yk

I have posted this on the Lounge, but I know many of you rarely venture over there.

<i>The Rape of Europa</i> is a movie/documentary on art stolen by Nazi Germany during WW II, and later the recovery of many of these items by Allied troops. The film includes interviews with WW II veterans, locals, actual footage of art evacuation...

Anyone who is remotely interested in art, art history, WW II, should not miss this.

Anyone who has ever visited National Gallery in London, Louvre, Hermitage, Florence, Neuschwanstein etc etc etc would be interested in seeing this movie.

The film will be aired Monday, November 24 2008 on PBS stations. Check your local station for actual time.
http://www.pbs.org/therapeofeuropa/

From the website:
<i>THE RAPE OF EUROPA tells the epic story of the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe’s art treasures during the Third Reich and World War II. In a journey through seven countries, the film takes viewers into the violent whirlwind of fanaticism, greed, and warfare that threatened to wipe out the artistic heritage of Europe. For twelve long years, the Nazis looted and destroyed art on a scale unprecedented in history. But heroic young art historians and curators from America and across Europe fought back with an extraordinary campaign to rescue and return the millions of lost, hidden and stolen treasures.</i>

djkbooks

I watched this (Netflix) a few months ago. Not to be missed!

logos999

So when do they get their stuff back from Moscow, London, Paris, New York and Berlin. Never I suppose.

The theme of the movie sounds like pure propaganda. As if the Nazis were the biggest thiefs.

Underhill

Definitely a first-rate movie. The scene when the Winged Victory is carefully and heart-stoppingly moved down the staircase at the Louvre is memorable, and it's interesting to learn where some of the famous pieces were stored until the end of the war.

Underhill

&quot;The theme of the movie sounds like pure propaganda. As if the Nazis were the biggest thiefs.&quot;

What do you mean? Propaganda by whom? Do you think the Nazis didn't steal all that art?

latedaytraveler

yk, thank you for posting. I actually READ the book last spring before a my trip to Germany. Fascinating - well documented and not propanda. Amazing to read that in the midst of military campaigns how much time Hitler actually spent fretting about acquiring (stealing) so many of Europe's great paintings for his future museums that never materialize.

THE RAPE OF EUROPA is a must read for those interested in 20th century art and history.

logos999

Simple, the vast majority of stolen art today is in London and Moscow, some in Paris, Madrid, Berlin and even New York.

Nobody, no Government, thinks of giving anything back.

A movie on that subject would at least get some attention to the real problem as it is today. Total bu*hit making movies about &quot;Nazis raping Europe&quot;, when that was only a tiny fraction of what has happened elsewhere and still is a major problem. By the way, the Nazis were murdering and looting, but not raping.

hetismij

The University in Kassel started procedings to get back a series of miniatures stolen from them and now hanging in Boston.
The Goudstikker family successfully had a large part of their art collection returned to them by the Dutch.
All over the world there are works of art stolen and misappropriated by both sides in the war. It was not only the Nazis who were responsible. The allies did a good job of helping themselves during the liberation too.

traveller1959

History is always written by the victors.

The Nazis did terrible things, but accusing them of EVERYTHING trivializes the holocaust.

Underhill

I don't believe anyone is accusing the Nazis of &quot;everything.&quot; The film is limited to art theft.

adrienne

yk - thanks for recommending this show. It was wonderful and I would have missed it except for your post.

Otzi

I think Logos point is that art has been confiscated by the bullies throughout history: Napoleon, the Caesars, chose any English or French king and myriad other conquerors over the past 2000 years. I'm sure the Greeks would love the Elgin Marble back and the Egyptians are probably sorely missing items found in Paris, London and Berlin.

RufusTFirefly

So because other conquerers have stolen art that makes the systematic plundering of a continent's art treasures by the Germans OK? If they hadn't stolen it in the first place, some of it wouldn't now be in Moscow, London, etc.

RJD

It was well done and showed both theft of art and architecture, primarily by the Nazis, and it's destruction by bombing by both sides. It also did a good job in portraying the role of the Americans in salvaging and returning the art to the major museums like the Uffizi.
Worth noting that the Campo Santo in Pisa, which was destroyed by Allied bombing, is still under repair after more than 60 years. Time to visit Pisa again.

Robespierre

<u>The Rape of Europa</u> is a masterpiece by Titian. In the painting, Europa is represented being carried off (raped) by Zeus, who has assumed the form of a bull. The painting is here:

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/T/t...uropa.jpg.html

A gloss on the myth is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_of_Europa#Abduction

palette

In my area (DC), the film is being replayed on Weds night (before Thanksgiving) in case anyone missed it last evening.

logos999

&gt;systematic plundering of a continent's art treasures
It's so totally irrelevant in respect to what happened before and happens after. So out of proprtion compared to the size of the problem as it is today. Systematic plunderings over centuries until today. And so much denial by the people responsable. &quot;Just accuse the Nazis&quot;

Because art is money.

RufusTFirefly

logos--I'm not sure that I understand your last point. Are you saying it's OK to massively plunder now, in our lifetimes, because it's been done for centuries?

logos999

No, just saying that given the total amount of plundering and dislocated art today, while every country refuses to give anything back and accept their obligation, what the Nazis did at plundering art isn't even worth mentioning.

yk

logos- May I safely assume that you have not read the book or seen the movie?

The documentary is not just about the Nazis taking paintings and objects.

It also covers:
Allies bombing of Pisa's Camposanto
Bombing of Florence by Allies and Nazis
Battle of Monte Cassino
Seige of Leningrad - where the museum workers lived in the sub-zero basement during the winter, and cleaned up ice and snow daily of the Hermitage because the windows were bombed
Destruction of the Warsaw Castle
etc etc etc

And there have been a few return of stolen art, and the movie covered some of those as well, including a Boucher painting at the Utah Museum of art.