HISTORY 451: Saving Italy: Museums and World War II

Course Description

This course explores the critical role played by the Monuments Men in recovering and returning art stolen by the Nazis during World War II. This course focuses on the preservation of Italy’s cultural heritage, emphasizing the challenges faced by the Monuments Men as they navigated war-torn Europe, identified stolen masterpieces, and worked to return them to their rightful owners. We will examine the broader context of World War II, Nazi looting strategies, and the emergence of provenance research—a field dedicated to tracing the history and ownership of artistic artifacts.