In more recent times,[ambiguous] it has been common for soldiers to return home with souvenirs, such as enemy weapons and flags, while larger military items captured in battle, particularly weaponry such as machine guns and artillery pieces, became the property of the state to which the soldiers responsible for the capture belonged.
[2] In the 20th century, the victorious alliance states removed large quantities of property, including cultural objects.
[3] After the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles authorized the removal of large amounts of property from Germany, which it termed "reparations".
[4] After the Second World War, the Potsdam Conference authorized the removal of certain property from Germany, such as the merchant marine fleet.
All seizure of, destruction or wilful damage done to institutions of this character, historic monuments, works of art and science, is forbidden, and should be made the subject of legal proceedings.