The widespread looting of European art by the Third Reich before and during the Second World War was one of the most shameful chapters of art history. The Nazis systematically stole thousands of paintings from individuals, and confiscated many thousands more from museums and other cultural institutions. Beside artworks, gold, silver, currency, jewelry, books, and religious treasures were also plundered. Most of these looted items were recovered and restituted after the war. But many thousands of pieces of art were never retrieved by their rightful owners.
Click through and read the shameful story of Nazi plunder.