Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

This extremely rare WWII invasion of France U.S. situation map is hand drawn and shows a clear and simplified strategic view of the U.S. Third Army’s movements from August 1st - August 14th, 1944. Situation maps like this example were created using TOP SECRET and SECRET intelligence reports and front-line communications updates as the Allied forces pushed through France from the D-Day Normandy Beaches on June 6th, 1944. This situation was used by high-ranking officers of the U.S. Thrid Army and was used to make future strategic decisions during operations against Nazi German in France in 1944.

The U.S. Third Army gained fame during World War II while under the command of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.  Deployed to the Western Front in the summer of 1944, Third Army executed an impressive offensive drive across France, and during the Battle of the Bulge that winter elements of Third Army disengaged from an existing fight, pivoted northward, and relieved the besieged garrison at the Belgian crossroads town of Bastogne.

Under the command of Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Jr., the Third Army participated in eight major operations and gave new meaning to "hard charging, hard hitting, mobile warfare." The Third Army's swift and tenacious drive into and through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Austria contributed immeasurably to the destruction of the Nazi war machine of Adolph Hitler's Germany.

The Third Army liberated or captured 81,522 square miles of territory. An estimated 12,000 cities, towns, and communities were liberated or captured, including 27 cities of more than 50,000 in population.  Third Army captured 765,483 prisoners of war. 515,205 of the enemy surrendered during the last week of the war to make a total of 1,280,688 POW's processed. The enemy lost an estimated 1,280,688 captured, 144,500 killed, and 386,200 wounded, adding up to 1,811,388. By comparison, the Third Army suffered 16,596 killed, 96,241 wounded, and 26,809 missing in action for a total of 139,646 casualties.