Karl Topp

Karl Topp (1887-1944) was a German art historian and museum director. He is best known for his involvement in the Nazi regime's art looting activities during World War II, specifically his role within the Sonderauftrag Linz, the organization tasked with acquiring art for Adolf Hitler's planned Führermuseum in Linz, Austria.

Topp studied art history and classical archaeology, earning his doctorate in 1914. He initially worked in various museum positions, including at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum (now the Bode Museum) in Berlin.

In 1935, Topp became the director of the Landesmuseum Hanover (now the Niedersächsische Landesmuseum Hannover). His career took a significant turn when he was recruited into the Sonderauftrag Linz in 1939. As a key member of this organization, he traveled extensively throughout occupied territories, particularly France, identifying and acquiring artworks that Hitler and other Nazi leaders deemed desirable. He oversaw the confiscation of art from Jewish collectors and others deemed enemies of the state.

Following the war, Topp was arrested and interrogated by Allied forces. He died in captivity in 1944, before a full investigation of his wartime activities could be completed. While his role and personal motivations remain a subject of historical debate, Topp is widely recognized as a central figure in the systematic art looting perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II. His actions contributed significantly to the displacement and destruction of countless artworks and cultural heritage.