Brave French Woman Saved Artworks From Nazi Theft in WW2, Rose Valland, Monuments Men

- This French Woman Risked Her Life to Document Nazi Theft. Smithsonian Channel, 2020. During the Nazi occupation of France, many valuable works of art were stolen from the Jeu de Paume museum and relocated to Germany. One brave French woman kept detailed notes of the thefts. From the Series: Seriously Amazing Objects: Risk Takers http://bitly.com/2Uud44v​



- Peter Bruegel the Elder painting recovered at Altaussee, Austria (April 1945).

Nazi plunder was stealing of art and other items as a result of the organized looting of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. The looting of Jewish property was a key part of the Holocaust. Plundering occurred from 1933, beginning with the seizure of property of German Jews, until the end of World War II, particularly by military units known as the Kunstschutz, although most plunder was acquired during the war. In addition to gold, silver and currency, cultural items of great significance were stolen, including paintings, ceramics, books and religious treasures.

Although most of these items were recovered by agents of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program (MFAA, also known as the Monuments Men), on behalf of the Allies immediately following the war, many are still missing. There is an international effort underway to identify Nazi plunder that still remains unaccounted for, with the aim of ultimately returning the items to the rightful owners, their families or their respective countries...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_plunder