Graf Franz Wolff-Metternich (31 December 1893 – 25 May 1978) was a German aristocrat, art professor, historian and curator.

Biography

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he was responsible for the conservation of

Rhineland The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section. Term Historically, the Rhinelands ...

and French art collections under the

Kunstschutz Kunstschutz (''art protection'') is the German term for the principle of preserving cultural heritage and artworks during armed conflict, especially during the First World War and Second World War, with the stated aim of protecting the enemy's ar ...

principle, from 1940 to 1942. He was placed in contact with Jacques Jaujard, who as deputy head of the Louvre had secretly organized the evacuation of much of the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

art collection, which were sent into hiding to various locations across France. While Woff-Metternich had been appointed by Hitler to oversee France’s art collections, like many aristocrats he was not a Nazi member, and helped Jaujard preserve France’s art from Nazi looting. However, in 1942, he was recalled from his post in Paris, France by the Nazis for thwarting their attempts to plunder French National art collections. He was awarded the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

in 1952 from President of France Charles de Gaulle at the suggestion of Jaujard.

References

1893 births 1978 deaths Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Counts of Germany Max Planck Institute directors {{Germany-noble-stub