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.
It took a lot of effort and sacrifice to rescue such artifacts considering the prevailing circumstances. The team was composed on individuals at the prime of their lives and careers. The cultural treasures were more important to them to the point of giving up their lives. Notable artists whose works were endangered include Van Eycks, Michelangelo and Da Vinci.
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 mission had the support of President Roosevelt and General Eisenhower. The support was not substantial considering that it did not include the vehicles needed, authority during war, typewriters and gasoline for the mission. Despite such difficulty, the determination and understanding of the gravity of the matter kept the group going. They aimed at protecting the structures that housed the art from bombing but adopted a different approach when it became impossible. They turned to rescuing the artifacts.
The author offers a lay mans creation of the characters of these individuals. This is necessary considering the difficulty they are facing. It is a journey into their young lives, their passions and goals and how each finds himself in the mission. The extent of sacrifice is huge since some of them give-up their lives for the course.
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.
It took a lot of effort and sacrifice to rescue such artifacts considering the prevailing circumstances. The team was composed on individuals at the prime of their lives and careers. The cultural treasures were more important to them to the point of giving up their lives. Notable artists whose works were endangered include Van Eycks, Michelangelo and Da Vinci.
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 mission had the support of President Roosevelt and General Eisenhower. The support was not substantial considering that it did not include the vehicles needed, authority during war, typewriters and gasoline for the mission. Despite such difficulty, the determination and understanding of the gravity of the matter kept the group going. They aimed at protecting the structures that housed the art from bombing but adopted a different approach when it became impossible. They turned to rescuing the artifacts.
The author offers a lay mans creation of the characters of these individuals. This is necessary considering the difficulty they are facing. It is a journey into their young lives, their passions and goals and how each finds himself in the mission. The extent of sacrifice is huge since some of them give-up their lives for the course.
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.