Rückgabe des Beschlagnahmten Bibliotheksgutes: Gustav Abb's Argumentation and the Position of Kajetan Mühlmann. An Episode in the History of Polish Artistic Collections during WWII Cover Image

Rückgabe des beschlagnahmten Bibliotheksgutes – argumentacja Gustava Abba i stanowisko Kajetana Mühlmanna. Epizod z dziejów polskich zbiorów artystycznych w okresie II wojny światowej
Rückgabe des Beschlagnahmten Bibliotheksgutes: Gustav Abb's Argumentation and the Position of Kajetan Mühlmann. An Episode in the History of Polish Artistic Collections during WWII

Author(s): Tadeusz Zadrożny
Subject(s): Recent History (1900 till today), Studies in violence and power, WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Fascism, Nazism and WW II, History of Art
Published by: Instytut Sztuki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Gustav Abb; Kajetan Mühlmann; General Government; administration of Germany-occupied territory; looting and exploitation of occupied Polish territories;

Summary/Abstract: Towards the end of November 1941, a discussion took place between Gustav Abb, head of the Main Board of Libraries in the General Government, and Kajetan Mühlmann, the Special Plenipotentiary for the Safeguarding of Works of Art and Cultural Heritage, about the possible transfer to the Staatsbibliothek of library objects „secured by Mühlmann’s office. The report on this confrontation perfectly illustrates the duality of attitudes of the GG officers towards goods confiscated in occupied Polish territories by order and on behalf of the German authorities, as well as their proficiency in adapting legal arguments which, while in contravention of international law, were favourable to Germany, in this case to the concept of debellatio.

  • Issue Year: 83/2021
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 697-734
  • Page Count: 38
  • Language: Polish