The Claims Conference-WJRO Looted Art & Cultural Property Initiative

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) and the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) conduct a comprehensive program toward the restitution of Jewish-owned art, Judaica, and other cultural property lost and plundered during the Holocaust. 

Working with relevant governments and Jewish communities around the world, the organizations focus on systemic issues, with emphasis on public institutional provenance research (research on the ownership history of an object from its creation to the present time) and the creation of a just and simple claims process in all countries. The Claims Conference-WJRO sponsor various projects toward these goals.

The Claims Conference-WJRO do not take on representation of individual claimants.

last updated March 2024

Images:
Collage: Top row, left to right: Torah scrolls at the Offenbach Archival Depot, 1946, Yad Vashem, archival signature: 4613/1081; Plundered instruments in a collection depot in Prague, The Jewish Museum, Prague; ERR-Lager Paris, Auspacken von Porzellan (1942/1943 ca.), Bundesarchiv B 323 Bild-0311-063.
Middle row, left to right:  Emil Nolde, Piazza San Domenico II, Taormina / Straße nach dem Regen / Straße / Bildnis Ada Nolde / Unfertiges Bild eines weiblichen Kopfes en face / Kopf einer Schauspielerin, Lost Art-ID 529921; Sotheby Catalogue “Highly Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts,” Saul Kagan Archive, CLAl4002; Kiddush Cup, c. 1900, Private Collection.
Bottom row, left to right: ERR-Lager Paris, Uhrenlager (1942/1943 ca.), Bundesarchiv B 323 Bild-0311-070; ERR-Lager Paris, Bildermagazin (1942/1943 ca.), Bundesarchiv B 323 Bild-0311-031; Bardejov Jewish Community, Slovakia, Private Collection.

"Latest News" picture banner: Naida-Michal Brandl, “Restitution of Moveable Property in Croatia”, Zagreb 2020 [front cover]; ERR-Lager Paris, Bildermagazin (ca. 1942/1943), Bundesarchiv B 323 Bild-0311-031; Vue d'une des pièces de l'hôtel particulier d'Adolphe Schloss (collectionneur) au 38, avenue Henri-Martin (Paris).” Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme. https://www.mahj.org/fr/decouvrir-collections-betsalel/vue-d-une-des-pieces-de-l-hotel-particulier-d-adolphe-schloss-8 (accessed 3 February 2023).

Offenbach, Germany. Yad Vashem, archival signature: 368

Confiscated Jewish property, Warsaw, Poland. Yad Vashem, archival signature: 99CO6

Riga, Diensstelle ERR, Bücherlager (November 1943), Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1977-031-03.