During the years 1933 through 1945, Nazi officials systematically confiscated, looted, destroyed, and forced the sale of vast numbers of works of art and other cultural property that belonged to private citizens and museums throughout occupied Europe. Although tens of thousand of these works were recovered by Allied troops and repatriated to the rightful owners, after the end of World War II, others were never found or returned.
Supported by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and the Association of American Museums (AAM), the establishment of complete provenance (the history of ownership) has become an ever-increasing concern of American museums. Concerted efforts are being made to establish the ownership history of works of art dated before 1946 and acquired after 1932 that possibly changed hands in Europe during the Nazi era (19331945). Many museums are actively researching the provenance of European paintings and Judaica (categories established by the AAM) that meet these criteria and posting them on their websites. This effort will allow the public to expedite the search for provenance information.
The Dumbarton Oaks Collections are working to establish a complete provenance for works in the Collections acquired during the Nazi era and to make this information available to the public. Dumbarton Oaks will continue to add new information to the site as it becomes available.