Hitler's label for what we now call modern art was "degenerate art ". This refers to the idea of ​​a degradation of Hitler's ideals of the German people and his ideal Germany. He is associated with Jewish or partially Jewish painters like Max Liebermann. These works were targeted early in Hitler's reign and should not be confused with later looted artwork or war spoils taken during the Nazi occupation. Hitler called in museum curators and art historians willing to remove the works of artists like Chagall, Lieberman and Picasso. The works were then sold to finance the Nazi party. In November 2013, the press reported on a large stash of these “degenerate art” paintings found in an apartment in Munich, Germany. Cornelius Gurtlitt, a man in his 60s under investigation for tax evasion, allegedly hid 1,400 works of art in his apartment (States News Service). Mr. Gurlitt claims that the works belonged to him and were collected by his father Hldebrand Gurlitt. In this article I would like to address the issue of family secrets related to collectible works of art. Why do these works of art arouse such obsession among their collectors that they are willing to create family secrets that affect generations. In the case of Cornelius Gurlitt, his life was transformed by his father's activities during World War II. Dr. Hildebrand Gurlitt ran the Zwichua Museum before Hitler came to power. He was dismissed from his position as director for “pursuing an artistic policy contrary to healthy popular sentiment in Germany” (Nicholas, 9). Despite this, he would later be seen as one of Hitler's leading art dealers selling the types of works for which he was fired for being exhibited at the Zwichau Museum. It is possible that through... middle of paper ...... Phanton Cornelius Gurlitt shares his secrets. " Spiegel Online. Np, November 17, 2013. Web. January 19, 2014. .Meyer, Karl E. "Who owns the spoils of war?" Who (Really) Owns the Spoils of War? (2006): 85-91. JSTOR Web January 17, 2014. “Mystery Shrouds Discovery of Art Trove by Nazis.” Times of Oman [Muscat] November 5, 2013. January 2014. Nicholas, Lynn H. The Rape of Europe: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and World War II New York: Knopf, 1994. Print. investigation into Nazi looting. States News Service November 11, 2013: n. p. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. January 19. 2013.