Tracking Down The Art That Was Stolen By The Nazis | Raiders Of The Lost Art

During WWII the Nazis plundered some of the world's greatest art works as they tore across Europe; we find out how the Allies tracked them down, what they saved and what it still missing to this day.
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From "Raiders Of The Lost Art"
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[@mybrandnewlogin]

It's a pity that National Library in Warsaw didn't have so much luck to be rescued. In 1944 Nazis have burned hundreds of historical manuscripts, priceless books, unique gems of print, even though they promised to preserve them. All what is left if a glass box of ashes you can see today displayed in Raczyński's palace in Warsaw that once hosted one of most exquisite cultural collections in Europe.

[@stj971]

So sad

[@garywilloughby6893]

I never heard this terrible such a loss.

[@fishnchips8132]

they burned the written word because they wanted to destroy history & rewrite it according to their intentions. Books are disappearing from libraries in the western world today - because the New World Order intends rewriting history. Nazis all over again.

[@katarzynakarkowska989]

And Nazis destroyed also in 1944 Chopin's piano there from Place van Dome and with Krasinski's Library Germans detonated in 1944 besides priceless manuscripts also Chopin's only picture which Polish Gov bought just before WW II from Breitkoph

[@kilcar]

Much of what you do is accurate. However, Stalin ordered the same sacking of Polish art and heritage, There are large quantities of Polish art heritage shipped to Russia, and is there to this day, in the possession of private and State officials and bureau ls.

[@brahmburgers]

Fascinating history. Thanks to all who put this sterling video together, and for having it available for free on YT.

[@brenthicks2228]

I've heard the Ralphie is in a dungeon hiding in south Germany in a trashed castle

[@katarzynakarkowska989]

Thank you so very much for your documentary! To add to their terrible crimes against humanity greedy Nazis not only were stilling priceless art , hunting and killing rightful owners with families but also making copies of it. In Lublin Ghetto Polish top artists drugged from homes in the middle of night for forced, free, labor worked like slaves in constant terror from Nazis painting day and night many copies of world art masterpieces freshly stolen . Unlike the story about Hans van Meegeren and his Vermeers we will never know how many Rubenses , Vermeers and others were painted in Lublin since Nazis made sure of it ...Those Artists were silenced forever with over 6 Millions Poles. Do you have any idea if Raphael's self- portrait know as Portrait of Young Man from Czartoryski Museum was ever recovered? Once more thank you so very much!

[@elyaqui5324]

Ain't war Hell

[@elyaqui5324]

What about all the stuff the British have stolen

[@katarzynakarkowska989]

@@elyaqui5324 Someone has to have knowledge , passion , money and guts to make a documentary about it.

[@ericag4908]

Stealing*

[@palemale2501]

A lot of former public or private treasure was plundered by allied or Axis forces, or is still lying in German caves and lakes, or cellars and attics around the world, or Swiss bank vaults, or secret collections or melted down. Some art auctioneers try to sell it with knowledge or suspicion, but the rightful owners or descendants fail to recover it - despite the Swiss banks once-and-for-all gesture of repatriation of just some of it. Disgusting.

[@chrisallen7911]

It makes me ill to think of what we have today and think of all the historic buildings, castles, and churches. where these artworks were housed, were destroyed. Thousands of years of art, architecture, and furnishings, paintings, etc. were lost only 70 plus years ago!!!

[@Alipotamus]

War.

[@spateri728]

Has happenned throughout human history. Was it the library of Alexandria that was arguably the most significant loss of 'art' and indeed knowledge in history. Historic buildings and artworks came later but were sealed by the same fate. War indeed.

[@_luckicharms]

ISIS did the same in Palmyra in 2015.

[@AnnaKarkowskaVirtuoso]

and yet in 2018 Donald Trump had impudence to sign Just 447giving Poland away for his own gain!

[@albertoguerra6051]

Good, now do one on unrecovered art from the Soviet Red Army

[@katarzynakarkowska989]

This is fantastic idea!!But unlike Nazis crimes which for 80 years were & still are under international radar ,Soviets crimes were and still are covered up ! Now they even are changing history and publicly writing accusing Poland for WW II. Poland !!-'the ONLY country who stood up in Action , not just words to Hitler and Stalin in 1939! For Russians WWII did not even start September 1 1939 like for the rest of the world. Russian kids are learning for generations that WW II started June 22 in 1941 when Hitler decided to attack Russia . Even fact that Russians were for 2 years Hitler's helpers!!!! and killing Poles in Katyn , Stanislawowo , Jedwabne, sending to Siberia, that from 1945-1957 their were executing top ranking officers of AK, even their kids in prisons( Polish Underground Army AK was the biggest organized anti Hitler movement in Europe!!! during WWII and they were anticommunists)Now with war in Ukraine , Russian's new crimes are under international radar but I am afraid that to make a documentary about the old ones will take not only passion but huge guts and even more money.

[@patrickcork7981]

Yes

[@patrickcork7981]

The Ember or Amber Room Ornate Walls Made of GOLD !!!!!!!!

[@fishnchips8132]

possessions & greed drives the evil in this world, materialism - along with all the other isms.

[@dflo4165]

We will probably never see much of the things taken by the Soviet Union in WWII.

[@SpecialSP]

The Monuments Men were heroes of mine for the invaluable work they did.

[@henrivanbemmel]

So the sorry goes ... the Germans were not using the Abbey, but the Allies did not believe them, so they flattened it. I later knew a German who had been a soldier there and he said this was quite true ... until the bombing ... the ruins he said made far better cover than the standing Abbey would have. It seems it should have been saved for both historical and military reasons. Btw out of his unit of 60 men only 7 survived ... to then be sent to the Soviet Union ...

[@Sennapop]

Any country that invades another is gonna go for the pricey collectables of museums, galleries & wherever else they can find expensive treasures...just look at the U.S. when they went into Iraq, it was a free for all...I think the museums were actually made 1 of their top priorities. Also...the amount of stuff that was destroyed, vanished, still being black marketed, auctioned, etc in WW2 is unimaginable! These things r 1 of a kind. The artists that made them in thr 1st place can't just remake more, most of these works of art r hundreds of years old, they're priceless!....sad

[@tedschaar9364]

Excellent documentary in every way.

[@millercgr]

Anyone interested in this subject should also read the book The Rape of Europa by Lynn H. Nicholas which goes into great detail about the stolen treasures carried out by the Nazis. One aspect that doesn't get mentioned is that about 300 works that were taken from German museums and private holdings by the Nazis were then taken to the United States (to the National Gallery in D.C.) as the American government feared leaving them in Germany would be at risk to more theft and would be returned "when a responsible government in Germany is formed." This of course created a great controversy at the time.

[@ellebelle8515]

Since then, more so in the last two decades, there has been an effort to do the research necessary to restore the art work to the original owners or their families.

[@24sherbear]

There was a documentary film made based on this book. A friend shared it with me years ago and it was the first I had heard about this. Then the book and movie Monuments Men came out. All cultures since the beginning of time have plundered other nations. I’d be interested to know just how much art is actually housed in the places it originated. Besides the plunder, art is sold and ends up in other places. Art is stolen by individual thieves, not just by governments. I have never been in any museum, anywhere where all the art was from the country I was visiting.

[@sitbone3]

What about the stolen art the British and Americans took from the Egypt, the Middle East, Rome, Greece ? The stolen gems in the British royal jewelry collection. Yea, let's talk about stealing.

[@Did.You.Forget]

THE THUMBNAIL! Hah!! SMH

[@122Music1]

That was "The first cross dresser fingered" by Herman Underbush! 😆

[@nouseforanamelucky13]

😂😂😂

[@llemmeedititrealquicklilshi]

They knew you wouldn't have clicked on if it were the other way around

[@nouseforanamelucky13]

@@llemmeedititrealquicklilshi you mean if it were a portrait of a woman's face and a half painting of a man, just showing his legs?.. 😂

[@LilGigiGabor]

The immense greed and for what? Art! Every piece represents a life which then affects the lives of others. These are all stained with the blood and cash of millions for one of the deadly sins GREED definition having more than one could ever need! That no one gets to appreciate the beauty and story behind each and every person lost to history and their immaterial priceless value which took away the quality of lives for billions over decades to come. Who would have foreseen that!?! Allowed it all from just naiivite? No power and loss of humanity begins when inanimate objects value more to the few than the blood and flesh and mind stripped off others - vampires or leeches? Or bats and viruses??? Once existing is hard to over come. That's the power of addiction. The whirlwind of being driven by 'self' value measured in inanimate or synthesized materials that accumulated dirt, grime and birth diseases. Now man wants that toxic life to be sent out into space to infest other untouched 'godly' places that only the 'god' knows. When will man learn?

[@rockets4kids]

Imagine how the world would be different if they didn't reject Hitler's application to art school...

[@jameshoskins2209]

Hold in your hands the price of peace and see it crumble and fall between them

[@rickpalak1960]

We were better off with the germans than the soviets

[@ramieal-hazar2438]

Absolutely. Soviets are savages who are not like us at all.

[@NinaHansen2008]

“Every mother deserves a Leonardo da Vinci!” I’ll remind my kids of that! 🤣

[@Orfeus3000]

Now make a Doc about England, Frace, Italy...has returned Stolen Art from Africa

[@ottomeyer6928]

oh you bad boy,ts ts ts

[@benjamindejonge3624]

The Dutch bank is so happy that all their tons of stolen gold bars been found never returned home, but made great highways in the USA.

[@stj971]

Great hiways and infrastructure that is now in disrepair

[@gavinreid2741]

Much precious metal went to Portugal and Spain as well. Remaining neutral made them wealthy.

[@inspiredme7030]

They should have accept him as art student

[@toddaulner5393]

Yeah, he was kind of decent at it. He was also brilliant at planning and building. Obviosly a great speaker and that but power is corrupting and drug abuse and perhaps possession.

[@AnnaKarkowskaVirtuoso]

Thank you so much for this documentary! I just read Mr Patrick MacFadden comment for which I am very greatful! Thank you Mr. Mac. Fadden! It would be wonderful to add what Stalin took from Wilno, Grodno, Lwow and basically half of Poland territory from 1939 with its land, lives of over 2 MLN Polish prisoners & their treasures , documents and priceless books from hearts of Polish culture for centuries in Wilno. Lwow, Grodno with not only documents from Polish history but Polish kings artifacts, art collections, their gifts to those universities, monasteries. All of this should be a subject of research . Since Hitler stole from all Europe , hunt for stolen treasures by Nazis become an international interest. Stalin however stole from Poland only and never answered not only for Katyn massacre on Polish cream of society, over 2 Mln Poles in gulags, annexing Wilno, Lwow, Grodno but also Russia never gave back what he stole from Poland. Like Hitler Stalin made sure that owners were killed. Also they were thousands of priceless today violins, cellos, bows stolen from Poland by Hitler and Stalin.Maybe at least Russia may give back Poland Henryk Wieniawski's Stradivari from Moscow Collection. ,,

[@ladyjan2936]

Well done!!! Blessings!!!

[@viskovandermerwe3947]

I am trying to say how pleased I am that the Germans were so careful and thorough but I make no sense to myself.

[@ChiakiShirakawa]

映画「The Monuments Men」の邦題は「ミケランジェロ・プロジェクト」。 映画のストーリーを考慮してミケランジェロを特に強調したのかもしれないけど。 美術品が現在も継承されている背景には、複雑な要素が絡んでいる。 どういう経緯で惨禍を免れたかの着眼で、さらに観賞価値が違ってくる。 複製や再生品よりもオリジナルの１品ものを重宝するのは、関わるいろいろな人の思いや時代背景が投影されるから。

[@charlesmartella]

If you were in their shoes would you have grabbed a classic painting or two for yourself ? Comon you can tell me. I wont tell anyone. I know I would have.

[@thomasjamison2050]

Saying that this business of stashing away are was just German greed is just a wee bit overdone. The primary reason the art was stashed in such great quantities was to prevent it from being destroyed in the widespread and indiscriminate bombing of German cities. God only knows how much great art was destroyed that way. Consider, for example, what happened to the Dresden Cathedral.

[@ottomeyer6928]

most of them came from Jewish owned houses

[@ramieal-hazar2438]

@@ottomeyer6928they were well known for exploiting artists and profiting off their work. I’m glad they had it taken from them.

[@dawnsalois]

So Perspective, why isnt this called the monuments men. Surely this was made Before the movie.

[@jessicabuckley1221]

Very interesting story, but I had to watch it with my sister, because it's got no captions. Considering the obvious quality of the video work...

[@tomgucwa7319]

Grande , this is mostly still unresolved. Things just keep popping up. Press on comrade!

[@ottomeyer6928]

watch the Amis,they took all sorts of things home with them also.

[@ottomeyer6928]

darn tooten they did

[@daytona500jr08]

Russia has the rest of the missing items, unfortunately we will never find that much more

[@gavinreid2741]

Russia says that any art they have looted from the rest of Europe during ww2 belongs to the Russia citizens who have it and will not be returned.

[@WaitAMinute1989]

I was thinking Argentina

[@jaclynvc]

Hail the Monument Men! Enjoyed.

[@TrueNativeScot]

Now what about the 8 million works of German art, historical documents and titles stolen and destroyed by the allies, that STILL is locked away ajd kept awya from Germans?

[@YPO6]

Americans and Soviets stole lots of art too.

[@ottomeyer6928]

oh no ,its only the Nnnazies

[@gavinreid2741]

Yes. Much is now appearing in America as the relatives of ww2 vetrans try to sell their inherited art. When valued it is checked against a list of looted art .

[@cab1881]

Most owners are dead , descendants should receive the art back. Also the real estate and anything else.

[@cynthiachoate2536]

No wonder we’re a people with amnesia

[@sportymum7648]

Please Would you add the captions to your videos

[@daytona500jr08]

Turn them on its not difficult

[@maeve4686]

Too bad the Vatican couldn't be searched. Lots of rooms full of secrets & treasures.

[@InLawsAttic]

What about music? Is there famous music stolen and found?

[@SuperNate666]

And where did the museum's get it from or should I say stole it from???

[@robertliskey420]

I am spare in my comments, however I must say THAT WAS ONE BRAVE LADY! May you rest in peace and thank you! 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@nigelpage6868]

Hmmmmmmm, Germany had the habit of securing artwork in safety until after hostilities & then returning it to the institutions from whence it came, so because Germany was scheduled for defeat in WW2 & occupied by the ZOG Gvts that conspired to bring it into a war again, it was unable to return the art work before the Americans & Russians plundered it.

[@Alipotamus]

Don’t start a war if you don’t want to get hurt

[@ramieal-hazar2438]

Based noticer 👌🏻

[@WaitAMinute1989]

Has anybody tried searching in Argentina?

[@toddaulner5393]

Such a terrible loss to humanity.

[@michaelb4439]

Thanks KZbin for being so desperate to keep shuffling my queue around that I'm commenting on the wrong video! Too many programmers in the kitchen.

[@b_uppy]

That guy has nice legs, no wonder he was painted... Lol.

[@harderway8568]

5:40 is the cringest statement I've heared pretty much ever. Fascinating documentary tho.

[@cb7538]

At 40:06 Looks like a Biden.

[@brenthicks2228]

Is it true a moment man died defending Mary and David in Bruges like the movie showed it ?

[@lolapeters814]

How does this compare in scale with the Spanish plunder of South and Central America or England’s of India and North Africa? Which museums hold more stolen art from where?

[@jacquelyncorbin8116]

How did the Nazis ever know where these were? Insurance?

[@Danwilhelmi]

The sculpture on far left at 13:30 is grotesque without trying to be. It says nothing beyond the fact that both it's creator and collector knew nothing about art nor anatomy!

[@toddaulner5393]

Art goes many different directions. Not all will please you. I personally hate Andy Warho's Art or nearly all of it but many people like it.

[@_luckicharms]

5:05 That man is obnoxiously wealthy

[@MisssilenceDogood1]

test

[@charleslaw5237]

Learn some history not only social media

[@ThuyPham-zk3sj]

close frens and family try plot on us

[@sn4rff]

thanks for this ❤

[@ThuyPham-zk3sj]

John pham getting pay 40000

[@antr7493]

i wish the movie they made was better

[@BonnieJoSmith]

Young boy in the cop

[@moussapolytropos]

It’s an amazing feat!

[@ThinkGodThankGod]

🤟

[@cnnpp4428]

Now do the British

[@normanmerrill1241]

Excellent !!!

[@ThuyPham-zk3sj]

starts

[@ottomeyer6928]

as if the ordinary GI knows anything about Art

[@shannapackard1088]

Leave it to the historians to be hard headed and have no care for safety other than to rescue art. Tracks for my profession really.

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

I like art myself but the prices of these material things is beyond sense. We protect these relics but place no value on the land, animals and flora that is being destroyed daily. Pity we can’t save our earth with such fervour.