The recovered artifacts included works by Michelangelo and Manet.
The Nazi’s mainly used two salt mines, the Altaussee and the Merkers, to stash not only their huge stores of stolen art but also large amounts of precious metal. Gold bullion, both domestic and foreign gold currencies, silver bars and coins, and platinum were all recovered by allied forces marching through Europe.
The men responsible for collecting, indentifying, and cataloguing these treasure troves were known as “The Monuments Men.” The men and women of this group were made up of historians and museum personnel, some of which went on to work at the National Gallery of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.
After the war, President Truman would go to the National Gallery of art to view artwork recoverd by Americans in the salt mine whenever he needed step away from the constant demands of his position.
