Paintings seized by Nazis returned

Published on 15/02/2013 00:00

France has said it will hand back seven old master paintings hanging in state galleries that were taken from two Jewish families during the Second World War.

The works had been destined to be displayed in a gallery planned by Adolf Hitler, and the announcement ends years of struggle for the families, whose claims were validated by the French prime minister last year.

Museums agency official Bruno Saunier said: “This is incredibly rare. It’s the largest number of paintings we’ve been able to give back to Jewish families in over a decade.”