5 ms·

Funnily enough a lot of Polish art was "lost" during WWII. Every now and then it resurfaces from someone's "private collection" in Germany. German government is

Funnily enough a lot of Polish art was "lost" during WWII. Every now and then it resurfaces from someone's "private collection" in Germany. German government is kind enough to let Poles bid for the art they carelessly lost during that affair in the 1940s. If it is for sale, that is - much of it isn't. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looting_of_Poland_in_World_War_II https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looting_of_Poland_in_World_W...

michael9423 3y ago
Not only in Germany. Poland got looted by the Nazis and Soviets from both sides.
- rich_sasha 3y ago
  And that somehow changes the merit of the argument?
  - michael9423 3y ago
    Which argument specifically? Your sarcastic overtone make it difficult to detect an actual argument. Your general remark that Polish art disappeared from Poland is true. Your implication that only Germany was responsible for that is wrong. The german state is generally cooperative, in contrast to the ex-soviet states, in giving back and trying to find solutions. Even from the private side is cooperation - some time ago some private owner gave back art to Poland, which rarely happens. You did not provide a source for your claim that "German government is kind enough to let Poles bid for the art they carelessly lost".
lifestyleguru 3y ago
My favorite German proverb is "children are not responsible for the crimes of their parents".
- praptak 3y ago
  Doesn't work as a response to "this was robbed from my grandfather, you should give it back because benefitting from crime is generally bad".
  - bigstrat2003 3y ago
    It absolutely does. You need to end the chain of responsibility somewhere, and stuff that my grandfather did to your grandfather is beyond the line of what's reasonable.
    - nick7376182 3y ago
      My uncle is a lawyer in Europe who specializes in art law and I can assure you based on listening to him talk about cases, that you are likely to have to return the stolen art if there is sufficient evidence despite any inheritances or intermediate transactions (at least in the nation where he practices). However, returning the stolen goods is on a different level from taking on the penalties or damages of the initial theft.
    - lifestyleguru 3y ago
      So if someone kills you and isolates your family for one generation, that would make it even?
dukeofdoom 3y ago
Even top US politicians, like Albright https://www.jta.org/archive/wealthy-austrian-family-claims-albrights-father-stole-paintings-2 https://www.jta.org/archive/wealthy-austrian-family-claims-a...

michael9423 3y ago

Not only in Germany. Poland got looted by the Nazis and Soviets from both sides.

rich_sasha 3y ago
And that somehow changes the merit of the argument?
- michael9423 3y ago
  Which argument specifically? Your sarcastic overtone make it difficult to detect an actual argument. Your general remark that Polish art disappeared from Poland is true. Your implication that only Germany was responsible for that is wrong. The german state is generally cooperative, in contrast to the ex-soviet states, in giving back and trying to find solutions. Even from the private side is cooperation - some time ago some private owner gave back art to Poland, which rarely happens. You did not provide a source for your claim that "German government is kind enough to let Poles bid for the art they carelessly lost".

lifestyleguru 3y ago

My favorite German proverb is "children are not responsible for the crimes of their parents".

praptak 3y ago
Doesn't work as a response to "this was robbed from my grandfather, you should give it back because benefitting from crime is generally bad".
- bigstrat2003 3y ago
  It absolutely does. You need to end the chain of responsibility somewhere, and stuff that my grandfather did to your grandfather is beyond the line of what's reasonable.
  - nick7376182 3y ago
    My uncle is a lawyer in Europe who specializes in art law and I can assure you based on listening to him talk about cases, that you are likely to have to return the stolen art if there is sufficient evidence despite any inheritances or intermediate transactions (at least in the nation where he practices). However, returning the stolen goods is on a different level from taking on the penalties or damages of the initial theft.
  - lifestyleguru 3y ago
    So if someone kills you and isolates your family for one generation, that would make it even?

dukeofdoom 3y ago

Even top US politicians, like Albright https://www.jta.org/archive/wealthy-austrian-family-claims-albrights-father-stole-paintings-2 https://www.jta.org/archive/wealthy-austrian-family-claims-a...