I would have loved meeting Maria, what wonderful and also horrible memories she had. She managed to make a nice life in America but she lost so much more than expensive paintings, her whole life along with friends and family members were destroyed in just minutes.
Dear Randol, I'm delighted that you put all this material up on the Internet. I first heard about this story when I watched the documentary 'The Lady in Gold' on cable here in Argentina a few years ago and since then I wanted to learn more about this. I had never heard of the story before and I was not aware so many art works which were stolen from Jews during the Nazi period were never returned to their rightful owners. It was also fascinating that of all people, her lawyer turned out to be the grandson of the great composer Arnold Schonberg! I found your relationship with Maria Altmann during the years that you were fighting for her case very endearing and I was very moved to learn that after years of difficult struggle against the Austrian government she was finally able to recover the paintings. I wished I could've met Maria Altmann, as I can tell from watching the documentary that she was a phenomenal lady. I'll eagerly await for the upcoming film based on your story to see how well they portray the events. Best wishes, Gabriel
Merci par ton message, RivkaMalka! I really appreciate your offer. It would be a delight to get in touch with your father and learn more about the film.
Dear Randol, I am very thankful what you have done for Maria. It is like you have done for all Jews. One selfless act. I am not a Jew but my Grandfather's brother died because he had a Jewish fiancée during WWII. She needed to sew on the yellow star on her dress and she wrote this fact to her fiancé, who was my grandfather's brother. He served in the Hungarian-Austrian Army on a boat on the Black Sea at that time and was controlled by the Nazis. His mail was censored by the Gestapo on board, and when it became obvious his fiancée is a Jew, he was shot into the Black Sea from the top deck of his ship. Our family could never forget ever since. We live and feel like Jews ever since.
I wouldn't paint that as a selfless act. Randol schoenberg got 120 Million! Dollars from the 300 Million the paintings sold. That is definitely not selfless..
Thank you for sharing this remarkable story. I ask myself, didn't the Austrians keep enough assets and objects d'art from those thousands of families who never came back from the camps? That they had the nerve to 'fight' Mrs Altmann's case is an absolute disgrace, just like the Swiss banks and ALL the other governments of Europe. You did exceptionally well in your landmark case against them. I used to ski in the Tyrol as a child and was last in Vienna at age 21 but like Germany, Hungary(my family's former home until 1944), Poland and Romania, I would never again step foot in Austria. They even had the nerve to promote a thief like Jorg Haider into a position of power. Shame on you Austria!!!!!!
Nice that you ask yourself that, but no, they didn't keep any of that stuff and all the museums started to research the origin of their stuff after 1998 and tried to give back what was left. The stuff that could not be given back got auctioned off in 1995 and funded some jewish organisations. But Austria was horrible giving back stuff after the war.
One more comment I'd like to make: with the Caregiver book and Helen Mirren's wonderful performance in 'Woman of Gold', the world now knows much more about Austria's disgraceful past.
"To counter the left, the extreme nationalist Catholic right wing, with close ties to the Italian fascists, began to mobilize its forces," says the narrator at 19:45. But I've read two thirds of the Nazi soldiers were Protestant and one third were Catholic. The Catholic church failed to act, but it was primarily Protestants doing the killing. Isn't that correct?
Yes, because greater Germany was primarily Protestant. But Austria, the country discussed in the documentary is primarily Catholic, and therefore so were its soldiers. But is that the important thing you really want to know? Were these thieving, murdering bastards mostly Protestant or Catholic? Rest assured, everyone involved -- Protestant, Catholic, Wotan-worshiper or atheist -- were as bad as they had the opportunity to be.
This makes me so mad! Basically, the Austrians never stopped being Nazis. I don't subscribe to the belief that ALL Germans have a genetic defect related to empathy. But it seems that the theory does have considerable validity, when it comes to Austrians. Both collectively and individually, they do too many monstrous things, for something not to be wrong with their wiring.
Correct me if I'm wrong. She finally won possession of the paintings through the American courts. Then sold them to private collectors for millions of dollars. An old woman with a ton of money and a poor general public that may never get to enjoy these incredible works of art. Total bummer for everyone. Hope I'm wrong about this.
The dirty little tricks the Austrians used to prevent the true owners of the paintings were downright low. Nice to know it backfired and they lost the paintings. Now they're in America :)
Bless her. She got back what belonged to her family.
so glad this lady got what belonged to her back. it is unimaginable what happened to these people.
I just watched "Women in Gold" and was so moved by this amazing story.
I watched it some years ago but I am just stuck on this story and those of others.
This is very educational, thank you for uploading. I became interested in this story after watching the movie based on this case.
I would have loved meeting Maria, what wonderful and also horrible memories she had. She managed to make a nice life in America but she lost so much more than expensive paintings, her whole life along with friends and family members were destroyed in just minutes.
Dear Randol, I'm delighted that you put all this material up on the Internet. I first heard about this story when I watched the documentary 'The Lady in Gold' on cable here in Argentina a few years ago and since then I wanted to learn more about this. I had never heard of the story before and I was not aware so many art works which were stolen from Jews during the Nazi period were never returned to their rightful owners. It was also fascinating that of all people, her lawyer turned out to be the grandson of the great composer Arnold Schonberg! I found your relationship with Maria Altmann during the years that you were fighting for her case very endearing and I was very moved to learn that after years of difficult struggle against the Austrian government she was finally able to recover the paintings. I wished I could've met Maria Altmann, as I can tell from watching the documentary that she was a phenomenal lady. I'll eagerly await for the upcoming film based on your story to see how well they portray the events.
Best wishes,
Gabriel
Dear Gabriel, My father is the director of this film. If you need more informations, it is possible to contact him (Michel Vuillermet, in France)
Merci par ton message, RivkaMalka! I really appreciate your offer. It would be a delight to get in touch with your father and learn more about the film.
Felicitaciones
"The architect Gropious" :) I have to laugh- Her accent was a great joy for me.. Mutzi will always live in my heart :)
Thank you for posting!
I wonder when Germany and Austria will return pieces of art stolen from Poland.
Never if not forced to by lawsuits. Sad and cruel. They enjoy adding insult to injury.
Kristine B Bloch Bauer Made his wealth in sugar. Now there’s a conundrum....
I really enjoyed this program. Love this period of viennese culture. I found mr schoenberg charming. Love the Terfel Schubert also.
Aunt Adele was a stunner.
That jacka$$ at 32:25, how can he possibly think that those paintings should not have gone back to her.
Dear Randol, I am very thankful what you have done for Maria. It is like you have done for all Jews. One selfless act. I am not a Jew but my Grandfather's brother died because he had a Jewish fiancée during WWII. She needed to sew on the yellow star on her dress and she wrote this fact to her fiancé, who was my grandfather's brother. He served in the Hungarian-Austrian Army on a boat on the Black Sea at that time and was controlled by the Nazis. His mail was censored by the Gestapo on board, and when it became obvious his fiancée is a Jew, he was shot into the Black Sea from the top deck of his ship. Our family could never forget ever since. We live and feel like Jews ever since.
I wouldn't paint that as a selfless act. Randol schoenberg got 120 Million! Dollars from the 300 Million the paintings sold. That is definitely not selfless..
This version got cut off, but I put a complete version at th-cam.com/video/ftiG_32-TVA/w-d-xo.html
***** the movie brought me here! this painting is fabulous! I love your story randol! You are really courageous!
Where is the rest of the documentary? I abruptly ends with Maria Altmann going back to Vienna to visit her aunt Adele at 43:16.
Thank you for sharing this remarkable story. I ask myself, didn't the Austrians keep enough assets and objects d'art from those thousands of families who never came back from the camps? That they had the nerve to 'fight' Mrs Altmann's case is an absolute disgrace, just like the Swiss banks and ALL the other governments of Europe. You did exceptionally well in your landmark case against them. I used to ski in the Tyrol as a child and was last in Vienna at age 21 but like Germany, Hungary(my family's former home until 1944), Poland and Romania, I would never again step foot in Austria. They even had the nerve to promote a thief like Jorg Haider into a position of power. Shame on you Austria!!!!!!
Nice that you ask yourself that, but no, they didn't keep any of that stuff and all the museums started to research the origin of their stuff after 1998 and tried to give back what was left. The stuff that could not be given back got auctioned off in 1995 and funded some jewish organisations. But Austria was horrible giving back stuff after the war.
One more comment I'd like to make: with the Caregiver book and Helen Mirren's wonderful performance in 'Woman of Gold', the world now knows much more about Austria's disgraceful past.
If you go back far enoght no country in the world is immune to criticism for passed mistakes.
You are the grandson of the Great Arnold Schoenberg? Thank you for uploading this film.
Transfigured Night
A Child not wanting to give up his stolen Toys damn, what a "man" the Austrian Lawyer is, One word, entitlement
Why is there no possibility to restitute the palais and other remainings? The lawer representing the Austrian government is not bearable.
A a #8
Well that palais and the other remainings got returned years before you mad that comment...
"To counter the left, the extreme nationalist Catholic right wing, with close ties to the Italian fascists, began to mobilize its forces," says the narrator at 19:45. But I've read two thirds of the Nazi soldiers were Protestant and one third were Catholic. The Catholic church failed to act, but it was primarily Protestants doing the killing. Isn't that correct?
Yes, because greater Germany was primarily Protestant. But Austria, the country discussed in the documentary is primarily Catholic, and therefore so were its soldiers.
But is that the important thing you really want to know? Were these thieving, murdering bastards mostly Protestant or Catholic? Rest assured, everyone involved -- Protestant, Catholic, Wotan-worshiper or atheist -- were as bad as they had the opportunity to be.
This makes me so mad! Basically, the Austrians never stopped being Nazis. I don't subscribe to the belief that ALL Germans have a genetic defect related to empathy. But it seems that the theory does have considerable validity, when it comes to Austrians. Both collectively and individually, they do too many monstrous things, for something not to be wrong with their wiring.
Correct me if I'm wrong. She finally won possession of the paintings through the American courts. Then sold them to private collectors for millions of dollars. An old woman with a ton of money and a poor general public that may never get to enjoy these incredible works of art. Total bummer for everyone. Hope I'm wrong about this.
The dirty little tricks the Austrians used to prevent the true owners of the paintings were downright low. Nice to know it backfired and they lost the paintings. Now they're in America :)
The documentary seems to end prematurely at 43.16.... Is there a part missing?
Oh dear. I thought this was about art.
Why Ryan Reynolds wore rotten ugly brown teeth in the movie? I see you with nice white teeth
Congrates to the fanily a d other depossessd property owners of wwii for possible other rightful reco eries. Shane on austria fir its sekfishness.