The Most Valuable Asset Of The Reich: Hermann Goering's Vast Art Collection

The Most Valuable Asset of the Reich: A History of the German National Railway, Volume 2, 1933-1945

by Alfred C. Mierzejewski

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1551 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	276 pages
Paperback	:	43 pages
Item Weight	:	4.2 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.1 x 9 inches

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Hermann Wilhelm Goering, the second-in-command of Nazi Germany and one of the most powerful figures in the Third Reich, was also a passionate art collector. His vast art collection, which he amassed during World War II, was considered one of the most valuable in the world.

Goering's collection included paintings, sculptures, furniture, and other works of art from various periods and cultures. He acquired these works through a variety of means, including looting, forced sales, and purchases from art dealers. Many of the works in his collection had been stolen from Jewish collectors or from museums in occupied countries.

Goering's art collection was housed in his palatial estate, Carinhall, located in the Schorfheide forest in northeastern Germany. Carinhall was designed to be a showcase for Goering's collection and was filled with luxurious furnishings and decorations. The estate also featured a large library and a hunting lodge.

Goering's art collection was one of the most valuable assets of the Nazi regime. It was estimated to be worth over $100 million at the time of Goering's capture by the Allies in 1945. After the war, the Allies confiscated Goering's collection and returned many of the stolen works to their rightful owners. However, some of the works in his collection remain unaccounted for to this day.

The story of Hermann Goering's art collection is a complex one that raises important questions about the Nazi looting of cultural artifacts and the complexities of post-war restitution. Goering's collection was a symbol of the Nazi regime's贪婪and brutality, and its dispersal after the war was a major step towards restoring justice to the victims of the Holocaust.

The Origins of Goering's Art Collection

Goering's interest in art began at an early age. He studied art history at the University of Munich and later worked as an art dealer. In the early 1930s, Goering began to amass a collection of art that he intended to display at his estate, Carinhall.

Goering's collection grew rapidly after the Nazis came to power in 1933. He used his position as Minister of Aviation to acquire works of art from museums and private collections in occupied countries. Goering also commissioned new works of art from leading artists, including Arno Breker and Werner Peiner.

By the outbreak of World War II, Goering's art collection had grown to over 1,000 works. He continued to add to his collection during the war, acquiring works of art from looted museums and private collections in occupied countries.

The Extent of Goering's Art Collection

Goering's art collection was one of the largest and most valuable in the world. It included works of art from various periods and cultures, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and other works of art.

The most famous works in Goering's collection included Rembrandt's "Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer," Rubens' "The Descent from the Cross," and Vermeer's "The Art of Painting." Goering also owned a large collection of porcelain, silver, and other decorative arts.

The total value of Goering's art collection is difficult to estimate, but it was likely worth over $100 million at the time of his capture by the Allies in 1945.

The Fate of Goering's Art Collection

After the war, the Allies confiscated Goering's art collection and returned many of the stolen works to their rightful owners. However, some of the works in his collection remain unaccounted for to this day.

In 1946, Goering was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death. He committed suicide the night before his scheduled execution. His art collection was seized by the Allies and distributed to museums and galleries around the world.

Today, some of the works from Goering's collection are on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Louvre Museum in Paris. However, many of the works in his collection remain unaccounted for and are believed to be in private hands.

Hermann Goering's art collection was a symbol of the Nazi regime's贪婪and brutality. The story of his collection is a complex one that raises important questions about the Nazi looting of cultural artifacts and the complexities of post-war restitution.

Goering's collection was dispersed after the war, but some of the works in his collection remain unaccounted for to this day. These works are a reminder of the Nazis' crimes and the importance of post-war restitution.

The Most Valuable Asset of the Reich: A History of the German National Railway, Volume 2, 1933-1945

by Alfred C. Mierzejewski

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1551 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	276 pages
Paperback	:	43 pages
Item Weight	:	4.2 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.1 x 9 inches

FREE