The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War

by Lynn H. Nicholas

book data

138 ratings, 4.07 average rating, 41 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		33%
4		47%
3		14%
2		3%
1		1%

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published

April 25th 1995 (first published 1994) by Vintage

binding

Paperback, 498 pages

literary awards

National Book Critics Circle Award (1994)

isbn

0679756868 (isbn13: 9780679756866)

description

Every few months you'll read a newspaper story of the discovery of some long-lost art treasure hidden away in a German basement or a Russian attic: a ...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 311)

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10/28/08

Michelle rated it:

bookshelves: abandoned, non-fiction

Read in December, 2008

Dear Lynn Nichols,

I'm very sorry that I have had to give up on your informative, well-researched, and extensively annotated book. I'm sure that if I'd finished it, it would have been awesome, so I'm going to go ahead and give it five stars anyway.

You see, Netflix has this great new feature where you can download movies and watch them immediately. I'm going to watch the documentary instead. Yes, I normally prefer to read the book, but in this case I'm going to make an e...more

Like this review? yes (10 people liked it)

17 comments

01/13/09

John and Kris rated it:

bookshelves: all-time-favorites

I really enjoyed the enlightening Rape of Europa; it is now on my All-Time Favorites shelf for the following reasons:

1) For posing the question: Ultimately, what is art worth? Is it worth human life?

2) It was different look at the historic events of Europe in the 1930’s and 1940’s all while adding to my disgust, disbelief, and hatred of the Nazis. As a Band of Brothers character says: “The Nazis appear to be bad, very bad.”

3) I am fascinated by art an...more

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03/02/09

Andy rated it:

Read in March, 2009

World War II was, for a few, a historic opportunity to loot and pillage. And the theft of artwork, along with other forms of national treasure, was perfected and institutionalized on the grandest scale by the Nazis. Hitler was of course involved, but Goering was considerably more preoccupied. He stole, traded, and hoarded an enormous quantity of valuables (paintings, sculptures, tapestries, precious metals, gems, ceremonial objects, rare books, furniture, you name it) to fill his cavernous estat...more

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04/05/09

Tony rated it:

(review of isbn 0679400699)

bookshelves: art

Read in April, 2009

Nicholas, Lynn. THE RAPE OF EUROPA: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War. (1994). ****. This is a meticulously researched and documented study of the less-than-legal and outright theft of art works by members of the German Third Reich before and during the period its dominance of conquered countries. These include such diverse works as the treasures of Quedlinburg, the Trojan Gold, and the Amber Room at Catherine’s Palace. This is a dense book tha...more Nicholas, Lynn. THE RAPE OF EUROPA: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War. (1994). ****. This is a meticulously researched and documented study of the less-than-legal and outright theft of art works by members of the German Third Reich before and during the period its dominance of conquered countries. These include such diverse works as the treasures of Quedlinburg, the Trojan Gold, and the Amber Room at Catherine’s Palace. This is a dense book that attempts to trace most of the transfers of European art that occured during the period by individuals of the Nazi regime – including Hitler – from 1933 up to 1945. It also tells of the trials of recovery of these lost masterworks by the Allied countries after the war was over. From the day Hitler came to power, art was a matter of highest priority to the Reich. He and other Nazis (especially Hermann Goering) were ravenous collectors, stopping at nothing to acquire paintings and sculpture, as well as coins, books, tapestries, jewels, furniture – everything. Every means at their disposal was used. In the early days, art was purchased – though at severe discounts of their actual worth. Later, art was commandeered and transferred to Nazi control. When the war was winding down, these collections were hidden in ways that were difficult for subsequent detection. It was the job of various Allied forces – especially the Monuments Division of the American forces – to find and catalog these collections to catalog and ultimately to restore them to their rightful owners. This was no easy job. Determining the provenence and ownership of these various works of art was a daunting project. The author manages to recount the activities involved in a clear and unbiased way that showed the magnitude of the job involved and the politics involved. As I said before, this is a dense book. It is less than a popular history; more of a critical study that will be used as a reference work that will be on the shelf of every art historian for years to come. Recommended.(less)

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05/28/08

Leila rated it:

Read in June, 2008

This is a fascinating book about the looting of art in Europe during WWII. I enjoyed reading this book because the subject matter is very interesting. However, it is very dense and filled with hundreds of names, places, dates, and details. If you're interested in art history and conservation, then this book is perfect for you!

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07/07/08

Liz rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in August, 2008

Really, really enjoyed this book. I found the chapters on illicit art trading in Holland, art dealing in the Vichy government, and the last three chapters on the resolution of the war and after to be especially engrossing.

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04/15/09

Melinda rated it:

Read in May, 2009

I have read "Rescuing Da Vinci" and also seen the DVD "The Rape of Europa", so I am now reading the original book that was the catalyst for the book and DVD. Lynn Nicholas is interviewed in the DVD and I decided to read her book and learn more.

******** after reading the book *********

Having read "Rescuing Da Vinci" and having watched the DVD "The Rape of Europa", I thought I would read the book that started it all. Lynn Nicholas, ...more I have read "Rescuing Da Vinci" and also seen the DVD "The Rape of Europa", so I am now reading the original book that was the catalyst for the book and DVD. Lynn Nicholas is interviewed in the DVD and I decided to read her book and learn more.

******** after reading the book *********

Having read "Rescuing Da Vinci" and having watched the DVD "The Rape of Europa", I thought I would read the book that started it all. Lynn Nicholas, who is interviewed extensively on the DVD, wrote this book to document the stunning history around the purchase / acquisition / theft of Europe's treasured works of art during WWII by the Nazis.

The book is dense, thick with details, heavy with names of dozens if not hundreds of art dealers and collectors along with museum curators from every nation in Europe. In some places, it is overwhelming in the detail and thoroughness. The path of art acquisition by Nazis in Holland, France, Austria, Italy is followed from the early years of Hitler's rise to power in Germany in the 1930's on into the early 1950's. Knowing what will happen, the book then begins to read like an adventure novel. Will the Monuments Men be organized in time to save SOME of the art objects? You know that they do, but the harrowing stories of rescue of treasures from barns, cow sheds, abandoned railway cars and more, simply emphasizes the hard work carried out by the men who were there.

What struck me in reading this book was that none of the Monuments men involved knew that they would be successful. They merely did the hard work of locating, listing, securing, packing, and preserving the art objects they worked hard to find and preserve. They fought for the art to be returned to original owners, from the countries where it had been stolen from. This flew in the face of many military opinions that thought the art objects obtained should go to "the victor". So while the process of stealing the art seemed like a well-oiled machine, the saving and restoration of these art objects seemed so difficult and full of conflict. It made me think of the section from "The Two Towers", when Frodo and Sam are discussing old tales and songs (chapter "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol").

Sam tells Frodo, " 'The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might way. But that's not the way it is with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually -- their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on -- and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same -- like old Mr. Bilbo. But those aren't always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sot of tale we've fallen into?' "

The Monuments Men fell into a story that mattered, and they went on even when they had the chance to turn back. What an example for us all, to do the hard work in front of us because it is the right thing to do.
(less)

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06/17/08

Erik rated it:

Read in April, 2008

Although it does often read like a laundry list of people, events, and places in art world of war-torn Europe during the late 30’s and 40’s, I will say I was in awe of Nicholas’s research into this often-ignored area of WWII history. His ability to explain human motivation and exploitation of artistic works of art in extreme minutiae is second to none. The description of the great mass of refuges from Belgium and the Netherlands who descended into France before the latter's fall – along ...more

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08/31/08

Denise rated it:

bookshelves: never-got-to-the-end, non-fiction

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: art & history geeks

My one complaint about this book proved to be a huge distraction. The author assumes that her readers know the biographies and intracacies of position of all of the players (and they are many) in this incredibly complex, interwoven history. In order to fully comprehend the course of action, one must have additional WWII resources or knowledge at their fingertips. From the opening page forward, the reader is dropped into a sea of historical fact. Before reading this book, I believed myself to...more

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09/10/07

Susan rated it:

bookshelves: history

Read in August, 2007

This is an amazing book. Strike that. This is an amazing story. Those interested in art history, WWII, Europe, culture, or all of the above, give this book a read.

It’s the story of how hundreds of thousand fine art masterpieces and cultural artifacts were protected…saved…from the destruction of WWII and the greed of Hitler and the Third Reich.

This is a historical play-by-play of the war and the efforts of museum and cultural officials, and a myriad of others who ...more

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05/26/09

Chris Brimmer rated it:

bookshelves: history

Read in January, 2008

Well documented research combined with good story telling. This is niche history at its best. If you want insight into the gangster nature of the upper levels of the German government and the weird culture that the Nazi's were trying to promote this book is a good start.

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12/04/08

Becky rated it:

Read in October, 2008

I had never even thought about the art in Europe during World War II, but this book was so fascinating, the lengths people went to acquire and keep safe the art works is so amazing, even if you are not an art lover it is a must read.

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07/22/08

Tara rated it:

Read in November, 2008

i almost forgot that historical non-fiction can be a total tear-jerker. i got a little misty-eyed here and there when the author accounted for both allied and axis measures to protect art during the cultural holocaust of the 2nd ww. emotions aside, i admire how well-researched this book is, so hats off to lynn nicholas. if you have any interest or inclination toward this subject/era, its a good way to learn more about the 2nd ww esp. if you prefer an art history/cultural approach to the subject....more

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02/16/09

Mary rated it:

Read in January, 1997

Very informative, though it does tend to drag. All in all it's written very well and researched comprehensively; in my opinion this is the definitive work on WWII art plunder. If the topic is of interest to you, you're likely to enjoy reading the book.

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12/29/08

Jim rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Saw the PBS program and then became interested in reading more about this subject. A great read.

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03/08/09

Katie S marked it as to-read

bookshelves: --id-constructs----race--gender, a-we-ll-see, fiction-not-at-all, form_complexia, f_interpretations, global, g_cmfrm_deutschland, g_israel, historical, islam, pol-historical, to-read, visual

recommended to Katie by: GR reviews

Sounds really interesting, might like the documentary better as the subject is so visual.

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12/10/08

Brooks rated it:

Read in January, 1998

Amazing story of the fate of the museum in occupied Europe during WWII

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01/23/09

Cara added it

Read in January, 2008

Mesmerizing, read like a thriller

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08/06/08

Terrencer is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading

This book is the fantastic follow-up to our seeing the documentary version of this book at the Downing Film Center. My eyes were filled with tears through much of the movie partially because I was so fantastically comfortable at these Neuburgh digs. The movie was a moving experience and the book has much more shocking and beautiful information in it. It is about how the Germans stole all the art in Europe, and they did it systematically (of course). There are many heart-rending stories in th...more

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05/01/09

Kate added it

Read in May, 2009

"More later".

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