Robert Edsel's Blog

I was in Washington this week and came out of my hotel near the White House to witness this sad scene. Happily no one was injured. Both drivers were shaken but standing curbside wondering like the rest of us who did what to whom. But it reminded me, once again, “it ain’t all about me”—my problems are mine but no more important than those others are working through. And that day, I wasn’t driving a car or a bus…nor a passenger in either. So it was, all in all, a good day, like most.

German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth accepts two books returned by an American soldier who took them from a salt mine during World War II. (Photo Courtesy of Robert M. Edsel Collection.)

Today I attended a ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. to participate in the return of 2 books to Germany that were taken by a U.S. soldier who discovered them in a German salt mine where they had been placed for safekeeping by German cultural officials. This soldier contacted the Monuments Men Foundation more than two years ago seeking information on the books and their value. We worked diligently over the next 13 months to identify them and the precise mine from which they had been removed. One book was written in Latin; the other in German. They were both more than 400 years old. Accepting both books on behalf of a grateful nation was German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth.

These books are but 2 of hundreds of thousands of books and works of art still missing from the war, some of which were stolen by the Nazis but others “taken”—”liberated”—and in some cases stolen by Allied troops of all sides. Oftentimes these cases had innocent beginnings: a soldier found something during his tour and took it as a souvenir of his wartime experience. Where such cases involve cultural items–works of art, library books, documents, they were taken against direct orders from Generals Eisenhower and Bradley, the latter of whom issued on numerous occasions field wide orders to his troops: “We are a conquering Army, not a pillaging one”. Still, it happened.

One of the greatest obstacles the Monuments Men Foundation frequently must overcome is to explain that items such as these books, or other important documents, are not only NOT SELLABLE, but to do even attempt to do so places the person in possession of them at great risk of prosecution, especially if moving them across state lines. My dad was a veteran: I understand as well as anyone who wasn’t there doing the fighting why items were sometimes taken and the emotional attachment the person who possesses it has to the object. At the same time, I know how important it is to victims of the Nazis murderous theft to have their items returned to them. Oftentimes these missing documents facilitate those returns.

(Photo Courtesy of AP Photo/ Haraz N. Ghanbari.)

I have always succeeded in explaining to the person in possession of such objects how they can demonstrate a different type of valor than that required of the battlefield by working with the Monuments Men Foundation to return these objects. The Foundation does not seek to judge anyone; our focus is to facilitate doing the right thing in the most transparent way possible although we do handle some cases on an anonymous basis depending on circumstances.

No one reveres veterans more than I do. I believe we can never fully repay our debt to anyone who has served in combat to preserve the ideals and freedom we hold so dear. But two Monuments Men died in combat, and more than 60 others risked their lives, trying to preserve the cultural belongings of ALL people—including Germans—against destruction and theft by anyone. They believed that taking or “liberating” cultural belongings made our side no better than those we were trying so desperately to defeat. And for that reason, I openly plea with anyone in the possession of such objects, whether living veterans, their heirs, or someone who has otherwise come into the possession of such objects to contact the Monuments Men Foundation (www.monumentsmenfoundation.org) and work with us to return these important items. It’s the right thing to do.

What does it say about our society today when the salacious has replaced the heroic?  Is that development moving us as a nation closer to an improved and better informed populace, or adding more cobblestones on the path to ruin?  Do we need to have a member of Michael Jackson’s family on television every night?  Does Jon Gosselin (note to readers:  I had no idea who the guy was until I asked…and even then I couldn’t believe he had an hour of fame on the Larry King Show until I saw him on the program last evening) deserve even a minute of television time?  And Mackenzie Phillips…I’m not even going there…

Who is to blame?  The show’s hosts?  The bookers?  The networks?  The advertisers?  The people who watch these programs?  And a better question:  how do we bring it to an end or at least carve out time for worthy subjects, credible people, even amusing stories but of substance?  What was fringe 20 years ago has become mainstream today….abusers (wife, child and substance), cheaters (spouse, business and tax), and the absurd are assured of air time:  the more outlandish and sensational the behavior, the greater the chance a person will be booked as a guest.  Heck, let’s face it:  anyone can do something stupid, vile, mean, cruel, or illegal.  No real talent is required other than a willingness to be very public about whatever transgression du jour that person has selected as their path to greater fame.  And still, they are booked as if their skills or abilities were in any way comparable to the gifted athlete or musician who has spent years sacrificing to hone skills, the brave soldier who risked his life to preserve our freedom and in the process risked his or her life to save their buddies under fire, the great educator who impacted the lives of thousands of students who were forever and positively changed because of one person’s ability to fire their passion.  Truly, it is shameful.

There’s a lot of good news in the world, and many remarkable people, oftentimes ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.  Why don’t those stories get covered?  Why don’t we as a society want to stay up late and watch these moving and motivating experiences of others about people who made our world a better place, who represent the ideals we teach our kids?  Wouldn’t we all wish for more positive role models to inspire us in our own lives?  I know I would like that and benefit.

I guess this is one of the reasons I was so moved by the story of the Monuments Men and women…their goodness and commitment to leave the world better off than how it was when they arrived on the scene dominated their lives by governing their decisions.  It was always about self-sacrifice, shared workloads, the greater good.  Humility ruled.  Not so today…and we are the worse for it.