1945 The 29th Infantry Division "29 Let's Go"
DESCRIPTION
Combining maps, cartoons, and firsthand recollections, this engaging pictorial follows the 29th Infantry Division from its American training camps to the winter battlefields of Germany.
Drawn while the war in Europe was still being fought, it transforms the division's campaign into an illustrated narrative that records not only where the soldiers served, but also the people, places, and experiences they remembered most. Produced for the men of the division rather than military planners, the map reflects the personality and esprit de corps of one of America's most distinguished infantry units.
The map presents a continuous journey across two large sheets. Beginning with the division's organization and stateside training, a bold red route traces its movement to England, across Omaha Beach on D-Day, through the hedgerows of Normandy, the capture of Saint-Lô, the Brittany Campaign, Belgium, and finally into Germany during the winter of 1944-45. Along the route, dozens of humorous cartoons, handwritten captions, battle statistics, and small illustrations commemorate memorable events, difficult campaigns, and the lighter moments that sustained morale. Rivers, cities, transportation routes, and regional boundaries provide the geographic framework, while the artwork transforms the campaign into a visual diary rather than a conventional military map.
The Blue and Gray Division
The 29th Infantry Division earned its "Blue and Gray" nickname from its National Guard heritage, drawing units from states that had fought on both sides of the American Civil War. During the Second World War, the division became one of the first American formations to land in Normandy on June 6, 1944, suffering heavy casualties during the assault on Omaha Beach before pushing inland through some of the campaign's fiercest fighting. The map follows the division's advance through Saint-Lô, Brest, Belgium, and into Germany, documenting operations through 17 January 1945, when this edition was prepared. Unlike later versions extended to include V-E Day, this wartime printing captures the campaign while it remained an active operation.
Drawn Before the War Was Over
The lower margin records that the map was prepared on 17 January 1945 by the 669th Engineer Topographic Company, making it a contemporary record rather than a postwar commemorative publication. Official battle honors appear alongside cartoons, personal observations, and unit traditions, reflecting how the soldiers themselves remembered the campaign. The map preserves a moment when the outcome of the war in Europe was becoming clear, yet the fighting continued across Germany. Few divisional pictorials capture that perspective as effectively, blending military history with the humor and camaraderie that carried the 29th Infantry Division through one of the most demanding campaigns of the Second World War.
NOTE: This map is currently available in two separate sheets but it can be professionally joined for an added but reasonable cost. You pay what we pay our restorers. If interested, inquire before or after purchasing.
CONDITION
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