Friedrich Kadgien
Friedrich Kadgien | |
|---|---|
.png) Kadgien in a immigration file of the Federal Police of Brazil in 1951 | |
| Born | Friedrich Gustav Kadgien 23 June 1907 |
| Died | 1978 (aged 70–71) Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Other names | Federico Gustavo Kadgien |
| Citizenship | German |
| Alma mater | University of Cologne (JD) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, financier, lawyer |
| Children | 2 |
Friedrich Gustav Kadgien (23 June 1907 – 1978) was a German businessman, financier and lawyer who served as special representative of the Four Year Plan during Nazi Germany.[citation needed]
Early life and education
[edit]Kadgien was born 23 June 1907 in Elberfeld, Kingdom of Prussia to Arthur Kadgien (1867–1920) and Maria Kadgien (née Wulfert; 1871–1956), both originally from Bad Kreuznach. His father was a district judge and later a higher regional court councillor.
He completed a Dr. iur. degree at the University of Cologne with a dissertation on an arcane topic in the Law of Obligations.[1]
Career
[edit]He entered the Prussian government administration, initially being employed as a lecturer in foreign exchange of the Department of Economic Affairs. Kadgien was a financial advisor to Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering.[citation needed]
He transferred Nazi plunder, estimated at several millions, to South America. The allies referred to him as "The Snake" and tried but failed to locate him for several years.[citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]While in Argentina, Kadgien married and had two daughters.
Kadgien died in 1978 at his residence in the city of Mar del Plata aged 70–71.
Nazi looted art
[edit]
In 2025 a real estate agent published an image online of the interior of a house in Buenos Aires, Argentina depicting the painting "Portrait of a Lady (Contessa Colleoni)" by Giuseppe Ghislandi. That portrait once belonged to the Jewish-Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker until WW II and is considered Nazi looted art. The house subsequently searched by the police belongs to one of Kadgien's daughters. The painting was not found.[2] Searches of family properties during the investigation resulted in the seizure of two other paintings and a series of engravings and drawings that may have also been stolen pieces, at the home of Ms Kadgien's sister.[3] On 3 September 2025, prosecutors announced the painting had been returned by the lawyer of Patricia Kadgien.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Kadgien, Friedrich (1930). Die rechtliche Natur des animus non recipiendi in § 685 B.G.B. und dessen Bedeutung für das Zustandekommen einer Schenkung des Geschäftsführers an den Geschäftsherrn (in German). Universitat Koln.
- ^ Axelrod, Toby (2025-08-27). "Looted painting vanishes after being seen in Nazi's daughter's real estate ad". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ McArthur, Tom; Graham, Chris (2025-09-03). "Ghislandi painting looted by Nazis recovered in Argentina". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ^ McArthur, Tom (2025-09-03). "Painting looted by Nazis recovered in Argentina". BBC. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
 | This German business-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |