Erik Van Den Dungen's Reviews > Goering's Man in Paris: The Story of a Nazi Art Plunderer and His World

This is a thorough but still readable book about a German art historian who was the spider in the Parisian web of German looted art during World War II. It is non-fiction, a special history book. The persecution of the Jews paved the way for the Nazis to steal works of art from Jewish families. This happened not only in France, but just as well in the Netherlands and in other occupied countries. Bruno Lohse leads the operation in Paris in 1942-1943 and manages to become a confidant of Herman Goering, who had an insatiable desire for art. The author, Jonathan Petropoulos, is an expert in the field of looted art and, on the basis of interviews and written sources, knows how to paint a very credible picture of how the art theft and the resale to Goering actually worked. But then the war comes to an end. Lohse is arrested. And from the moment of the German capitulation, works of art regularly appear of which it is not always clear whether they were obtained honestly or unfairly. Bruno Lohse, who is finally released after five years in prison, picks up the thread of life and returns to his profession, the art trade. He does this under the radar as much as possible, and in doing so manages to gain the trust of the rich in the world. Petropoulos describes that as best as possible. But he also repeatedly indicates that art dealers understand the art of keeping a secret perhaps best. Little by little, new information is released. However, it will be a long time before this book by Petropoulos is due for an update, because of the thoroughness with which he substantiates his findings and his report is written. This book is therefore an absolute must for museum people, historians or other people who want to know more about the way in which Nazi Germany dealt with looted art. And not only during the war, but especially in the decades that followed, up to the present day. No easy read but nevertheless: recommended!