Mr. Flick is not a perpetrator
from ARTNews Summer 2004 and September 2004 issues, International News sections and from BBC News/ UK
Berlin - City officials have decided on a seven year exhibition of the art collection of Friedrich Christian Flick, the grandson of an arms manufacturer and steel magnate who supplied the Nazi regime using thousands of Jewish and other slave laborers during WWII.
In 1947, Flick’s grandfather was sentenced to seven years in prison during the Nuremberg Trials for his exploitation of slave labour and confiscation of Jewish property. Flick stands accused of building his art collection on a fortune from his family empire.
Three years ago Flick’s attempt to build a museum for his collection in Zurich failed due to public protests. Flick defends himself by saying that one cannot inherit guilt for acts committed by previous generations.
A Flick spokesperson says, “Mr. Flick has always faced all debates. However there are some accusations he’s not willing to put up with. Among these are…that he bought his collection with ‘blood money.’ This is unfair and offensive. Mr. Flick is not a perpetrator. He is the grandson of a perpetrator.”