Thousands of cultural treasures once belonging to Germany’s former Hohenzollern imperial family will remain in public museums in Berlin and Brandenburg, following a historic agreement that resolves nearly a century of dispute. Germany’s new minister of state for culture, Wolfram Weimer, confirmed the deal between the federal government, the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, and the Hohenzollern descendants. The resolution marks a significant milestone for Germany’s cultural heritage and ensures that the public will continue to have access to some of the nation’s most important historical artifacts.
Among the items secured for public display are iconic works such as a portrait of Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg by Lucas Cranach the Elder and a ceremonial table service once used at the Breslau City Palace by Emperor Frederick II. According to reports, the agreement encompasses around 27,000 individual pieces, all of which have been subject to legal uncertainty since the monarchy’s dissolution following World War I.
The conflict dates back to 1918, when the abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II marked the end of the German monarchy and the beginning of the Weimar Republic. The new republic confiscated the Hohenzollern family’s assets, prompting legal and political debates that continued for decades. In 1926, a preliminary contract attempted to define ownership between the state of Prussia and the Hohenzollern family, but ambiguity persisted.
Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia and great-great-grandson of Wilhelm II, has been at the center of recent negotiations. Since 2014, he has been in discussions with authorities, requesting the return of family-owned artworks and financial compensation for lost palaces and properties. These negotiations were halted for years due to ongoing litigation, which was ultimately resolved in 2023. That resolution reopened the door for meaningful talks, culminating in the new agreement announced in 2024.
The artworks and cultural items will remain in their current locations, including institutions such as the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg (SPSG), the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), and the German Historical Museum (DHM) in Berlin. Public access to these important symbols of Prussian and German history will continue, providing long-term stability for the country’s cultural landscape.
READ MORE: