Numerous stories during recent years have revealed a shady history of European art during the Nazi era. During World War II, an incredible amount of artwork was looted from owners as the Nazi movement marched through Europe.

“The Nazi leaders, I would estimate, stole at least 500,000 artworks, so we’re talking about staggering numbers of artwork that were stolen by the Nazis,” says Jonathan Petropoulos, professor of history at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif.

Petropoulos was scheduled to speak at Iowa State in December, but due to illness was not able to make the trip.

The presentation was rescheduled for at 8 tonight in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union, and Petropoulos will speak not only about Nazi art looting, but about the effects the Third Reich had on the art community as well.

Petropoulos is a distinguished figure on the subject of the art world during the Third Reich. He has written two books and a slew of articles, served on national committees and as a consultant for various news media.

Currently he works as a consultant for families trying to regain pieces they think may have been taken from their relatives during the war.

Besides just suppressing art they didn’t agree with, the Nazis also successfully seduced people in the art world into helping their cause. This is the basis for Petropoulos’ most recent book, “The Faustian Bargain: The Art World of Nazi Germany.”