Wine and War (French edition): How the Nazis Seized the French Vineyard by Christophe Lucand

Wine and War by Christophe Lucand is a captivating dive into the lesser-known history of the plundering of French vineyards by the Nazis during World War II. This book highlights a dramatic episode where wine, a symbol of French culture and identity, became a strategic asset for the German occupier.

From 1940 onward, the Nazis established a network of "Weinführer", wine experts sent by Berlin to oversee the seizure of French wines. These official delegates settled in all wine-producing regions, organizing one of the largest pillages ever carried out in France. With the ambiguous complicity of the Vichy State and the collaboration of many French professionals, these operations allowed the Nazis to take over the finest French vintages, sometimes at paltry prices or by force.

Christophe Lucand relies on unpublished sources, previously unexplored until now, to reveal the extent of this organized system that left a lasting mark on the French wine world. Through a meticulous investigation, the author provides us with a narrative rich in details and revelations about the compromises and resistance within the French wine estates.

More than seventy years after the end of the war, this work brings back to life a dark period in the history of wine, marked by war, occupation, and difficult choices. It also sheds light on how some producers managed to preserve their treasures while playing a dangerous double game with Nazi authorities.

Awarded the "Livres en Vignes du Clos-de-Vougeot" Prize 2017, Wine and War is an essential book for all history and wine culture enthusiasts. It shows how, even in the darkest times, wine remains a symbol of resistance and national pride.

Product Features:

• Title: Wine and War: How the Nazis Seized the French Vineyard
• Author: Christophe Lucand
• Prize: "Livres en Vignes du Clos-de-Vougeot" 2017
• Format: Paperback
• EAN13: 9782200616281
• ISBN: 978-2-200-61628-1
• Publisher: Armand Colin
• Publication Date: 09/07/2016
• Collection: Off Collection
• Number of Pages: 448
• Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 3.5 cm
• Weight: 594 g
• Language: French