The Nazis stormed Paris—only to find the Louvre stripped bare....
Art Beyond Subjectivity@JScotteswood
23 views
Apr 02, 2025
~3 min read
Advertisement
1
The Nazis stormed Paris—only to find the Louvre stripped bare.
Göring exploded: “Bring the treasures back!”
But one Frenchman had already vanished with 3,600 masterpieces.
— Mona Lisa included.
Here’s the wild story they never told you 🧵👇
Göring exploded: “Bring the treasures back!”
But one Frenchman had already vanished with 3,600 masterpieces.
— Mona Lisa included.
Here’s the wild story they never told you 🧵👇
2
1 - June 1940:
German troops marched victoriously into Paris
But inside the Louvre, the Nazis found nothing but empty frames.
One officer muttered: “It’s like they knew we were coming.”
German troops marched victoriously into Paris
But inside the Louvre, the Nazis found nothing but empty frames.
One officer muttered: “It’s like they knew we were coming.”
3
2 - A secret mission was already in motion.
In 1938, Jacques Jaujard, director of France’s national museums, saw war coming.
Secretly, he planned to save the Louvre’s treasures.
— He didn’t trust peace talks.
In 1938, Jacques Jaujard, director of France’s national museums, saw war coming.
Secretly, he planned to save the Louvre’s treasures.
— He didn’t trust peace talks.
4
3 - August 1939: he closed the museum for “repairs.”
A lie. A secret convoy of 203 trucks disguised as ambulances, taxis, and ordinary cars.
Inside, 4,000 artworks; 1,862 crates held 3,600 paintings and sculptures.
Do you have any idea about the logistical complexity?!
A lie. A secret convoy of 203 trucks disguised as ambulances, taxis, and ordinary cars.
Inside, 4,000 artworks; 1,862 crates held 3,600 paintings and sculptures.
Do you have any idea about the logistical complexity?!
5
4 - The Mona Lisa, marked with three red dots, left first.
Destination? Loire Valley castles. Safe from Nazi hands.
The evacuation was daring and dangerous.
The massive painting “The Raft of the Medusa caused a blackout in Versailles when it snagged power lines”
Destination? Loire Valley castles. Safe from Nazi hands.
The evacuation was daring and dangerous.
The massive painting “The Raft of the Medusa caused a blackout in Versailles when it snagged power lines”
6
5 - And more,
Another time, The Wedding at Cana nearly burned when a truck engine caught fire.
— Jaujard's team held their breath, but saved every piece.
Another time, The Wedding at Cana nearly burned when a truck engine caught fire.
— Jaujard's team held their breath, but saved every piece.
7
6 June 14, 1940. Nazis stormed Paris.
They entered the Louvre expecting riches, and found empty frames.
— And a fake Venus de Milo. Soldiers gawked at plaster, clueless.
— Jaujard’s deception was flawless.
They entered the Louvre expecting riches, and found empty frames.
— And a fake Venus de Milo. Soldiers gawked at plaster, clueless.
— Jaujard’s deception was flawless.
8
7 - Hermann Göring, art-obsessed Nazi marshal, arrived fuming:
— “Bring the Louvre’s treasures back now!”
He’d looted 2,000 works already—but the Louvre’s were gone.
Jaujard stalled him with excuses
🎥:@MADadTrips
— “Bring the Louvre’s treasures back now!”
He’d looted 2,000 works already—but the Louvre’s were gone.
Jaujard stalled him with excuses
🎥:@MADadTrips
0:25
9
8 - June 23, 1940. Hitler toured Paris, eyeing its art for his Führermuseum. And said:
“Safeguard the art for peace talks.” A Lie.
The Mona Lisa was hidden deep inside Château de Chambord, moved frequently to evade Nazi search parties.
“Safeguard the art for peace talks.” A Lie.
The Mona Lisa was hidden deep inside Château de Chambord, moved frequently to evade Nazi search parties.
10
9 - Count Franz Wolff-Metternich, Nazi art official, inspected the Louvre.
He told Jaujard: “I’ll protect the works from German hands.”
— And he did. He knew the hiding spots but kept silent. A Nazi defector in disguise.
He told Jaujard: “I’ll protect the works from German hands.”
— And he did. He knew the hiding spots but kept silent. A Nazi defector in disguise.
11
10 - Jaujard’s team risked everything.
A curator was nabbed by the Gestapo—Metternich freed him.
Jaujard hid Resistance fighters in the Louvre and saved a Jewish assistant from the camps.
— They could have been killed.
A curator was nabbed by the Gestapo—Metternich freed him.
Jaujard hid Resistance fighters in the Louvre and saved a Jewish assistant from the camps.
— They could have been killed.
12
11 - Rose Valland, Jaujard’s assistant, turned spy.
At the Jeu de Paume, she tracked Nazi looting, every painting shipped to Germany.
Her notes fueled the Resistance.
— Later, they recovered 45,000 stolen works.
At the Jeu de Paume, she tracked Nazi looting, every painting shipped to Germany.
Her notes fueled the Resistance.
— Later, they recovered 45,000 stolen works.
13
12 - Paris was liberated in 1944. Jaujard, armed and wearing a Resistance armband, entered the Louvre under fire.
— Determined to restore what he’d saved. The Mona Lisa returned
— Determined to restore what he’d saved. The Mona Lisa returned
14
13 - If this moved you — follow @jscotteswood.
I share Art, stories carved in stone,
painted in light,
shaped by loss, faith, and beauty.
I share Art, stories carved in stone,
painted in light,
shaped by loss, faith, and beauty.
15
14 - Sources: Nuremberg trial documents, period diaries, and modern research underpin this account. Key references include Jacques Jaujard’s diary (quoted by The Guardian), Rose Valland’s testimony, Kunstschutz records, Lynn H. Nicholas’s The Rape of Europa, and the documentary Illustre et Inconnu (2014). They confirm the Nazis’ surprise and the risks taken by those who bravely protected the art.
16
15 - Bonus photos:
17
16 - If you liked this topic, you will surely like this one👇
Art Beyond Subjectivity@JScotteswood
Bombs Fell, But the Duomo Stood Tall 🧵
1 - Two wars and preservation secrets:
—How did Milan’s Duomo withstand 276 tons of bombs across two world wars? Let’s uncover the secrets of its survival👇
1 - Two wars and preservation secrets:
—How did Milan’s Duomo withstand 276 tons of bombs across two world wars? Let’s uncover the secrets of its survival👇
18
Emptying the Louvre in 3 days in a secret manner would be unbelievable… even today.
Do you have any idea how incredible that was?
It weighs 6 tons and is 2.75 meters tall.
Do you have any idea how incredible that was?
It weighs 6 tons and is 2.75 meters tall.
