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EXPLORE
EXPLORE
Would you give your life to save a piece of art? to save a piece of your culture? to save piece of civilization?
During World War II there existed a small group of men and women who were asked to do just that.
We affectionately call them the Monuments Men and this is their story.
Art is the soul of a society. It represents the very best things that we've achieved. To try to save that art is an incredibly noble endeavor.
Primary Sources
Primary Sources
Eisenhower's Directive
Eisenhower's Directive
This directive from General Eisenhower urges US/Allied troops to be responsible and preserve as much art as they can.
If you destroy an entire generation of a people's culture, it's as if they never existed.
That's what Hitler wants . . . and it's the one thing we can't allow.
This decree (like a law) allowed Hitler to steal, display, or destroy whatever art he wanted.
The REAL Monuments Men
The REAL Monuments Men
Check out the biographies of the REAL people the film's characters were based on.
Check out more biographies of the REAL people who were involved in the MFAA.
Want to learn even more about the people who protected art from the Nazis? Check out this page from The Met, or the official Monuments Men and Women Foundation website.
Monuments Men of Today
Monuments Men of Today
Monuments Men still exist today as part of the Army Civil Affairs branch.
The Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Program was always a small subset of the Civil Affairs and Military Government Div vision and it remains the case today. When the US ratified the 1954 Hague Convention in September 2008 it was with the understanding that Civil Affairs retains responsibility for Chapter 1, Article 7.
There are also other organizations that help protect the culture and heritage of people around the world, such as The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Today's Cultural Crisis
Today's Cultural Crisis
The articles linked here are to highlight and explore the threat to art and culture through conflict. The opinions and political views expressed are those of the original publishing website and do not nessesarily represent the views or opinions of Ms. Girardin. The mere appearance of these links here are to provide a springboard into academic and scholarly exploration.
The Destruction of Ukraine's Cultural Heritage
10 Heritage Sites Lost to Disaster & War
The Lost City of Palmyra: How ISIS erased an entire city.
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