Fritz Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler, 1917 (Source: Bain (Library of Congress) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
In 2018 two books from the library of Fritz Kreisler could be returned.
Fritz (actually Friedrich Max) Kreisler was born on 2 February 1875 in Vienna. Kreisler was a violinist and composer, among others with the Berlin Philharmonic. In 1901 he married Harriet Lies, an American. From 1915 on the couple lived in the United States, from the beginning of the 1920s in Berlin, and later in Vienna.
From 1933 Fritz Kreisler was persecuted as Jewish in Germany, the sale of his works was forbidden, his recordings were no longer to be played. After the "Anschluss " of Austria, the Kreislers finally emigrated via France to the United States, where they were to spend the rest of their lives. Fritz Kreisler received US citizenship in 1943. He died in 1962 in New York, only one year later Harriet followed him.
The looted books were identified by the dedication: "To the philantrophist, great artist and brave soldier Fritz Kreisler from his friend and admirer Charles G Dawes Brig. Gen a.r.e. Febr. 5th 1922". Charles Dawes (1865-1951), also author of the returned double volume, was an American banker, general, diplomat and politician and from 1925-1929 the 30th Vice President of the United States. He was also a musician and composer. In 1925, together with Austen Chamberlain, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Dawes Plan, named after him.
No conclusions can be drawn about the accession of the volumes; they were part of unprocessed stock and do not contain any indications of the supplier or intermediate owners.