1945 The 36th Infantry Division Campaigns in France Germany Austria
DESCRIPTION
Few maps capture the triumph of the Allied advance from Southern France to Germany with as much color, humor, and personality as this lively campaign map of the famed 36th Infantry Division. Rather than presenting a conventional military record, it follows the division's route with bold graphics, pictorial symbols, and lighthearted illustrations that celebrate one of the U.S. Army's most distinguished combat units while preserving the experiences of the soldiers who fought across Western Europe.
Beginning with the Operation Dragoon landings on the Mediterranean coast on 15 August 1944, the map traces the division's advance from Saint-Tropez through Draguignan, Montélimar, Lyon, the Vosges Mountains, the Haguenau sector, southern Germany, and finally into Austria at the close of the war. A bright red campaign route connects each major objective, while oversized lettering, regional boundaries, rivers, and cities provide the geographic framework. Rather than emphasizing tactical detail, the map relies on colorful illustrations to highlight memorable places, local customs, battlefield landmarks, and significant victories encountered along the way.
From Southern France to Victory
Unlike many American divisional maps that begin with the Normandy invasion, this example commemorates the Allied landings in southern France and the rapid advance up the Rhône Valley. The 36th Infantry Division played a leading role in liberating southeastern France before fighting through the rugged Vosges Mountains, the bitter winter battles around Haguenau during the German Operation Nordwind offensive, and the final drive into Bavaria and Austria. Along the route, humorous references to French wine, German beer, Göring's surrender, and other wartime experiences are woven together with important battle honors, reflecting the memories that remained most vivid to the veterans themselves.
A Veteran's Record of Campaign
The map balances celebration with remembrance. Casualty totals, prisoners captured, and campaign milestones remind the viewer of the cost of victory, while the playful illustrations reveal the camaraderie that helped sustain the division throughout nearly nine months of continuous combat. Produced shortly after Germany's surrender, the sheet preserves both the military achievements and the everyday experiences of the soldiers who transformed a difficult campaign into a lasting visual record. Equal parts historical document, pictorial map, and commemorative artwork, it remains one of the more engaging visual histories of an American infantry division during the Second World War.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622