Returning the spoils: Allied and German policies on the restitution of looted art after World War II

This thesis explores the restitution of cultural property looted during World War II, focusing on the policies of Germany, the Soviet Union and Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Through a comparative historical analysis, it aims at examination of how each country addressed the return of looted art works in the immediate post-war years and how these approaches have evolved into modern political frameworks regarding restitution. The research demonstrates that while all five countries recognised the need to address the looted art problem, their approaches were shaped by unique historical, political and international context. The findings reveal both similarities and differences between the national cases. The research contributes to the ongoing academic debates by providing a link between post-war restitution decisions and contemporary policies, and by examining less-studied cases.