Holocaust-Era Assets

Art Provenance and Claims Records and Research

Descriptive List of Key Records

Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) Records

(a)
Record Group & Series: Records of the U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II (RG 260); Office of the Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germanay) (OMGUS); Property Division; Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points (“Ardelia Hall Collection”); Miscellaneous Records; ERR Card File, 1940–1945 (A1, Entry 549).

Description: Consists of double-sided index cards created by the ERR in Paris. The cards describe individual pieces of looted art and are arranged by an alpha-numeric inventory numbering system. The alpha component refers to the original collection (e.g., “R” for Rothschild) and a sequentially increasing number. Card information includes a description of the artwork and measurements. Some include the provenance of the cultural object as well.

This series is available on NARA Microfilm Publication M1943, Rolls 1–27.

(b)
Record Group & Series: Records of the Office of Strategic Services (RG 226); Formerly Security Classified Intelligence Reports (“XL” Series), 1941–1946 (A1, Entry 19).

Description:

XL 13034 contains biographical information on Alfred Rosenberg, including his removal from France of libraries, objects of art, furniture, etc., especially of Jews. 5 pp. June 1945.

Box: 175, Location: 190/4/16/03
XL 13731 is a detailed interrogation report on Driedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger, state secretary at the Reich Chancery, regarding various topics, including fund for foreign art purchases, Hermann Göring’s art purchases, Rosenberg’s organization for acquiring furniture, and futility of the Werewolves. 8 pp. July 1945.

Box: 199, Location: 190/4/16/07
XL 15259 is a reproduction of a letter (in German) from Göring sanctioning Rosenberg’s “booty staffs” and ordering Party, State, and Army assistance for confiscation of property of “Jews and other hostile elements and powers.” Letter dated May 1, 1941.

Box: 226, Location: 190/4/17/03
XL 15687 contains information on the organization and activities of the Einsatzstab Rosenberg (ERR), whose aim was to organize the systematic looting of art treasures of France. Among its activities was the inventory and looting of Jewish collections, many of which were sent to Switzerland for safekeeping. The personnel in charge in Paris was headed by Bruno Lohse and von Behr. Includes a list of the Parisian private collections and the antiquaries which were looted; a list of all the personnel of the ERR in Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels; and an alphabetical list of personnel in all occupied countries (in French). 21 pp. November 1943.

Box: 230, Location: 190/4/17/04
XL 18055 is an exposé of the ERR (in French). 18 pp. November 1943.

Box: 270, Location: 190/4/18/03

(c)
Record Group & Series: Records of Allied Operational Headquarters, World War II (RG 331); Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF); G-5 Division; Operations Branch; Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Section; Subject File, August 1943–1945 (UD, Entry 55B) (ARC ID 612714).

Folders: “Looting: Einsatzstab Rosenberg [ERR]” and “Looting: France.”

Description: The five principal sets of records are:

French inventories of art work selected for Hitler and Göring: Des caisses de tableaux pour le Führer, 8.2.1941 (5 pp.) and Des caisses d’œuvres d’art pour le Reichsmarschall, 8.11.1941 (8 pp.)
Staff lists of ERR [?] employees by region, city, and subject, e.g., Bild Kunst (Fine Arts) and Volkskunde (Ethnology)
Copies of ERR correspondence
“Information on Pictures in the Goudstikker Collection”
November 3, 1944, letter in French from the Director of the Archives of France to Colonel MacDonnel concerning the 1940 disappearance of the Papiers Murat from the Archives Nationales.

Boxes: 325–326, Location: 290/7/27/07

Box #	Selected File Title or Subject
325	Looting: Einsatzstab Rosenberg [ERR] This folder contains a list of paintings for Hitler from Von Behr as of 8/2/41. The list is in French and organized by case number. It also contains an inventory number and a description of the contents. List of ERR staff organized by office. Miscellaneous correspondence and memorandum in German as well as a list of paintings from the Goudstikker collection found in the Dutch castle “Kastell Nyenrode.” The list gives the name of artist, a description, and dimensions of the work.
326	Looting: France Report on purchases of works of art in France during the Occupation by and on behalf of German dealers and officials (also referred to as Part 2 of the Schenker papers). The report is organized alphabetically by name and relates information such as what was purchased, the area of activity and dealers involved. There is also a list of French dealers, firms and individuals that sold works of art to the Germans. Accessions to German Museums and Galleries during the Occupation of France (Schenker papers, Part 1). This report contains an introduction, then organized alphabetically by city thereunder by museum. It lists such information as what was purchased, the dealer, price paid and the date. Letter from the Rothschilds regarding stolen art, including a photograph of the work. There is also a report on the Rothschild collection in French, a copy of the Rothschild deposition, and copy of the German deposition. 1944 OSS report on the German Acquisition of French Art Treasures during the Occupation. Investigation reports of Chateau de Ludre, Richardmenil, and Travalot Military Relics collections. Claim for stolen art by Moussaye of the Chateau de la Tour. He provided a description of each item with an estimated value. List of stolen artwork from the Veil-Picard collections containing title and artist. List of objects taken from the Musée de l’Armée at Les Invalides consisting of the catalog number, a description, and date of origin. Interview with Ernst van Mohne on German art collecting in France.

Box #

Selected File Title or Subject

325

Looting: Einsatzstab Rosenberg [ERR]

This folder contains a list of paintings for Hitler from Von Behr as of 8/2/41. The list is in French and organized by case number. It also contains an inventory number and a description of the contents.
List of ERR staff organized by office.
Miscellaneous correspondence and memorandum in German as well as a list of paintings from the Goudstikker collection found in the Dutch castle “Kastell Nyenrode.” The list gives the name of artist, a description, and dimensions of the work.

326

Looting: France

Report on purchases of works of art in France during the Occupation by and on behalf of German dealers and officials (also referred to as Part 2 of the Schenker papers). The report is organized alphabetically by name and relates information such as what was purchased, the area of activity and dealers involved. There is also a list of French dealers, firms and individuals that sold works of art to the Germans.
Accessions to German Museums and Galleries during the Occupation of France (Schenker papers, Part 1). This report contains an introduction, then organized alphabetically by city thereunder by museum. It lists such information as what was purchased, the dealer, price paid and the date.
Letter from the Rothschilds regarding stolen art, including a photograph of the work. There is also a report on the Rothschild collection in French, a copy of the Rothschild deposition, and copy of the German deposition.
1944 OSS report on the German Acquisition of French Art Treasures during the Occupation.
Investigation reports of Chateau de Ludre, Richardmenil, and Travalot Military Relics collections.
Claim for stolen art by Moussaye of the Chateau de la Tour. He provided a description of each item with an estimated value.
List of stolen artwork from the Veil-Picard collections containing title and artist.
List of objects taken from the Musée de l’Armée at Les Invalides consisting of the catalog number, a description, and date of origin.
Interview with Ernst van Mohne on German art collecting in France.

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