Angela Merkel promises progress on identifying Munich art haul

Angela Merkel has promised progress on identifying Munich art haul (Getty Images)

The government is pushing for faster identification of works of art found in a Munich apartment that may have been stolen by the Nazis from private owners.

About 1,400 objects, worth more than €1bn (£840m) were found in 2012 by police investigating alleged tax evasion. The find was kept secret while the original owners were traced.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said more details would be released this week. He said: “We can understand that Jewish organisations in particular are asking many questions; they represent the old people who were treated very badly.”

Heirs to Jewish collectors who were forced by the Nazis to give up the art may have claims to the haul.

AP