Interesting book

When combined with NY Times review (a full page,) and several others, it has become a great gift for a very young WW2 veteran, who, as a young man, endured the Battle of Britain from his home in London. I hope that everyone supports our surviving veterans with memoirs of their time in the pantheon of history.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an interesting read about what happened to the artworks and other pieces that the Nazis stole during WWII. It was interesting to read that several countries that were neutral still profited from the stolen pieces. I was glad to read that some of the artworks were able to be returned.

This is a well-researched book on a complicated subject and, while informative, needed a little more organizational structure. I was hoping for a little more "Monuments Men" and a little less "history textbook", but was fascinated on the depth of knowledge Lochery had on the subject. Getting this information is no small feat, as the secrecy shrouding much of the stolen gold is not easily penetrable. Overall a good read, if you know what you're getting into.Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary copy

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the most captivating book, but it was informative. Don’t go into this expecting a supplement to Monuments Men. Particular works of art are barely even mentioned. It primarily focuses on countries that were neutral during WWII and their interactions with Germany during and after the war. Primarily, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland are examined here, what kind of commerce they engaged in with the Nazis, and if they helped any Nazi fugitives (and their loot) escape Europe after their defeat.The Allied efforts to uncover looted art and gold were often thwarted by the unhelpfulness of the aforementioned countries. It didn’t help that there were often pissing contest between Americans and British, and that political squabbling hindered the urgency of tracking down Nazi treasure. I did learn quite a lot about the political dynamics of the neutral countries, along with Brazil and Argentina. It is a comprehensive scrutiny of Europe’s post-war recovery and the shift in priorities to address the Cold War.I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.