The display cabinet presentation was opened on 1 April for descendants of the families affected by the so-called “silver levy”. The group had travelled to Munich from all over the world at the invitation of provenance researcher Dr Matthias Weniger from the Bavarian National Museum. They also visited the Bavarian Main State Archives (see the blog post from 26.05.2025: Descendants of the families affected by the ‘Silver Levy’ visit the Bavarian Main State Archives). The compensation file presented in the showcases contained applications that Hedwig Bobelle submitted to the Bavarian State Compensation Office from 1954 onwards on the basis of the “Additional Federal Compensation Act for Victims of National Socialist Persecution (BErG), September 18, 1953”. These applications for damages to freedom, property and assets as well as to business or professional career illustrate, among other things, how the restitution authorities dealt with the former victims of persecution. In many cases, detailed evidence was required, which was almost impossible to provide, as nearly everything had to be left behind during flight, imprisonment and other war-related fates. Furthermore, it becomes clear that not only cultural assets such as paintings, musical instruments or valuable books were looted, but also everyday objects – from personal mementos to furnishings.
23.06.2025
Provenance Research Day 2025: Presentation of archival documents on “Wiedergutmachung” of the Free State of Bavaria
The International Day of Provenance Research took place for the seventh time on 9 April 2025. The central aim of this action day is to present and communicate provenance research as an academic discipline with high social and political relevance and responsibility. On this occasion, the Bavarian State Archives displayed extracts of an archival document on “Wiedergutmachung” at the Bavarian Main State Archives. It provided insights into the fate of Hedwig Bobelle, who was persecuted as a Jew. Due to the detailed biographical information and the attached documents, this group of files represents an important source for historical research and for the descendants of the victims of Nazi persecution.
Files such as those of Hedwig Bobelle shall be made available online in future in compliance with the legal basis. For this reason, between 2023 and 2030, part of the archival records of the Bavarian State Archives concering “Wiedergutmachung” for Nazi injustice will be digitised and indexed. Cataloguing data and digital copies will be made available online via the Bavarian State Archives’ finding aid database and the online collection „Wiedergutmachung for National Socialist Injustice“.
The exhibition was open to the public from 2 to 30 April. The information, including the supplement to the exhibition, is still available on the website of the Bavarian State Archives.
