121 Rescuing Da Vinci: How the Allies Saved The World's Masterpieces from World War Two

Travel with Rick Steves

Rick Steves

Rick Steves, Public Radio, 721132, Europe, Society & Culture, Places & Travel, Npr, Travel

4.3 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2008

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Robert Edsel, author of "Rescuing DaVinci" and producer of the documentary film "The Rape of Europa" joins Rick to describe Hitler's obsession with art, and how a special unit of Allies, known as the Monuments Men, re-patriated Europe's treasures after the war -- and the work that remains to be done today. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We've heard a lot about the greatest generation in the last few years, but there's still one remarkable story from World War II that remains to be told.
0:07.0	Hi, I'm Rick Steeves. Stay with us in the hourhead as we learn how we almost lost some of the greatest art treasures of Western civilization during
0:14.8	the Second World War. Hitler and the Nazis either stole or destroyed countless paintings
0:19.8	and sculptures by some of the world's finest artists.
0:22.3	You know, you can't make this stuff up.
0:24.0	These guys were determined to pull off,
0:26.0	and they did the greatest theft in history.
0:29.0	Today, Robert Edsoe will tell us how a ragtag gang of Allied scholars and curators called the
0:33.7	Monument's men protected masterpieces such as da Vinci's Mona Lisa in the
0:37.7	Last Supper and Michelangelo's David from being stolen or damaged. Robert has collected a stunning photographic record of these efforts
0:45.3	in his new book, Rescuing Da Vinci. He'll tell us how the monument's men were able to save Europe's
0:50.6	masterpieces, how their work continues, and what their experience teaches us today.
0:56.0	Rescuing Da Vinci, it's just ahead on Travel with Rick Steeves.
1:00.0	Travel with Rick Steeves is brought to you by American Airlines. With their new Advantage Award booking tool, it's easier than ever to book to
1:07.2	over 800 Advantage Award destinations online at AA.com.
1:12.0	American Airlines knows why you fly.
1:14.0	Especially if you've ever lingered over Mona Lisa or The Last Supper,
1:18.0	you'll want to stay with us for the hour ahead on Travel with Rick Steeves.
1:22.0	Hi, I'm Rick Steeves, and I'm thrilled to have today as her special guest Robert M Edsel.
1:26.0	Robert has just released a stunning book called Rescuing Da Vinci as a companion to the documentary
1:31.1	film The Rape of Europa.
1:32.3	He's here to tell us the story of how the Allies
	...

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