The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) program, better known as the 'Monuments Men,' was a group of roughly 345 Allied museum directors, curators, and art historians who served on the front lines. Their mission was to protect cultural property in war zones and recover art stolen by the Nazis. As the war ended, they discovered thousands of masterpieces hidden in salt mines and castles across Germany and Austria, including works by Michelangelo, Vermeer, and Da Vinci. One of their most famous 'saves' was the Ghent Altarpiece. Their efforts ensured that the cultural heritage of Europe survived the destruction of the war and was returned to its rightful owners.