Rose Valland briefing on Schloss collection

Rose Valland briefed her hierarchy on the information that she had collected mostly from German sources regarding the fate of the Schloss Collection: The paintings that were slated for the Germans were handed over at the Banque Dreyfus by Darquier de Pellepoix, assisted by Lefranc. The German delegation consisted of Dr Lohse, Dr Borchers, Dr. Erhard Göpel, who took delivery of the collection for the Führerbau. “The atmosphere of the meeting was most cordial, Lefranc amused the German audience with big banter, and warmly congratulated Dr Lohse, without whom, he said, this arrangement could not have been done.” According to Valland’s information, Lefranc left the bank with a painting under his arm which she suspected came from the Schloss Collection. The paintings intended for Hitler were brought to the Jeu de Paume, then packed for Munich. Three paintings from the Schloss Collection, including a Rembrandt, remained in Dr. Lohse’s hands, intending for Göring to buy them. She blamed Göring’s refusal to acquire the Schloss paintings on Lohse’s rivalry with Walter Andreas Hofer.  According to Rose Valland, Lohse organized the removal of the collection by truck, by two of his friends, both SS officers disguised as drivers. The Hitler - Göring rivalry also played a role in this case. It was Hitler’s group that caused the expedition from Laguenne to fail.