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Nazi Looting of Art
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During World War II the Nazis were infamous for stealing the treasures of the countries they conquered. These treasures were not limited to cash, gold and jewels but included some of the most famous art works in the world, along with other items. So vast was the theft of artwork that special web sites have been set up showing the stolen art, so that museums can check them against art works in their collections. If one wonders how much art was stolen by the Nazis, the answer is staggering. The number of pieces stolen is vast, it is believed to be more than 1.5 MILLION. This figure constituted over 20% of all the art in Europe at the time.
Hitler looks at some looted art workds at the Haus of German Art,
Munich
U.S. Soldiers examine Edouard Manet's "In the Conservatory,"
April 25, 1945
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, General Omar
Bradley and Lt. Gen. George Patton, Jr., inspect stolen art treasures
American soldier inspects German loot stored in a church at Elligen,
Germany, April 24, 1945
Hermann Goering's art collection, stolen from museums across Europe,
is stored in building near Berchtesgaden while being catalogued, June
9, 1945. As we know, World War II has been over for a considerable time, it ended in 1945, but the search for art looted by the Nazis still continues. It is estimated that at least 100,000 pieces of art are still missing. Of the top 40 pieces that were being sought, over half have not been recovered. The Germans themselves were looted when the war ended. Many of their book collections are now in Russian libraries. There is some talk of the Russian's making copies as a sign of cooperation.
Artworks confiscated for Adolf Hitler, seen here examining art in
a storage facility, were designated for a proposed Führermuseum
in Linz, Austria. Hitler wanted to create a great art museum in Linz, which is a provincial capital in Austria. The museum was to have many huge buildings and was to contain the most important art in Europe. To this end Hitler appointed Dr. Hans Posse. Posse had been the director of the Dresden Museum. He was to acquire the art works for the new museum. He was given a large budget and began to acquire various works of art that were stored in the basement of the Fuhrerbau in Munich, Germany. The Fuhrerbau was a large building that Hitler used for his headquarters in Munich. When the war ended there were eight thousand works of art acquired by Posse.
This painting was one of many discovered in the Merkers salt mine
and removed by U.S. troops in April 1945.
Soldier looks at a priceless Reubens painting, one of many valuable
works found in an underground cave in Siegen, Germany Military records show that the Nazis had agents in Switzerland that were storing some of the stolen art for them.
The Neptune Fountain The Neptune Fountain in the gardens of the Russian imperial palace of Peterhof, near St. Petersburg, was looted by the Nazis and restituted to Soviet authorities in 1947. It seems nothing was too large to be hauled away. Will all of this art be returned to its rightful owners? I won't say no, except for that art which might have been destroyed, but I will say who knows? Much of this missing art must be in the hands of private collectors, and as they die maybe the missing art may come to light and be returned, but maybe not. This situation is akin to the ancient library at Alexandra, Egypt that was burned. In that case the great scrolls of the ancient world were lost forever, in this case some of the greatest art of the world might be lost forever. |
