Description:

POSTWAR MAPS TRACK ALLIED TROOPS PROGRESS ON D-DAY, FROM THE ESTATE OF LT. COL. WILLIAM B. GARA
Postwar publication, 6.25 x 9.5 in., containing 21 foldout maps showing the movement of Allied troops during ‘Operation Overlord'. This booklet comes from the estate of Lt. Col. William B. Gara, commander of the crucial 1st Engineer Combat Battalion and among the first to land on Omaha Beach. The individual maps show: ‘The Advance Inland', ‘The Attack on Cherbourg', ‘Attack To Cut The Peninsula', ‘Securing The North Flank', ‘Toward St. Lo', ‘V Corps Advance', ‘Battle For Carentan', ‘The Second British Army on D Day', ‘Omaha Beach Assault', ‘82D Airborne Division Drop Pattern', ‘The Final Overlord Plan', and much more. Each map is exceptionally detailed, disclosing not only the Allied maneuvers, but: front lines, German defense perimeters, railroads, trains, German unit positions, beachheads, resistance pockets, glider landing areas and drop zones, German counterattacks, sea and air routes, etc. These maps, printed by ‘The Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center, is in very good to fine condition and should be seen. SOLD WITH: another postwar map, 31 x 21 in., a world map title ‘U.S. ARMY IN WORLD WAR II', published by Rand McNally Cosmopolitan World. Two pieces. WILLIAM B. GARA (1917-2001) was an American Army Lieutenant Colonel, commander of the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. Gara was a genuine war hero by any definition. He led his 700 men from North Africa to Sicily, he landed among the very first soldiers on Omaha Beach, was heavily engaged at the Battle of the Bulge, and fought into Germany until the end of the war. His most valiant service was at Omaha Beach in the initial assault fighting while they cleared obstacles where the 1st Engineers were tasked with landing to allow more landing craft to safely arrive, and continuing to clear barbed wire, mines, anti-tank obstacles and ravines, etc. from the beaches to a point a few miles inland to clear the path for infantry, tanks, and then truck transports. Under intense enemy small arms and anti-tank fire, Gara's engineers, along with elements of the 37th Engineers Battalion, opened the first and most important exit from Omaha Beach, E-1, allowing American GIs to flank the German defenses and begin their drive inland. By war's end, Gara had received two Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.

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November 30, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$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 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000