Who Were The Monuments Men

By Megan Landry


Cultural, artistic and historic artifacts are imperative items to show how far a society has come. War is one of the greatest threats to this history and during the madness that ensues they invariably become casualties of war. Hence, the Monuments Men were sent out to find, preserve and protect these items from the Nazis as World War Two came to an end.

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 improbable group, these gifted individuals were tasked with a specific mission, that being find and rescue as much art as possible. The group was made up of historians, curators and museum directors from across the world. The members were not army trained soldiers, nor did they have any ammunition or transportation. However, they still went into a precarious situation with a goals to achieve and history to preserve.

The chosen men and women banded together and spent a great deal of time tracking, identifying and locating various works of art. Without a wide range of resources at hand, they had to be incredibly resourceful and creative. They did so using secret notes, journals and any hints of information along the way; putting their own lives at risk, in fact many gave their lives for their efforts.

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 the group's dedication, many owners got their priceless works of art back. On top of this activity, they were also in the restoration of culture in Europe post war. At a time when many were picking up the pieces of their lives, they provided some form of normal lifestyle for the artistic communities.

So, it seems only fitting that a foundation exists to document the lives of these heroes. It provides knowledge seekers both young and old with the opportunity to learn more about these phenomenal members of society who made so many great sacrifices. It also seeks to find the helpers who have yet to be identified and afford them their proper place in history.

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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