On 27 November 2025, the German Federal Ministry for Culture and Media released a revised handbook that clarifies procedures for museums, archives and libraries to identify and restitute cultural property confiscated during the Nazi period. The guide builds on the Washington Principles of 1998 and the 1999 Government declaration, and it incorporates new provisions for a dedicated arbitration tribunal that will begin operating on 1 December 2025. Officials said the updated manual offers practical instructions, a list of key contacts and a framework for fair solutions, aiming to speed the return of works, books and everyday items that were seized from Jewish owners. The handbook is available online, with a print edition and an English version to follow.
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/bund-laender-und-kommunen-staerken-aufarbeitung-von-ns-raubgut-neue-handreichung-schafft-klare-leitlinien-fuer-museen-archive-und-bibliotheken-2396324
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