Altaussee Salt Mine

Video profile on the Altaussee Salt Mine, located in the beautiful Salzkammergut lake region of Austria. The mines at Altaussee were used from December 1943 to the end of WWII as a repository for both looted and purchased artworks destined for Adolf Hitler's planned "Fuehrermuseum" in Linz, Austria. The museum was never built; and the artworks (including the Bruges Madonna and famed Ghent Altarpiece) were saved by the local Miners, who prevented their destruction at the end of the war. In all, the members of the MFAA (or "Monuments Men") recovered 6,755 old master paintings (of which 5,350 were destined for the Fuehrermusuem), 230 drawings, 1,039 prints, 95 tapestries, 68 sculptures, 43 cases of objects d'art, and innumerable pieces of furniture; in addition, 119 cases of books from Hitler's library in Berlin, and 237 cases of books for the Linz library (according to James S. Plaut, who was Director of the Art Looting Investigation Unit of the Office of Strategic Services [OSS], from November 1944 to April 1946). Explore Altaussee, Austria on Alpventures "Men, Masterpieces, and Monuments Tour" - for more information visit our website at: worldwar2tours.com

[@deepalib3096]

Nice glimpse of salt mines!
But why was art stored in salt mines?

[@MrSims-ky2ne]

1mile deep into the mountain (safe from bombings) salt won't damage the works without increased moisture. They built a workshop and separate rooms to prevent these issues.