The work comprehensively treats the implications which were associated with the sale of Italian cultural assets to significant personalities of the German Reich – particulary Hitler und Göring – between 1937 and 1942. First of all, the processes within the Italian leadership hierarchy which generally enabled the sale of artworks to Germany – partially in circumvention of the prevailing art protection laws – will be described. The losses of cultural assets after the Italian neutrality declaration in the autumn of 1943 will also be mentioned.