Geplündert

Geplündert is the past participle of the German verb plündern, which means to loot or plunder. As an adjective or in passive constructions, it describes objects or places from which valuables have been taken, typically by force or during conflict. In everyday usage one speaks of a geplan­dürt? No. The correct form is geplöndert? The correct form is geplündert: geplündertes Dorf, geplünderte Vorräte, geplündertes Archiv.

Historically, looting has been a common feature of warfare and civil unrest. Looting can affect civilians, infrastructure, and cultural heritage, and it may provoke humanitarian responses or reconstruction efforts. In journalism and historiography the term is used to characterize the immediate aftermath of battles, sieges, or occupations.

Linguistic notes: geplündert is the past participle of plündern and is used with haben to form active perfect constructions (for example, Die Soldaten haben das Dorf geplündert). In adjectival use it agrees with the noun: geplünderter Schatz (masc, nom), geplünderte Stadt (fem, nom). The passive voice is also common: Die Stadt wurde geplündert. The noun forms are Plünderung (the act of looting) and Plünderer (the looter).

See also: Plünderung, Plünderer, Beutekunst.