Tuesday 18 August 2009

Brum Mail charity may benefit from Nazi loot

The Birmingham Mail Charity Trust, which has been around for more than 100 years and makes grants to volunteer community groups in the city, could have its funds boosted by the sale of fine art and music looted by the Nazis.
Mail editor Steve Dyson explains on his blog: "Basically, what seems like a refugee from Germany in World War 2 came to Brum, was helped by many including the Mail's Trust, and left a huge chunk of his will to the charities in the 1980s.
"It's now come to light that many fine pieces of art and music once owned by this chap have now been reclaimed from Germany, after they were originally confiscated by Hitler's government."
He adds: "Details have to remain sketchy for now, as there's a lot of legal work to do, a few disputed claims, and a lot of other charities involved. But to whet your appetite, one piece of art involved alone may be valued at anything between $625,000 and $1,250,000! What a story it will make when the whole thing is settled."

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