E 8. Impounding of Valuables
E 800. Decree on the Sequestration of Property of the Former Polish State in the General Gouvernement.-15 November 1939
On the basis of Article 5, section 1 of the decree of the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor governing the administration of occupied Polish territory dated 12 October 1939 (RGBI I, page 2077), I issue the following order:
Article 1-1. All movable and stationary property of the former Polish State with accessories, including all demands, participation, rights and other interests inside the General Gouvernement, will be sequestered for the purpose of securing all manner of public valuables.
2. The seizure, administration, and utilization of the sequestered property is the duty of the department "Trusteeship for the General Gouvernement" in the office of the Governor General.
Article 2-The director of the department "Trusteeship for the General Gouvernement" will in agreement with the director of the finance department in the office of the Governor General issue the regulations required to execute this decree, in particular on the duty to make a declaration of the wealth belonging to the former Polish State as well as the treatment of rights of third persons on the wealth of the former Polish State and of claims against this wealth.
Article 3-This regulation will be effective on the day of its publication.
The Governor General for the Occupied Polish TerritoriesE 810. Decree on the Right of Ownership of Wealth of the former Polish Territories.-24 September 1940
On the basis of Article 5, section 1 of the decree of the fuehrer and chancellor of the Reich of 12 Oct 1939 (RGBI I, page 2077) I issue the following order:
Article 1-The property sequestered on the basis of Article 1, section 1 of the decree on the confiscation of the wealth of the former Polish State within the General Gouvernement of 15 Nov 39 (Verordnungsblatt GGP, page 37) will be transferred to the ownership of the General Gouvernement. A legal right of the General Gouvernement will not be established by this transaction.
Article 2-1. Rights of third persons in the property mentioned in Article 1 expire insofar as they existed before 20 November 1939.
2. It will be determined later on whether and to what extent an indemnification can be granted to persons, especially to rightful foreign claimants, for legal losses suffered through the action.
Article 3-The seizure and administration of the property mentioned in Article 1 will be executed until further notice on the basis of the regulation on the confiscation of the wealth of the former Polish State within the General Gouvernement of 15 November 1939 (Verordnungsblatt, GGP, page 37) and of the first executionory decree issued on 16 March 1940 (Verordnungsblatt GGP II, page 175).
Article 4-The director of the department "Trusteeship for the General Gouvernement" in agreement with the director of the finance department in the office of the goveror general will be in charge of the property mentioned in Article 1.
Article 5-This regulation will be effective on the day of its publication.
The Governor GeneralE 845. Decree on the Confiscation of Art Objects in the General Gouvernement.-16 December 1939
On the basis of Article 5, section 1 of the decree of the Fuehrer and Chancellor of the Reich on the administration of the occupied Polish territories of 12 Oct 1939 (RGBI I, page 2077), I order the following:
Article 1-All art objects in public possession in the General Gouvernement will be confiscated for the fulfillment of public tasks of common interest insofar as it has not already been seized under the decree on the confiscation of the wealth of the former Polish State in the General Gouvernement of 15 November 1939 (Verordnungsblatt GGP, page 37).
Article 2-With the exception of art collections and art objects which were the property of the former Polish State, art objects will be considered as owned by the public:
1. private art collections which have been taken under protection by the special commissioner for the seizure and safekeeping of the art and cultural treasures.
2. all ecclesiastical art property with the exception of those objects required for the daily performance of liturgic actions.
Article 3-1. In order to determine whether art objects are public property in the sense of this regulation, every private and ecclesiastical art possesstion has to be registered with exact data on the kind, nature and number of pieces.
2. Everyone who possessed or at the present time is in possession of or else is entitled to dispose of such objects of art since 15 March 39, is obliged to register the same.
3. Everyone is obliged to make upon request truthful and appropriate statements.
Article 4-The special commissioner appointed by me for the seizure and safekeeping of the art and cultural treasures will determine in cases of doubt what art collections and art objects in detail will have to be regarded on the basis of Article 2 of this regulation as public art property. He also will decide on the eventual necessary exceptions.
Article 5-1. He will be punished with imprisonment
1. Who undertakes to conceal, sell or remove objects of art from the General Gouvernement.
2. Who refuses or else gives incorrect or incomplete information required from him on the basis of this decree.
2. The special court is competent for the trial.
Article 6-The special commissioner appointed for the seizure and safekeeping of the art and cultural treasures will issue the regulations necessary for the execution of this decree.
Article 7-This regulation will be put into effect immediately.
The Governor General for the OccupiedE 846. First Enforcement Regulation for the Order of 16 December 1939 on the Confiscation of Art Objects in the General Gouvernement.
In order to execute the decree on the confiscation of art objects in the General Gouvernement of 16 December 1939 (Verordnungsblatt GGP, page 209), I order the following:
Article 1-The registration decree in Article 3, section 1 of the regulation must be carried out by 15 February 1940 with the office of the special commissioner for the seizure and safekeeping of the art and cultural objects, Cracow, Bergakademie.
Article 2-1. Objects of artistic, cultural-historical and historical value which originate from the time before 1850, have to be registered.
2. The registration includes the following:
a. paintings
b. sculpture
c. products of handicraft (for instance antique furniture, china ware, glass, golden and silver objects, Gobelins, rugs, embroideries, lace-work, paramente, etc.)
d. drawings, engravings, woodcuts, etc.
e. rare manuscripts, musical manuscripts, autographs, book-paintings, miniatures, prints, covers, etc.
f. weapons, armors, etc.
g. coins, medals, seals, etc.
3. Regarding the art objects mentioned in section 2, detailed information has to be given, if possible, on the master, the time of production, the contents of the representation, measurements and material (for instance, wood, canvas, bronze, etc.)
Article 3-The special commissioner will send in writing his decision in doubtful cases or in the eventual necessary exceptions as provided for in Article 4 of the decree. The decision will be final.
Article 4-Scientific experts will be entrusted with the execution of the decree.
The Governor General for the Occupied|
Source: Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression Volume IV Office of the United States Chief Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality Washington, DC : United States Government Printing Office, 1946 |