Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime - Revelation and Concealment

This is the first in-depth study of the restoration and conservation field in the National Socialist era. It presents a completely new perspective on the physical manipulation of fine, applied arts and other cultural property, under the regime from 1933 to post war in 1948. This book investigates the motivations behind the participation of the conservation and restoration profession in this network of profit, crime, persecution and ideological broadcast.

List of contents

Introduction.- 1. Before the Regime: Professionalisation, Collaboration and Practice.- 2. Seizure of Power: Fracture, Cleansing, Control.- 3. Perverting the Course of Art History.- 4. Paving the Path to Genocide: Paper and Blood.- 5. Invading and Looting: Ideology and Collaboration.- 6. Looting Agencies: Workforce and Objectives.- 7. Post War: Assisting the Allies.- Conclusion.

About the author

Morwenna Blewett is an associate member of the Senior Common Room at Worcester College, the University of Oxford, UK.

Summary

This is the first in-depth study of the restoration and conservation field in the National Socialist era. It presents a completely new perspective on the physical manipulation of fine, applied arts and other cultural property, under the regime from 1933 to post war in 1948. This book investigates the motivations behind the participation of the conservation and restoration profession in this network of profit, crime, persecution and ideological broadcast.

Product details

• Authors: Morwenna Blewett
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 20.03.2026
• EAN: 9783032098399
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3209839-9
• Illustrations: Approx. 305 p. 82 illus., 24 illus. in color.
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Geschichte, Kunstgeschichte, Propaganda, Sozial- und Kulturgeschichte, Europäische Geschichte, art, Cultural History, Art History, Cultural Policy, European History, National Socialism, Conservation, Second World War, museums, Modern History, History of World War II and the Holocaust, Looting