The legal status of looted art from the Free City of Danzig

This article examines the history of one of the most valuable art collections held by the National Museum in Gdańsk (formerly Danzig), Poland, that of Jacob Kabrun (1759–1814), a merchant from the city. Kabrun bequeathed his art collection, along with his library and its cabinets, to establish an educational institute in Danzig later known as the Trade Academy (Handelsakademie or Handelsschule). Over the centuries, the legal status of the city has undergone several changes. The Third Reich illegally annexed the Free City of Danzig, thereby violating the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Documented cases exist of objects from Kabrun’s collection being unlawfully removed by both the Germans and the Russians. This case-study explores the history of Kabrun’s collection from the date of his death to the present day.