Lot 703

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Description:


Enormous grouping of materials from the military service of Staff Sergeant Donald Karl, 1st Armored Division, who fought extensively in Northern Africa and Italy throughout the war, includes: Five photo albums, each approx. 12 x 9 in., containing hundreds of newspaper clippings, postcards, air-dropped propaganda, pieces of currency, and original photographs, many with descriptive captions from Karl's service in North Africa and Italy, notably including a clipping of a bombed Axis train, captioned beneath "HAVE NO MERCY - AND WE DIDN'T", a clipping of a dead Nazi, shot while trying to retreat, captioned beneath "I SEEN THIS WITH MY OWN EYES - GERMAN CRIED - SHOW NO MERCEY - KILL ALL...", and a clipping of a German Afrika Corps officer, captioned beneath "WHY IN THE HELL DON'T ROMMEL GET WISE�AND QUIT? CAUSE JUST AS SOON AS WE GET FINISHED HERE WITH KESSELRING, WE WILL START THE BALL ROLLING�IN FRANCE. REMEMBER AFRICA?". Karl also shows a strong disdain for General George Patton, writing beneath clippings of the general on multiple pages: "HE WAS SHELL SHOCKED BEFORE THE WAR? HEADLINES ARE TO EARLY IN THE GAME", "NOT SO HOT. HE HAD THREE STAR - BUT THEY COOKED HIS BRAINS - HE LOOKS DISGUSTING", and "THIS CAPABLE MAN SO CALLED - STOOD UP BEFORE HIS DIV. (1st AR-DIV)...AND CALLED EVERYONE OF US A BUNCH OF CHICKEN-SHIT HEROES AND A BUNCH OF YELLOW BELLIED SON-OF-A-BITCHES...SAY WHERE THE HELL IS PATTON TODAY...MUST HAVE BEEN IN JAPAN - HE WASN'T IN AFRICA". Much more great content. Very good condition. WITH: 15 war-date "Stars and Stripes: Mediterranean" newspapers, notably including the April 13, 1935 issue titled "ROOSEVELT DIES", the May 3, 1945 issue titled "NAZI ARMIES IN ITALY SURRENDER", and the V-E day issue titled "IT'S ALL OVER OVER HERE". Generally worn from age and use, evenly toned, just good condition. WITH: Multiple medals and insignia, including a gold-plated tank pin constructed of sterling silver, a First Armored Division patch, two Sergeant insignia patches, WWII Victory medal, Good Conduct Medal, a personalized war-date lighter engraved with his name, and some other miscellaneous pieces. Very good condition overall. A great collection!

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July 15, 2020 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000