Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., March 04, 2008 Adar1 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:26 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 14:49 03/03/2008 American files suit demanding return of art stolen by Nazis By The Associated Press Tags: Germany, Nazis, Jewish world An American Jew has filed a lawsuit Monday demanding the return of a rare poster in the collection of a Berlin museum that was stolen by the Nazis from his father. Peter Sachs, 70, is seeking the return of the 1932 poster Die Blonde Venus - The Blonde Venus - produced to promote the film of the same name starring Marlene Dietrich. The poster is worth an estimated $20,475, but Sachs hopes if he wins the suit, it will set a precedent for the return of some 4,300 works collected by his father that are now in the possession of the German Historical Museum. Advertisement The value of the full collection has been estimated at between U.S. $20 million and U.S. $60 million, depending upon its condition, said Sachs' lawyer, Gary Osen. "Win or lose, I owe it to my father to try, just as he did, to recover his life's work and lifelong passion," Sachs said in a statement. He faces an uphill battle, however, after a German restitution panel, known as the Limbach Commission, ruled last year that the museum was the rightful owner of the poster collection. Museum spokesman Rudolf Trabold said the suit, filed with the Berlin state court, was a curious move by Sachs, given the panel's decision. "It is very odd that he suddenly doesn't accept it any more," Trabold said. But Osen, who is based in New Jersey, said the commission's decision went against a general commitment by the German government to return looted art, and that he hoped the lawsuit would help set things straight. "The return of The Blonde Venus would ... be a powerful rebuke to the German Historical Museum and an affirmation of Germany's long-standing commitment to return stolen works of art to the heirs of Nazi victims." The Nazis looted an estimated 150,000 pieces of art from Western Europe during World War II and 500,000 pieces from Eastern and Central Europe. Sachs was only a year old in 1938 when his father's collection of 12,500 posters was seized and his family fled Germany for the United States. His father, Hans Sachs, died in 1974. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German Historical Museum inherited what remained of the collection from its East German counterpart in 1990. The posters include elaborate advertisements for exhibitions, cabarets and consumer products, as well as political propaganda - all rare, with only small original print runs. In ruling against returning the collection to Peter Sachs, the Limbach Commission cited a letter from Hans Sachs and a 1960s-era compensation payment of 225,000 German marks (approximately U.S. $50,000 at the time) from the West German government as grounds for keeping them in Germany. In the letter to a West German friend, dated 1966, Hans Sachs said he viewed the payment as appropriate compensation. But Peter Sachs, of Sarasota, Florida, had argued that the compensation was paid when it was assumed the collection was destroyed in the war, and that once his father found out that part of it had survived, he started trying to get access to it in the East German museum where it ended up. "Since the decision was made, there have been no developments that would alter the facts of the case in any way," Trabold said. "All of the arguments that were before the Limbach Commission have not changed," he said. It is not yet clear when the court would decide whether to hear the case Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the line of fire Rights Group: Over 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants. Uncle Sam blames you U.S. blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel, Gaza.   1.   How about a suit to demand return of......... 15:28  |  Jeff 03/03/08   2.   About the stolen property 16:45  |  Jonathan S 03/03/08   3.   greed 19:03  |  Leona 03/03/08   4.   again Holocaust industry 19:32  |  j 03/03/08   5.   how dare 1 and 2 say the jews are greedy 20:26  |  monica 03/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Nine immoral solutions for Gaza - a guide Responses: 31 Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran not enough Responses: 64 Obama says United States should not meet with Hamas Responses: 62 Nehemia Shtrasler: There is no way out but to talk to Hamas Responses: 33 Researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai Responses: 83 Rosner's Domain What to Read: What was Samantha Power thinking? Rosner: Obama, Clinton aides court hawkish Jews in Ohio Hillary Clinton comes out swinging as Ohio primary nears Obama`s top adviser says doesn't believe in imposing a peace settlement Politics with an elliptical soccer ball More Headlines 13:21 Rice arrives in Israel in bid to renew peace talks 12:25 IAF strike kills two Gaza militants; Qassam rocket damages Sderot home 12:17 Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran do not go far enough 04:15 Olmert: All military options for Gaza are on the table 11:48 UN's Ban: Israel says Hezbollah has 30,000 rockets in S. Lebanon 09:14 Young Russian Jews say 'Da' to Birthright, but 'Nyet' to aliyah 09:16 Researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai 09:36 Fatah man loses children in IDF raid, but Hamas won't let him bury them 13:24 Knesset punishes female workers who skipped Int'l Women`s Day events 00:00 Haaretz journalist Ehud Asheri dies of cancer at 57 04:56 Barak seeks legal okay to move Gazan civilians from homes Previous Editions Select Day 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved