Robert Edsel's Blog

"Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" photographed by Joe Rosenthal. (Photo Courtesy of The Associated Press)

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.  The photograph depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It is the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year as publication and is possibly the most reproduced photograph of all time.

The image represents the United States Marine Corps hoisting the flag on Mount Suribachi, the highest point on Iwo Jima island which was the first Japanese homeland soil to be captured. There were two flags raised at this point, but the first one was replaced because the flag was too small, 54 x 28 inches, and it was hard to see from the beach below. The second flag measured 96 x 56 inches thus making it more visible from the beaches and this time, it was able to be filmed and photographed properly. The photographer, Joe Rosenthal, almost missed taking the photograph because he was trying to get a better vantage point. He later remarked:

“Out of the corner of my eye, I had seen the men start the flag up. I swung my camera and shot the scene. That is how the picture was taken, and when you take a picture like that, you don’t come away saying you got a great shot. You don’t know.” [1]

A diagram of the photo indicating the six men who raised the flag: Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley (†), Michael Strank (†), John Bradley, Rene Gagnon and Harlon Block (†). (†) = Killed on Iwo Jima. (Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons)

When President Roosevelt saw the image, he immediately ordered the surviving marines back to the United States to help in the war bond drive.  The power of this image was the symbol for the 7th war bond that raised $26.3 billion, twice the tour’s goal and help seal the victory of World War II for the Allies.

Few images have captured the imagination as the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.

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[1] Bradley, James. Flags of Our Fathers, p. 209–211.

Photo Courtesy of CNN

As they say in westerns, “where’s the sheriff when you need one?”

I previously wrote about the damage to Haiti’s great national cathedral (blog dated February 9) and pointed out the hope that restoring it can bring to the citizens of this devastated country.  These cultural symbols with which they have lived for decades bring hope and inspiration; they’re destruction conveys the opposite message.  But in Haiti, like in war torn Europe at the end of World War II, the damage to culture went far beyond buildings and structures to include paintings, sculpture…in fact, most every form art takes.  This was the overwhelming challenge faced by the Monuments Men and women in the days after the war.

Christiane Amanpour, one of the truly gifted journalists of our time, due in no small part to her years of travel and fascinating family of origin, “gets it” in my view on this and so many other subjects.  Art matters; culture matters.  They are priceless parts of our existence; when they are damaged or our ability to enjoy them restricted as was the case in Nazi Germany, our lives are greatly diminished in ways few appreciate until those horrible moments are presented.  Christiane has prepared a great piece about the cost to Haiti in terms of its loss of cultural heritage due to the damage of works of art from the earthquake. The link is http://www.cnn.com/haitilostart.html

We must always state how much we mourn those who are no longer in Haiti, the tragic victims of this epic natural disaster.  But our focus must now shift to those who have survived, and those who have a chance to recover.  As time passes, these symbols of hope—the cultural heritage of a nation—will become increasingly important to the people of Haiti, perhaps less due to a desire to enjoy them initially and more so knowing that until the day when the rebuilding has begun, their cultural patrimony is safe.  Compliments to Christiane Amanpour for her insights and program.

I am speaking at the First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs on Thursday at 10:00am EST. Books can bought and signed by the author at the location. This talk is open to the public and admission is free. I look forward to seeing you there.

First Presbyterian Church

9751 Bonita Beach Road SE,

Bonita Springs, FL 34135-4530

Click Here for Directions

Click Here a More Information

I’m sorry to announce that I have had to cancel my lecture tomorrow at the University of Pennsylvania. Old Man Winter is not on our side this week – with more heavy snowstorms expected across the country, getting in and out of Philadelphia would be near impossible. This is the first lecture I’ve had to cancel (out of more than 50!), so I assure you this was a tough decision to make. I love Philadelphia and was looking forward to speaking at the University of Pennsylvania Law School – especially because like so many other fine institutions in our country, they had a special connection to the Monuments Men. The chairman of the Roberts Commission, which created the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section, was Owen J. Roberts, a professor and Dean of the Law School for many years. I hope we can reschedule in the spring, and apologize to those of you who were planning on attending.

Gemaldegalerie Linz Album XIII

Augsburger Geschlechterbuch or “Augsburg Book of Nobles”

On Friday we gathered at the State Department for a ceremony marking the return of two irreplaceable documents, one of which was located by the Monuments Men Foundation.  The Gemaldegalerie Linz Album XIII was a prized possession of Hitler and documented German 19^th century works of art he had accumulated, both through purchase and theft, for the Fuhrermuseum he planned to build in his hometown.  The other document is known as the Augsburger Geschlechterbuch or “Augsburg Book of Nobles” which belongs to the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.  While each item was taken by a U.S. Army soldier, the circumstances of their respective returns couldn’t have been more different.

Mr. Robert Edsel, Mr. John Pistone, and Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, and Minister of the Interior for Baden-Wuerttemberg, Heribert Rech

This great occasion also honored one of those veterans, Mr. John Pistone, who upon learning about the importance of the Gemaldegalerie Linz Album agreed to work through the Monuments Men Foundation to ensure its return to Germany.  In contrast, the person in possession of the Augsburg Book of Nobles refused to return it and only through years of litigation was it eventually delivered to the State Department.

Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew, Minister Heribert Rech, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth and Mr. Robert M. Edsel

Mr. Robert Edsel, Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, Minister Heribert Rech, and Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew

Ambassador Christian Kennedy, the U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues hosted the event and introduced each of the speakers after making poignant remarks about the importance of these two items being returned to Germany. His comments were underscored by Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew.  Accepting these items was German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, and Heribert Rech, Minister of the Interior for Baden-Wuerttemberg, the state in which Stuttgart is located.  Both gentlemen spoke eloquently and candidly about this period of Germany’s history and the commitment Germany has today to doing everything possible to assist those victims of the Nazi era in recovering their stolen belongings.  At the same time, they expressed their desire to see items belonging to Germany returned home.  Minister Rech had tears in his eyes when he expressed the satisfaction that this important relic of his city’s history was finally going home.

Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, Ambassador Christian Kennedy, and Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew

Each speaker commented on the important role of the Monuments Men during and after World War II and expressed their sincere appreciation for the work of the Monuments Men Foundation in not only preserving their legacy but in helping to locate and return items of such historic importance.  After all our hard work, these remarks were quite gratifying to hear.  Compliments were also directed to Mr. John Pistone for his role in coming forward to set the example for all veterans and their relatives who, like him, may have some item that was taken during the war that is a cultural object which should be returned.  When I first met with Mr. Pistone many months ago, I encouraged him to be a visible presence in the return of this document both to allow him to receive the credit he was due, but also to set the example for others.  He graciously agreed.  It was a very happy moment for the Monuments Men Foundation team to witness this fine veteran receive such praise in the presence of his family.  He later told me it was one of the proudest moments of his life…and that speaks volumes about what we at the Foundation are all about.

Mrs. Verna Pistone and her daughters Joan, Julianne and Laura

Photos courtesy of United States State Department

Robert Edsel will be speaking tomorrow at the Dallas Museum of Art in the Horchow Auditorium regarding his new book, The Monuments Men, at 7:30pm.  This is a wonderful time to learn and experience the Monuments Men with a highly interactive presentation, including many images and videos, along with question and answer at the end.  Also, this is a great time to have your copy of The Monuments Men signed by the author. Please click the link for more information http://www.dm-art.org/Events/Lectures/index.htm#edsel.

We just learned that my interview with Jeffrey Brown of PBS’s acclaimed program, The NewsHour, will be broadcast on this evening’s program at 6pm CST. The segment may also be seen on their website at the following link http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2009/11/conversation-robert-edsel.html.

Please enjoy the following show.

Entry of the Color Guard at the National World War II Museum

More than 1,150,000 Americans have died in the wars our nation has waged to gain – and maintain – its freedom and independence. Through World War II the greatness of our nation was founded in the concept of shared sacrifice, the belief that those in uniform — and the families they left behind — shouldn’t shoulder the burden of defending our way of life alone.

Former President Teddy Roosevelt wisely observed that “…in the long run, success or failure [of the Republic] will be conditioned upon the way in which the average man, the average woman, does his or her duty, first in the ordinary everyday affairs of life, and next in those great occasional cries which call for heroic virtues.  The average citizen must be a good citizen if our Republics are to succeed.”

Our veterans, and those men and women in uniform, continue to do their part, even when harm’s way appears on our own military bases at home.  But at a time in our Republic’s history when Veterans Day has sadly become notable more for its holiday shopping promotions and as a day off from school or work, one wonders what has become of the Good Citizen of whom Roosevelt spoke?

Tom Brokaw giving a speech at the National World War II Museum

Last Friday, while in New Orleans for the dedication ceremony of the National World War II Museum’s new expansion space, including its one of a kind 4-D theater and film, Beyond all Boundaries, I witnessed the work of many Good Citizens, but two in particular worth highlighting:  Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw.  Their official roles were as hosts of the various events, none more moving than the Parade of Veterans, 350 men and women who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Army Air Force and Coast Guard during World War II.  Tom Brokaw told the audience that writing The Greatest Generation was “the single most important professional experience of my life.”  Tom Hanks spoke lovingly of his father, a Navy veteran, and the importance of each person doing their part as a prerequisite to achieving the long sought victory, even if their role was that of a machinist.

But behind the scenes, when the cameras weren’t rolling, the “Toms” were everywhere:  arriving early and staying late, serving food to the veterans, attending cocktail parties and dinners for supporters of the museum, and meeting with museum officials to discuss additional ways they could help to preserve the legacy of the men and women who saved our world from the greatest threat it has ever known.  As Dr. Nick Mueller, President of the museum, often stated, every time he and his friend of 30 years, the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose, called the “Toms” for help, they both enthusiastically appeared.

Tom Hanks talking with veterans

Personally I was struck less by what Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw did than I was the spirit in which they did it:  gracious, humble, honored to be of help.  They were the Good Citizens, in this case extraordinary men applying their resources — none more powerful than their time —in a way that served as an inspiring example for others.  These are the same traits I’ve witnessed in my interviews with the citizen-soldiers known as the Monuments Men, a small group of men and women who saved and preserved the greatest cultural treasures from the destruction of World War II and theft by Hitler and the Nazis: graciousness, humility, inspiration.

So on this Veterans Day, I think NOT of the commercialism of the holiday or the de-coupling of the bond of shared sacrifice that built our great nation, rather I take hope in the example set by Tom Hanks, Tom Brokaw, and many other Good Citizens in New Orleans this past weekend. I give thanks to our veterans, and all those in military service, including their loved ones, who keep us safe.

Today marks the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht, an evening in Germany when hundreds of synagogues were burned, thousands of shops destroyed, and many lives lost.  Nazi Germany’s attack on its Jewish population was fully underway and in the open for all to see.  Theft of their belongings, imprisonment, and mass murder, under the most gruesome and inhumane of circumstances, ensued.

While these horrific events took place in Germany, the lessons we should never forget are universal and lasting. We ignore them at our own peril as a civilization.  Anytime one person or one race preaches superiority at the expense of others, warning bells should sound.

We must therefore consider the fall of the Berlin wall 20 years ago an astounding moment of progress in modern civilization.  What a remarkable achievement that the end of the Cold War came with a spontaneous celebration, not the sound of gunfire or artillery.  It took a long time for this portion of World War II to come to its natural conclusion, but the moment did come.  It should never be overlooked, as a triumph for freedom, and a victory for a more hopeful Germany as a nation.

Tomorrow morning, I will appear live on “Morning Joe” with Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, and Willie Geist on MSNBC at 8:45am EST. This is an incredible opportunity for us to publicize the story of the Monuments Men and their incredible achievements before, during and after World War II. Please invite your family and friends to tune in. Click the link for more information about the show and to find out what channel it airs on in your area. http://www.morningjoe.com.