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Nazi Era Looted Art

Charles Doyle

CCAD

ARTH31001 - Critical Issues Contemporary Art

Joanne Kesten

October 31, 2023

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Nazi Era Looted Art

To fully comprehend the appropriation of the property and art works of private citizens, I

am going to trace the origin of the person who created the environment and gathered the people

around him to make this possible – Adolf Hitler.

“Among the German wounded in the Ypres Salient in Belgium on October 14, 1918, is

Corporal Adolf Hitler” according to Onion et al (2009, p. 2). Hitler was a dedicated soldier,

seeing heavy action during World War I (WWI). He was wounded in the leg by a shell blast in

October 1916, returning to his old unit by February 1917 (Onion et al., 2009). He was given to

dissertations on the dismal state of morale and dedication to the cause on the home front in

Germany. He thought despite Germany’s big guns, victory would be denied because he felt the

German people were a greater danger than the biggest cannon of the enemy (Onion et al., 2009).

This injury in October 1918 would end Hitler’s service in WWI. While he was recovering from

his wounds he learned of the German surrender. He was infuriated and frustrated by the news,

felt he and his fellow soldiers had been betrayed by the German people.

                                                             Adolf Hitler in early 1930's 
                                                                                        Jupiter Images, Encyclopedia Britannica, John Lukacs article

“Discharged from the hospital amid the social chaos that followed Germany’s defeat,

Hitler took up political work in Munich in May-June 1919” according to Lukacs (1998, p. 1). He

resigned from the Army in 1920, choosing to work to grow politically. The reparations for

Germany for WWI were extremely unpopular and crippling to the country as whole, providing

the environment that assisted Hitler’s growth. Ernst Röhm proved to be of great assistance with

formally organizing the strong-arm squads that Hitler used to terrify his enemies. As his power

grew, he attracted a group of men who were devoted to him, among them Johann Dietrich

Eckart, Alfred Rosenberg, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Göring and Julius Streicher. In July 1921

Hitler became the Party leader with almost unlimited powers. He stumbled once in an attempt to

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seize power in the Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch. For his involvement he was tried for treason and

sentenced to 5 years in prison but served only 9 months. This experience taught him valuable

lessons about how to gain power in acceptable ways.

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Figure 1: Adolf Hitler, 1930’s, Jupiter Images, Encyclopedia Britannica, John Lukacs article

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                                             Adolf Hitler addressing a rally in Germany c. 1933
                                             AP Images, Britannica, John Lukacs article

His ideals of a natural order that exalted the Aryan Race became his deepest and

strongest conviction. He felt the greatest enemy of all to be the Jew, who was for Hitler the

incarnation of evil and needed to be eliminated (Lukacs, 1998). In Mein Kampf he wrote they

were the ‘destroyer of culture,” “a parasite with the nation, and “a menace.” (Lukacs, 1998, p. 3).

After his release from prison, he cemented his position as Chancellor and undisputed leader in

the Nazi Party and began the journey that would lead to our next section: Kristallnacht, the open

persecution of the Jewish community and the assimilation by the State of all their possessions.

This treatment extended to anyone Hitler felt did not deserve to be part of the Aryan race,

including those with obvious disabilities.

Figure 2: Adolf Hitler addressing a rally in Germany, c. 1933,, AP Images, Britannica John Lukacs

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References

Lukacs, J. (1998, July 20). Hitler, adolf - nazi leader, ww2, holocaust [Rise to power of Adolf

Hitler]. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adolf-Hitler/Dictator-1933-39

Onion, A., Sullivan, M., Mullen, M., & Zapata, C. (Eds.). (2009, October 22). Adolf hitler

wounded in british gas attack. HISTORY. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-wounded-in-british-gas-attack

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