Dr. Philip von Gomperz
Dr. Philip Gomperz, was born on April 4, 1860 in Vienna to the wealthy industrialist and banker Max von Gomperz, who originally came from Brünn. After World War I, Dr. Gomperz took on Czechoslovakian citizenship. Although he still owned significant properties in Vienna, his economic interests were concentrated in Bohemia and Moravia. He was a major shareholder in numerous concerns operating there, and was the owner of a textile factory “L. Auspitz Grandsons” in Brünn. In Vienna, he lived in his inherited apartment in the Palais Todesco, Kärntnerring 51/Mahlerstrasse 3.
After the Anchluss, Dr. Gomperz and his two sisters Marie and Cornelie left Vienna and fled to Moravia. Gomperz’ collection of paintings from his Vienna apartment were transferred to the apartment of his niece Henriette and her husband Dr. Wolfgang Hainisch.
In October 29, 1940, the Gestapo, Staatspolizeileitstelle Vienna, ordered the seizure of all movable and immovable property, as well as all rights and claims of Dr. Gomperz for the benefit of the Reich. In this way, Dr. Gomperz’ valuable art collection, which was primarily in Vienna, was stolen. In order to save his life, Dr. Gomperz together with his sister Cornelie and his niece Irene fled from Prague to Switzerland on July 30, 1941.
On February 4, 1942, the Gestapo Vienna, acting in agreement with the Gestapo Brünn, transferred Gomperz’ art collection to Gallery Herzig (also known as Galerie St. Lukas) for protection and valuation. The gallery produced a list of the paintings transferred.
On April 1, 1942, the Gestapo, Staatspolizeileitstelle Brünn, ordered the seizure of the property of Dr. von Gomperz’ property in the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. On July 20, 1943, Dr. Otto Reich prepared an appraisal of the art collection seized from Cornelie and Maria Gomperz.
The Gestapo Vienna handed over the collection to Dr. Friedrich Zabransky, Esq. for utilization.