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[Set of five World War II maps depicting the “Operations of the 100th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations 1. November 1944 — 11. May 1945.”]

[N.p.]: U.S. Army, 1945. 5 color offset maps, each approx. 20.5” x 24.75” plus margins, each folded, as issued, 1 printed letter of transmittal, dated 8 August 1945, from Major General W. A. Burgess, with original envelope addressed to “Col. & Mrs. Haviland Wright” of Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. CONDITION: Maps and letter very good, front and back of envelope separated.

A striking and informative series of World War II-era military maps showing combat actions of the U.S. Army 100th Infantry Division during the liberation of France and invasion of Germany. Also included is an introductory letter bearing the printed signature of Major General William A. Burress, who expresses his wish that this series “will prove to be of interest to the members of the Division, and that they may form the basis for further and more detailed study.” 

The five maps in this series—consisting of four battle plans and one map of the full campaign—provide a comprehensive picture of the actions of the 100th Infantry Division as it penetrated the Vosges Mountains, fought through the heavily-fortified French-German border, and pushed into western Germany during the final weeks of the war in Europe. The maps depict topography, vegetation, cities and towns, major roads, rivers, military camps, and in some cases, building and infrastructure details. Each map represents a phase of the division’s progress, allowing the series to be read chronologically. Troop movements and positions are indicated by directional arrows and red isochron lines (which represent the front line on the given date). The movements of the 100th Division’s three regiments—the 397th, 398th, and 399th Infantry Regiments—are represented using unique symbols for each.

The scope of each map generally corresponds to the area in which the division saw action, and is bounded by the sectors assigned to nearby Allied units. Throughout the series appear the emblems of the 100th Infantry Division, its three infantry regiments, and numerous supporting units (including battalions and corps). 

The map of the full campaign, titled Operations of the 100th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations, provides a general overview of the movements of the 100th Infantry Division from November 1944 until May 1945. It depicts the path of the division across eastern France and western Germany, over heavy fortifications (the Maginot and Seigfried lines), and two major rivers (the Rhine and Neckar). Annotated information boxes highlight key dates and events, and are supported by two insets—one in the upper left depicting the 100th’s defensive position during the Battle of Bitche, and another in the upper right showing the sector of Germany occupied by the division at the war’s end. 

The four battle plans expand on these events and provide a higher level of detail for key battles. Chronologically, they are as follows: 

The Battle of the Vosges Mountains (November 9th–26th, 1944) visualizes the initial movements of the 100th Division as an east-pointing arrow piercing through the Vosges Mountains (shown in yellow) in northeastern France, liberating towns along the way. The offensive, which began near Rambervillers and continued to the town of Oberhaslach, saw entry of the Division into the historically disputed Alsace region, which was de facto annexed into the German Reich in 1940.

The Battle of Bitche (December 11th, 1944–March 15th, 1945) is divided into four sections: 1. The initial Allied attack that liberated the city of Bitche, France; 2. The German counterattack that retook it; 3. A two-month long defensive; 4. The re-liberation of the city by the Allies. Allied forces encountered heavy fortifications as they neared the German border, including the infamous Maginot Line, which proved to be “a thorn in the side of the 100th Infantry Division.” The drawn-out battle earned the division the nickname “Sons of Bitche.” 

The Battle for Heilbronn (April 3rd–12th, 1945) was “one of the bloodiest battles fought by the 100th Division.” Having forced their way through the Siegfried Line on the German border and crossed the Rhine, the division captured the city of Heilbronn, an important railroad and defense center on the Neckar River. The battle is depicted across two panels: the left panel shows the launch of the offensive from surrounding towns, while the right panel is an inset of the urban plan of the city. Red arrows indicate the directions of German counterattacks.

Finale (April 12th–22nd, 1945) shows the final operations of the 100th Division in the European Theater, moving south along the eastern side of the Neckar River and concluding with the occupation of Stuttgart and rendezvous with French forces. The quick movement out of Heilbronn denied the retreating Germans time to reorganize. The map’s design also incorporates facsimiles of three letters from senior Army generals praising the efforts of General Burress and his 100th Division. 

As part of the U.S. Seventh Army, the 100th Infantry Division played an important role in the liberation of Western Europe in World War II. The division was originally activated in 1918 at the end of World War I, too late to see action in that conflict. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, it was reactivated, and in 1942 the War Department designated Major General Withers A. Burress as its commander. In 1943, the division trained at Fort Jackson in Tennessee before moving to Fort Bragg in early 1944 and entering combat in France in November of that year. After participating in the initial occupation of Germany, the unit was deactivated in January of 1946, before undergoing several redesignations in the following decades. As of today it forms part of the Army Reserve’s primary training divisions, and is designated as the 100th Training Division (Leader Development). The division is known by the nicknames “Sons of Bitche” and “Century.” 

Published by the U.S. Army, the four battle maps in this series were produced by “G-3 100th Infantry Division,” the operational and planning section of the division. The full-campaign map is credited as being “reproduced by 661 [Engineer Topographic Company]” of the Army Corps of Engineers. 

A fine set of maps documenting and memorializing the 100th Infantry Division's role in World War II.

REFERENCES: “100th Division–Short History” at Association of the Century online.

Item #9822

Price: $1,500.00

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