Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Auschwitz Survivor's Family Must Give Back Gold Tablet

Ancient artifact was stolen from Berlin museum

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 1, 2012 12:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – Usually, it's Holocaust victims suing to get their stuff back from Germany; this time, it's the other way around. A Holocaust survivor's kids must give back a small gold tablet their dad brought to America from Germany, a Brooklyn appeals court has ruled. The court's four judges unanimously ordered the Flamenbaum family to return the 3,200-year-old artifact to Berlin's Vorderasiatisches Museum, the New York Times reports.

The family didn't know the tablet had been looted from the museum until after Riven Flamenbaum, who was liberated from Auschwitz in 1945, died in 2003. It's unclear how he ended up with it, but the museum sued in 2010, and lost (the judge noted that the museum never reported it as stolen). Flamenbaum's family plans to appeal the decision.

A picture taken in January 1945 depicts Auschwitz concentration camp gate and railways after its liberation by Soviet troops.
A picture taken in January 1945 depicts Auschwitz concentration camp gate and railways after its liberation by Soviet troops.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
9%
49%
20%
7%
1%
14%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
OuttaHere
Jun 2, 2012 10:12 AM CDT
Of course they aren't going to sell it. It's stolen property and no museum can afford to acquire stolen goods. Let them keep it, it's priceless and worthless.
Chasbo
Jun 2, 2012 9:07 AM CDT
To the Victor go the spoils. Fuck that Judge and the Museum.
williambaranowski
Jun 1, 2012 7:59 PM CDT
Mean old Polish Death Camp, strikes again.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne