The ‘Monuments Men’ and Art in World War II

This research focuses on the 'Monuments Men,’ a group of civilian and military personnel from amongst the Allied Nations in World War II who dedicated themselves to protecting, preserving, and reclaiming Europe's artistic and architectural marvels. The thesis statement is art was highly valued by both sides during the war and fell into their operational and tactical planning and that the 'Monuments Men' were crucial to rescuing looted art and helping to establish some of the finest art institutions of the Western world, aiding in art provenance research and restitution. The dominant research question is why was art sought after during World War II and how did it affect military planning and resource allocation? This dissertation offers a new research synthesis regarding the 'Monuments Men.' The research methodology includes reviewing primary sources, articles, and textual sources. There is also an interdisciplinary element as the research combines themes involving military history, art, and social standards. Primary sources include the archives of John Walker, Director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Other principal sources included the Eisenhower Presidential Library and the Dwight D. Roosevelt Library. There is potential for additional research in the historiography for provenance research, especially at the museum level. Several museums are pushing for a review of their archives and the art in their collections to ensure a clean and trouble-free history of the art. Some preliminary results of the research indicate that provenance research and art restitution are becoming a central focus. The MFAA was an integral part of reclaiming Nazi-looted art. Their efforts saw an estimated 5 million artifacts returned and helped aid current provenance research. To date, there are still an estimated 30 thousand pieces of art missing. Future historians can help close this gap by assisting museums conduct provenance research.