Prékopa Ágnes (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 32. (Budapest, 2018)
Hilda HORVÁTH: Golddosen vom „Goldzug“. Die Sammlung von Hugó Hoffmann
to seek the Hungarian owners or their lawful heirs, make the appropriate identifications and return their legal property. Although immediately after World War II a restitution program was implemented in Hungary (the work done primarily by the committee headed by Jeszenszky), the Jewish Gold Train was not a part of it. American Jewish organizations adopted a uniform position, and in response to the opinion of the Jewish lobby, the American departments of defence and state were resolute in expanding the interpretation of Article 8. In other words, they ignored Hungarian political interests and the wishes of the Hungarian Jewish community and refused to return the property to Hungary. In the end, most of the objects from the Jewish Gold Train stored in Salzburg were turned over to the UN International Relief Organization, and in the first half of 1948, these items were taken to America, where they were sold in several auctions in June. This was the fate of Hugó Hoffmann’s gold box collection, too. It is worth noting that the items taken to America were those that would fetch a high price; the rest were deemed of little value and were distributed or destroyed. Jolán Gergely was the only Hungarian Jew who recovered her possessions from the Gold Train. The noble aims of the auction partially turned back on themselves. The survivors of persecution and their heirs and descendants were victimized again. Under the guise of a noble objective, the items were auctioned, violating both ethical and legal norms. From the American perspective the auction was beneficial because the burden of addressing the needs of an increasing number of displaced Jews would not fall upon American taxpayers. Diplomatic measures and compensation The Hungarian government and the National Association of Hungarian Israelites both took steps in resolving the issue of the Hungarian Jewish Gold Train, but without success. High-level government circles considered it more expedient if the owner, Hugó Hoffmann, sued for compensation. In 1949, Hoffmann hired a lawyer, a distant relative, living in America; an out-of- court settlement appeared to be the likely solution. The IRO set the conditions: Hoffmann had to forfeit any other claims for damages and could receive only the money fetched at auction, and only after costs were deducted. This amount would then be paid in fixed instalments. Hoffmann’s boxes brought in more than 15,000 dollars, from which the gallery conducting the auction subtracted its commission and the IRO deducted customs fees. Finally they agreed on the disbursement of 13,000 dollars. The American lawyer then claimed half in fees for his expertise. Hoffmann’s boxes are the only Hungarian applied arts collection from the Gold Train whose path has clearly been traced. 103
