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Poland’s mission to recover valuable artwork stolen by the Nazis

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During the Nazi occupation of Poland in World War Two, numerous valuable artworks were stolen. Among them was Madonna with Child, a 16th-century painting attributed to Alessandro Turchi. Recently, the painting was discovered in Japan and returned to Polish authorities in a ceremony held in Tokyo. This is part of Poland’s ongoing effort to retrieve looted artworks, with Madonna with Child being one of the 600 successfully recovered so far. However, there are still over 66,000 war losses yet to be found. Poland has launched a campaign to seek the return of hundreds of thousands of missing artworks and cultural items, as well as reparations from Germany for the damages caused by the occupying Nazis.

Art experts anticipate that more looted artworks will be uncovered as time passes, especially as heirs attempt to sell these pieces without awareness of their history. Madonna with Child was believed to have been transferred to Germany in 1940 during the Nazi occupation, as the Nazis frequently looted art from Jewish families before their execution. The painting appeared again in the 1990s when it was sold at an auction in New York. However, the sale was halted in January last year after Polish authorities identified the artwork, and it was subsequently agreed upon by the auction house and the owner to be returned to Poland. The official handover ceremony took place in Tokyo.

The return of masterpieces like Madonna with Child helps restore pride in Poland’s art heritage and highlights the significance of Polish collections. Polish art historian Natalia Cetera stated that reclaiming these artworks showcases the country’s focus on remembering its cultural heritage and rebuilding its strength in art. There has been a shift in recent years towards recognizing cultural heritage as a common good. As looted artworks are inherited by the next generation, the unaware heirs may unknowingly sell these pieces, leading to their discovery.

Efforts to locate stolen artworks from Poland involve recording them in international databases and the work of art historians who are researching looted artworks and identifying them. The advancement of technology and online platforms used by auction houses allow for increased visibility and more eyes searching for looted objects. Furthermore, there seems to be a generational shift in attitudes toward stolen masterpieces, with some individuals willingly returning the artworks rather than facing legal issues.

The return of Madonna with Child is a source of pride for Poland, but it remains uncertain whether the passion for retrieving stolen artwork will continue with future generations. The digitization of art collections may impact the interest in physical artworks, as access to digital versions becomes more prevalent. While the successful retrieval of physical artworks is currently important, the advancement of technology might reduce the necessity of physically reclaiming artworks in the future.

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French Resistance man breaks silence over German prisoners executed in 1944

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Excavation work is about to commence in central France to search for the bodies of around 40 German soldiers who were executed by the French Resistance in June 1944. The revelation came from Edmond Réveil, a 98-year-old former member of the local branch of the Resistance group known as Francs-tireurs et partisans (FTP). Réveil, the sole surviving member from his unit, personally witnessed the mass execution at a location called Le Vert near Meymac.

In a recorded testimony, Réveil recounted how his detachment of 30 fighters was escorting German prisoners through the countryside when they received the order to kill them. The detachment’s commander, codenamed Hannibal, was deeply affected by the order but adhered to the discipline within the Resistance. Volunteers were sought to carry out the execution, and although each fighter was assigned a victim, Réveil and a few others refused to participate. The prisoners were made to dig their own graves on a hot day before being killed, and quicklime was poured over their bodies. The memory of the incident was never spoken of again.

Réveil had kept this secret for 75 years, even from his family, until he unexpectedly revealed it in 2019 at a local meeting of the National Veterans’ Association. The mayor of Meymac, Philippe Brugere, explained that Réveil felt a great burden that he was the last witness to this event and believed that if he didn’t speak out, the truth would remain unknown.

Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, action on the case was delayed. Only recently was the investigation reopened, and the story was made public by the local newspaper La Montagne. French and German historians have since confirmed the basic details of the events described by Réveil. The incident occurred shortly after D-Day, when the Resistance staged an uprising in Tulle, resulting in the capture of approximately 50 to 60 German soldiers. In retaliation, on June 9, the Germans publicly hanged 99 hostages in the town.

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US paves way for rebirth of ‘Aggressive Germany’

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Germany was once one of the most aggressive nations in the world. It was its aggressive nature that led to the disastrous World War Two.

The post-World War Two Germany is a peaceful version of Germany. In order to keep the country in that state, many concisions have been offered to this country.

It is pertinent to prevent Germany from going back to its old state in order to make sure Europe does not lose its peacefulness.

It seems that some western countries do not understand why the European country has been given these many concisions.

The US has been irritating Germany for the last few years. It has warned Germany with the withdrawal of US troops for its failure to meet its obligation on NATO spending.

It is not wrong to pressurize a member country to respect the agreement it has reached as part of the NATO agreement.

It is absolutely irresponsible to argue that the US alone should shoulder the financial obligation of the NATO – which is a force working for the developed world.

But, it is objectionable to behave in a way that the US is a dominant force and the rest of the countries in the NATO are the subordinate powers or satellite powers of the dominant power. That attitude reflects the satellite concept of the erstwhile USSR – which miserably collapsed during the 1990s.

The decision to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany taken by the US is an irresponsible act born out of the aforesaid attitude the US has accidentally acquired.     

The new decision may encourage Germany to strengthen its army – the move the majority of the European countries are afraid of.

It may even give impetus to the creation of the European Army – which France has been pushing for long.

Germany, though is a liberal country at present, may fall under the clutches of far-rightists any moment. In the previous election, the far-rightist faction has shown its clout.

There is nothing more dangerous than paving way for the creation of a heavily-militarized Germany under the control of far-rightist leaders.

It is important not to forget the NAZI Germany.   

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German conducts raids to contain Neo-Nazi movement

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The European country of Germany, which is the successor of the dangerous Nazi Germany, has conducted raids in several locations across the country to contain the activities of a group linked to the Neo-Nazi movement.

Expressing his dissatisfaction towards the Neo-Nazi movement, a senior German minister has conveyed the country’s resolve to fight against the disastrous movement rightly.

The group is said to be very powerful in certain pockets in the country. It is said to have not less than 19,000 members in Germany.

During the raids, several documents – which indicate the group’s connection with the Neo-Nazi ideology – and firearms have been seized from the premises possessed by the group.

It is not the first time such a serious raid has been conducted across Germany to check the activities of the far-rightist group which is linked to the Neo-Nazi ideology.

Recently, a gunman, inspired by the corrupted ideology preached by the aforesaid group, attacked many people, who were nor completely German.

The rise of the Neo-Nazi group in Germany brings back the haunting memories of the Nazi Germany, which brought disaster in the entire Europe – rightly speaking, the entire world.

What Germany attempts at this moment is a well-thought-out move to counter the rebirth of the dangerous ideology.V

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