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Sunday, 13 October 2013

Who Were 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 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.

These chosen few banded together and set to work tracking, accurately identifying and finding the location of various works. The mission required their ability be creative and resourceful as they did not have much back up in this regard. They carried out their mission by using secret notes, journals and any hints from informants along the way. They put their lives at risk for this cause and many did not return alive.

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 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 once ordinary individuals lived very extraordinary and meaningful lives. They worked in government, museums and wrote books. The Monuments Men continue to help societies remember that everybody has the capacity for greatness. These individuals are heroes found in places one would least expect.




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