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During World War II, as the German army made its way across Europe, many of the high-ranking officials had more than just death and destruction on their minds. Led by an art school reject and obsessive art collector named Hitler, the Nazi generals sought to conquer the world—and collect its priceless works of art.
The Rape of Europa tells of another battle that took place during WWII: the battle for the world’s art. When Hitler took control of Germany, he also took control of its art world—condemning the modern art that he didn’t like and buying the pieces that he did. And as he began planning his battles, he also began planning his massive art collection—a collection that he’d acquire in any way necessary.
Without the dedication of thousands of people—some of whom even gave their lives while hiding artwork—many of the world’s great masterpieces may have disappeared forever. But as Hitler planned to plunder the world’s art, museums around Europe planned to protect the world’s most priceless artwork from bombing and theft.
Through an impressive amount of archive footage and stills—as well as interviews with historians, soldiers, and other eyewitnesses—The Rape of Europa tells the stories of those who sought to collect the art as well as those who sought to save it. It recounts the astonishing story of the evacuation of the Louvre—and of the caravans that distributed the Paris museum’s collections throughout the French countryside. There’s even an interview with the daughter of the husband and wife who were chosen to protect the Mona Lisa.
For art lovers and armchair historians, this eye-opening documentary is a must-see. But you don’t have to be an art historian to find The Rape of Europa interesting. Even though it’s a documentary, it sets the stage for a captivating crime drama—as well as a decades-old mystery that, in many cases, still remains unsolved, since many of the stolen paintings are still unaccounted for. Though its two-hour runtime may seem daunting, there’s a lot of ground to cover—and the film rarely strays off-course. The subject matter is, for the most part, fascinating—as are the interviews and the other footage.
The Rape of Europa shows a side of the Second World War—as well as a side of the art world—that you’ve probably never really stopped to consider. And after seeing this film, you’re sure to look at the artwork that’s on display in the world’s great museums from a whole new perspective.
