Stralsund reveals the dark history of Nazi-looted art in a new exhibition

Stralsund reveals the dark history of Nazi-looted art in a new exhibition

In Stralsund, a city full of history, the Stralsund Museum has opened a fascinating poster exhibition entitled “Nazi-looted property research in Stralsund”. This event is already attracting the attention of citizens and those interested in culture and will run until the end of December. How NDR reports, the posters are displayed on advertising pillars throughout the city and illuminate the way in which works of art found their way into the institution between 1933 and 1945 - often under highly questionable circumstances.

Curator Antje Strahl describes the research behind the exhibition as “detective work” that uncovers the complex stories and connections of the Nazi era. The aim is to make these valuable research results accessible to a broad public. What's exciting is that the posters are equipped with QR codes. Those interested can use these codes to obtain further details and background information about the individual cases.

Funding and return

The exhibition is supported by the German Center for Losses of Cultural Property, which has been examining the museum holdings in Stralsund since 2021 and supporting the return of Nazi-looted property. A task that is not limited to local circumstances, but is part of a larger national and international context. In a joint declaration, the federal government as well as various federal states and municipal umbrella organizations have committed themselves to measures to find and return cultural assets confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution, especially those belonging to Jews, such as kulturgutlosen.de shows.

After the Second World War, numerous claims for restitution were handled in accordance with the Allied restitution regulations, the Federal Reimbursement Act and the Federal Compensation Act. The returns were often aimed at directly injured parties or their successors. In the GDR, however, redress for Nazi injustice often fell by the wayside.

Current efforts and outlook

With the end of the division of Germany, the Federal Republic committed itself to consistently applying the principles of restitution and compensation. Public institutions, such as museums and archives, are called upon to return cultural assets confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution after individual examination. Further cooperation with former owners to clarify the ownership structure is also recommended.

This is an important step towards coming to terms with history and making amends for injustice. The poster exhibition in Stralsund is not only seen as detective work, but also as a significant contribution to raising awareness about an issue that affects us all. There is still a lot to be done in coming to terms with these dark chapters of history, and the exhibition is an exciting invitation to citizens to actively engage with these questions.