Ideas

The Nazis famously confiscated and burned books they deemed subversive — but they also collected many of these “degenerate” works, as well as books that were worth a fortune. Swedish journalist Anders Rydell documents the regime’s pillaging, and follows new efforts to return the volumes to their rightful owners in his nonfiction work The Book Thieves, out this month in the U.S.

Books of course weren’t the only items Nazis stole. Hitler’s regime looted art, tchotchkes, furniture, anything of value — and the stories behind their pillaging have served as source material for a number of nonfiction books, blending the intrigue of mystery with the gravity of restoring justice. Here are 6 fascinating books about the things Nazis stole.

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