Dziennik Fischhornu – addendum .......... 869

THE FISCHHORN DIARY – ADDENDUM

The article provides additional details on the historical and political context of the discovery and inventory of Polish artefacts looted by the Nazis and hidden at the Fischhorn estate in the district of Zell am See in Austria. Archival documents indicate that the losses and damage to these art treasures were caused not only by massive pillaging at the end of the war and chaos after the arrival of American troops, but also by subsequent events during the exchange of US military units stationed there. Lt Col. Emeryk Hutten-Czapski, representative of the Polish government-in-exile, attempted to secure the collection by entrusting it to the care of the head of the local MFA&A, James Rorimer. The overworked MFA&A team was unable to secure it effectively. Bohdan T. Urbanowicz, who ultimately carried out the inventory of the artworks, documents and books and prepared them for restitution, acted based on information provided by Czapski and with the support of the liaison officer of the 2nd Corps to SHAEF, A. Żyliński, because the PSZ liaison officers were the only representatives of Poland recognised by the US authorities in Austria between July and August 1945.