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
The National Cathedral of Haiti devastated by the recent earthquake. (Photo Courtesy of Polaris Images)
I’ve often said that perhaps the most redeeming aspect of the historic work of the Monuments Men is one of hope…that in the face of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man, and amidst the great human suffering and devastation to homes, towns, and ways of life as a consequence of World War II, a small group of volunteers emerged to risk their lives and everything they had accomplished to rescue and preserve the cultural legacy of civilization for future generations. This story is certainly filled with heroism, valor, and harrowing close calls in which western civilization’s most beloved works of art and monuments were in jeopardy of being destroyed. But the story is also one of hope that the lessons of the Monuments Men during World War II would enable future generations to be better prepared to deal with similar situations.
In Haiti, a natural disaster of war-like scope has devastated the nation and its people and suspended the normal functioning of their society. The deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and more importantly all ongoing efforts to save the lives of others while creating a stable safe living environment must be the paramount concern. This will be years in the doing; no quick fix exists. Haiti’s long history of poverty and decades of kleptocratic leadership have created that reality despite noble efforts, and some signs of progress, these past few years. Because of the protracted time that rebuilding even a modicum portion of the infrastructure will require, hope—and all its symbols—will have an added significance.
Hope buys time…hope buys patience…hope can provide a reason to fight for life just one more day until improvement comes, no matter how slight. Hope can bring a sense of confidence about there being tomorrows. And in my judgment, the people of Haiti need hope as desperately as they need medicine, doctors, and financial aid. What then can be done that would bring a disproportionate benefit to the aid dollars and individual acts of mercy? Let us for a moment look to the past as a guide.
Rouen Cathedral damaged by bombing in 1944 (Photo Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
The thousands of discoveries during World War ll made by the Monuments Men of hidden paintings, stained glass, pieces of sculpture, and other art objects too often overshadows their initial assignment which was to protect monuments, i.e., churches, libraries, museums, and other important historical structures, hence the nickname “Monuments Men.” The Monuments Men were not responsible for restoring these buildings, but they did oftentimes implement crucial temporary repairs that mitigated damage and enabled restoration at a later date. They also made key determinations about which structures were damaged beyond repair and those that, while severely damaged, could in fact be rebuilt using as much of the original materials and structure as possible.
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, 1953 (Photo Courtesy of AKG Images)
Many examples of the results of their work and other people of good will exist, but two that are prominent and serve to illustrate the point are the great cathedral in Rouen, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen was severely damaged in April 1944 by Western Allied bombing, and again during the D-Day invasion two months later. It was repaired after the war and remains one of Europe’s great gothic cathedrals, dating back to 1202! The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, built in honor of Germany’s Emperor (1858-1888), was nearly destroyed in a Western Allied air raid on November 23, 1943. As late as May 24th, 1953, the church was still unrepaired with parishioners attending services in the ruins of the structure. Repairs to the church didn’t begin until 1959 and required 4 years to finish.
The National Cathedral of Haiti before the earthquake (Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Images)
And After (Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Images)
Haiti’s great church, the National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, was severely damaged by the earthquake. Built between 1884 and 1914, the Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince is a Roman Catholic Church of hugely symbolic importance to Haitians, more than 90% of whom are Catholic. It is, along with the presidential palace, the most identifiable structure in the nation. (To put this into perspective, imagine the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. being destroyed, or St. Patrick’s in New York City.) While the roof collapsed, much of the structure’s walls remain standing, in fact eerily similar to the scenes of destruction to the Rouen and Berlin churches. Those churches were rebuilt: the National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince should be also.
Imagine the impact on these shattered Haitian lives to see this revered structure rebuilt and done so in a way to withstand future earthquakes? And not rebuilt for them, but rebuilt BY THEM combining their physical participation with the technological assistance of experts in such matters, and the funding and support of kindred organizations such as the Vatican, the World Monuments Fund, and others. The symbol of hope and reassurance to the people of Haiti that there WILL be a tomorrow would be immense and inspirational. With guidance and assistance from those in the United States, including our government, it would send a message to the world that the leaders of this nation understand the importance of respect for the preservation of cultural property in a way our actions in the aftermath of the looting of the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad in 2003 did just the opposite. This was the very essence of why the Monuments Men were created, the core objective of their mission. It worked in war torn Europe after the deaths of 60 million people. Why then should it not work in Haiti?
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.
New Orleans is the place to be….Saints mania abounds, and rightfully so!!! But there’s another exciting event which has brought me here today: the opening of the first exhibition by the Monuments Men Foundation! And what more fitting location could there be: the stunning National World War II Museum! On display are two irreplaceable historic documents which are the smoking guns of Hitler and the Nazi’s greatest theft in history: the Gemaldegalerie Linz Album XIII, and the ERR Album 6, both of which were removed from Hitler’s home in Berchtesgaden, known as the Berghof, by U.S. Army soldiers.
This is the first time these documents have been together since being in Hitler’s possession, and the only opportunity the public will ever have to see them together. The ERR Album 6 contains photographs of paintings stolen by Alfred Rosenberg and his notorious Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg unit from the great collectors in France including families such as the Rothschilds, Seligmanns, David-Weill, and others. It was presented to Hitler along with as many as 100 albums in that series. Until the Monuments Men Foundation located Album 6, it was believed there were just 39 of these albums which, interestingly, were the chief prosecution exhibit at the Nuremberg Trials for the portion pertaining to Nazi theft of cultural property.
This 90 day exhibition marks the second leg of the journey home to Berlin for the Gemaldegalerie Linz Album XIII. It began a week ago when I presented it to Germany’s Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Klaus Scharioth, at the United States State Department (for related story click here). This Album, one of 31 such albums created of which only 19 were believed to have survived the war, is extremely important because it contains photographs of the works of art personally selected by Hitler for the museum he intended on building in his hometown of Linz, commonly referred to as the Führermuseum. Album XIII is particularly significant because it contains works by German 19th century painters so beloved by Hitler. Not only was this and the other still missing 11 albums thought to have been destroyed, but scholars believed their last known location was the Wolfsschanze or Wolf’s Lair, Hitler’s headquarters on the eastern front. That this album was located at Berchtesgaden was quite a revelation and makes it increasingly likely others will eventually be found.
The Monuments Men Foundation believes that many of the missing albums from both series survived the war and will surface in the months and years ahead. These documents are only the most recent examples of the millions of still missing works of art and other objects from the World War II period. We encourage anyone with information about a missing object, or concern about some item in their possession, to contact the Monuments Men Foundation.
And an enormous “thanks” goes to all our friends at the National World War II Museum who have done such an outstanding job installing the exhibit and supporting this important display. For all those who haven’t been to the Museum, it is truly one of the most amazing, interactive and fascinating museums in the world. For more information on the National World War II Museum visit http://www.nationalww2museum.org/.
Monuments Men Bernard Taper and Harry Ettlinger
My dad used to say, “the most important thing about birthdays is to keep having them!”. A little Yogi Berra I admit, but like many things he told me, the wisdom became more apparent with time.
Part of his message was to slow down and celebrate them; each is precious. So today we pause for a moment to acknowledge the birthdays of two of our heroes, Monuments Men Bernard Taper and Harry Ettlinger. I’ve spent a lot of time with both of these men and they are wonderful human beings over and above their many life accomplishments.
Strangely enough, I introduced Harry and Bernie to each other on June 5th, 2007, the day before our Senate Ceremony to honor all of the men and women of 13 nations who served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section. They were like two bugs in a rug from the outset swapping stories, sharing experiences. It didn’t take long to make a significant connection: both had interrogated Hitler’s good friend and personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffman, interestingly almost a year apart.
I walked behind them through the halls of the Senate as we headed to an appointment to meet Senator Hillary Clinton, leaning over their shoulders ease dropping on their conversation. I always marvel at how similar older people are to young kids in the most endearing of ways. Watching the two of them get to know each other reminded me of two boys at a playground immediately engaged in conversation as if they had known each other all their lives, void of pretense and ego, just happy to have a friend. I always cherish their first meeting among my many memories.
So here’s to our friends, Harry Ettlinger and Bernard Taper: may you both remain in good health and be with us for many more such happy occasions!
65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland. On January 17, 1945, the Nazis evacuated the camp, forcing some 60,000 prisoners on a death march to the Bergen-Belsen camp in Germany. On January 27, Soviet troops liberated the 7,500 prisoners who were left at Auschwitz because they were too weak.
Poland is marking the anniversary today with ceremonies and mass at Auschwitz, as well as the Third International Holocaust Forum. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek will address the forum, and video messages are expected from US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. 200 European Union dignitaries, Holocaust survivors, including 100 who were imprisoned at Auschwitz, and students will attend. Let us all take a few moments today to remember the victims of Nazi persecution. I found this short video clip on YouTube particularly moving.
Auschwitz haunts Soviet veteran (Click Link to Play Video)
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 19th 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
The imposing majesty of the National Gallery of Art and its remarkable collection deceive many visitors into believing it is centuries older than it is. In fact, this March, it will celebrate only its 70th year!
No sooner than the National Gallery opened than the nation was consumed with World War II; Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th. The United States would soon be fighting on European soil for the second time within 24 years. Included among the fighting forces would be a small group of men and women dedicated to saving the great cultural treasures of Europe formally know as the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section, or MFAA. But they were better known as “Monuments Men”.
Because much of the Monuments Men operation was run out of the National Gallery by its director, David Finley, and others, my speaking engagement this past Sunday was a homecoming of sorts. It was a distinct honor to stand before a full house of about 400 people to present these great heroes and their stories to a very well-informed and enthusiastic audience, especially after such a heartwarming introduction by Nancy Yeide, head of curatorial records and files, and a dear friend.
Having had the good fortune of visiting most of the world’s great museums, I can say with conviction that the National Gallery of Art is truly one of the greats. Every American should be very proud of our nation’s museum and thankful to Andrew Mellon, the man whose vision and generosity made this great institution a reality.
After six weeks of fighting across “Purple Heart Valley”, US Fifth Army in Italy finally reached the Gustav line on January 15, 1944. Before them lay the long road to Rome. On January 17, British X Corps attempted to break the Gustav Line by crossing the Garigliano River. This marked the beginning of the Battle of Monte Cassino – a battle that would last four months, and become one of the most controversial and devastating of the war.
The Gustav Line was anchored by the town of Cassino, and the Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino above it. Because some allied leaders believed that the Germans were using the abbey as an observation point, the thousand-year old building became the focus of much debate. On the one hand, General Eisenhower had issued an order just weeks earlier, stating that “we are bound to respect those monuments as far as war allows.” However, as the battle dragged on and the number of casualties quickly climbed into the tens of thousands, the abbey increasingly became seen as a symbol of Nazi strength, and one that must be destroyed if the Allies were to advance to Rome.
The abbey would not be destroyed by Allied bombing until February 15, but in the early days of battle the monks living in the abbey had already begun to experience the war first hand. This is an excerpt from a monk’s diary, dated January 18:
“At noon a shell hit in the Fossa [the ravine behind the Abbey]. It killed a woman and wounded several others, among them a girl of 20 months…The Anglo-Americans are firing on the Fossa because they see movement there…Only God can save us. One day perhaps we will find out the reason for things that seem somewhat mysterious.”{Footnote 1}
It is no wonder the monks thought the attack of the abbey so mysterious – as the Allies discovered after the bombing of the monastery, the Germans had not been occupying the building after all. Luckily, the destruction of Monte Cassino served as an important lesson for Allied leaders – and soon after Monuments Man Deane Keller was attached to Fifth Army.
Footnote 1: David Hapgood and David Richardson. Monte Cassino: The Story of the Most Controversial Battle of World War II. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2002. Pg 109.
On January 14, 1943, President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met at the Anfa Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco. The ten day meeting became known as the Casablanca Conference – one of the most famous and decisive of the war.
“…For ten days the combined staffs have been in constant session, meeting two or three times a day and recording progress at intervals to the President and Prime Minister.
The entire field of the war was surveyed theater by theater throughout the world, and all resources were marshaled for a more intense prosecution of the war by sea, land and air.
Nothing like this prolonged discussion between two allies has ever taken place before. Complete agreement was reached between the leaders of the two countries and their respective staffs upon war plans and enterprises to be undertaken during the campaigns of 1943 against Germany, Italy and Japan with a view to drawing the utmost advantage from the markedly favorable turn of events at the close of 1942.” [Footnote 1]
At the Casablanca Conference, the Americans and British reached the crucial decision that the best plan of action was to attack the Axis powers through the “soft underbelly” of the Mediterranean, instead of across the English Channel. This would be done through a joint invasion of Sicily, known as “Operation Husky”. Some of Roosevelt’s advisors felt that this would prolong the war, and were strong advocates of a cross-Channel attack, however Roosevelt realized that the British simply were not yet prepared for an invasion of Northern France. After Casablanca, British and American forces, including the Monuments Men, began preparing for the invasion of Sicily and eventually Italy. While the MFAA didn’t have much time to prepare for Operation Husky, the first Monuments Man, Captain Mason Hammond, was on the ground in Sicily just 3 weeks after the invasion.
Another lasting result of the Casablanca Conference was the declaration by Roosevelt and Churchill that they would only accept an unconditional surrender from the Axis powers. This was expressed in a radio address by Roosevelt on February 12, 1943.
“In an attempt to ward off the inevitable disaster, the Axis propagandist are trying all of their old tricks in order to divide the United Nations. They seek to create the idea that if we win this war, Russia, England, China, and the United States are going to get into a cat-and-dog fight.
This is their final effort to turn one nation against another, in the vain hope that they may settle with one or two at a time-that any of us may be so gullible and so forgetful as to be duped into making “deals” at the expense of our Allies.
To these panicky attempts to escape the consequences of their crimes we say-all the United Nations say-that the only terms on which we shall deal with an Axis government or any Axis factions are the terms proclaimed at Casablanca: “Unconditional Surrender.” In our uncompromising policy we mean no harm to the common people of the Axis nations. But we do mean to impose punishment and retribution in full upon their guilty, barbaric leaders…”
Footnote 1: “Casablanca Conference Communiqué, January 24, 1943.” Pamphlet No. 4, PILLARS OF PEACE. Documents Pertaining To American Interest In Establishing A Lasting World Peace: January 1941-February 1946. Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania: Book Department, Army Information School. May 1946.
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