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General Omar Bradley's Map Showing Patton's Third Army Relief of Bastogne, December 30, 1944.. ...
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Description
General Omar Bradley's Map Showing Patton's Third Army Relief of Bastogne, December 30, 1944.22.5-inch x 20-inch (framed and matted under glass to an overall size of 33 x 34-inches) map printed in blue and black, titled: "SITUATION 1200 HRS 30 DECEMBER 1944 / TWELFTH ARMY GROUP". Marked "SECRET", which was later downgraded to "CONFIDENTIAL" via a red stamp. The map shows the position of U.S., British and German troops on the day that Patton's Third Army succeeded in reaching Bastogne and relieving the besieged elements of the 101st Airborne Division. The map was produced by the 12th Army Group Engineering Department based on aerial reconnaissance ("Projection-Europe (Air) Conical Orthomorphic") on a scale of 1:100,000,000. The location of all German troops involved, including the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, XLVII Panzer Corps, I and II SS Panzer Corps, Panzer Lehr Division, et al. are clearly marked in black ink. Such maps were critical in developing a plan of attack and needed to be as accurate and up-to-date as possible. This map is part of a set of battle maps used by Omar Bradley in his capacity of commander of all U.S. ground forces taking part in the invasion of Europe. Four sets were produced in total, originally housed in a leather binder with the name "Bradley" stamped on front, as seen in period press photos.
The maps belonged to one of Bradley's senior G-3 staff officers responsible for their production and safekeeping. Starting in November 1944, he sent one set of maps to the National Archives where they remain today. After the war when the security status was downgraded, he was given permission to take one set back to the U.S. In 2011 the officer's estate was liquidated and the maps obtained by a military historian. The historian retained them until 2015 when our current consignor acquired them.
The maps were recently examined by the curator of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum in Ft. Lee, Virginia. In his letter dated April 7, 2017, Luther D. Hansen writes, in part: "From my examination of these Omar Bradley WWII Headquarters FUSAG/12th AG battle maps, I conclude that they are original to WWII and one of only four original sets ever produced.... The Library of Congress has built a website showcasing their map set... the only website dedicated to battle maps within the U.S. government... I believe that this Omar Bradley map set is the only set in private hands. The maps show wear and use as well as aging, and yet they are of the highest quality and clearly show the most famous battles of WWII unfolding for us today as they did for General Omar Bradley in 1944. To view Bradley's maps 70 years later with the benefit of historical reassessment, we can see the omissions and intelligence failures that impacted his decisions and battle outcomes... in terms of rarity and historical significance, these maps are a perfect 10."
Condition: Excellent. Not examined out of the frame.
Auction Info
2023 June 19 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6271 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2023
19th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 15
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