It originated with the policies of the Axis countries, primarily Nazi Germany and Japan, which systematically looted occupied territories.
(Minyard, 2007) Although the looting of "cultural heritage" of the German people and private collectors was not permitted in the 1945 agreement of Yalta, following the defeat of Germany by the Allied forces the following goods disappeared: three truckloads of precious art, which was listed in a confiscated list by the US forces (in the Merker mine in Thuringia), and one trainload of 20 wagons loaded with artwork and jewels from Hungary (named the "gold train").
[citation needed] Although against his direct orders from the US, he assembled 24 colleagues from Germany and Austria and successfully prevented the removal of the pictures (named as operation "Westward Ho").
[1] Before his death in 1997, Farmer was awarded Germany's highest civilian honor, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit, for his work in returning the 202 paintings.
[7] For organized looting, see: On a smaller scale, art was stolen by individuals from various countries, taking the opportunity of the chaotic war conditions.