Lot 110

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Description:

MAJOR GEN. GEOFFREY KEYES' CORRESPONDENCE ON OPERATIONS HUSKY AND TORCH
GEOFFREY KEYES (1888-1967) Highly decorated Lieutenant General who commanded the II Corps during World War II. During the war, Keyes was Chief of Staff, 2nd Armored Division, commanded the 9th Armored Division, Dep. Commander, 7th Army [Sicily], Commander 7th and 3rd Armies (assuming Patton's old command), and headed occupation forces in Austria. Keyes was George Patton's invaluable chief of staff, leading Patton's I Corps in Morocco, and accepting the surrender of Palermo. He later served with distinction under Mark Clark at Anzio, Cassino and before Rome. Historic file of Keyes' retained copies of official correspondence, orders, directives, etc. concerning OPERATION TORCH, the Allied invasion of North Africa, and OPERATION HUSKY, the invasion and liberation of Sicily which commenced on July 9 and ended with the Axis withdrawal on Aug. 17. The entire file, marked "SECRET", is approx. 90pp. 4to., arranged in reverse chronological order from Nov. 28, 1942 to Sep. 23, 1943.1943. Most prominent in the grouping is a letter from French Admiral FELIX MICHELIER on official letterhead to Gen. GEORGE S. PATTON, 2pp. 4to., Jan. 27, 1943. Michelier, who in November had dispatched Vichy French naval forces to counter the American landings, writes in French advising that he hopes to establish a course in Casablanca to teach sailors to use American armaments. At top, Patton approves, writing in red indelible pencil: "O.K. P". Earlier letters discuss stragglers, American soldiers patronizing prostitutes, fuel conservation, etc. A December 4 letter sets forth his comments on the Allied/Vichy French peace agreement of Nov. 22, with special comments concerning the French navy. Early December letters to French Gen. Charles Nogues discusses French forces which joined the Americans when the invasion began, and tensions between French and Spanish Morocco, with Americans refusing not to traverse a buffer zone - an agreement is finally reached. A January 20 memorandum summarizes the landings of the previous November and briefly describes principal cities and towns. In mid-March, Keyes' letters instruct generals to commence vigorous training of troops for: "...landing operations...in mountainous terrain...", which is further discussed in a May 17 letter to Patton. In early June, Keyes discusses increased naval gunfire to support the landings in Sicily, and a post-invasion July 16 memo Keyes mentions that the 7th Army had been relegated to only a supporting role in Sicily. On Aug. 21, 1943 Keyes notes that: "General Patton has returned with his headquarters to Palermo". Patton had been severely admonished by Eisenhower for the infamous "slapping" incidents the day before, and on Aug. 22, the next day, he would apologize personally to the doctor and staff of the field hospital in which he struck one of the soldiers. Overall very good.

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February 18, 2014 11:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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