BERLIN, GERMANY.- In December 1944 Carl Wentzel was executed in the Ploetzensee prison of Berlin after he was found guilty of high treason for conspiring to assassinate Hitler. He was a wealthy landowner and industrialist and 82 paintings, 62 graphic works and 60 pieces of furniture were taken away from him. Two Venice vies by Canaletto are among these. Carl-Friedrich Wentzel, grandson, is now fighting to recover the works confiscated by the German government. He is accusing the authorities of stonewalling as they are refusing him access to the vaults and archives.

Carl-Friedrich Wentzel said, "My grandfather was murdered by the Nazis, his family imprisoned and his art treasures stolen. I find it unbelievable that more than 60 years after these crimes were committed, I am unable to get the family's paintings back. The authorities are stonewalling."