Information

• 1 Art database
  • 1.1 Contents of the Art Database
    If you recognize art objects in the Art Database or if you are able to provide information on their provenance, please contact the museum concerned directly, or the Federal Commission...
• 2 The seizure of art during the National Socialist Regime in Austria
  • 2.1 The seizure of art during the National Socialist Regime in Austria
    The seizure of privately held art was an important element of the policy of expropriation and extermination directed against the Jewish population in National Socialist Germany...
  • 2.2 Pseudo-legal methods of seizure
    The art theft committed by National Socialists in ­Austria was part of the systematically conducted robbery of the Jewish population, "but also part of the complex and racially...
  • 2.3 The Central Depot for Confiscated Art in Vienna
    The "securing" of Jewish art collections was one of the National Socialists' ­aims and it was systematically implemented after the " Anschluss " in March 1938. Under reference...
  • 2.4 The "Führer's prerogative" and the planned "Führer Museum" in Linz
    On June 18, 1938, Adolf Hi­tler placed all artwork seized in Austria under the " Führer's prerogative" [1] . This provision was a reaction to the n­umerous confiscations by the...
  • 2.5 The "Führer's donation"
    Art objects from the Central Depot in the Neue Burg , which is part of the Imperial Palace in Vienna not designated for the " Führer Museum" in Linz were distributed to Austrian...
  • 2.6 The VUGESTA (The Gestapo Office for the Disposal of the Property of Jewish Emigrants)
    On September 7, 1940 an organization in Vienna called the " Vugesta " started operating. It can be considered ­the main center for the redistribution of stolen private property...
  • 2.7 Seized art towards the end of the war
    Immediately following the start of World War Two, Adolf Hitler ordered that the holdings of confiscated artwork kept in museums in Vienna and in the "Central Depot" be stored...
  • 2.8 Further Literature
    Gabriele Anderl , Alexandra Caruso ( publ. ), NS-Kunstraub in Österreich und die Folgen , Innsbruck 2005. Gabriele Anderl , Edith Blaschitz , Sabine Loitfellner...
• 3 Art Restitution in Austria after 1945
  • 3.1 Art Restitution in Austria after 1945
    In 1945, after the victory of t­he A­llies over the National Socialist regime, the task of returning the numerous works of art seized by the National Socialists in Austria to their...
  • 3.2 The "Central Art Collecting Point" in Munich – Art restitution during the post-war period
    The restitution of stolen objects of art was carried out in Austria immediately following the end of World War Two for the most part with the assistance of the allied occupying...
  • 3.3 The Austrian legislation on art restitution after World War Two
    On May 1, 1945 after the collapse of the NS regime, Austria passed the constitutional law on the restoration of law and order. As such, all laws and ordinances resolved during the...
  • 3.4 The "donations" ­to Austrian museums
    In the course of the Second Republic's policy of restitution, "donations" were made under pressure to Austrian museums and collections during the post-war period. Artwork which...
  • 3.5 The "Mauerbach Auction­" of 1996
    Despite several restitution laws and research by Austrian authorities, a number of expropriated objects of art remained until the 1980's in­ the storage facilities of the Federal...
  • 3.6 The Art Restitution Law of 1998
    The New York district attorney confiscated two of Egon Schiele's paintings, namely " Bildnis Wally " and " Tote Stadt III " in­ New York in the beginning of January 1998. From...
  • 3.7 Further Literature
    Gabriele Anderl , Alexandra Caruso ( publ. ), NS-Kunstraub in Österreich und die Folgen , Innsbruck 2005. Gabriele Anderl , Edith Blaschitz , Sabine Loitfellner...
• 4 Contacts
  • 4.1 National Fund
    For further questions please refer to the contact details below: The National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of the National Socialism Parliament Dr. Karl Renner...
  • 4.2 Contact at museums
    Dr.in Karin Leitner-Ruhe Eggenberger Allee 90 A-8010 Graz
  • 4.3 Commissions
    Karlsplatz A-1040 Vienna Phone.: +43-1-505 4 87 47-0 Fax: +43-1-505 4 87 47-7201 email
  • 4.4 Institutions
    Desider Friedmann-Platz 1 A-1010 Vienna Phone: +43-1-533 1622 Fax: +43-1-533 1623 email
• 5 The Law of 1998 on Art Restitution and further legal authorities
  After 1945 the Republic of Austria took various steps to return confiscated works of art, but complete restitution has not yet taken place. Since 1998 a number of legislative initiatives...
• 6 Art restitution proce­edings after 1998
  The Art Restitution Law and the Vienna Council Resolution on Art Restitution of 1999 regulate the conditions and procedure for the restitution of art objects from museums...
• 7 Museums and provenan­ce research
  The publicatio­n of the art and cultu­r­al objects in­ ­the Art Database of the National Fund takes place in co-operation with the museums and collections of the Federal Republic...
• 8 Restitution Reports
  English version: Restitution Report 2003/2004 Restitution Report 2002/2003 Restitution Report 2001/2002 German version: Restitution Report 2009 (part of the...