The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History By: Bret Witter and Robert M. Edsel

This was an interesting book and I am pleased that it shed light on a part of history many of us were unaware of, but man...it was a long book. There were so many pieces of art being searched by different men in different divisions that I had a hard time keeping everything straight. I enjoyed the story about the French librarian and the afterward claiming Hitler did not want the art to be destroyed. The story along with giving information about these men and their willing-ness to die to preserve art and human accomplishments, makes one appreciate art. I kept stopping and goggling the pieces(maybe that is why the book seemed so long). The story follows the war lives of men chosen to find and preserve all different types of art in the countries being plundered by Germany during WWII. They were to try to keep historical churches from being blown up and plundered, Ancient walls from being knocked down, and paintings and monuments from being destroyed. Meanwhile Hitler is having his men collect famous pieces to put in his museum and in his home. By the time the war was over many pieces were destroyed as the Nazi members burned them as they retreated. Some were found stored in castles in Germany and more was found hidden in mines and caves.