«Dal cielo, dal mare, dalla terra». Lo sbarco in Sicilia e i danni ai beni culturali nelle testimonianze di Soprintendenti e Advisers

The interest in the preservation of cultural property during World War II emerged as early as 1940 in the United Kingdom and the United States. Art professionals and organizations began working to identify and protect the European cultural heritage. The “American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas” was formally established in 1943. Immediately after the Allied invasion of Sicily – the so-called Operation Husky – Mason Hammond reported for duty in Siracusa, as first Adviser for Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives. Although the idea of protecting works of art in war was not unprecedented, the commitment of a military government and the establishment of a specific administrative structure were absolutely innovative. After the invasion, the contacts of the Sicilian officials with the General Direction of Antiquities and Fine Arts were interrupted. The Superintendents resumed their job in emergency conditions, lacking transportation facilities, materials and resources for the most urgent repairs. The complementary testimony of the Allied officers that were in charge of the protection of monuments highlighted the need of handbooks, means and guidance for performing their hard tasks. The paper outlines an overall framework of the transition from war-time to the reorganization of administrative structures and civilian life.