Paris – Jeu de Paume

On July 17, 1940, Einsatzstab Reichleiter Rosenberg (ERR) was founded under the leadership of the Nazi ideologue, Alfred Rosenberg. The task of the ERR was to systematically plunder the occupied countries off all sorts of art and literature. In the wake of the Wehrmacht, ERR staff arrived and immediately began mapping the art and literature of museums, galleries and libraries. The idea was that the art that the ERR looted would be displayed in museums in Germany. The ERR worked closely with the Wehrmacht and the security services of the occupied countries. However, the ERR were not the only ones interested in looting museums, galleries and, to some extent, libraries. There was competition from all sides, particular from Hermann Goering. But the ERR had precedence on Hitler’s behalf to choose first among the looted artifacts. In France, Belgium and Holland, there was much to loot and much of the looted stuff was stored at Jeu de Paume before being transported to Germany. The idea was that much of this would be on display at a Führermuseum in Linz, a large art museum that Hitler planned to build in his hometown of Linz, but that was never realized.