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  • Essay / The Impact of World War II on 20th Century Art

    Table of ContentsJewish CitizensHitler and the Nazi PartyResolutionWorld War II was a global conflict that began brewing in the late 1930s and officially started in 1940, involving two opposing camps: the Axis. powers and allied powers. By the end of the war in 1945, many artworks and artifacts had been moved as part of seizures ordered by Adolf Hitler, leader of the politically dominant Nazi Party of the Axis powers. Today, many of these pieces are still missing, causing many countries to lose valuable aspects of their culture and history; however, several attempts have been made and in some cases even succeeded in recovering these works of art. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay To settle the debate over the rightful ownership of these works of art, which is rooted in the historical and political context of the Second War Globally, the governments of the countries concerned should share the responsibility for the relocation of these items. Art collectorsIn the early 1930s, art collectors with valuable collections were already being targeted by the Nazi Party in Germany. Adolf Hitler spent most of the 1920s building the strength of this party, and in 1934 he combined the titles of president and chancellor into one upon his election (Adolf 3). Hitler's prominence in German politics with a group of fervent supporters and followers allowed him to assume this position without much backlash from German citizens. In 1933, Rudolf Mosse's collection, then owned by his daughter and her husband, was sought by the Nazis not only because of their priceless possessions, but also because they were openly the faces of the "Jewish press." despised at the time (Mosse 1). The collection itself consisted of the usual paintings and sculptures as well as tapestries, furniture and antiques obtained over several generations (Research 1). Once the collection was looted from the Palais Mosse in Berlin, much of it was sold at auction without documentation; many pieces are still missing today (Mosse 1). Similarly, another Jewish collector, Alfred Lindon, fled to Paris fearing for his own safety and had his collection acquired by the Nazis. One of the surviving paintings, “First Day of Spring at Moret” by Alfred Sisley, was significantly damaged; after landing in the hands of a new art collector in 2008, the current owner has since worked with the heirs of the Lindon collection to find and return the lost paintings (Moynihan 1). Recently, the owners and heirs of the Mosse collection have also created their own organization to recover pieces originally belonging to Mosse, achieving some success with the help of German institutions, thus creating a stronger and unifying version of the German Jewish culture today (Research 1).Jewish CitizensJews were victims of prejudice as early as the 1930s, as Adolf Hitler became a prominent figure in German society (Adolf 2). By the time World War II officially began, a large majority of German citizens were opposed to Jews and concentration camps were rife for them (Adolf 3). This period, the Holocaust, had a profound impact on the Jews as millions of them died in harsh and inhumane conditions despite the United States' offer of aid (Wecker 2). Years after the end of the war, Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel both published their works, articulating their thoughts on the..