Description:

FRANZ VON PAPEN
(1879-1969) Chancellor of Germany and Vice Chancellor in Hitler's early years of power, von Papen was accused and later acquitted of war crimes. VON PAPEN DENIES LOOTING ART IN VIENNA. Superb association D.S. ‘Papen', 1p. legal folio, Vienna, Jan. 15, 1936. A notice regarding the sale of stocks and directed to Hauptmann [Fritz] Wiedemann regarding the deaccession of artworks from the Albertina Museum in Vienna. In part: ‘…In response to your letter of January 11 concerning the sale of inventory of ‘Albertina' museum, I am enclosing an official denial that appeared in yesterday's press. However, I will have the news checked by trusted individuals and will give you further information. I ask you to inform the Fuhrer…'. The Nazis began ‘officially' looting art museums in 1938, but prior to that, the suppression of ‘degenerate' art from official institutions was well on its way, beginning in 1933 with the rise of the Nazi party. At the time of our letter, Papen and other leading leaders were committed to eradicating art in Germany in the areas of cubism, expressionism and impressionism; replacing those schools with a new style of art that venerated the German people and society – and which of course involved race-conscious imagery that sought to marginalize the artworks produced during the ‘decadent' Weimar Republic and those produced by Jews. With the advent of the Anschluss in 1938, the Nazis turned their attention to confiscating art from institutions in Austria and Poland – such as the Albertina Museum in Vienna as mentioned here. Fritz Wiedemann (1891-1970) served as Hitler's adjutant from 1933 until January 1939. He was head of the Reich Office of the NSDAP, brigade leader of the NSKK and holder of the German Party Badge. He was exiled in 1939 after falling out of favor of the Fuhrer.

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August 14, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000