New York ( CNN ) -- Seven decades after Nazi forces looted the National Museum in Warsaw during World War II , two paintings by treasured Polish artist Julian Falat were repatriated in a ceremony Thursday night , according to a statement from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency . The cultural artifacts were returned to Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski during the event at the Polish Consulate in New York City . Komorowski presented the Presidential Medal to ICE Special Agent Lennis Barrois and retired Special Agent Bonnie Goldblatt in honor of their investigative work leading to the paintings ' repatriation . The president said , `` Behind every person who is here , we can find a very difficult history ... very difficult ties , tangled Polish-American ties . `` It is so good in difficult histories we were able to develop very good , strong relations between our nations . I want to thank you for your good actions , for everything you have done . '' The oil-on-panels by Falat ( 1853-1929 ) , both winter scenes , `` are two magnificent and very important pieces of art , '' said Bogdan Zdrojewski , minister of culture and national heritage , in an official statement . `` Off to the Hunt '' which features bundled hunters against a snowy woods backdrop , was originally displayed at the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in Warsaw November 1901 before it was sold to a private owner , given back to the society , and then transferred to the Polish National Museum in December 1939 , the ICE news release stated . `` The Hunt , '' a wintry panorama with a sun-kissed glaze , was originally owned by Ludwik Norblin before it was endowed to the same fine arts society , and later moved to the national museum , the ICE news release stated . Germany invaded Poland in September 1939 , and during the occupation of Warsaw the paintings were taken . The paintings were missing until 2006 , when they were discovered by Polish officials at an auction in New York , according to the ICE press release . A complaint filed in federal court last December claimed they were taken from the national museum by Benne Von Arent , an SS lieutenant colonel , in 1944 , according to press release from Manhattan U.S Attorney 's office . `` No one can ever provide just compensation to the victims of the Nazis ' atrocities , but it is very gratifying for our office to play a role in returning the art that they looted during World War II to its rightful owners , '' New York U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement . Since 2007 , the U.S. customs agency has repatriated more than 2,500 items to more than 22 countries .
NEW : Polish president praises ICE agents `` for everything you have done '' Paintings by Julian Falat were stolen by the Nazis during occupation of Poland . The works are returned in a ceremony at the Polish Consulate in NYC .