The Rape of Europa (2006)
Not Rated
Written and Directed by Richard Berge & Bonni Cohen
The Story:
The incredible true story of the Nazis who basically plundered or destroyed thousands of pieces of artwork throughout Europe before and during World War II.
After watching this documentary, it almost lays out the entire timeline of World War II as one big exercise by the Nazis to obtain or eradicate the largest art collection in the entire world. Hitler and Goering, among others, were art collectors who kept the very best pieces for their own personal collection, but the grand design was to open the greatest art museum the world had ever seen.
Well, we know how well that worked out, but it was still a costly battle to stop a museum from being built!
The countless pieces that have possibly been lost to time are sickening.
However, many pieces are still being discovered with each passing generation, many of whom don't even realize what treasures they have been hiding, either hanging on a wall or actually still in a hiding place.
The documentary naturally discusses the Monuments Men operation that was launched by the United States to try and save as much of the art as they could find, and that became the basis for the movie of the same name a few years ago.
Most impressive was the complete and total evacuation of the Louvre museum and their attempts to keep those treasures out of the hands of the advancing Germany army.
A really entertaining, yet somber, documentary.
Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.
Final Grade: Solid B
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