Nazi Thieves, Looted Art, and Stolen Legacies

While serving in the US Army, Metropolitan Museum of Art curator James Rorimer supervises American GIs carrying paintings down the steps of the Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany in May of 1945. —National Archives, provided by the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, Dallas

Dazzling art, dubious dealers, and greedy Nazi leaders eager to convey an air of grandeur and power. That’s only part of the story behind one of the greatest thefts in history. The Nazi plot to strip Jews of their art, furnishings, and even objects of little value was a sign of their greater ambition — to destroy a people and erase their history. In this digital program, learn about some of the victims and perpetrators — and a mole who secretly documented the theft and hiding places of priceless art.