This Dutch Artist Scammed Nazis Out of Millions With Fake Art

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]In 1943, [music] a Dutch painter pulled off one of history's greatest cons against the Nazis. Han van Meegeren was a failed artist with a dangerous [music] skill. He could forge paintings so perfectly that even experts couldn't tell the difference.

[00:00:13]>> [music] >> When the Germans occupied Holland, van Meegeren saw his chance. He created fake [music] Vermeer masterpieces, paintings that never existed, then sold them to high-ranking [music] Nazi officials for millions. Hermann Göring himself bought one for the equivalent of [music] $60 million today.

[00:00:30]For 2 years, van Meegeren drained Nazi wallets with his fake art empire. But when the war ended, investigators found his paintings in Nazi collections. They arrested [music] him for treason, selling Dutch cultural treasures to the enemy. Van Meegeren faced [music] the death penalty. Then he dropped a bombshell in court. Those weren't real Vermeers. He had painted every single one. To prove it, he painted another fake [music] Vermeer right there in his jail cell. The courtroom erupted.

[00:00:56]Holland's supposed traitor had actually robbed the Third Reich blind. His death sentence became [music] a 1-year prison term. The ultimate con artist became a national hero.