How did the Louvre survive WWII?

The Untold Story of Art’s Greatest Escape

The Louvre Museum, home to some of the world’s most priceless works of art, came dangerously close to destruction during World War II. The Nazi invasion of France in 1940 put the museum’s treasures at risk of being plundered, but thanks to the heroic actions of Jacques Jaujard, the director of the French National Museums, the Louvre and its masterpieces survived the war intact. This is the story of how Jaujard orchestrated one of the most daring art evacuations in history, outwitting the Nazi regime and preserving France’s cultural heritage.

The Looming Threat of War

Venus de milo during war scape

By the late 1930s, tensions in Europe were escalating. The rise of Adolf Hitler and the aggressive expansion of Nazi Germany made war inevitable. France, aware of the destruction that could befall its national treasures, began planning for the worst. The horrors of World War I had already demonstrated how vulnerable cultural heritage was in times of conflict. Museums across Europe, including the Louvre, had to consider drastic measures to protect their collections.

Jacques Jaujard: The Man Behind the Plan

Jacques Jaujard, born in 1895, was an unassuming yet fiercely intelligent man. As director of the French National Museums, he had deep knowledge of the art world and a profound sense of responsibility toward France’s cultural heritage. Even before Germany invaded France, Jaujard anticipated the potential looting of the Louvre by the Nazis, who had a history of confiscating and redistributing art across occupied territories.

Jaujard devised a secret plan to evacuate the Louvre’s most valuable pieces. His foresight and meticulous planning would prove crucial in ensuring that France’s most beloved art remained safe.

The Great Evacuation

The winged victory evacuacion

In 1939, as war clouds gathered, Jaujard mobilized a team to prepare for the evacuation of the Louvre’s treasures. He worked discreetly, knowing that any leaks could jeopardize the operation. Under his guidance, the museum staff carefully packed thousands of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts into crates. Each piece was cataloged and assigned a destination far from Paris.

When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, France declared war, and Jaujard knew time was running out. In a masterfully coordinated effort, he oversaw the departure of more than 3,600 pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Venus de Milo. These pieces were transported in a convoy of trucks, often under the cover of night, to various châteaux and remote locations across France.

One of the key destinations was Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley. This vast estate, hidden from the main roads and surrounded by dense forest, became a temporary refuge for many of the Louvre’s most prized works. Jaujard’s strategy was to disperse the collection across multiple locations, making it harder for the Nazis to locate and seize them all.

The Nazi Occupation of France

In June 1940, Paris fell to the Germans, and Nazi officials quickly took interest in France’s art collections. Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring, both fervent art collectors, had plans to strip France of its treasures to enrich their own private collections and Hitler’s planned Führermuseum in Linz.

The Nazis sent art specialists, including Franz Wolff-Metternich, to assess the Louvre’s holdings. However, when they arrived, they found the museum almost empty. The grandeur of the Louvre remained, but its soul, the artwork, had vanished. Jaujard had succeeded in his mission, but the battle was far from over.

A Game of Deception and Resistance

Jaujard’s next challenge was to keep the hidden artworks safe throughout the German occupation. He knew that the Nazis would not stop searching for France’s missing masterpieces. He continued to work within the system, using his bureaucratic position to delay and obstruct German efforts.

To further protect the artwork, he provided false information about the locations of certain pieces and ensured that local officials remained loyal to the cause. Many of the châteaux housing the art were guarded by museum staff who acted as caretakers, disguising themselves as ordinary workers to avoid suspicion.

The Role of the French Resistance

Jaujard was not alone in his efforts. He worked closely with the French Resistance, who provided intelligence on German movements and helped secure communication between museum officials. Resistance fighters even went so far as to sabotage German convoys and disrupt Nazi efforts to track down the hidden artworks.

As the war progressed, Göring and Hitler became increasingly desperate to locate France’s missing art. The Nazi looting machine, spearheaded by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR), looted thousands of other pieces from private collections, especially those owned by Jewish families. However, thanks to Jaujard’s preemptive evacuation, the Louvre’s collection remained largely untouched.

Liberation and the Return of the Masterpieces

By 1944, the tide of the war had turned. The Allies liberated Paris in August of that year, and Jaujard, who had worked with the French Resistance, was hailed as a hero. As soon as the German occupation ended, Jaujard began coordinating the return of the artworks to the Louvre.

One by one, the hidden treasures made their way back to Paris. The Mona Lisa, which had been carefully stored in various locations throughout the war, was returned under tight security. Other masterpieces followed, and by 1945, the Louvre was once again home to its legendary collection.

Legacy of Jacques Jaujard

Jaujard’s bravery and intelligence ensured that the Louvre’s treasures survived one of the darkest periods in history. His actions were not widely recognized at the time, as he preferred to remain out of the spotlight. However, his contributions were later acknowledged, and he was awarded the Legion of Honor for his service to France.

Beyond saving the Louvre, Jaujard’s efforts set a precedent for the protection of cultural heritage during times of war. His meticulous planning and unyielding commitment to art preservation continue to inspire museum professionals and historians today.

The story of Jacques Jaujard and the Louvre’s survival during World War II is one of ingenuity, courage, and unwavering dedication to cultural preservation. In the face of Nazi looting and the horrors of war, Jaujard’s actions ensured that future generations could continue to admire and appreciate some of the world’s greatest masterpieces. His legacy serves as a reminder that art is not just a reflection of history, it is a treasure worth fighting for. image/gallica.bnf.fr