Protection of Cultural Materials during Combat

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As The great Allied Expeditionary Force stood poised in southern England awaiting the signal that would start an invasion of Hitler's Europe, a part of the final directive by the Supreme Commander established the basic policy for the protection of “cultural centers which symbolize to the world all that we are fighting to preserve.” Broadly, and in brief, it called for the fighting forces to take all measures, consistent with military necessity, to avoid damage to all structures, objects or documents of cultural, artistic, archaeological or historical value; and to assist wherever practicable, in securing them from deterioration resulting from the process of war. For the purpose of assisting in performing this highly specialized function a Monuments Specialist Officer was attached to the staff of each Army Commander. Generally, this officer had been an art historian or architect in civilian life but was now a trained soldier. Due to the fact that he must work with fighting troops in the zone of combat mili...