Dresden: Historic Green Vault robbed

I am speechless.

The Royal Palace is closed, might re-open on Wednesday. Overall, 'only' three out of ten sets of diamonds (with 94 pieces) are lost. And compared to the 3,000 remaining pieces this doesn't seem much ... so the average visitor won't take notice. But still ...

I've seen it in 2015. It's an amazing collection and since Dresden is a bit off the beaten track it's not taken over by hordes of tourists.

You're right, it may be a huge loss in terms of value, but 99% of the collection is untouched. The fire in the Notre Dame or the destruction of Palmyra or the fire in the national museum of Brasil are much bigger and irreversible losses.

Not quite sure how you work out your final statement BDKR but anyway it is a tragedy as these pieces will be broken up, melted down and sold. It's not the value of the gold or stones, it is the workmanship involved and the history lost.

Wow. We visited the Green Vault a few years ago. My eyes still hurt from all those shining baubles.

It'd be interesting to know how the thieves plan to fence those items.

I remember visiting both Vaults
some years ago and thinking :
what an extravagant expenditure on absolutely useless
items. What was the cost to the population .

ingo, I thought of you this morning when I heard the news about the robbery. Unbelievable!

They didn't learn the lesson from the Bode Museum robbery.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-berlin-museum

marvelousmouse - it might take a day more or two until re-opening. Police is still investigating and they will most certainly adjust security policy.

danon - it was not useless. What others invested in military, Saxon rulers invested in art. It was a very good investment I'd say. The armies of past centuries are long gone.

gomiki - I was totally shocked, thought it was a bad joke when I first heard about it. Thanks for thinking of me. ;-)

Security of the building is always a compromise between what police and monument preservation authority say. These are historic buildings, after all, and as the Historic Green Vault is a work of art as a whole - including the presentation in these historic rooms - there are limits to security. I must say that armed guards would have been a good idea in hindsight. These poor guards could only watch the robbery live on their screens.

It is about all they talked about on DW this afternoon. The videos looked like a smash and grab.

Yup, "investment " in
Ivory and diamond objects created a great deal of
prosperity for the peasants.

I agree with your sentiments...they value it close to $1 billion, not sure if euros or dollars. Sure that could alleviate a bit of poverty. Combine it with the Vatican wealth, actually helping people, that would make quite the impact.

I can't change how things were valued or afforded or invested in the past. OTOH, I think the loss of priceless parts of our human heritage -- including the artistry and crafsmanship of historic treasures -- is saddening.

I'm so sorry to hear about this and sorry for you, Ingo, as this is part of your home and heritage. I hope police are able to recover the stolen treasures intact. We visited Dresden in 2014 and were able to visit the Green Vault at that time. It is an impressive collection.

I am so sorry to hear about this, Ingo! What a horrible blow for the city and the people of Dresden, such a sorrow. I will be thinking of you and your neighbors and following this story.

Yours,

s

Guys, take it easy!

It's very unfortunate for sure, but there is no need to exaggerate. A few precious pieces have been stolen out of hundreds if not thousands of pieces which are still there. Moreover, the stolen pieces may still be recovered, it's not unusual.

This is not a horrible blow for a city which was bombed to rubble and its inhabitants incinerated. That was a horrible blow indeed.

https://ww2truth.com/2018/02/14/an-e...den-holocaust/

I do wish folks would remember they are not posting in the Lounge and quit with the provocative comments. This was a simple thread expressing dismay about this robbery and we don't need political/disdainful posts . . .

It's very nice to convey our sympathies, I just meant no need to exaggerate.

If your diamond necklace is stolen it's normal that you get upset, but that's not a horrible blow. A horrible blow is if your house burns down, your family dies, but your diamond necklace survives.

You don't have to live in Dresden to understand this difference and some residents(?) of Dresden don't even think that the bombing was a horrible blow, in fact they're asking for more:

https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Bomber...,_do_it_again!

Enough already --- when you are in a hole it is generally best to quit digging . . .

BDKR, yes, I am aware of the horrible bombing of Dresden in Feb, and have been able to attend the annual memorial concert a few years ago (I wanted to attend again in 2020, but something came up).

I still say this is a horrible blow for the city and its people. The city of Dresden is an astounding masterpiece, and the people are so rightfully proud of their heritage, what they survived, how they are rebuilding, and the direction of their future. They have some obstacles now, including racist gangs trying to organize and make a showing, and questions about integrating environmentally friendly growth (well... what city doesn't).

So to me this is a very sad and significant blow.

s