Nazi Art Looting During World War II

About the event

Even before taking power in 1933, the leaders of Nazi Germany were obsessed with art. Following Hitler’s lead, high-ranking officials competed to build enormous collections. What might have looked like ordinary art collecting soon became something far darker: a systematic campaign to seize art from Jewish collectors and from anyone the regime labeled “degenerate” or an enemy of the state.

This presentation explores how that obsession turned into one of the largest art-looting operations in history. After the outbreak of war in 1939, Nazi officials and organizations swept across occupied Europe, stealing masterpieces from museums, galleries, and private homes. Discover how this massive plunder unfolded, who carried it out, and how the search for these stolen works continues today.

Paul B. Jaskot is Professor of Art History & German Studies at Duke University. His work specializes on the political history of Nazi culture and its postwar impact.