Robert Edsel presented to the National Archives newly discovered material related to art works stolen by the Nazis during World War II. This was volume 8 of Hitler’s approximately 85 albums of records of stolen art work. The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art kept temporary possesion of volume 6 in order to promote their projects. Archivist Allen Weinstein had hailed this discovery as “one of the most significant finds related to Hitler’s premeditated theft of art and other cultural treasures to be found since the Nuremberg Trials.” A video clip was shown of the other 39 known volumes being presented as evidence at the Nuremburg Trials on December 18, 1945. After talking about the National Archives work on stolen art, Mr. Edsel and the archivists answered questions. The press conference was held in the Archivist’s Reception Room.

Michael Kurtz is the author of America and the Return of Nazi Contraband: The Recovery of Europe’s Cultural Treasures, published by Cambridge University Press. Robert Edsel is the author of Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe’s Great Art: America and Her Allies Recovered It, published by Laurel Publishing.