The Monuments Men book was authored by Edsel Robert who wanted to display the determination of a few individuals to preserve culture during the destructive Second World War. They wanted to prevent destruction of fine European art pieces that were the target of Nazi fanatics under the direction of Hitler. The title is deceptive by implying that the group did not have women. Their contribution is recognized and vital for the success of this narrative.
The treasure rescuers did not have information or a map that indicated where the artwork was hidden. They had to work through destroyed cathedrals and museums, journals and secret notes. One lady who proved very resourceful was Valland Rosa who was employed at the French museum. She was very instrumental in finding hints in rail yards and following the leads provided by her sources. One such source was a dentist who was performing a root canal procedure.
Salvaging the artifacts in the prevailing conditions required a lot of sacrifice. The middle aged team abandoned their families for the sake of cultural treasure. The pieces of art were by such fellows as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Van Eycks and other European painters. The art produced by these fellows was phenomenal.
The Second World War was marked by extensive destruction and imminent death. The group was not immune but put their lives at risk for a greater mission. It took passion to try and safe items that had no value to most people. It represented a generation that understood the value of art and culture. They understood the irreparable damage that would be occasioned by loss of the artifacts. Those who executed the mission included curators, educators, architects, museum directors, art scholars and archivists.
The rescue gained the nod and apparent support of General Eisenhower and President Roosevelt. The support was virtual because it did not include authority to direct combat away from areas of interest, gasoline, typewriters and necessary vehicles, among other requirements. While they had set to protect the art centers from destruction, they could not stop their destruction and therefore had to change tact and begin to safeguard them from destruction.
There was something unique in the character of each individual involved within the mission group. This is what kept them going and led to the ultimate sacrifice required for such a task. Some of the people lost their lives in the process.
Hitler had a target of creating a large museum by collecting the best paintings in the world. He attacked Poland with multiple intentions of conquest and picking the best art from churches, private collectors and museums. The artifacts were then hidden in remote castles and others in secret mines. He could not stomach the idea that Jewish painters were better than Aryans.
The perspective of World War II presented by The Monuments Men Book is unique from the plain historic narration. Beside the destruction and death that happened, there were personal sacrifices that went beyond conquest. This is a story that tells of determination and sacrifice for nationhood. A movie developed out of the book was released in 2013, December.
The treasure rescuers did not have information or a map that indicated where the artwork was hidden. They had to work through destroyed cathedrals and museums, journals and secret notes. One lady who proved very resourceful was Valland Rosa who was employed at the French museum. She was very instrumental in finding hints in rail yards and following the leads provided by her sources. One such source was a dentist who was performing a root canal procedure.
Salvaging the artifacts in the prevailing conditions required a lot of sacrifice. The middle aged team abandoned their families for the sake of cultural treasure. The pieces of art were by such fellows as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Van Eycks and other European painters. The art produced by these fellows was phenomenal.
The Second World War was marked by extensive destruction and imminent death. The group was not immune but put their lives at risk for a greater mission. It took passion to try and safe items that had no value to most people. It represented a generation that understood the value of art and culture. They understood the irreparable damage that would be occasioned by loss of the artifacts. Those who executed the mission included curators, educators, architects, museum directors, art scholars and archivists.
The rescue gained the nod and apparent support of General Eisenhower and President Roosevelt. The support was virtual because it did not include authority to direct combat away from areas of interest, gasoline, typewriters and necessary vehicles, among other requirements. While they had set to protect the art centers from destruction, they could not stop their destruction and therefore had to change tact and begin to safeguard them from destruction.
There was something unique in the character of each individual involved within the mission group. This is what kept them going and led to the ultimate sacrifice required for such a task. Some of the people lost their lives in the process.
Hitler had a target of creating a large museum by collecting the best paintings in the world. He attacked Poland with multiple intentions of conquest and picking the best art from churches, private collectors and museums. The artifacts were then hidden in remote castles and others in secret mines. He could not stomach the idea that Jewish painters were better than Aryans.
The perspective of World War II presented by The Monuments Men Book is unique from the plain historic narration. Beside the destruction and death that happened, there were personal sacrifices that went beyond conquest. This is a story that tells of determination and sacrifice for nationhood. A movie developed out of the book was released in 2013, December.
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