Saving the Light at Chartres by Victor A. Pollak

Author:Victor A. Pollak
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Published: 2020-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

Six months before, in the Italian campaign, during the pause before the Fifth Army’s assault on Monte Cassino, General Eisenhower had issued his first order, in the form of a letter to all commanders, regarding protection of cultural property. In it, he had reminded the commanders that the fight was being waged in a country that had contributed a great deal to the world’s cultural inheritance and was a country rich in monuments, “which by their creation helped, and now in their old age illustrate, the growth of the civilization . . . which is ours.” He reminded the commanders that they were bound to respect those monuments “so far as war allows” and that should they have to choose between destroying a famous building and sacrificing their own men, “then our men’s lives count infinitely more and the buildings must go.” But he pointed out that the choice wouldn’t always be so clear-cut. “In many cases,” he continued,

the monuments can be spared without any detriment to operational needs. Nothing can stand against the argument of military necessity. That is an accepted principle. But the phrase “military necessity” is sometimes used where it would be more truthful to speak of military convenience or even of personal convenience. I do not want to cloak slackness or indifference.

It is a responsibility of higher commanders to determine through AMG Officers the locations of historical monuments whether they be immediately ahead of our front lines or in areas occupied by us.

On June 11, Griffith sent a handwritten V-mail note to Nell:

Sweetheart,

Staying busy. Managed to get hold of a Scotch cap and muffler, one for you and one for Alice. Will mail them first chance. I think you will like them. Would have liked to have gotten cloth to match but that is rationed. Perhaps can get hold of some before school back.

Love you and miss you.

Grif

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.