Robert M. Edsel
Author of The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
About the Author
Robert M. Edsel was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1956. He is the author of several non-fiction books including Rescuing Da Vinci, The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, and Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis. The show more Monuments Men was adapted into a film starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett. Edsel is the founder and president of the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, which received the 2007 National Humanities Medal under President George W. Bush. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: From the Monunuments Men Foundation website ... http://mmf.greatesttheft.com/directors/
Works by Robert M. Edsel
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History (2009) — Author — 3,446 copies, 99 reviews
The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History: The Story of the Monuments Men (Scholastic Focus) (2018) 308 copies, 7 reviews
Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It (2006) 227 copies, 4 reviews
Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and A Forever Promise Forged in World War II (2025) 62 copies, 2 reviews
"The 'Monuments Men' changed history 3 copies
Pomrenze, Seymour 2 copies
Delibes, Claude 2 copies
Lindsay, Kenneth 2 copies
Gubenko, Nikolai 1 copy
Keller, William 1 copy
Altmann, Jacques 1 copy
Griebert and Petropoulos 1 copy
Petropoulos, Jonathan 1 copy
France Transcripts 1 copy
Griebert, Peter 1 copy
Fischer, Wolfgang George 1 copy
Fischeringer 1 copy
Forlino, Mario 1 copy
Robbins, Suzanna Geisse 1 copy
Ukhnalev, Evgeny 1 copy
Zamoyski, Count Adam 1 copy
Quessenberry, Mary Regan 1 copy
Scarpitta, Salvatore 1 copy
Croft, Jill 1 copy
Cole, Bruce 1 copy
Wieworka, Anette 1 copy
Shydkoy, Mikhail 1 copy
Piotrovsky, Mikhail 1 copy
Parkhurst, Charles 1 copy
Nirenstein, Wanda Lattes 1 copy
Todorow, Maria Fossi 1 copy
Malamut, Leonard 1 copy
Herdenk ons: Amerikaanse opoffering, Nederlandse vrijheid en een eeuwige belofte in de tweede wereldoorlog (2025) 1 copy
SMU Tate Lecture Series 1 copy
Consider This 1 copy
BorderBowl 1 copy
Baracchini, Clara 1 copy
"Monumental Victory" 1 copy
"D-Day snub is shameful" 1 copy
"Out of Harm's Way" 1 copy
Altmann, Maria 1 copy
Bianchini, Mirna 1 copy
Young, Kim Oak 1 copy
D'este, Giuseppe 1 copy
Rossmeissl, Ralf 1 copy
Kamienski, Andrej 1 copy
Pomerade, Vincent 1 copy
Pasquier, Alaine 1 copy
Buehler, Ernie 1 copy
Toman, Gottfried 1 copy
Feroci, Enrico Nelli 1 copy
Gradini, Ersilla 1 copy
Capponi, Neri 1 copy
Nicholas, Lynn 1 copy
Faison, S. Lane 1 copy
Ettlinger, Harry 1 copy
Smyth, Craig Hugh 1 copy
Cecchi, Alessandro 1 copy
Chermont, Isabelle de 1 copy
Czeka, Maria Osterwa 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Edsel, Robert M.
- Legal name
- Edsel, Robert Morse
- Birthdate
- 1956-12-28
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Southern Methodist University (BBA|1979)
- Occupations
- oil company executive
producer
arts patron - Organizations
- Gemini Production (Founder)
Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art (Founder and President) - Awards and honors
- President's Call to Service Award (2008)
“Hope for Humanity Award” from the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance (2008)
Pio Alferano Award (2019)
Decoration of Honor Meritorious for Polish Culture (2021)
Foundation for the National Archives Records of Achievement Award (2014) - Relationships
- Morse, Norma Louise (mother)
Edsel, Alpha Ray (father) - Short biography
- Robert Morse Edsel (born 28 Dec 1956) is an American writer and businessman. He is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the non-fiction books Rescuing Da Vinci, The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History and Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis, about art treasures preserved during and after World War II and the heroes who saved them. Edsel is the founder and president of the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art which received the 2007 National Humanities Medal under President George W. Bush and has donated two albums of photographic evidence of the Third Reich's theft of art treasures to the United States National Archives.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Oak Park, Illinois, USA
- Places of residence
- Dallas, Texas, USA
Florence, Italy
New York, New York, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel
It could not be considered ridiculous to suggest that there has not been a topic covered so extensively and voluminously in Western popular culture as World War Two. Since 1945, that war has served, in both fiction and non-fiction, as one of the predominant reference points in our culture and as the bedrock of our collective passion for popular history. Consequently, it seems hard to believe that there could be a story - a true story - from those six years of conflict that has not already show more been told. But in 2009, the publishing of Robert Edsel's Monuments Men proved that there was such a story.
Edsel presents to us the story of a multinational army task force set up by the Western Allies to identify, reclaim and preserve the millions of pieces of priceless artwork stolen by the Nazis in their years of conquest and plunder, as well as to protect the countless cathedrals, historic buildings and monuments that stood in the crossfire of the Allied and German clashes. Millions of treasures, yet the 'task force' consisted of a handful of men, barely reaching double figures, many of whom were middle-aged academics from the art and museum communities of Britain and the United States. With the fate of Europe's cultural heritage in their hands, these men faced both a fanatical Nazi enemy determined to destroy rather than surrender these artefacts and its own army which, despite some advocates and enthusiasts, consisted mainly of men who were unhelpful, ignorant or sometimes even downright hostile to the goals of the Monument Men. They faced these enemies with no clear organisational structure of their own, no lofty rank to smooth things along (most were lieutenants or captains), no clear mission or orders, and often without supplies, personnel (one man, for example, would be entrusted with all the cultural treasures in the entirety of Belgium, and another man responsible for all of southern Germany) or even transportation (George Stout, the de facto leader, traverses the European Theatre of Operations in a beat-up Volkswagen left behind by the retreating Germans, whilst others hitch lifts in whatever vehicle is heading in roughly the direction they want to go). Oh, and they succeeded.
Edsel does not hide his incredulity at the facts of this story, nor his glee at having the privilege of being the one to tell it, and his evident admiration for the achievements of the Monuments Men gives his prose a seductive and effusive charm. Whilst light on action (the Monuments Men typically survey damage to a building or track down leads on stolen artwork in the days after a battle), there are still a number of close shaves, and two of the most prominent Monuments Men lose their lives to enemy fire. The sense of danger is also palpable when investigating the collapsing ruins of bombed-out German towns or exploring the claustrophobic environs of salt mines that have been used to stash Nazi loot. The lack of battlefield thrills is more than compensated by the dogged determination with which the Monuments Men chase down leads and pursue their investigations, adding a thriller-esque element of intrigue to the story. Edsel is also good at communicating the awe and wonder of these works of art, both individually (as in explaining why the Ghent Altarpiece or the Bruges Madonna is worthy of pursuit across Europe) and as a collective, such as the innumerable quantities of treasure crammed by the fleeing Nazis into vast salt mines.
A good balance is maintained between narrating the actions of the Monuments Men and recalling the greed of the chief Nazis. There are a number of chapters which break from the Monuments Men narrative to remind us of Göring's disgusting and shallow greed, or of Hitler's plans for a prestigious 'Führermuseum' in his hometown of Linz. Such interludes help Edsel to communicate just why the Monuments Men's mission was so important. Initially, I struggled to grasp how people could fret over pieces of canvas and marble when human lives, surely more precious and unique, were being extinguished in such perversely large numbers. But Edsel successfully paints the retrieval of the art as a triumph of eternal goodness and beauty over the evil of the Nazis, a symbol of the post-war redemption of Europe. So successful is he in this that by the end of the book, despite not being passionate about the arts, I was alarmed at how close many of these unique pieces came to wilful or accidental destruction. Hundreds of years of culture, a European heritage that could not be reclaimed once lost, rested on a knife edge. A handful of men were tasked to their protection, in the maelstrom of a world war. It is a remarkable story. show less
Edsel presents to us the story of a multinational army task force set up by the Western Allies to identify, reclaim and preserve the millions of pieces of priceless artwork stolen by the Nazis in their years of conquest and plunder, as well as to protect the countless cathedrals, historic buildings and monuments that stood in the crossfire of the Allied and German clashes. Millions of treasures, yet the 'task force' consisted of a handful of men, barely reaching double figures, many of whom were middle-aged academics from the art and museum communities of Britain and the United States. With the fate of Europe's cultural heritage in their hands, these men faced both a fanatical Nazi enemy determined to destroy rather than surrender these artefacts and its own army which, despite some advocates and enthusiasts, consisted mainly of men who were unhelpful, ignorant or sometimes even downright hostile to the goals of the Monument Men. They faced these enemies with no clear organisational structure of their own, no lofty rank to smooth things along (most were lieutenants or captains), no clear mission or orders, and often without supplies, personnel (one man, for example, would be entrusted with all the cultural treasures in the entirety of Belgium, and another man responsible for all of southern Germany) or even transportation (George Stout, the de facto leader, traverses the European Theatre of Operations in a beat-up Volkswagen left behind by the retreating Germans, whilst others hitch lifts in whatever vehicle is heading in roughly the direction they want to go). Oh, and they succeeded.
Edsel does not hide his incredulity at the facts of this story, nor his glee at having the privilege of being the one to tell it, and his evident admiration for the achievements of the Monuments Men gives his prose a seductive and effusive charm. Whilst light on action (the Monuments Men typically survey damage to a building or track down leads on stolen artwork in the days after a battle), there are still a number of close shaves, and two of the most prominent Monuments Men lose their lives to enemy fire. The sense of danger is also palpable when investigating the collapsing ruins of bombed-out German towns or exploring the claustrophobic environs of salt mines that have been used to stash Nazi loot. The lack of battlefield thrills is more than compensated by the dogged determination with which the Monuments Men chase down leads and pursue their investigations, adding a thriller-esque element of intrigue to the story. Edsel is also good at communicating the awe and wonder of these works of art, both individually (as in explaining why the Ghent Altarpiece or the Bruges Madonna is worthy of pursuit across Europe) and as a collective, such as the innumerable quantities of treasure crammed by the fleeing Nazis into vast salt mines.
A good balance is maintained between narrating the actions of the Monuments Men and recalling the greed of the chief Nazis. There are a number of chapters which break from the Monuments Men narrative to remind us of Göring's disgusting and shallow greed, or of Hitler's plans for a prestigious 'Führermuseum' in his hometown of Linz. Such interludes help Edsel to communicate just why the Monuments Men's mission was so important. Initially, I struggled to grasp how people could fret over pieces of canvas and marble when human lives, surely more precious and unique, were being extinguished in such perversely large numbers. But Edsel successfully paints the retrieval of the art as a triumph of eternal goodness and beauty over the evil of the Nazis, a symbol of the post-war redemption of Europe. So successful is he in this that by the end of the book, despite not being passionate about the arts, I was alarmed at how close many of these unique pieces came to wilful or accidental destruction. Hundreds of years of culture, a European heritage that could not be reclaimed once lost, rested on a knife edge. A handful of men were tasked to their protection, in the maelstrom of a world war. It is a remarkable story. show less
I was just going to skim this, thinking that at over 300 pages it was just too long for middle grade, let alone teen. But I couldn't put it down and now it's back on my order list.
I was aware of the Nazi looting of art treasures, but this is a whole new perspective on it, starting with the recruitment of the Monuments Men from artists, museum curators, architects, and others and plunging them almost immediately into a seemingly impossible task; protect and repair thousands of damaged show more monuments, museums, and art treasures in Europe. Their task was almost immediately complicated by the discovery of widespread looting by the Nazis; they even had a specific unit devoted to the theft of art treasures, including the belongings of wealthy Jewish families, and the sale and destruction of modern art, deemed "degenerate."
Edsel meticulously traces the work of a handful of men and one woman, French curator Rose Valland, on their trek across Europe. Like detectives, they traced the journey of various treasures while at the same time struggling to protect surviving monasteries, statues, museums, and other cultural treasures. Throughout the book there are sketches and letters from the soldiers, reflections on how and why they did what they did, explorations of the art itself, and a careful tracing of how the Monuments Men fit into the wider theater of war.
An extensive bibliography, credits, and notes, and glossary are included. At the end, the author reflects "is art worth a life?" circling back to the reasons the Monuments Men, many of whom were past military age and volunteered and several who died on their missions, chose to protect the treasures not only of the nations conquered by the Nazis but also those allied with them and Germany itself.
Verdict: Nonfiction on World War II is almost always popular, and although this initially seemed too obscure a topic to interest young readers, Edsel's reflections on art and war and the copious original documents, in addition to the framing of the story as a mystery or treasure hunt, make this something that I think will appeal to history buffs after all. Perhaps not for every collection, but I can see this circulation enough to make it worth the purchase.
ISBN: 9781338251197; Published January 2019 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less
I was aware of the Nazi looting of art treasures, but this is a whole new perspective on it, starting with the recruitment of the Monuments Men from artists, museum curators, architects, and others and plunging them almost immediately into a seemingly impossible task; protect and repair thousands of damaged show more monuments, museums, and art treasures in Europe. Their task was almost immediately complicated by the discovery of widespread looting by the Nazis; they even had a specific unit devoted to the theft of art treasures, including the belongings of wealthy Jewish families, and the sale and destruction of modern art, deemed "degenerate."
Edsel meticulously traces the work of a handful of men and one woman, French curator Rose Valland, on their trek across Europe. Like detectives, they traced the journey of various treasures while at the same time struggling to protect surviving monasteries, statues, museums, and other cultural treasures. Throughout the book there are sketches and letters from the soldiers, reflections on how and why they did what they did, explorations of the art itself, and a careful tracing of how the Monuments Men fit into the wider theater of war.
An extensive bibliography, credits, and notes, and glossary are included. At the end, the author reflects "is art worth a life?" circling back to the reasons the Monuments Men, many of whom were past military age and volunteered and several who died on their missions, chose to protect the treasures not only of the nations conquered by the Nazis but also those allied with them and Germany itself.
Verdict: Nonfiction on World War II is almost always popular, and although this initially seemed too obscure a topic to interest young readers, Edsel's reflections on art and war and the copious original documents, in addition to the framing of the story as a mystery or treasure hunt, make this something that I think will appeal to history buffs after all. Perhaps not for every collection, but I can see this circulation enough to make it worth the purchase.
ISBN: 9781338251197; Published January 2019 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel
I assume this book will be getting a lot more attention in a couple of weeks as it is the subject of a "major motion picture" complete with big name stars like George Clooney, Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett. I can't speak to the merits of the movie but I can say that the book which it is based on is excellent.
The Monuments Men is the story of a small unit of the allied armies in the Second World War known as the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (or MFAA) commonly referred to as the show more Monuments Men. Starting with a handful of individuals, the Monuments Men are tasked with preserving and restoring the cultural patrimony of Europe. In many ways, the Monuments Men are the Allied response to the Nazi art looting teams. As the Nazis spread across Europe art was a major focus of many of the leaders of the Nazi party including Hitler himself, a failed art student. Art was pursued for ideological purposes and for its value. The Nazis made a show of destroying what they labeled as "degenerate" art (or selling it off) and made claims of ownership to Germanic art. Of course the story is more complex than that; the Nazis systematically looted mundane items too. Collections of eye glasses and shoes remain stark reminders of the special brand of efficiency and horror of the Nazis. However, the art is a special case simply because the Nazi hierarchy invested such importance to its acquisition.
The Monuments Men tells one side of this story by focusing on the people who dream up the Monuments Men and prevail upon the Allied command to prioritize the preservation and recovery of art. The bulk of the book covers the execution of that effort. The action really gets started with D-Day. Monuments Men are on the ground in Normandy shortly after the invasion trying to track down and preserve important works of art like the Bayeux Tapestry. As the Allied forces liberate Paris and begin pushing East, it becomes apparent to the Monuments Men that their job is not just to preserve art and architecture jeopardized by fighting. Rather, it is soon learned that the Nazis have systematically looted the areas of occupation and spirited some of the most important works back to Germany. The Monuments Men hear tales of the theft of the Ghent Altarpiece being packed up in the middle of the night and shipped East to parts unknown. The same is true of much of Paris's art, especially the private collections of its most prominent Jewish citizens.
The work of the Monuments Men becomes a detective story as they attempt to trace the missing art. As if unraveling the theft isn't hard enough, the hunt for the missing art occurs in the midst of a war zone. To heighten the tension, the Monuments Men must race to protect the art from some Nazis who are prepared to follow Hitler's final order to destroy everything of value left in Germany and beat the advancing Soviet army that is intent on keeping the art for Stalin as recompense for the destruction that the Nazis visited on the Eastern front.
Edsel does an excellent job to telling the story with the drama it deserves. He also does a fine job of telling the very human story of the Monuments Men themselves. Ultimately, this is a feel good story. The Allies (mainly Americans) are noble and brave. The art is protected and returned, not looted. And the men who risk so much to save the cultural patrimony of Western Civilization return to quiet, productive civilian lives full of good deeds and civic accomplishments.
This is not to say that Edsel ignores the subsequent injustice that is inflicted on many former owners of the art following the war. Edsel acknowledges that much of the follow through has been been sorely lacking but he rightfully wants the reader to understand and appreciate the accomplishments of the Monuments Men. Edsel admirably succeeds in this goal. The Monuments Men is a great read.
As an addendum, the story of the theft of Europe's art and its subsequent recovery has been told in many other excellent books. Foremost among them is The Rape of Europa by Lynn Nicholas. The Rape of Europa is a fantastic book that covers much more of the initial theft of the art. While the Monuments Men are given their due, Nicholas has a broader focus. The Rape of Europa is a must read for anyone truly interested in the subject.
Other suggested reading:
Lost Lives, Lost Art by Melissa Muller which details the ongoing struggle of many Jewish families to recover art stolen or seized via forced sale by the Nazis.
The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure by Catherine Scott-Clark which tells the story of the famed Amber Room from the Hermitage in Russia which was also looted by the Nazis but never recovered.
Stealing the Mystic Lamb by Noah Charney which tells the story of the famous Ghent altarpiece. Much of that book focuses on the theft of the altar piece and its recovery during the Second World War but more of its history, including other thefts, is detailed. show less
The Monuments Men is the story of a small unit of the allied armies in the Second World War known as the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (or MFAA) commonly referred to as the show more Monuments Men. Starting with a handful of individuals, the Monuments Men are tasked with preserving and restoring the cultural patrimony of Europe. In many ways, the Monuments Men are the Allied response to the Nazi art looting teams. As the Nazis spread across Europe art was a major focus of many of the leaders of the Nazi party including Hitler himself, a failed art student. Art was pursued for ideological purposes and for its value. The Nazis made a show of destroying what they labeled as "degenerate" art (or selling it off) and made claims of ownership to Germanic art. Of course the story is more complex than that; the Nazis systematically looted mundane items too. Collections of eye glasses and shoes remain stark reminders of the special brand of efficiency and horror of the Nazis. However, the art is a special case simply because the Nazi hierarchy invested such importance to its acquisition.
The Monuments Men tells one side of this story by focusing on the people who dream up the Monuments Men and prevail upon the Allied command to prioritize the preservation and recovery of art. The bulk of the book covers the execution of that effort. The action really gets started with D-Day. Monuments Men are on the ground in Normandy shortly after the invasion trying to track down and preserve important works of art like the Bayeux Tapestry. As the Allied forces liberate Paris and begin pushing East, it becomes apparent to the Monuments Men that their job is not just to preserve art and architecture jeopardized by fighting. Rather, it is soon learned that the Nazis have systematically looted the areas of occupation and spirited some of the most important works back to Germany. The Monuments Men hear tales of the theft of the Ghent Altarpiece being packed up in the middle of the night and shipped East to parts unknown. The same is true of much of Paris's art, especially the private collections of its most prominent Jewish citizens.
The work of the Monuments Men becomes a detective story as they attempt to trace the missing art. As if unraveling the theft isn't hard enough, the hunt for the missing art occurs in the midst of a war zone. To heighten the tension, the Monuments Men must race to protect the art from some Nazis who are prepared to follow Hitler's final order to destroy everything of value left in Germany and beat the advancing Soviet army that is intent on keeping the art for Stalin as recompense for the destruction that the Nazis visited on the Eastern front.
Edsel does an excellent job to telling the story with the drama it deserves. He also does a fine job of telling the very human story of the Monuments Men themselves. Ultimately, this is a feel good story. The Allies (mainly Americans) are noble and brave. The art is protected and returned, not looted. And the men who risk so much to save the cultural patrimony of Western Civilization return to quiet, productive civilian lives full of good deeds and civic accomplishments.
This is not to say that Edsel ignores the subsequent injustice that is inflicted on many former owners of the art following the war. Edsel acknowledges that much of the follow through has been been sorely lacking but he rightfully wants the reader to understand and appreciate the accomplishments of the Monuments Men. Edsel admirably succeeds in this goal. The Monuments Men is a great read.
As an addendum, the story of the theft of Europe's art and its subsequent recovery has been told in many other excellent books. Foremost among them is The Rape of Europa by Lynn Nicholas. The Rape of Europa is a fantastic book that covers much more of the initial theft of the art. While the Monuments Men are given their due, Nicholas has a broader focus. The Rape of Europa is a must read for anyone truly interested in the subject.
Other suggested reading:
Lost Lives, Lost Art by Melissa Muller which details the ongoing struggle of many Jewish families to recover art stolen or seized via forced sale by the Nazis.
The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure by Catherine Scott-Clark which tells the story of the famed Amber Room from the Hermitage in Russia which was also looted by the Nazis but never recovered.
Stealing the Mystic Lamb by Noah Charney which tells the story of the famous Ghent altarpiece. Much of that book focuses on the theft of the altar piece and its recovery during the Second World War but more of its history, including other thefts, is detailed. show less
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel
I discovered that this book existed by watching the trailer for its film adaptation, which was unfortunately not very well reviewed. The book, however, is well-written and fascinating. It doesn’t have quite the epic scope of [b:Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest|42389|Band of Brothers E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest|Stephen E. show more Ambrose|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388247701s/42389.jpg|903474], but provides an interesting and novel angle on the European theatre of the Second World War. The ‘Monuments Men’ of the title were given the huge and impossible responsibility of protecting historic monuments and recovering Nazi-looted artwork across Northern Europe. The book begins by introducing the few men and one woman who did this work, emphasising the great difficulty there was in getting any such organisation set up at all. Given the exigencies of the war this isn’t entirely surprising, although the Nazis has a strong sense of the importance of artistic and cultural control in the suppression of those they considered inferior. To battle them on this front, the Monuments Men sought to emphasise that treasures of history enrich everyone and should not be controlled and censored by a single repressive regime. The second half of the book, which deals with the final year and aftermath of the war, features the repatriation of many incredible works of art. The stories of a self-portrait by Rembrandt, Vermeer’s ‘The Astronomer’, and the Ghent Altarpiece are given especial notice.
Prior to reading this book, I hadn’t realised the sheer rapacity with which the Nazis appropriated art from the places they invaded and occupied. This book describes the grand museum and art gallery that Hitler planned to build, the apex of a massive redesign of his hometown. It would have essentially contained all the art he liked best, stolen from around the world. The sheer effort that the Nazi regime put into art theft is extraordinary. The most exciting parts of the book are all towards the end, as the Monuments Men discover salt mines filled with precious art pieces, together with explosives to destroy them. Given Hitler’s scorched earth orders, that anything the allies could use should be destroyed, it is amazing how much survived. The book is careful to ascribe this survival not only to the Monuments Men themselves, but also Germans, including certain Nazis, who were not prepared to follow this order when the war was so clearly lost. That said, the author also acknowledges how much was not recovered and was either destroyed or still remains lost. Himmler’s collection of art, for example, was apparently burnt by the SS.
Overall, I think this book is an effective tribute to a rarely-acknowledged group of people. Their hard work and bravery during the Second World War is now taken for granted, as we gaze at beautiful paintings and sculptures in museums. So many amazing works could have been blown up at the bottom of mines, a terrible loss to the world. In particular, I liked the respect accorded to Rose Valland, who worked in the Louvre during the occupation and quietly kept track of where the Nazis were taking the works they appropriated. Her courage was incredible and without her information the Monuments Men would have been a great deal less successful. The stories of all the people concerned are moving and well-told, though. I enjoyed reading this book for the interesting new understanding it provided, despite the sombre subject matter. I definitely recommend it. show less
Prior to reading this book, I hadn’t realised the sheer rapacity with which the Nazis appropriated art from the places they invaded and occupied. This book describes the grand museum and art gallery that Hitler planned to build, the apex of a massive redesign of his hometown. It would have essentially contained all the art he liked best, stolen from around the world. The sheer effort that the Nazi regime put into art theft is extraordinary. The most exciting parts of the book are all towards the end, as the Monuments Men discover salt mines filled with precious art pieces, together with explosives to destroy them. Given Hitler’s scorched earth orders, that anything the allies could use should be destroyed, it is amazing how much survived. The book is careful to ascribe this survival not only to the Monuments Men themselves, but also Germans, including certain Nazis, who were not prepared to follow this order when the war was so clearly lost. That said, the author also acknowledges how much was not recovered and was either destroyed or still remains lost. Himmler’s collection of art, for example, was apparently burnt by the SS.
Overall, I think this book is an effective tribute to a rarely-acknowledged group of people. Their hard work and bravery during the Second World War is now taken for granted, as we gaze at beautiful paintings and sculptures in museums. So many amazing works could have been blown up at the bottom of mines, a terrible loss to the world. In particular, I liked the respect accorded to Rose Valland, who worked in the Louvre during the occupation and quietly kept track of where the Nazis were taking the works they appropriated. Her courage was incredible and without her information the Monuments Men would have been a great deal less successful. The stories of all the people concerned are moving and well-told, though. I enjoyed reading this book for the interesting new understanding it provided, despite the sombre subject matter. I definitely recommend it. show less
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