Three books about it. With that foundation and continuing womens work. Ended is an amazing experience. I had some success over 15 years but i was 39 years old by a didnt understand howw quickly 39 became 59 wanted something more meaningful but it to carve out space to break free of that gravitational pull. My son was two years old. So it seemed like a great opportunity to take a break. I had some qualifying tournaments event that was very cool to do but helped me to sell my business to let go of identity. So that is a great enthusiasm to take some time off. But i spent most of my time from 1960 and i was there and went to a couple of different colleges. When did you get a interested in history . And i was always interested so i spent some time walking through churches but and then once i became very i had more interest. But i learned i am very tactile. Than one day a week through their eyes. And it was a great experience of sculpture moves toward churches thought it was more important than the of their. That was the extraordinary opportunities. What was stolen by the nazi . It is truly an exercise of futility. And paintings and then have to ask what would happen and then who could beav sold. In then to be very quickly. And then with 20,000 or 10,000 paintings and ancient libraries. How much is still missing . That is an exercise of numbers. But the number that i used is those cultural objects. Than talk about tapestries and paintings and drawings in books and documents there were 60,000 works of art alone on the missing data base. It is not a random number just picked out of the sky they use millions of numbers and it is hard to account. Goahead new york. Caller good morning. In the it today talk about going over before the war to buy the art and i wonder or not you can speak to those circumstances . And in germany or sweden. Given the course is to speak passionately about the things that i know. And i cannot help you on that one. N. And in the earlier days and those that were being confiscated. But with that mass removal but in the west the apartments were alluded then piled up so that is the paradox. And those of the way of the allied bombing. And with the telling of the story. Maryland go ahead. Caller thanks for all the great work you have done so with the National Gallery of art and for 15 years because it turns out in the 1980s to put on the exhibition and that included some or works in this was the impressionist painting and once this case now the National Gallery never addressed it. And to bury his head in the sand like an ostrich. But my question is are you familiar . Then to address this issue. We got the point. Guest i think so with that collection i have a little bit of knowledge but so that issue of providence is something that has come to the of four. And i dont see any point to try to go back for things that might of happened i dont think that would have been today in and we should focus of those problems that we can fix. Professor from Alcorn State University tweets wonderful presentation. My a students are assigned to watch the movies. Right think the of movie is fantastic that it is a hugely challenging subject that hasnt been tackled the major story about World War Two we have not seen the of that geographical scope but theyhe never were in one place to gather. Together to catch bad over arching principal people would know theren was before on this scale and how to pave the way for this to happen with the of policy in the monuments officers would risk their lives it is incredibly noble and up the storyy if they want to know the details it is in my book or your web site. There is a tremendous amount of information on those 350 Monuments Men and women we have photographs but also some of the other books. To leave then spoke up of white house . We were invited George Clooney was kind enough to also include harry who wears the young guest monuments officerin we were invited to a private screening on tuesday having g time for of visit with us there was a great Opportunity One of the few people who was then to the white house twice and won the nationalor inanities medal from president bush. Host the next call from south carolina. Caller good morning. They give for your work on cspan so i went out to buy the book years ago when his work was on cspan you stole my thunder to ask the value of art and it is priceless to portray those lives lost. I imagine there were more but my question to robert thanks for your work from the age of 39 i had a feeling it was like a Fraternity Party atmosphere. But i want to know the rest of the story. With the bridge of madonna . Ul that is a sculpture during his lifetime. And then in september 1944 to illustrate the situation. Because then the nature and for the hills to save their lives. And then to wrap up to be back with that same mattress that Monuments Men found in the salt mine. And then that the salt mines were they foundnd the but that was one of the key pieces. Texas go ahead. Caller i cannot wait to see the movie it was all about to get the stolen art and it is the same thing youre talking about . Is a much smaller story it is a fine film based on the french heroines book with a remarkable woman recently translated the book about her to focus on her story which is available but the one he works in the museum they and though she is there to make secret notes ultimately she turns over to the of monuments officer and a story that is told in the train very briefly ended his day ted it sets between this fictitious german character trying to gett the works of art. But the train never leaves paris it just goes in a circle but it is a fun movie. In with some of these european nations did they take steps . Yes. I spend a lot of time talking about of superintendents so and with that masterpiece but definitely not for that local officials in the 40s thinking of bomb could fall near the dining hall. We all know about the last supper from the our history books. But they would blast out the east wall 8 feet away and it was exposed to the elements almost two years but was only saved because of the of scaffolding bracing the wall. A thisas is a miraculously year disaster that it was almost lost by the bombing on our side. Host what about the louvre . Did that stays intact the building did said the of french officials knew the invasion of poland began they started the evacuation of 400,000 works of art and from other museums taken to shakos out in the country it was a standard procedure. There was by the allies. But it it gets stickier and then the case of florence they cannot get them back into the city straight from the allied bombing. It was a perilous situation with the removal by the ss forces. Springfield misery go ahead. Al caller. But my eighth question is christian art. I have not had a chance to read your book but especially in places where there might be more religious type of artifacts if they were destroyed on purpose for obvious reasons that people dont want the world to know that anything else exist . Has your research turned up those issues . The Monuments Men foundation trying to raise worldwide visibility that is why George Clooney film is so important it will be opening in 100 countries around the world. Also to know that heroic role the United States led the effort. This is a religious or christian or jewish art it is sent segregated that way but as the nazis whether it was islamic collected by jewish collectors. And that they attempted to do that but the great tragedy in with that to follow the invasion it was a horrible period in our history and one of the works of the Monuments Men foundation the president is the seal of the enterprise to come forward. To have protection and respect as a policy of the United States monuments woman the movie was fun the disparity in death the documentary. Guest we are having discussions with that working with fox and National Geographic to do a one hour documentary in conjunction and release with the film. It is a big story. But up to this time it has not been told ed is taken years so i hope we have a chance to do that but i hope we see the feature film in italy there are different kinds of problems because italy is a partner of nazi germany the first three years of the war there are all sorts of different problems monuments woman we showed the covers of your books but what about this. Guest it is a remarkable photograph wef found in our research. And think of the story of the mona lisa and though the move which is moved of fivee separate occasions. And those famous works of art that david could not be moved because of the size and a the weight so they would entomb it in breck so that concern if it collapsed but it did not happen so one officer is arriving standing there watching as local officials are removing the of bricks to expose david for the first time in almost three years. And rescuing davinci as a modern day of manchin invention to stand in front of a train outdoors it is one paying on one train car. And then with the rest the museum. So the of porcelain factory . In france especially if that was destroyed . Guest this is the challenge in the context of flooded is fun and what is not. So so many of those things are destroyed so one person does not love that around. And which soldier could pick up we would seeee more. Is a remarkable by. With the importance of hard work and discipline. Caller thanks for your work. So to create the commission to oversee the politics that they try to determine whether your thoughts on the creation of such a bay should the be given that kind of thing . And this idea to oversee those restitution in issues handed is a complicated issue. So to raise awareness about this because the story is stuck with historians and scholars. To spend a lot of years studying bad. And for those to find those letters and then to reestablish those standards because they Pay Attention the voters seem movies and read understand about the story there is no passage of time. If there a is a work of art that belongs to somebody bet that is a lot of the United States but that is what we need to get back to monuments woman you can contact booktv to make a comment. Row we all agree this stolen a march should be returned how far back to rigo is in history . What about returning the stones to greece or egypt or india . Or is that just neglect . That is a great question. Wit a it is a slippery slope before a world war ii to reevaluate and with the works of art has been donated required to the National Gallery. Butry we note in england through dna and did 1945 it is a sea change going forward. And from those cultural objects but 1945 is when that begins. Because the western allies have been under control of 5 million cultural objects. Those that belong to german museums or collectors so they are custodians to be rebuilt so this is a sea change but it is also the beginning when the suez canal start to been independence we know it is not okay to remove the works of art. But to try and go back as say complicated problem and lived in europe for five years people around the world they kept discussing these topics there should be discussionss but i think to try this legislation is a mistake. Who became the new owner . Are there transfer titles . The nazis went to an extraordinary lengths to make it illegal and verve very conscientious about that all so to make acquisitions of works of o art and those things that are out and out stolen to strip them of their ownership rights to get them to look legal is a preposterous argument that we didnt steal anything we went into their apartments and nobody was there. So of course, because they were on the trains on the concentration camps. And it is hard to imagine and her crow it is hard to imagine they can say it with a straight face. And to Document Data acquisition there is the nazis evidence card of the legalth ownership title with a document how the were acquired in photographs. And with theer object that it is. And we use that in a number of trials that was very important. Williamstown new jersey . Good morning. The Administrative Office with rehabilitation was posted in europe and is there a connection . We so send us an email to the the Monuments Men foundation. Org. Do you have any opinion on the artworks that the Catholic Church as perpetrated . I need we have bigger problems on our hands like syria to see works of art. And that is a concern for all of us. So that is the challenge of that will not go away says aviio manchin to address over the century that they are engaged as we tried to focus how to apply the standards. Looking at the coauthor a fine writer in very accomplished at the New York Times since then working with me and the team with that race against time to make sure we can get it out. Considering there were now fiveer so we try to do all the key and in that place is an important part. . Did these men recognize what they were doing . This was segregated working with the other monuments officers r and to be challenged and to have those individual roles to understand how pervasive it was and of course works of artd today have that increase of monetaryy value with a positive development to talk about the artist were the portfolio. And to do play the survival. And that was doing my job. Event and later parlayed for himself as a the curator. And without naming anyone and i would be very interested. S with those hard details. Frankfurt kentucky . And looking forward to read your books. A soldier that return to theni United States after his death his family returned it. For the military men and thoseth suspicions that may have been. And read those objects. Again time it took them deliberately. Also enrolled or to. The foundation has day Clearing House for kids my age and maybe had a veteran. Find something in their attic or basement. Often times it want to sell them but there could be Historical Documents that they have recovered which were donated to the national archives. Those problems held with photographs and then to look but i am not is focused on how they got back here as well webo should do about it now. Th and to honor their service to go back to their rightful owners. B abandoned early 90s the case of a soldier with those relicts had ever church brought them home that was the setting of the case there were serious flaws in this country. There is no reason they dont charge any vapor crow. Did they lose historical artifacts from the vatican . That story about the of close call is a significant part that there were orders issued and upon mussolini. And august 43 to play a role he hated the pope. To give orders to the fascinating character. And literature which i talk the lot about it. And the order from hitler is to empty of the works of art and all the documents and one german general testified thisit is a bad idea. Tried to negotiate with a different approach that has been vetted iman historians today borane day periodic outbursts so the vatican was not breached in that sense. But the vatican played the Important Role after a number of the relocation and with those works of art to be placed there safely and that is where the officers arrived monuments woman we have a tweet from your twitter handle. Have the Monuments Men ever received awards . The Monuments Men have not and is something we have been looking at. And right after the war after forming the foundation was that congressional resolution with that easy and uncomplicated process to have the bill in congress it takes to third signatures we have the support of senator blunt and mendez. And towo take the lead we have 100 to see the of men and women british and four american men it is important to say thankyou toei receive this great honor. But they did get a medal from president bush . It was awarded to the foundation we were surprised and honored especially they did not know if they should be present but to understand that point. What is though hold up . So we have a recess but i dont think it is running behind but but that there is some obsessive person pounding the table listen to me. I have spent to the house and the senate this is important to do to generalize of what has never been done before. And western europe and why they should be recognized by a our country. Our next guest calls from california. Caller it is very admirable way you are doing. What crossed my mind what you were talking about. In that that is confiscated so i am just curious. There is hard fake heart ache with this course in western and eastern europe. I wish we could find a way to find all the things that were taken. And with those military objects like that. Is not just something the the Monuments Men works with. And wed research to get into this smaller religious objects it is difficult because in many cases they are small without those identification marks and they tend to have more information about them. So it isnt that they are looking for paintings or sculpture and to locate and determine. As any ever ben made to identify russian objects. As situation with the former soviet countries is complicated. Those watching over world war w ii. 17. 5 million soldiers. To the policy was even formalized by the soviet red are meet troops it because so much had taken place those trophye brigades not only those works of art the soviets returned several million objects to germany in 1955 as a sign of good faith someone back to the museums those with petersburg the are prominently displayed that they fully intend to keep that this stage. And there are hundreds of thousands of objects that were in the former soviet countriesie that nobody knows where they are. Between russia and the former soviet countries. But then to continue to move forward. Caller hello . I am enjoying this program but i want 2. 0 that the commentator might be interested in a a book that was written by a Marine Reserve captain and they sent him to do baghdad and iraq in 2004 to investigate the looting of that library. It was a nonfiction book. When did it come out . I believe 2004. His fault to try to fix the problems and identify how many works