Frankfurt revealed: 7,500 books from the Nazi era finally identified!

Frankfurt revealed: 7,500 books from the Nazi era finally identified!

Since autumn 2020, the Frankfurt University Library has been devoting itself to an important task: examining books that were unlawfully confiscated during the Nazi era. In this context, the first provenance research project was successfully completed and a research report was prepared. The aim of this study was to identify books that were confiscated from their original owners in connection with Nazi persecution. This ambitious project was supported by the German Lost Cultural Heritage Center and is considered the start of long-term provenance research.

The Washington Declaration of 1998 forms the moral and ethical basis for the return or compensation of looted art. Professor Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University, emphasizes the institution's responsibility to face its past. The city of Frankfurt also has a special role, as it is the owner of many books from the former city and university library. It is estimated that a third of the books published before 1945 still belong to the city today.

Results of provenance research

Head of Cultural Affairs Dr. Ina Hartwig says that the number of books stolen is shocking and that systematic research was long overdue. The project examined over 75,000 books and identified 7,500 copies likely to be unlawfully withdrawn. So far, 35 cases with a total of 90 volumes have been restituted, including returns and buybacks. An outstanding case concerns the books from the Baer antiquarian bookstore, which was liquidated in 1934, where over 5,000 volumes were identified as Nazi loot.

The project not only marks an important step towards reappraisal, but is also seen as the start of a follow-up project that will be continued over the next two years. The focus is on old, rare and valuable prints. The Johann Christian Senckenberg University Library is one of the most important academic libraries in Germany and plays a central role in this research work.

Provenance research and its relevance

The framework conditions in Germany for the research and return of Nazi-looted property have improved significantly over the last 25 years since the Washington Principles and the associated Joint Declaration were published. The number of museums, libraries, archives and public institutions that conduct systematic provenance research has increased. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media made around 88 million euros available for this research area from 2008 to 2022, and around 13 million euros are planned for 2023.

The aim of provenance research is to clarify the origin of works of art and cultural assets and to document the circumstances surrounding the change of ownership and ownership. In Germany, over 30,000 works of art, books and archival materials have so far been identified and restituted as Nazi looted property, even if the actual number of restitutions is often difficult to determine. Many returns are not publicly disclosed. The Cultural Property Protection Act, which came into force in 2016, supports the implementation of the Washington Principles and leads to increased duties of care when dealing with works that may have been confiscated due to Nazi persecution.

Specialized professorships have been established at universities such as Bonn, Munich, Berlin, Würzburg and Lüneburg in order to anchor this important research work in science and teaching. Further training programs are also offered for specialists in museums, collections and the art trade to promote awareness and expertise in provenance research.

The federal and state governments are also working to support the return of identified cultural assets to their former owners or their heirs. This is done after an individual review and taking into account any compensation that has already been paid. It is an ongoing process that requires and continues to be necessary a responsible examination of the history and losses of the Nazi era.

Overall, the Frankfurt University Library project illustrates how important and urgent it is to reprocess Nazi looted property in German cultural heritage. The development and results of provenance research are not only of regional, but also national and international importance for justice and the culture of remembrance.