I can personally testify
to this….
Individuals, however, especially the general public, which was
allowed to circulate freely through the Winter Palace for several
days after its capture, made away with table silver, clocks, bedding,
mirrors and some odd vases of valuable porcelain and semi-precious
stone, to the value of about $50,000.
The Soviet Government immediately created a special commission,
composed of artists and arch?ologists, to recover the stolen objects.
On November 1st two proclamations were issued:
“CITIZENS OF PETROGRAD!
“We urgently ask all citizens to exert every effort to find whatever
possible of the objects stolen from the Winter Palace in the night of
November 7-8, and to forward them to the Commandant of the Winter
Palace.
“Receivers of stolen goods, antiquarians, and all who are proved to
be hiding such objects will be held legally responsible and punished
with all severity.
“_Commissars for the Protection of Museums and Artistic Collections,_
“G. YATMANOV, B. MANDELBAUM.”
* * * * *
“TO REGIMENTAL AND FLEET COMMITTEES
“In the night of November 7-8, in the Winter Palace, which is the
inalienable property of the Russian people, valuable objects of art
were stolen.
“We urgently appeal to all to exert every effort, so that the stolen
objects are returned to the Winter Palace.
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