As a soldier in the United States Army during World War II, Harry Ettlinger spent a year and a half as part of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Program,
nicknamed the “Monuments Men,” whose mission it was to save cultural treasures from the front lines and return looted artworks to rightful owners.
Born Heinz Ludwig Chaim Ettlinger in Karlsruhe in 1926, he escaped Germany together with his parents and two brothers in September 1938 and settled in Newark, NJ. He joined the Army when he was 19 and was chosen for the Monuments Men unit. The character of Sam Epstein in the movie was based on Ettlinger.
