rape of Europe : the fate of Europe's treasures in the Third Reich and the Second world war

Before and during World war II, the Nazis were ravenous collectors of all art, including paintings and sculpture, as well as coins, books, tapestries, jewels and furniture. After the occupation they stripped entire countries of their heritage. Curators and scholars of the allied countries did everything to convince their leaders to add the protection of art and edifices to the Allied invasion agenda. This resulted in a corps of `Monuments officers', who shored up bombed churches, cleaned the vandalized buildings and collections, and rescued great masterpieces.