Wednesday, October 16, 2013

A Brief History Of The Monuments Men

By Megan Landry


The progression of a society can be articulated in a number of ways. One way in collection, preservation and sharing of artifacts. Each day sees people worldwide making a real effort to preserve these pieces of history. On the other hand, the effects of war are a great threat to this noble endeavour. In all the chaos of war these items are easily intentionally or unintentionally destroyed. It was in light of this fact that President Roosevelt sent the Monuments Men to make sure someone was in the business of protecting history.

During the war, the Nazis expropriated countless artistic works of art and cultural artifacts. These included works by Michelangelo, da Vinci and Vermeer to name a few. As the Reich began to fall, German army members were ordered to destroy everything. This order placed irreplaceable pieces in jeopardy.

An unlikely group, these talented individuals were tasked by Roosevelt with one mission: rescue as many pieces as possible. The group comprised of historians, curators and museum directors from various countries. They were not trained soldiers nor were they provided with guns or vehicles. However, as they ventured behind enemy lines, they knew what they were looking for and set out to achieve those goals.

These men and women put their minds together and began to work. They tracked, identified and found location of a variety of art work. This mission really needed them to not only creative but resourceful too. They didn't have much in terms of back up, so need to work carefully. They accomplished their mission by utilizing secret informants, notes, journals and followed up on any hint that might lead them in the right direction. This meant laying their lives on the line and for many it meant losing their lives.

All wars are filled with untold accounts of brave and courageous people. It is imperative that these stories see the light of day. Not just because they remind people of what actually happened but also because it can inspire future societies. So, it's good to see their story articulated in a new feature film with a range of A list actors.

Thanks to their time and dedication, many of the original owners had their items returned to them after the war. They were influential in the restoration of Europe's cultural life as well as reintroducing this element of life back into the post war. They remained at their 'post' for a further six years after the fighting had ended and continued to be part of restoring history.

Years later, a foundation was formed to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution these individuals made to society. The foundation acts as a source of information about the lives of the members as well as the various items that were ultimately preserved. Visitors of all ages are able to learn more about the lives and history of these incredible people and their sacrifices. On top of that, the foundation continues to try and identify members who are still unnamed.

These seemingly ordinary individuals went on to live very extraordinary, meaningful lives. They wrote books, continued in the arts and held many influential positions in society. The Monuments Men reminds people that everyone has the capacity to do good. It is good to know that sometimes, heroes are found in places that we least expect.




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