Posted by Richard Berge I am a documentary producer for PBS (associated with Oregon Public Broadcasting), and my colleagues and I are producing a television special about Nazi art looting in World War II. The program is an adaptation of the National Book Award-winning history, The Rape of Europa. We are trying to determine which unit of the 44th Infantry took control and secured the famous Schloss Neuschwanstein, outside of Fussen in southern Bavaria near the Austrian border. If we can determine the unit involved, perhaps then we can locate living veterans who participated in its capture. Hidden inside Mad Ludwig's castle, American soldiers discovered the stolen art treasures of France. The German art historian who turned over the castle and its contents to the 44th recounted that he did so on May 2, 1945. Soldiers of the 44th secured the building until it was in turn given over to American art specialists of the American Occupational Government, led by James Rorimer who would later become head of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I am hoping that someone may be able to help us figure out which unit(s) was there, or refer us to someone who may know. Please let me know if you have any questions I might be able to answer. Thank you for your consideration. Best regards, Richard Berge tel: 415/575-9998
on 7/7/2004, 5:45 pm
66.122.36.90
To Whom It May Concern,
Actual Films
221 Eleventh Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
main: 415/575-9999
fax: 415/575-0826
richard@actualfilms.net
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