I found this painting several years ago leaning against a dumpster near LSU campus in Baton Rouge. It looked very old and well done, and I couldn’t bear to see it thrown out. I picked it up and saw that on the back, it said (as well as I am able to decipher), “Hans Wedige von Arnim…gev. gu Schwerin am 30”, and farther to the right, it reads, “gefallen 18 Mai 1942 in Tranksreich”. It is signed by the artist and dated, “L. von Verser 1941”. It appears to be in its original frame. I am wondering if there is anyone who can tell me more about this painting. I would like to either sell it to a collector or donate it to a museum as I am in no position to care for an artifact. I am attaching photos of the painting. Please feel free to share these with anyone who might be able to help solve the mystery.

I have contacted a couple of art dealers and they have suggested selling it on ebay, saying that a Nazi painting would not do well in the marketplace, but that just seems so cold and impersonal. I really would like to know who this man was and what the story is here. I dont care about making money off of it, I just want it to go to somebody who will treasure it and respect it as an artifact, regardless of the fact that he was a Nazi. I think it is a fantastic painting and would love to see it go to a good home.

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He may be related to General Hans-Jurgen von Arnim if this helps.

This site may have some info on him. It is in German and I cannot read it.

Gefallenenphotographien Adeliger aus dem 2.Weltkrieg

Skipper can you help?

He was not necessarily a Nazi. He appears to be wearing a German Army uniform, but not all German soldiers were Nazis.

Thanks for making the effort to save the painting.

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Best Regards,
JW

Hmmm, I can't read German either. Maybe I can get my friend Sara to help. Does the pin on his uniform indicate that he is luftwaffe?

Your wish is my command

Oberleutnant Hans Von Arnim was deadly wounded at Berlaimont France on May 18th 1940 and died the next day . He is buried in Bourdon, France (block 1 , row 6, grave 103.

He died during the battle of France

He was born in Schwerin on Dec 30th 1914.

Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. - Arbeit für den Frieden

Berlaimont is in northern France , near the Belgian border.

He was Wehrmacht

Hope this helps.

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Yup, I was going to add that it read 'Frankreich' not 'Tankreich'. Frankreich is German for France so it fits. Very interesting find

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Well done Skipper.

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"Faint heart never won fair maiden", so I say "Go for it!"

Lou

Well done, Skipper.

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Best Regards,
JW

No problems guys, too bad Bourdon is far from my home otherwise I would have taken a picture from his grave, but may someone from northern France or Belgium will read this in the future (or a lost Englishman trying to find Calais )

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Wow, you guys are amazing. Thanks, Skipper! I have tried to figure this out for a few years now, and I post it on this website and get answers back in less than 24 hours!

So, what do you think that I should do with it? I am considering giving it to the WWII Museum in New Orleans. It would be nice to find this man's family and give it to them, but I wouldnt know where to start with that.

I wish I knew how he got by the dumpster. I am guessing that an elderly person in the neighborhood passed away and this was thrown out when the house was cleaned out. However, this painting somehow made it's way from France to Baton Rouge. I suppose that part of the mystery cant be solved.


Oh, does anyone know if he was related to Hans-Jurgen von Arnim?

Thanks again for all of the help!

There is an entry for 'Hans Wolf von Arnim' in the Leipzig Germany directory in 1936. It lists his address as being at Crossen Manor House.

Other than that, your best bet for finding family is seeing if you can't get a hold of the church records for Mecklenburg-Schwerin. A quick google search might turn up someone who holds the translated records but otherwise, there are templates in German all over the web so that you can send off to the church. From there, I'd look for his brothers or sisters and perhaps you might someone who has immigrated to the States and from there locate their children. Chances are, some family member of Hans came here.

Also, here's a good site:

Mecklenburg Vorpommern GenWebsite

Perhaps take a quick browse around and see if some of those links don't help. If you want further help let me know and I can see if I can't dig a little deeper for you .

And awesome story, by the way!

I don't think this picture was ever in France, but rather in Germany at the Von Armin family home and was possibly taken to the US in 1945 or sold to an American after in the 1950s or 1960s when the DDR officially sold conficated antiques to westerners. The Von Armin family were a wealthy family and Hans was probably painted before the war, as I don't see his officer tabs on his uniform so I don't think this was a mourn picture.

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Good info. I had just assumed that this painting was displayed at his funeral. I searched on roots web and the LDS website, but was unable to find him there. If I cnn't find any family, I am going to take it down to New Orleans to the WWII Museum and donate it. I am going to try to look up some von Arnims in the Baton Rouge area first. He has to have some living relatives.

Argh! My inability to read German is frustrating, lol!

Hi Bariel, I could be wrong but I don't think he would have any family in the U.S nor that the man who left this behind was related to him.

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Hey bariel, since one of your options is to donate the poitrait to the WW2 museum in New Orleans, you might contact the German Honorary Consul there to see if he can assist you in tracking down members of the Von Arnim family, either here in the US or in Germany.

Honorary Consul:
Mr. W. Paul Andersson
New Orleans, La
www.germany.infl/andersson

or try the Regional German Consolate in Houston at:
1330 Post Oak Blvd. Ste 1850
Houston, Texas 77056
(713) 627-7770

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On the Plains of Hesitation
lies the blackend bones of countless millions
who, at the dawn of victory sat down to rest,
and resting died....
(author unknown-I wish it was me)