- Title: Russia: Art Treasures Seized From Nazi Germany
- Date: 29th March 1995
- Summary: Art treasures taken by Soviet soldiers from German collections during World War Two went on display in Russia's Hermitage Museum on 29 March as heirs of the original owners demanded them back. Descendants of Friedrich Siemens told a news conference to unveil the 74 works of art and that the treasures, looted by special Red Army brigades, should be handed back to the families they once belonged to. The family hid its collection after a brother was executed by the Nazis for resistance efforts, but when the war ended they found that victorious Soviet soldiers had whisked the treasures off to secret repositories in Russia. All but one of the paintings in the Hermitage's 'Hidden Treasures Revealed' exhibition are from private collections. The show featured works by Impressionists and Modernists, including Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin and Manet. German acting consul Cord Meier-Klodt said the two countries should settle this dispute with the interests of both nations in view. Director of the Hermitage, Boris Piotrovsky, said he hoped the destiny of the paintings would be decided soon.
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- Location: RUSSIA CIS ST PETERSBURG
- Reuters ID: LDL00121YVACV
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