About book The Rape Of Europa: The Fate Of Europe's Treasures In The Third Reich And The Second World War (1995)
3.5A thorough, highly detailed account on the movement, confiscation, and recovery of European masterworks before, during, and after World War II. Amazingly well-researched, the overall narrative is insightful and organized. The reader follows famous works of art and prominent figures in the art world as Nazi Germany rises to prominence and uses art as a tool for bargaining power, political legitimacy and domestic/international propaganda. Art plays a major role in Nazi rhetoric and principles. Pieces are creatively acquired and disposed(through legitimate and reprehensible means) to further Aryan ideals and serve as examples of correct expression.I was surprised when I discovered that art works deemed "degenerate and corrupting" - pieces by Impressionists, Cubists, DADAist, anything not essentially classical - wasn't destroyed but instead used to trade for more acceptably classical pieces or sold to other Western buyers. The money, unsurprisingly, is funneled back into the party to fund its endeavors. Equally fascinating and disgusting was the rabidity of buyers looking for great works on the cheap. Whether from the Nazis or pressured citizens, black market and legitimate dealers like American Peggy Guggenheim purchased priceless art for bargain-basement prices. Most dealers recognized their funds were ultimately funding the Reich, often at expense of the coerced/harried refugees selling works and entire collections to acquire enough money to leave German-controlled areas. The entire situation acknowledges the self-interest that permeated all sides of the war and that war profiteers weren't confined to Swastika members and arms manufacturers.What was lacking for me was a more personal set of narratives. There are so many major and minor players (not counting the multitude of art itself) regarding the sale, confiscation and looting of European art by the Nazis during that it's sometimes difficult to remember people between large spans of time and actions. I was looking for a few more personal aspects of the time/subject, like the documentary had. (I loved the documentary.) There's not a lot of individual narratives in the book to really frame the research and convey the social and political ramifications (and at times very survival) art had for individuals, peoples, and countries. It was a good read, just one that lacked a super compelling set of narratives for my tastes.Overall, a fascinating read and recommend for fans of art history and the role art and culture during wartime. Nicholas deftly crafts the importance of and regard for art not only to individuals on the ground (people and sometimes whole towns who lost important community pieces to Germany and the West) but to national identity as a whole. The book highlights the Reich’s desire to subsume and eventually eradicate all other national and culture identities as well as the universal cultural, monetary, and personal value art holds.
Nicholas, Lynn. THE RAPE OF EUROPA: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War. (1994). ****. This is a meticulously researched and documented study of the less-than-legal and outright theft of art works by members of the German Third Reich before and during the period its dominance of conquered countries. These include such diverse works as the treasures of Quedlinburg, the Trojan Gold, and the Amber Room at Catherine’s Palace. This is a dense book that attempts to trace most of the transfers of European art that occured during the period by individuals of the Nazi regime – including Hitler – from 1933 up to 1945. It also tells of the trials of recovery of these lost masterworks by the Allied countries after the war was over. From the day Hitler came to power, art was a matter of highest priority to the Reich. He and other Nazis (especially Hermann Goering) were ravenous collectors, stopping at nothing to acquire paintings and sculpture, as well as coins, books, tapestries, jewels, furniture – everything. Every means at their disposal was used. In the early days, art was purchased – though at severe discounts of their actual worth. Later, art was commandeered and transferred to Nazi control. When the war was winding down, these collections were hidden in ways that were difficult for subsequent detection. It was the job of various Allied forces – especially the Monuments Division of the American forces – to find and catalog these collections to catalog and ultimately to restore them to their rightful owners. This was no easy job. Determining the provenence and ownership of these various works of art was a daunting project. The author manages to recount the activities involved in a clear and unbiased way that showed the magnitude of the job involved and the politics involved. As I said before, this is a dense book. It is less than a popular history; more of a critical study that will be used as a reference work that will be on the shelf of every art historian for years to come. Recommended.
Do You like book The Rape Of Europa: The Fate Of Europe's Treasures In The Third Reich And The Second World War (1995)?
World War II was, for a few, a historic opportunity to loot and pillage. And the theft of artwork, along with other forms of national treasure, was perfected and institutionalized on the grandest scale by the Nazis. Hitler was of course involved, but Goering was considerably more preoccupied. He stole, traded, and hoarded an enormous quantity of valuables (paintings, sculptures, tapestries, precious metals, gems, ceremonial objects, rare books, furniture, you name it) to fill his cavernous estate at Carinhall.I’m not an art devotee, but many episodes in this book were absolutely maddening. Here’s the pattern in country after country: Germany invades, the Nazis pick over every public and private art collection they can find, packing off the best to the Reich (first choice goes to Hitler for his Linz museum, second choice to Goering, and so on). And then the remaining “degenerate” artwork is used for barter or burned. Nearly as frustrating: priceless artwork used as tabletops, left to disintegrate in wet caverns, hacked apart by infantrymen bent on revenge.The recovery effort was considerably more intricate than the thefts, and all of this is covered in rich detail by Nicholas. At points, not being familiar with many of the works discussed, I longed for a visual reference. I haven’t seen the PBS documentary based on The Rape of Europa, but for visuals, it might be a good complement to the book. Even without the tour guide, though, it was a very enjoyable read.
—Andy
This book is a detailed account of how Hitler, Goering, unscrupulous and greedy art dealers and the Nazi's managed to steal and/or destroy much of the art work, furniture, rugs, tapestries, jewelry etc in Europe while they fought to conquer everything in site…It is absolutely fascinating. She writes about the dedicated 'monuments men' who fought for the return of all 'stolen' artwork to their original owners… even those of Germany… although many would have liked to use the German treasures as restitution for the war… the book would be enhanced by photos but a computer or other device to check on that each painting etc looked like worked fine…She makes one think about the question of what is art… who truly 'owns' it and who is responsible for it's safety!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a lover of art or history…. it's a definitely look at WW II from a very different and also horrifying perspective.
—Mary
Good grief. For those of you who don't like or understand Art, you may want to read this to learn about the absolute passion it engenders. I was disgusted by the greed and art-lust of the Nazis and Allies before and during the war. And then I was stunned by the complications of 'repatriating' the art works. The greed and art-lust reared it's ugly head in new and profound ways.As to the book itself, it was very dense. Well written, but dense. You have to have a real interest in the topic. If you do, I also recommend Monument MenThe Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel. I am still awed by the loss of such beautiful objects and uncomprehending of the need to keep these things for oneself, rather than sharing with the world.
—G Hodges
