Treasure Hunt: A Look at the Monuments Men and the Hunt for Stolen Nazi Art

Often overlooked due to the incredible scale of human suffering caused by the Second World War, the plundering of art and historical artifacts by the Nazis had widespread cultural impact

Background

The late 1920s stock market crash that plunged America into the Great Depression also had devastating effects worldwide. Germany, a nation already struggling in the aftermath of the First World War, saw a substantial economic downturn.

During this time of instability and unrest, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party seized their opportunity to amass influence and support. Through carefully-targeted propaganda campaigns, the Nazis rapidly gained power in Germany, culminating in Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor in 1933.