Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Douglas Davidson visited Germany December 11-14 to discuss with German officials the provenance, ownership, and legal claims surrounding the roughly 1,200 works of art discovered in the Munich home of collector Cornelius Gurlitt. During these meetings, officials reviewed progress in researching the provenance of these works of art and likely next steps in the restitution process.

Special Envoy Davidson commended the German authorities for discovering and taking possession of these artworks, and urged transparency and speed in establishing the provenance of these works of art, in line with the Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art. The Office of the Special Envoy, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, the U.S. Consulate General in Munich, and German authorities are consulting closely to determine the correct legal path to restore to rightful owners the artworks that are found to have been looted or purchased under duress by the Nazi regime.