In a race against time, a group of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Monuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture. Focusing on the period between D-Day and V-E Day, this book follows the Monuments Men on their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis. These unlikely heroes, mostly middle-aged family men, walked away from successful careers into the epicenter of the war risking and some losing their lives. They included: Ronald Edmund Balfour, Henry Ettlinger, Walker Hancock, Walter Huchthausen, Jacques Jaujard, Lincoln Kirstein, Robert Posey, James J. Rorimer, George Stout, and Rose Valland. -- Provided by the publisher.

Originally published: New York : Center Street, ©2009.

Author's note -- Main characters -- Map -- The Mission. Out of Germany ; Hitler's dream ; The call to arms ; A dull and empty world ; Leptis magna ; The first campaign ; Monte Cassino ; Monuments, fine arts, and archives ; The task. -- Northern Europe. Winning respect ; A meeting in the field ; Michaelangelo's Madonna ; The cathedral and the masterpiece ; Van Eyck's Mystic Lamb ; James Rorimer visits the Louvre ; Entering Germany ; A field trip ; Tapestry ; Christmas wishes ; The Madonna of La Gleize ; The train ; The Bulge ; Champagne. -- Germany. A German Jew in the U.S. Army ; Coming through the battle ; The new monuments man ; George Stout with his maps ; Art on the move ; Two turning points ; Hitler's Nero decree ; First army across the Rhine ; Treasure map ; Frustration ; Inside the mountain ; Lost ; A week to remember. -- The Void. Salt ; Horror ; The Gauleiter ; The battered mine ; Last birthday ; Plans ; The noose ; Discoveries ; The noose tightens ; The race ; Final days ; The translator ; The sound of music ; End of the road. -- The Aftermath: Understanding Altaussee ; Evacuation ; The journey home ; Heroes of civilization ; -- Cast of characters -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgments -- What is your connection to the story? -- Index.