War loot
Encyclopedia
War loot refers to goods, valuables and property obtained by force from their lawful owners via looting
during or after warfare. These "spoils of war" differ from tributes or other payments extracted after the fact by a victorious nation in that their extraction is largely arbitrary and immediate, being administered by the armed forces themselves rather than by treaty or agreement between the parties involved.
and Genghis Khan
was not unusual in proclaiming that:
In warfare in ancient times, the spoils of war included the defeated populations, which were often enslaved, and the women and children, who were often absorbed into the victorious country's population. In other pre-modern societies, objects made of precious metals were the preferred target of war looting, largely because of their easy portability. In many cases looting was an opportunity to obtain treasures that otherwise would not have been obtainable. Since the 18th century, works of art
have increasingly become a popular target. In the 1930s and even more so during World War II
, Nazi Germany
engaged in large scale and organized looting of art and property
.
Looting, combined with poor military discipline, has occasionally been an army's downfall. In other cases, for example the Wahhabi sack of Karbala
, loot has financed further victories. Not all looters in wartime are conquerors; the looting of Vistula Land
by its retreating defenders in 1915 was among the factors sapping the loyalty of Poland in World War I. Local civilians can also take advantage of a breakdown of authority to loot public and private property, such as took place at the National Museum of Iraq
in the course of the Iraq War in 2003.
gradually came to apply to loot. Economic devastation, including that caused by the Thirty Years' War
encouraged the trend. Official looters accordingly became less boastful of their plunder but rather offered euphemisms and excuses; the Siege of Jaffa
was one of the last prominent occasions of a Western commander brazenly encouraging rapine and wanton destruction in a captured city.
The Hague Convention
of 1899 (modified in 1954) and the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949; the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Event of an Armed Conflict obliges military forces not only to avoid destruction of such property, but to provide protection to it; and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War prohibits looting of civilian property. Theoretically, to prevent such looting, unclaimed property is moved to the custody of the Custodian of Enemy Property
, to be handled until the return to its owner.
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
during or after warfare. These "spoils of war" differ from tributes or other payments extracted after the fact by a victorious nation in that their extraction is largely arbitrary and immediate, being administered by the armed forces themselves rather than by treaty or agreement between the parties involved.
History, rationale, targets and perpetrators
Looting by a victorious army during war has been common practice throughout recorded history. For foot soldiers, it was viewed as a way to supplement their often meagre income and was part of the celebration of victory. On higher levels, the proud exhibition of loot was an integral part of the typical Roman triumphRoman triumph
The Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war. In Republican...
and Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
was not unusual in proclaiming that:
In warfare in ancient times, the spoils of war included the defeated populations, which were often enslaved, and the women and children, who were often absorbed into the victorious country's population. In other pre-modern societies, objects made of precious metals were the preferred target of war looting, largely because of their easy portability. In many cases looting was an opportunity to obtain treasures that otherwise would not have been obtainable. Since the 18th century, works of art
Looted art
Looted art has been a consequence of looting during war, natural disaster and riot for centuries. Looting of art, archaeology and other cultural property may be an opportunistic criminal act, or may be a more organized case of unlawful or unethical pillage by the victor of a conflict."Looted art"...
have increasingly become a popular target. In the 1930s and even more so during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
engaged in large scale and organized looting of art and property
Nazi plunder
Nazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized looting of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. Plundering occurred from 1933 until the end of World War II, particularly by military...
.
Looting, combined with poor military discipline, has occasionally been an army's downfall. In other cases, for example the Wahhabi sack of Karbala
Wahhabi sack of Karbala
The Wahhabi sack of Karbala occurred in 1801, during the period of the First Saudi State, which was led by Abdul Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Saud at that time.-See also:* Second Saudi State* Saudi Arabia...
, loot has financed further victories. Not all looters in wartime are conquerors; the looting of Vistula Land
Vistula land
Vistula Land or Vistula Country was the name applied to the lands of the Kingdom of Poland following the defeats of the November Uprising and January Uprising as it was increasingly stripped of autonomy and incorporated into Imperial Russia...
by its retreating defenders in 1915 was among the factors sapping the loyalty of Poland in World War I. Local civilians can also take advantage of a breakdown of authority to loot public and private property, such as took place at the National Museum of Iraq
National Museum of Iraq
The National Museum of Iraq is a museum located in Baghdad, Iraq. It contains precious relics from Mesopotamian civilization.-Foundation:...
in the course of the Iraq War in 2003.
Changing attitudes and international regulations
In modern times attitudes changed and laws of warLaws of war
The law of war is a body of law concerning acceptable justifications to engage in war and the limits to acceptable wartime conduct...
gradually came to apply to loot. Economic devastation, including that caused by the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
encouraged the trend. Official looters accordingly became less boastful of their plunder but rather offered euphemisms and excuses; the Siege of Jaffa
Siege of Jaffa
The Siege of Jaffa was fought from 3 to 7 March 1799 between France and the Ottoman Empire. The French were led by Napoleon Bonaparte, and they captured the city.-Course:...
was one of the last prominent occasions of a Western commander brazenly encouraging rapine and wanton destruction in a captured city.
The Hague Convention
Hague Convention
The Hague Convention may refer to:* Hague Conventions , among the first formal statements of the laws of war and war crimes in international law...
of 1899 (modified in 1954) and the Fourth Geneva Convention
Fourth Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention and abbreviated as GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was adopted in August 1949, and defines humanitarian protections for civilians...
of 1949; the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Event of an Armed Conflict obliges military forces not only to avoid destruction of such property, but to provide protection to it; and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War prohibits looting of civilian property. Theoretically, to prevent such looting, unclaimed property is moved to the custody of the Custodian of Enemy Property
Custodian of Enemy Property
The Custodian of Enemy Property is an institution that handles property claims created by war. In wartime,civilian property may be left behind or taken by the occupying state. In ancient times, such property was considered war loot, and the legal right of the winner...
, to be handled until the return to its owner.