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.

Apart from death and destruction, wars are also filled with great stories of courage, bravery and strength. It is vital that these interesting accounts of wartime see the light of day. Not only because they are indicative of actual events, but because they are certain to be a source of inspiration for generations to come. So, it's great to see this story being highlighted in a feature film with well-known 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.

It is this only fitting that they are also celebrated in the formation of a foundation to accurately document their lives. It provides visitors both young and old with the chance to learn more about the lives of these incredible members of society and their sacrifices. Also, it has set out to find the unidentified members of these phenomenal group to ensure their 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.




About the Author: