There is an interesting book about the subject and it was made into a movie staring George Clooney in 2014, the book is called The Monuments Men by Robert Edsel published by Center Street part of the Hachette Book Group, New York, 2009. In the book, Mr. Edsel outlines the importance the Nazis gave to the looting of art and how an unlikely group of Allied Heroes was able to recover most of the art. In the war, the last thing Generals worried about is saving the landscape, they are worried about defeating the enemy. If the enemy takes positions in sensitive areas, then it is their fault that something happens to the setting. After the battles are over is a time to worry about historical buildings and what is in them.

The book highlights the unlikely men who lead the search for and recovery of art which was systematically taken by the Nazis. The men had knowledge of art and history and generally were not expected to shoot a rifle because they were after art. In countries such as Italy and France, if you were to visit the country a visit to a museum or see the art in the street is expected and millions of tourists do that. Both countries ensure artists have grants to do work every year, in the US the use of private funds is consider more important. Society is different, one is not better, just different. The Monuments Men worked with the army to try figure out where did the Nazis put the art? they worried that planes dropping bombs might destroy some of the art. they worried when the Nazis retreated they would destroy the art they could not bring with them. Similar to all research, one needs to do great amount of homework and have some lucky breaks. For example, after months of trying to find leads where the art was stored, one of the Monuments Men had a toothache. He went to a Dentist, the Dentist said you should meet my son in law who is in the art world. His son in law happened to be Goerings man in France who arranged all the art movements. He knew where the storage facilities were and they would go to caves, salt mines, castles (the castle Disney used for Sleeping Beauty) in mountain hideouts away from the average German.

Another concern was as the war was ending, the Russians were coming towards Germany and included in the front lines was the Trophy Brigades. Their job was to find and seize enemy assets, looted or otherwise. Stalin expected to be restituted in kind in gold, silver, carved marble, and works of art for what his people had lost. The Americans believed the works of art should go back to France and Italy or whatever over European country it had been taken from – part of the reason for fighting Germany was to return Europe’s soul to Europe. Similar to most things in life – many people have different agendas and looking at the situation.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, eventually when something is stolen or looted the average person finds out. They may not be aware during the time, but they can sense something was wrong. It is credit to society that most of us try to stay within the laws or rules and regulations and we expect our institutions to stay within the law. When a company is profitable and can continue to pay dividends, it often has the ability to stay within the rules and regulations. Sometimes the rules and regulations help the company by providing a moat which is a good thing for investors.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.