Robert Edsel's Blog

IT'S OVER OVER HERE!

8 May 2012 | 9:50 AM

Today marks the 67th anniversary of the announcement formally ending World War II in Europe, the most destructive war in history. With the announcement came the end of the Third Reich and the rule of Adolf Hitler. May 8 forever became known as “V-E Day”: Victory in Europe. As we mark this anniversary, we have the opportunity afforded us by the passage of time to consider how different our world would be had it not been for  the historic orders issued by General Eisenhower which established, clearly and succinctly, the policy of the western Allies concerning the protection of cultural treasures

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HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

20 April 2012 | 2:49 PM

Yesterday in a speech for Holocaust Remembrance Day, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta praised the work of the Monuments Men, and described Col. Seymour Pomrenze as a "hero." Col. Pomrenze, who passed away last year, was the first Director of the Offenbach Archival Depot. He was instrumental in the restitution of thousands of looted archives. I agree with Secretary Panetta: Col. Seymour Pomrenze was a hero, as were all of the Monuments Men! (The Monuments Men Foundation received the National Humanities Medal in 2007. Col. Seymour Pomrenze is 3rd from the right) To learn more about Col. Seymour Pomrenze,

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67th ANNIVERSARY OF AN AMAZING DAY IN HISTORY: APRIL 12, 1945

12 April 2012 | 3:27 PM

Having heard about the extraordinary discovery of most all of Nazi Germany’s gold reserves and paper currency, along with its vast cultural wealth from Berlin’s greatest museums and libraries, in a salt mine in Merkers, Germany, Generals Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley left SHAEF headquarters in Rheims, France and made a several day visit to see it firsthand. As the Monuments Men, led by George Stout, were urgently crating the works of art for removal from the mine, the generals descended in a rickety elevator manned by a lone German operator. Their sense of disconnection was palpable: billions of dollars

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Who Were The Monuments Men?

The Monuments Men were a group of men and women from thirteen nations, most of whom volunteered had expertise as museum directors, curators, art scholars and educators, artists, architects, and archivists. The Monuments Men job description was simple: to save as much of the culture of Europe as they could during combat.

These men not only had the vision to understand the grave threat to the greatest cultural and artistic achievements of civilization, but then joined the front lines to do something about it.

Read more about our heroes.
Learn more about The Monuments Men book by Robert M. Edsel.
Stay up to date on news relating to the Monuments Men on our blog.
Support the Monuments Men Foundation.

Our research on each of the Monuments Men and Women is now in its fifth year.

For some, we have completed biographies, and in most instances have a photograph. However, our research continues on each of the other names for which we have varying degrees of information. In some instances, we have just a name. We appeal to the public for help in completing these biographies. Anyone with information, including photographs, should contact ehudson@monumentsmen.com.