Goodreads Reviews: The Monuments Men

The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on the remarkable lives of the men and women who traveled throughout Europe rescuing and preserving priceless works of art and landmarks during World War II. Hitler was obsessed with culture and any piece of art that had the slightest hint of Aryan influence, he was determined to have. While he alone may have been the only Nazi to have a modicum of actual art appreciation, he sent out his henchmen to track down and steal all the best art in the Nazi conquered countries.

Enter the military created MFAA (Monuments, Fine Arts and Archive section) or simply the Monuments Men. Names such as Major Ronald Balfour, Private Harry Ettlinger, Captain Walker Hancock, Captain Walter "Hutch" Huchtausenm, Jacques Jaujard, Private First Class Lincoln Kirstein, Captain Robert Posey, Second Lieutenant James Rorimer, Lieutenant George Stout and Rose Valland may not seem of any importance to history and their work alone has become nothing more than a footnote in books. However, these fearless soldiers, museum directors and volunteers are responsible for the preservation of some of history's most treasured works of art.

The book jumps back and forth between the lives and duties of the lead characters. From Germany to North Africa, the MFAA will stop at nothing to track down the Nazi Army and the artifacts stolen from the occupied countries. Not all of these were paintings, either. There were alters, tapestries and statues, and some of our characters have a particular bond with a certain artifact that they are determined to save.

These artifacts were hidden by both Nazis and countrymen in churches, basements and salt mines. The Monuments Men put their lives on the line over and over again. Some were even spies and informants working side by side with their enemy, always fearing that any moment could be their last. Some did die in the effort to end Hitler's destruction of European culture.

Despite its length I enjoyed the Monuments Men and getting to know these people. All of them so passionate in their love of art and history. As a history and art lover I appreciate these courageous men and women and what they did. Culture is defined by one's art. German art is different from Scandinavian art and Russian art is different from Spanish art. All art tells a story and sometimes it can tell history better than any book. What the Monuments Men (and women) fought and died for cannot be overlooked or underappreciated.