Frilly Fashion is Gone With the Wind

    In 1939, Gone with the Wind premiered, and women were beginning to wear fuller skirted and more romantic feeling clothing. Nylon stockings were new to the fashion scene and selling fast. Then came the war, and fashion took a nose dive. Dresses became sparser, shorter, and in darker colors, and nylon stockings disappeared as the DuPont company began making parachutes and airplane cords out of the material instead. Working women also began wearing pants. Now that women were running the factories, they needed clothing that would help them move about more freely and increase productivity. Clothes became simpler as everyone worked to conserve materials. Even bride and grooms were changing their wedding attires to uniform suits. Old clothes were mended, and undergarments were made out of household linens to preserve. Both the American and English governments issued regulations limiting fabric use. In spite of it all, French women used their fashion as a defense mechanism. Even when Paris fell to the German Army, Parisian women proudly wore their elaborate hats as an act of defiance. They would not be seen as downtrodden!

The Monuments Men: The Great Importance of a Mediocre Movie

This blog is typically focused on retelling and preserving the stories of the World War II era. As such, a movie review of a current film is not our usual content. The subject matter of this film, however, brings it into particular relevance to us. So for reasons that will become clear, here is our review of “The Monuments Men.”

The Film

First off, let’s look at the film itself. Overall it was generally unremarkable. It was not a bad film, but it wasn’t an overwhelming success either. While the star-studded cast featuring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Cate Blanchett did an adequate job of bringing their individual characters to screen, the story as a whole felt a bit rushed and forced throughout the film. It’s a large story that would have lent itself well to a mini-series format similar to “Band of Brothers” or “The Pacific”. However, the two-hour feature format felt like it didn’t allow the appropriate time to build the story and the characters and the bond between them to the level that the script required. Each member of the all-star ensemble had his or her “Oscar” moment in the film, delivering a heartfelt speech or emotional performance. Most of these moments, however, felt forced and unnaturally placed within the story. The viewer is left feeling that the film is trying way too hard to evoke an emotional response from the audience. That’s not to say that there weren’t a few glimmering moments in which a true chord was struck, but there could have been a lot more of those moments had the characters been developed to a point that the audience actually felt invested and cared about what happened to them. Ultimately, the film did its job. It told the story. It was enjoyable enough. It just felt a little disconnected overall.  So, the big question now is… If this film is so overwhelmingly mediocre, why are we even taking the time to review it, and more importantly why are we still going to recommend you watch it? That brings us to the second aspect of the film - the history it tells.

The Story

The film is based on the non-fiction book, “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and

the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History”, by Robert M. Edsel. As with most such tales, the book is going to be much more faithful to the true history than the screen play. The film version leans more closely to the historical-fiction category as it embellishes the details and stories surrounding the true history. That, however, is where the true power and importance of the historical-fiction genre lies. It allows us to take a piece of history that is truly worth telling the world about and give it enough of a story to get people to want to listen to it. The overarching story of these men and women who risked their lives to preserve the art and culture of Europe in the face of the Nazi war machine is worth sharing and preserving. Some of the minor details have been changed, but the truth of the story is still present. And that is where this mediocre film finds great importance. Obviously, there are numerous books on the subject that will give a more detailed historical account of The Monuments Men, but a major Hollywood production like this with an all-star cast is going to get the story to the masses.  Hopefully, upon discovery of this amazing story, people will want to know more and will seek out the true history behind the film. A quick search of Amazon reveals not only the book that the film is based on, but a number of similar non-fiction books telling the detailed story of the Monuments Men and their mission.

The Result

The sheer numbers of artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and historical documents that were saved by these men are absolutely astounding. Until you see the whole story and truly grasp the magnitude of what they recovered and protected, the importance of this piece of history cannot be adequately comprehended. So if you haven’t seen the film, it is definitely worth checking out for the history alone. Or just skip the movie and pick up the book. It’s usually hard to go wrong with that. Either way, it’s a story that should be remembered, preserved, and shared.

For more on the history of The Monuments Men, check out some of the links below.

TheSmithsonian.com
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-monuments-men-180949569/?no-ist

The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
by Robert M. Edsel
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599951495/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1599951495&linkCode=as2&tag=smithsonianco-20&linkId=BWSPJUPE535PGUA3

Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis

by Robert M. Edsel
http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Italy-Rescue-Nations-Treasures/dp/0393082415/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

War Halts Television Production!

When World War II began, television sets were just emerging onto the scene. Manufacturers were busy figuring out how to make the television as prevalent as the radio in American households. World War II stopped everything, however. All commercial production of television equipment was banned for the duration of the war, and TV broadcasting schedules were reduced to a bare minimum. As soon as the war ended in 1945, manufacturers went right back to producing television sets. In 1946, RCA put out the 630-TS TV, which was the first mass-produced postwar television. In that same year, “Hour Glass,” the first musical variety show, and “Faraway Hill,” the first soap opera, aired. Here are some other interesting early television facts for TV lovers:

• In 1947, there were about 44,000 TV sets in American homes compared to 40 million radios.

• On September 30, 1947, the New York Yankees played the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first telecasted World Series game.

• On November 6, 1947, “Meet the Press” first aired. It is the longest-running program in television history.

• In December 1947, “The Howdy Doody Show” aired, becoming the first nationally televised children’s show.

• In 1948, only one in ten Americans had seen a television set, but television production and sales were rapidly increasing.

• In 1949, television sets hit the 2,000,000 sold mark.

• On June 27, 1949, “Captain Video and His Video Rangers,” the first science fiction television series, aired.

• In 1950, television sets sold reached 8,000,000.  

• In 1951, television sets sold reached 13,000.000.

• On October 15, 1951, “I Love Lucy” aired.    

• In 1952, an estimated 10.6 million homes were watching “I Love Lucy”.

• By the mid-1950s, half of all U.S. homes had a television.

Never Forget. Never Again

This past week I have been reading first-hand accounts from soldiers who helped liberate concentration camps in Germany. These two accounts below will truly make your heart sick and proud of these American soldiers’ part in the war. An estimated six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis during World War II.

            “We visited a German political internment camp. The camp had been liberated only two days and the condition of the camp has changed very little. The American Red Cross just arrived.

            The inmates consisted of mostly Jews, some Russians, Poles and there were six American pilots that they shot almost immediately.

            When we first walked in we saw all these creatures that were supposed to be men. They were dressed in black and white suits, heads shaved and starving to death. Malnutrition was with every one of them.

            We met one of them that could speak English so he acted as a guide for us. First we saw a German monument that stated 51,600 died in this camp in three years. They were proud of it. Second we went in the living barracks. Six sq. ft. per six people. Hard wood slats six ft. high. Then we went down through rows of barbed wire to a building where they purposely infected these people with disease. Human guinea pigs for German medics.

            In this medical building were exhibits of human heads in jars and tattooed human flesh or skin on the walls.

            After that we went up to the torture dept. Here were beating devices that I won’t explain. The clubs, by the way, are still lying there with blood on them. In another room in this building were 8 cremator furnaces. The doors were open and in one I noticed one body ½ done. A horrible sight. After I snapped a few pictures I walked out side and noticed a truck with 50 naked bodys piled up six deep. Turning my head away from that I looked over against the wall and here were about 30 more. Their eyes open, their mouths open, blue, purple, cut and some with holes in them.

            The guide told us that he lived with some of these men for years. He said most of them died with-in the past 24 hrs. In fact a Red Cross man told us they were dying like flys. Nothing can be done for them. It’s too late. They are much too far gone.

            There is another place I never told you about. The latrine. I won’t tell you about it, because you won’t believe me. It’s unbelievable.”

1st Lt. James Carroll Jordan writing to his wife about the Buchenwald Concentration Camp,War Letters.

            “You have heard the stories over the radio – I don’t want to add much more – the most striking picture I saw was the ‘death train’ – I saw picture, no not picture, but carload and carload full of corpses, once upon a time people who were alive, who were happy and people who had convictions or were jews – then slowly but methodically they were killed. Death has an ugly face on these people – they were starved to death – the positions they were lying in show that they succumbed slowly – they made one move, fell, were too weak to make another move, and there are hundreds of such lifeless skeletons covered by some skin.”

1st Lt. Fritz Schnaittacher, a German-born Jew serving with the U.S. Army writing to his wife about the Dachau Concentration Camp.

Feasting on the War Front!

   

Ever wonder what a World War II soldier ate? A soldier at the frontlines ate K-rations, which were three individually wrapped boxed meals. Breakfast consisted of biscuits, canned ham and eggs, a cereal bar, a fruit bar, powdered coffee, sugar, water purification tablets, chewing gum, and cigarettes. Dinner (lunch) consisted of a canned cheese product, biscuits, caramels, a powdered beverage, sugar, salt, chewing gum, and cigarettes. Supper consisted of canned meat, biscuits, a bouillon cube or powder, a chocolate bar, powdered coffee, sugar, cigarettes, and toilet paper. All meals came with a twist key or can opener and a wooden spoon. The meals gave soldiers about 3,000 calories a day, which for many in intense situations was not enough. Soldiers who were not at the frontlines and had more time for meal preparation ate C-rations, and soldiers in emergency situations ate D-rations, which contained heat-resistant chocolate bars fortified with vitamins. Sounds appetizing, right? Love how Uncle Sam made sure our soldiers got their Lucky Strikes!  

   “Like Sheffield, the country and soldiers everywhere now turned their eyes toward Japan. James’s next letter both rejoiced over the possible end of C-ration stew and hash and contemplated his more than likely move to the Pacific front.”

Songbird, Chapter 54

First Hand Account of Omaha Beach on D-Day

Last week, I wrote about the book War Letters I am rereading and shared some sweet letters that soldiers throughout American history sent home to their families. This week, I have to share with you one more letter I found from the book recalling a soldier’s memories of D-Day to his wife Mildred. His name is Dom Bart. He was a part of the 29th Infantry Division and in the first wave of soldiers to arrive on Omaha Beach. Read his words and honor the men who fought for our freedom now 70 years ago.

    “The elements were at their worst and our landing craft was half filled with water. We used our helmets to throw it overboard and I never thought we would make it. Some of the boats never reached shore. It was a horrible sight. 

    Finally the word came – Let’s go – and there we were in combat, something new in my life. But oh, what an experience.

    We didn’t have a chance to fight back, as we were dropped in water over our heads. No one’s fault as the entire beach was strewn with mines. With a stream of lead coming towards us, we were at the mercy of the Germans and we had all to do to reach shore and recuperate. I floated around in water for about one hour and was more dead than alive. Tried to land at several places, but always had to withdraw. It was impossible to get ashore.

    I lost all hopes and said my last prayer to the Good Lord. The prayer was a passage to safety, but I sure was in a bad way. Got to the beach half frozen and almost unable to move and then I passed out. How long I remained there, I don’t recall, but when I came to, the fighting was at a climax. Pulled myself together and sought a rifle and around I went trying to locate my outfit. It didn’t take long to spot them and was I glad. But gracious Lord, what was left of them, just a handful, about 25 out of the 160. The battalion was almost wiped out, 800 casualties out of 1,000 men.

    Our position was desperate, but with sheer will, fear and luck we overcame all obstacles and pushed inland to capture Vierville-sur-Mer, our first town. The price was high but covered ourselves with glory and for that we received the Presidential Citation. Later on we received another at Vire, France.

    Yes darling, our outfit can be proud for the part it has played in helping to win the war. Whenever there was a tough nut to crack, the 1st BN., 116th Infantry, 29th Division was called on and always came through with flying colors. I’m very proud of it.”

Pfc. Dom Bart

War Letters

I am rereading a wonderful book. It is War Letters edited by Andrew Carroll. The book is a collection of letters, giving special insight into the Civil War, World War I and II, Vietnam, Korea, the Cold War, and the Persian Gulf. It contains priceless, first-hand accounts of the Battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Port Chicago explosion, and many more. What struck me this week in the midst of all the tragic stories were the tender letters sent home by soldiers to their families. Here are a few of the best! They will touch your heart.

“Patience what shall I write you? Shall it be more word of friendship? Oh no, my heart prompts my pen to the most wedded love. If I had never known you that flame would have been unkindled in this bosom but once set burning it will burn forever. You are associated with every thought and every action of my existence. Last night while lying on the parapet (for I slept there) viewing the starry heavens, I almost lived over the last two years. They were associated with many happy recollections. There was but one solitary cloud to mar my future happiness (this bloody war) and I hope very soon it will be dissolved. I will then be the happiest of the happy.” Sgt. Maj. James Black, Civil War soldier, writing to his wife Patience. After the war, he returned home to his family.

“My girl, my girl, how I do miss you. I didn’t think it possible for one to be possessed of the longing I have for you. At night I lay awake and think and think of you, the roar of the big guns, giving way before the press of mental pictures of you. I go back and retravel again the entire road that we have known together.” 2nd Lt. Francis M. Tracy, World War I soldier, writing to his wife Gertrude. He was killed in action September 27, 1918.

Momie & Dad: It is pretty hard to check out this way with out a fighting chance but we can’t liveforever. I’m not afraid to die. I just hate the thought of not seeing you again. Buy Turkey Ranch with my money and just think of me often while your there. Make liberal donations to both sisters. See that Gary has a new car his first year of hi-school.” Lt. Tommie Kennedy, World War II soldier, writing to his parents. He died a prisoner of war in 1945.