EXTREMELY RARE! WWII SECRET 1943 Assault on Attu Island (Aleutian Campaign) Headquarters of the Commander in Chief Military Intelligence Report
EXTREMELY RARE! WWII SECRET 1943 Assault on Attu Island (Aleutian Campaign) Headquarters of the Commander in Chief Military Intelligence Report
Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.
This extraordinarily rare, museum-grade World War II artifact is an original "SECRET" marked "Battle Experience - Informational Bulletin," meticulously produced by the United States Fleet under the Headquarters of the Commander in Chief. During WWII, the operations and strategic planning of the U.S. Navy were directed by two prominent commanders: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), and Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet (CINCUS). Their combined leadership played a pivotal role in the Allied victory.
This highly classified and intricately detailed bulletin, issued by the Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, contains secret military maps, intelligence reports, tactical movements, and a unique compilation of "battle experiences." These experiences were drawn from war diaries and battle reports submitted by various commanders and ships engaged in key operations. The bulletin was printed in extremely limited quantities, strictly for the eyes of high-ranking military officials, including Officers and Generals.
The rarity of this document is underscored by the directive on its first page, which states: "Information must not fall into enemy hands - when no longer required they shall be destroyed by burning. No report of destruction need be submitted." As a result, only a handful of these original "SECRET" "Battle Experience - Informational Bulletins" are believed to still exist.
This particular "SECRET INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 2" is a remarkable example, titled "Battle Experience - Assault and Occupation of Attu Island May 1943" It offers an unparalleled glimpse into the strategic operations and experiences of the United States Navy during some of the most crucial campaigns of the Pacific Theater.
Assault and Occupation of Attu Island May 1943:
The assault and occupation of Attu Island in May 1943 was a pivotal but often overlooked battle in World War II's Pacific Theater. As part of the Aleutian Campaign, this operation marked the only land battle fought on American soil during the war. American forces, facing harsh weather, rugged terrain, and tenacious Japanese defenders, launched a grueling assault to reclaim the island, which the Japanese had seized in 1942 as part of their broader strategy in the North Pacific. The battle was marked by fierce combat, including a desperate banzai charge by Japanese forces, and resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The successful recapture of Attu eliminated the Japanese threat to the North American continent, secured the northern flank of the Pacific Theater, and paved the way for further Allied advances in the region. Despite the extreme conditions and high costs, the occupation of Attu had significant strategic implications, contributing to the eventual defeat of Japan.