10/17/2013

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.

The German army in the send world war were ordered to steal various works of art for Hitler. Among the stolen pieces were works of art by famous artists like Michelangelo. When the Reich was falling, the Nazis tried to destroy as many pieces as possible. This placed a great deal of history in danger of extinction.

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 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.

The Monuments Men are a constant reminder that everyone is capable of greatness. They were once deemed ordinary members of the community but went on to live very meaningful lives on a great scale. The preservation of history is an important act that reminds society not to make these same errors again.




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