The Greatest Art Heist in History: How the Nazis Looted Europe | Raiders of the Lost Art Ep. 4

From the moment Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, the systematic looting of art became an instrument of Nazi ideology. Forced sales stripped Jewish families and dealers of their collections for a fraction of their value. Occupied countries were ransacked of their national treasures. And deep within leather-bound volumes, meticulously catalogued by senior Nazi officials eager to curry favour with the Führer, lay the inventory for the most grandiose cultural project in history: a vast museum in Hitler's hometown of Linz that would house the greatest art collection the world had ever seen. This episode traces the full arc of the Nazi plunder across twelve years and a continent. From the seizure of Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine and a Raphael portrait from the Chartoryski family of Kraków, works hidden behind false brick walls and still lost to this day, to Herman Göring's personal collection assembled through theft and intimidation, to the staggering discovery made by the Monuments Men in the Altaussee salt mine, where thousands of masterpieces including the Ghent Altarpiece and Michelangelo's Madonna of Bruges lay stored in near-perfect conditions, a whisker away from destruction when a fanatical Nazi commandant attempted to blow the entire mine. #FreeDocumentary #HistoricalDocs #FullFreeMovies Welcome to Historical Docs, your gateway to a captivating journey through time. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of human history as we present full-length, high-quality documentaries that explore a vast range of eras, timelines, and remarkable individuals from every corner of the world. From epic wars and battles that shaped nations to groundbreaking historical discoveries, our free channel brings you the stories that have shaped our collective past. We delve deep into the chronicles of history, unravelling the narratives and shedding light on the triumphs, struggles, and pivotal moments that have shaped our world. Subscribe to our channel, and join us as we uncover the fascinating human civilizations of times past and embark on an enlightening exploration of our shared heritage.