All of this accumulated Beauty had been stolen by the most murderous thieves that ever existed on the face of the Earth. How they could retain the nicety of appreciation of great Art and be exterminating millions of people nearby in concentration camps,
I couldn't understand then and I can't understand today"
Dr. Leonard Malamut, 11th Armored Division
Overview
During World War Two, Adolf Hitler and the German Nazis systematically plundered, stole, and looted art during their war campaign across Europe. They took whatever they wanted or desired. Priceless artwork was stolen from persecuted families and some works of art were permanently displaced or destroyed. Adolf Hitler was an amateur artist himself, so he had a personal love for art. Also, Hitler wanted to build a museum in his hometown of Linz. What was different about this museum, however, is that it would only contain art of "Aryan" artists. This was only one of Hitler's motives for amassing his plundered art collection.