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.

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!

It was an honor to speak at our Nation’s World War II Museum in New Orleans this past Saturday evening.  There were more than 400 people in attendance, twice the size audience that was expected.  This has happened repeatedly in my travels lecturing:  audiences everywhere are interested in the story of how a handful of 40 year old men managed to save so much of the art we all enjoy today.  Dr. Nick Mueller, President of the Museum and lifelong friend of the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose, whose vision it was to build this magnificent museum, shared with the audience his determination to in time incorporate the telling of this story about the Monuments Men into the Museum’s comprehensive presentation of the story of World War II.   There could be no greater evidence of how “untold” the story of the Monuments Men is than the fact that there is NOTHING about it in the Museum’s detailed and in depth coverage of the war.  Dr. Mueller has been quick to see the power of this story and what an important part it is to the telling of the war experience, especially in the years that followed the end of the war as the Monuments Men remained in Europe for more than 6 years finishing the job they started.

This presentation was taped by C-SPAN and will be aired nationally in the coming days.  Stay tuned for broadcast details and photos from the event!

Monuments Men Bernard Taper, Harry Ettlinger and Horace Apgar and myself at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. This preceded the Senate Ceremony honoring these men and women on June 6, 2007. (Photo Courtesy of Robert M. Edsel Collection.)

The outpouring of support and words of encouragement for the launch of The Monuments Men is tremendously gratifying. Thanks go to the hundreds of friends and well-wishers who have contacted me beginning last evening.  No calls and emails have meant more than those I’ve received from the Monuments Men themselves and their kids.  I hasten to add that my publisher, Center Street, a division of Hachette, and our team led by my editor Michelle Rapkin, have thrown their full resources behind this book.  The full force of their effort will be known to all in the coming weeks.

Interviewing my father, a World War II veteran of the Pacific, at the World War II Memorial. (Photo Courtesy of Robert M. Edsel Collection.)

An undertaking such as the epic telling of these heroes’ story and, to a degree, the illumination of a critical seam to a distinct but major new understanding of World War II and the role of art does not cause an overnight result.  A friend wisely commented to me yesterday, it is a marathon race, not a sprint.  Endurance and steadfastness are critical components of the endeavor.

It continues to be my honor to represent these heroes and their families and to share their stories with people around the world.  I hope you will tell others about their story….that word of mouth recommendation is where the battle will be won!

It’s been quite a wait since finishing the writing of The Monuments Men in April, but the wait is now over as the book appears today in bookstores and online throughout the United Kingdom.  I’m very excited about introducing these heroes of civilization and providing you an opportunity to share in their thrilling and yet harrowing story.

This week I’ve given a number of print interviews including Time Magazine, The Sunday Telegraph, and The Sunday Express, radio interviews on BBC which aired both throughout the United Kingdom and last night on BBC World Radio, and on television.  In fact, one interview I was particularly pleased to give was with BBC World.  (I’ve provided links below if you are interested!)

The people of London, and everyone with whom I’ve spoken, are very excited to hear about this great untold story of World War II and, in particular, these unknown heroes.  Later today and tomorrow I’ll be stopping into various bookstores to sign books and meet some of the people who I know will adopt these heroes just as I have.

Stay tuned…lots more news to follow!

BBC NEWS – The WWII Soldiers Who Saved Art

BBC RADIO – Monuments Men

Monuments Man Ronald Balfour (1904 - 1945). (Photo Courtesy of Kings College Archive Center, Cambridge)

Major Ronald Balfour of the First Canadian Army, was from Oxfordshire, England. He was a historian at Cambridge University, a “gentleman scholar”, a bachelor dedicated to the intellectual life without ambition for accolades or position.

Before heading off to combat in August 1944, Balfour succinctly and beautifully made the compelling case of the importance of the task confronting the Monuments Men in a speech he planned to deliver to his men. He said: “No age lives entirely alone; every civilisation is formed not merely by its own achievements but by what it has inherited from the past. If these things are destroyed, we have lost a part of our past, and we shall be the poorer for it.”

Balfour also explained for his men the word “monuments”:

When we invade Europe, we shall be going into countries which are full of churches and other buildings, of museums and pictures and other works of art, of libraries and archives. These things are all valuable and many of them irreplaceable. It will be the same wherever we go, whether it is France or Belgium or Holland or Norway. To avoid repeating the whole list — churches and other buildings, museums and pictures and other works of art, libraries and archives — every time we speak of them , we use the word monuments to cover them all. So don’t be misled into thinking that when I speak of monuments I mean only statues and tombstones.

Sadly, Monuments Man Ronald Balfour was unable to deliver in person these remarks and others he had prepared. Still, the work he accomplished as a Monuments officer, not to mention the friendships he made and high esteem in which he was held by his comrades, is a testament to this great man and all he did to preserve the things “inherited from the past” he so cherished.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is showing people their connection to the story of the Monuments Men. And what a living, current day story it is!

On Stage with President George Bush is the founder of the Monuments Men Foundation, Robert M. Edsel, and "Monuments Men" James Reeds, Seymour Pomrenze, Harry Ettlinger and Horace Apgar (Photo courtesy of White House.)

Almost two years ago, the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art was honored to receive the National Humanities Medal for its work preserving the legacy of the Monuments Men and women. This is the United States’ highest honor for work in the humanities. The award was presented by President Bush at the White House in a beautiful ceremony that took place in the ornate East Room and was attended by four of the living Monuments Men.

Also presented that day were the National Medals of the Arts awarded to such luminaries as artist Andrew Wyeth, arts patron Roy Neuberger, and guitarist and innovator, Les Paul.

My son, Diego, was with us that day and being an outstanding guitarist himself, Diego knew exactly who Les Paul was and was beside himself with excitement at the opportunity to meet him. In fact, after the ceremony concluded there was a reception in an adjoining room where those in attendance greeted the medal recipients and congratulated them. It was a great moment for me as a father to watch the enthusiasm my son had when he walked over at his own initiative and introduced himself to Les Paul, who couldn’t have been more gracious and kind to this fourteen year old boy. It said a lot about the quality of the man over and above his achievements.

Les Paul and Diego Edsel. (Photo Courtesy of Robert M. Edsel Collection)

Les Paul died yesterday at the age of 94. He is best known for his work developing the electric guitar and numerous recording studio innovations. His was a life well lived.

To read more about his life, see his obituary in the New York Times: NY Times Obituary