enclosure 2) it appears necessary to submit a list of the contents to the Fuehrer. I request your signature on the proposed list which is enclosed.
2. Disseminate immediately.
(Copies for signature were presented in pencil (to Ministry and Chancellery of party on 15 Sept. 1944.)
Sv. 9/15
German Reichs Ministry for the Occupied Regions of the East Director of Group P 4 P 894'a/44
Berlin, 14 Sept. 1944 Prinz Louis Ferdinand-str. 2
Phone: 16 45 61 Received: Bau 14.9.44
DECREE [Rubber stamp] SECRET
1. To the Reichs Minister
Via Chief of the Political Directorate Staff, in the Building
Subject: Works of art shipped back from Ukraine.
The Reichs Commissar for the Ukraine has stored the works of art and paintings shipped in from Kiev and Charkow in the following storage places in East Prussia:
1. Domain Richau bei Wehlau.
2. Manor House Wildenhoff (Owner Count Schwerin). Concerned are 65 chests whose contents will be given completely in the enclosure. There is as yet no inventory of some further 20 chests, 57 folios and one role of engravings. There are great many of the oldest icons, works of famous masters of the Ger-
100
055—PS
man, Dutch and Italian schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as works of the best Russian artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. On the whole the contents include the most valuable works of the known Ukrainian art possession, which in themselves represent a value of many millions after a cursory appraisal. Beyond that they have a high ethic and cultural-political meaning as the only collections of this sort in the German orbit with international repute with which the Reich wishes to. carry out a collaboration at present or in the future.
I request an acknowledgement.
In accordance with the decree of the Reichs Chancellory of 18 Nov. 1940—RK. 15 666 B—a list of the contents was presented to the Fuehrer. -
2. Disseminate.
[initialed] US 14/9
September 1944 16 43 61
received Bau 14.9.44
The Chief of the Political Directorate Staff
DECREE
[rubber stamp] SECRET
P 894a/44g
1. To the Reichs Chancellory
(1) Berlin W 8
Wilhelmstr. ,
Re: Reservation for the Fuehrer [Fuehrervorbehalt] of works of art from the occupied territories of the East.
According to an expression of the Fuehrer's will (communication to the Director of the Gallery of Paintings in Dresden—File number: RK 10 811 B) it is required to report all treasures of art which have been shipped back from the occupied territories of the East. I submit, therefore, in the enclosure a list of the items from the museums of Kiev and Charkow which are at present stored in East Prussia with a request for acknowledgement.
2. Disseminate.
By direction.
US 9/14
101
Memoranda of artworks that have been shipped from the Ukraine, including icons and European and Russian paintings; an inventory is to be prepared for Hitler
Date: 12 September 1944
Literal Title: Decree . . . Subject: Presentation of a list of works of art which have been shipped back from the Ukraine.
Defendant: Alfred Rosenberg
Total Pages: 3
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-055
HLSL Item No.: 451233
Notes:The memos are not signed; they are from Rosenberg's ministry. This document was apparently not offered as an exhibit.