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Very Rare Archive of General Omar Bradley's ETO Situation Maps Encompassing the Period February 7, 1945 to March 31, 1945.. ... (Total: 53 )
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Sold on Dec 9, 2024 for:
$4,000.00
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Description
Very Rare Archive of General Omar Bradley's ETO Situation Maps Encompassing the Period February 7, 1945 to March 31, 1945.An archive of 53 individual maps, each measuring 22 1/2 x 20-inches, printed in blue and black. Each is marked "SECRET" with the later "CONFIDENTIAL" red stamp as their classification was downgraded. These were 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. Each indicates the situation of American, British and German troops as of 1200 hours on the day of issue, some later dates have varied report times. The maps include the following dates:
February 7-28, 1945, inclusive
March 1-31, 1945, inclusive
The three lots of these Omar Bradley maps in this present auction will be the last that we have to offer. Previously we have sold the June 6, June 7 and June 8, 1944 maps as well as the December 30, 1944 map showing Patton's relief of Bastogne. This large archive gives the daily situation for the 12th Army Group as they mounted the final assault and ultimate defeat of the Germany army in the Winter and Spring of 1945.
These 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 (a copy of which accompanies the lot), Luther D. Hansen writes: "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 1945. 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. Omar Bradley's map headings changed to 'HQ Twelfth Army Group' after the enemy figured out the deception... in terms of rarity and historical significance, these maps are a perfect 10."
Condition: Excellent. Occasional mild toning at the edges.
Auction Info
2024 December 9 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6303 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2024
9th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 162
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