Beschreibung:

PATTON, George S., Jr. (1885-1945), Major General, U.S. Army ]. Patton's operational map of the island of Sicily, used during the Sicily Campaign, marked "SECRET" in red pencil at top and bottom margins, and "Plan A," at top, labeled in blue pencil "HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH ARMY OPERATION MAP 18 JULY 1943," and with legend at top "Reference Plan Presented By General Patton to 15th Army Group See P.III in Official Diary, Sat. July, 1943." Folding map lithographed in four colors (black, blue red and tan), 22 1/8 in. x 29 in., with numerous lines, unit identifications, legends ("Base," etc.) and lines of movement indicated in dark blue pencil. PATTON'S PLANS FOR THE INVASION AND THE SICILY CAMPAIGN The map, retained by Patton's aide, Lt. Col. Codman, was prepared by the 649th Battalion of Army Engineers in June 1943; it depicts the entire island of Sicily; large insets in black and red feature detailed street planes of Palermo, Catania, Messina. A key delineates the various markings for railroads, improved and unimproved roads, small towns, airbases, seaplane facilities and features of terrain. The markings and annotations, in a bold blue pencil or crayon, are probably in the hand of one of Patton's aides. These delineate perimeters, labeled "blue," "white" and "red" and various other features, including projected drop zones for the 82nd Airborne Division along the south coast, and show expected lines of movement from west to east, towards the straits of Messina. Under Patton's command seven Allied divisions (more than landed in Normandy a year later), landed on the southern coast of Sicily on July 10 and in five weeks fought their way across the island, forcing the evacuating German forces to withdraw across the straits of Messina to the Italian mainland. Provenance: Lt. Col. Charles C. Codman, aide-de-camp to General Patton from the North Africa campaign until the end of the war in Europe.