Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art
The Monuments Men and Women Foundation, formerly known as the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, is an American IRS-approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which honors the legacy of those who served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during and after World War II, more commonly known as the Monuments Men and Women. Today, the foundation continues their mission by recovering Nazi looted artworks, documents, and other cultural objects and returning them to their rightful owners. Raising public awareness is essential to the foundation's mission of "Restitution, Education and Preservation".
Original MMF logo
Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein with Edsel after the donation of Nazi photograph albums
Edsel with President George W. Bush and four Monuments Men
The Foundation worked with officials from the United States Mint and their team of artists on the design of the Congressional Gold Medal.
Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program
The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section Unit (MFAA) was a program established by the Allies in 1943 to help protect cultural property in war areas during and after World War II. The group of about 400 service members and civilians worked with military forces to protect historic and cultural monuments from war damage, and as the conflict came to a close, to find and return works of art and other items of cultural importance that had been stolen by the Nazis or hidden for safekeeping. Spurred by the Roberts Commission, MFAA branches were established within the Civil Affairs and Military Government Sections of Allied armies.
The Ghent Altarpiece during recovery from the art depot in the Altaussee salt mine, 1945
Surviving members receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015
Monuments Men Congressional Gold Medal, presented 9 June 2014.
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