Hitler's Art Heist

"A limp forward is a gain in distance" _{—African Traditions Religion, Gbagyi proverb}

It could take a thousand years before the world will fully grasp, the astronomical level of destruction, which occurred in lieu of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. It is understandable, that after more than six generations, the world is still reeling over the enormous loss of life, under his regime. He will forever be beckon as a "monster," and his legacy will be studied for eternity. Moreover, there is an underlying fascination where Adolf Hitler is concern. Especially when someone happens to read his book, Mein Kampf. The larger majority of people are just yearning for a better understanding of how, Germany could let this happen, and some reconciliation on behalf of the German people. Have the Germans paid a high enough price for their destruction?

In an era, more fortunate than others compared to the past, we are blessed to still have a few remaining witnesses of the Holocaust among us. Through these peoples personal trials and tribulations, the world is still has the capability to hear firsthand accounts Hitler's cruelty. However, those chances of us forgetting that time in our history still draw nearer with each passing day. But for now we are safe from ourselves. Only because we are still able to peer into the surviving eyes of these victims. Thank goodness that this particular part of his legacy still survives.

Nevertheless, I think there will always be a few unanswered, questions surrounding the war and the events that took place at the bequest of Hitler's strange escapades. Questions I believe that could potentially never be answered. Especially, when it concerns the lost riches of art stolen by Hitler. In which he had tucked away somewhere "safe". Not knowing the entire outcome of his rampages, it is hard to imagine the vastness of all the lost treasures, which for now is simply lost and wiped out, because of his own personal greed and scheming ways.

The year was 1937, when Adolf Hitler gave the order to destabilize nonconforming cultures, under his leadership. He did this by giving an order to destroy any cultures, groups or artisans that didn't represent certain ideals or aspects about life, in which they didn't meet with his approval. That way he could ensure that no overlapping could take place and that his Aryan race would not be tainted by their influence. Whatever the cost, Hitler wanted to make sure that his Aryan race would remain safe from any outside influences.

1. Before Hitler's destructive reign, Europe was known for its cultural influences and inventions.
2. Some might say the same of Europe today. But I would have to disagree. Why? Because I believe that this time period [2009 of the twentieth first century] , is completely out matched by its astonishing past.

Above all ambitions, Adolf Hitler wanted a pure Aryan race to rule over, and occupy Europe. Furthermore, he did not want his Aryan race to be tainted by the Jews, or certain artistic movements, literature, musical innuendos, and freedoms; that represented any aspect of life which involved cultural exchange, political intermingling and radical reforms. First, he began to cleanse his adoptive homeland as soon as he claimed power and the German nation bestowed upon him the title of Supreme Ruler. While cleansing his adopted homeland, Hitler unleashed a whole new directive and series of ideas that involved destroying certain aspects of life at that time. Acting on his command, the Third Reich was personally responsible for implementing this new reform commissioned by Hitler himself. Leaving no stone unturned, Hitler personally hand selected the SS servicemen to enact his wishes. These servicemen, made it their person ambition to carry out their duties without any discrepancies to ensure that all tasks, were dealt with swiftly. With their orders in hand and a secure German Motherland behind them, the SS servicemen invaded their peaceful neighbor and turned the relatively fragile nation of Austria, into their likeness. They first began this process by purifying the cultures that made Hitler's homeland unique. But even in the wake of their invasion, many Austrians wanted nothing more than to please Adolf Hitler and to established his destabilizing declarations. After Germany and Austria had been re-conformed to the new Nazi Party standards, Hitler unleashed his SS soldiers on the quite country patrons of Poland.

In an attempt to raise funds for his portion of the war effort, Hitler adopted the policy of ransacking and looting Europe's cultural centers. In hast they quickly terrorized and robbed all public museums, government buildings, libraries and private collections, (especially those held by Jews), of their priceless, private collections of specific art pieces. They left nothing in their wake, but, burnt out government buildings, homes, palaces and museums. Bonfires soon became the tangible system of his devastation. All sculptures, paintings, books, or sheet music that didn't meet Hitler's personal approval were torched, rather than crated off to store or sell them. It is mind boggling really, the vastness of his destruction. But we must consider that for the past 10,000 years, mankind has been destroying pieces of art in the name of righteousness and religion, greed, wars and new world order. However, Hitler's capabilities to engross the philosophical and cultural influences, still is unmatched to this day.