Art theft and looting during World War II Art theft and looting during World War II Art theft and looting occurred on a massive scale during World War II. It originated with the policies of the Axis countries, primarily Nazi Germany and Japan, which systematically looted occupied territories. Near the end of the war the Soviet Union, in turn, began looting reclaimed and occupied territories. "The grand scale of looted artwork by the Nazis has resulted in the loss of many pieces being scattered across the world." (Minyard, 2007) Although the looting of "cultural heritage" of the German people and private collectors was not permitted in the 1945
Military equipment of Sweden during World War II the Royal Navy lived through an enormous enhancement, ending up as the second-strongest naval power of the Baltic Sea after the Soviet Union. Number of destroyers pre-war: 13 Number of destroyers in 1939: 14 Number of destroyers in 1940: 19 Number of destroyers in 1941: 20 Number of destroyers in 1942: 23 Number of destroyers in 1943: 27 Number of destroyers in 1944: 28 Number of destroyers in 1945: 28 Sweden's air force at the beginning of World War II was relatively small and lacked modern radar systems, engines, or weaponry. This changed during the build-up in the 1940s, though,