Akcja rewindykacyjna w latach 1945-1950. Spór o terminologię czy o istotę rzeczy
The Recovery Campaign of 1945-1950. A Debate Concerning Terminology or the Issue at Stake

Summary/Abstract: The name of the campaign conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Art behind the front line in Silesia, Pomerania, Austria and Germany comes from revindication – the recovery of lost property, a term subsequently replaced by restitution - from restitutio in integrum – the right to restore the previous state of things, applied in international law to describe the restoration of property illegally seized during wartime. The Bureau for Recovery and Compensation of the Head Office of Museums and the Protection of Historical Monuments at the Ministry of Culture and Art, directed by W. Tomkiewicz, delegated numerous persons to search for Polish cultural property plundered by the Nazis. Frequently concealed in various caches in Silesia, Pomerania, Austria and Germany, it was discovered thanks to the information collected already during the war by workers of the Underground Polish state, commissioned by the Delegature of the government-in-exile. The outcome of this undertaking included salvaging not only part of Polish cultural property but also historical monuments from different scattered collections, originating from other countries occupied by the Germans as well as property appropriated by the Nazis after 1933 from citizens of Jewish descent and German private owners and institutions. The systemic transformations which took place after the second world war involved land reform and the seizure of historical monuments by the authorities from their former owners. The reclaiming campaign also encompassed cultural property brought over from Vilno and Lvov together with the displaced local Polish population. All the objects salvaged and discovered in this matter were included into museum collections. The obtaining of historical monuments by Polish museums due to the recovery campaign was the reason why up to this very day they are described as “recovered from...”. The application of this term in relation to exhibits of such diverse origin is incorrect, and their status was

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