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The Real Monument Men & Women Saved
The Art & Archives of Western Civilization
By Tom Morrow
Some 350 military and civilians worked
feverishly during the closing days of World War II to save the irreplaceable
art treasures that the Nazis had plundered from museums, galleries, and private
citizens across Western Europe.
The recovery program was a joint Allied
effort, primarily made up of American, French, British, and Dutch, Belgium art,
archive, and architectural experts. Many of those men and women were middle-aged and older — years
beyond serving in the military, yet they eagerly put on a uniform, even took a
few weeks of basic training before embarking on their quest. They followed the
Allied forces, locating art treasures before the Germans had a chance to
destroy them.
From the U.S., experts and curators of
the National Gallery, the Metropolitan Art Gallery, and the New York City
Ballet, plus British and French historians and museum curators, all joined in
the quest for the Nazi plunder. Some 1,000 or more troves and hideaways of art
and sculpture was recovered in many high-ranking German officer’ and officials’
residences. Reichmarshall Herman Goering’s home had one of the largest
collections of paintings. A total of more than 5 million pieces of priceless
archives, art, books, sculptures, and other fine-art pieces were recovered.
While the Museum, Fine Arts and Archives
Unit was disbanded in 1946, treasures continue to be recovered to this day.
One of the great mysteries of World War
II is: what happened to the Amber Room? I’ll have more on this priceless art
piece, which the Germans looted from Peter the Great’s palace in St.
Petersburg, taking it back to Germany.
Be sure and see the current George
Clooney film, “Monument Men,” now playing in theatres. It’ll give
you a microscopic look at what this effort was all about.
For my novels shipped free, go to: www.tomorrowsnovels.com
Quote of
the Day:
“Nowadays, the illiterates can read and write!” — Alberto Moravia
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