In the deep catacombs of the Deutsche Zoologisches Museum of the Landwirtscraftliches Institute in Berlin, where the Was...

In the deep catacombs of the Deutsche Zoologisches Museum of the Landwirtscraftliches Institute in Berlin, where the Wasmann collection and library were located for return to Maastricht, Holland, Major John W. Bailey, who located the Nazi loot, is congratulated by Royal Netherlands Col. Cornelis van Ry, in Berlin discussing repatration problems with the Russian authorities. At the right is Capt. E. Engberts, van Ry's interpreter. Master Caption. In 1943 the Nazis stole Holland's famous Erich Wasmann scientific insect collection and entomological library. After an intensive search by Major John W. Bailey of the Education Branch of Information and Education Div., commanded by Brig. Gen. P. Thompson, which led through museums of Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel, Munich, Stuttgart, Augsburg, Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Heidelberg and Darmstadt, the collection was finally located in the dust-filled lightless catacombs of the University of Agriculture in Berlin. Located in the Russian zone, the packing and loading was expedited by Russian scientists and quickly turned over to its rightful owners.