Robert Edsel's Blog

It’s hard to believe that this is our 20th newsletter! So much has happened in the last 3 years. I hope you enjoy our latest publication – just click to download the PDF version.

I was recently honored to become a Trustee of our nation’s National World War ll Museum in New Orleans.  For those of you who may not know, this museum is the joint vision of the great historian and the most popular storyteller of World War ll, the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose, and his best friend of 30 years, fellow historian and current CEO of the Museum, Dr. Nick Mueller. It has a dedicated board of trustees, a passionate group of employees, and prominent volunteer supporters, including Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw, who together have created one of the most exciting and interesting visitor experiences in the world.

The museum is unparalleled in its telling of the war.  It has just opened a unique 4-D theater, home to “Beyond All Boundaries”, a one of a kind film produced by Tom Hanks which may only be seen in this theater.  The film presents an extraordinary summary of the war and the events which led to it.  Appealing to adults and kids alike, this museum is one of our country’s great cultural experiences in the exciting and fully recovered city of New Orleans.

This week the museum is having a “Band of Brothers” marathon leading up to the newest HBO special, “The Pacific”.  Anyone seeking a great experience should hop on a Southwest Airlines jet and get a front row seat for this great event!

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/.

Paul Mellon, the great American art patron and son of Andrew Mellon, who donated to the nation the funds required to build our National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., once said: “What this nation needs is a good 5 minute respite”. I think he was suggesting we slow down a bit, take a deep breath, pause to reflect, and perhaps even be thankful for all we have that is good. Thanksgiving may be the best of all holidays to allow ourselves just such a moment.

I have so much for which to be thankful. What follows are some of the more immediate things that come to mind:

The opportunity to have spent almost 4 hours with Lane Faison before he died…

Discovering Monuments woman Mary Regan Quessenberry and having the chance to spend so much time with her this fall…she is one of the more remarkable people I’ve ever met…

Having the time and resources to travel around the country the last 4 years visiting with the Monuments Men and women and their families, and developing with them a special bond of friendship from my work to tell their story and preserve their legacy…

Developing such a close relationship with the great folks at the National World War II Museum, in particular director Dr. Nick Mueller.  Their enthusiasm about the importance of the story of the Monuments Men and eagerness to work with the Monuments Men Foundation has been a most welcome development…

Being of good health…

Having had such great parents, both of whom had the opportunity to be a part of my work to find and honor the Monuments Men…

Having such a wonderful son whose very voice brings a smile and laughter to each day…

Being surrounded with such dedicated people at the Monuments Men Foundation office who care so deeply about these Monuments Men and women, their stories, and in making sure their accomplishments are known to all…

For having such an extraordinary group of friends, diverse in their thought and ways, spread around the world, but all only a call away, each ever present in my heart…

And finally, being of good spirit and attitude, filled with passion for all things meaningful in my life…my passion is the source of my endless reserve of energy, creativity, and love.

To all…have a great Thanksgiving!!!

I’m in New Orleans today on behalf of the Monuments Men and the Monuments Men Foundation at the dedication ceremony of the new expansion space of the National World War ll Museum.  Hosts Tom Brokaw and Tom Hanks are among thousands of others here honoring the sacrifice of so many millions of Americans who experienced—and won—the greatest war in history.  As many of the speakers have commented, we can never thank them enough.  As the son of a World War ll veteran of the Pacific, an 18 year old marine at the time, I know firsthand the truth of this sentiment.

Last evening I attended a black tie dinner at which Tom Brokaw made moving remarks about how important this Museum has become in his life.  He said that writing his book, The Greatest Generation, was the most meaningful and important achievement of his professional career. Don’t I know…I feel the same about my role in working with the Monuments Men. It is an honor, a privilege.

Today we witnessed many beautiful scenes such as the entry of the color guard, and even more moving, the entry parade of the World War ll veterans, grouped by service–first the Army, then Marines, Navy, Army Air Corp, and Coast Guard.  16 members of the Tuskegee Air Corps are present.  Medal recipients abound.  It is so humbling to be in the presence of all these great heroes.

Tomorrow night I’m honored to speak at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans at 7:30pm, September 19^th. There will be hundreds of veterans in attendance – my favorite audience! If you are in the area please join us. Admission is free.