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Lot 838
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SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE DEFENSIVE LINES MAP, USED BY COL. WILLIAM J. DONOVAN
SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE DEFENSIVE LINES MAP, USED BY COL. WILLIAM J. DONOVAN
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Description:

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE DEFENSIVE LINES MAP, USED BY COL. WILLIAM J. DONOVAN
WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. During World War I, Donovan served as colonel of the U.S. 165th Regiment, originally the famous 69th New York Infantry 'Fighting Irish'. The regiment would distinguish itself at the Second Battle of the Marne, the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan himself would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in mid-October, 1918. Presented here is an extremely important historical document, a large map, 53.5 x 40.75 in., clearly illustrating the Allied defensive strategy employed against the eastern wing of the German Champagne-Marne Offensive, which was repulsed by the French Fourth Army in what became known as the Second Battle of the Marne, lasting from July 15-18, 1918. The map is comprised of two 1:20,000-scale sheets depicting the environs around the communes of Tahure in the west and Ste. Marie-a-Py in the west, trimmed at the edges and joined at the center to create one large map of the region. Both component maps are French ‘Plans Directeures' used to plot artillery missions, produced by the ‘Groupe des Canevas de Tir' of the French Fourth Army, and so marked at the top left of each sheet. The Tahure sheet is dated May 31, 1918, while that for Ste. Marie-a-Py is dated June 1. Each sheet is stamped ‘Secret' in red along the top margin, and again in blue at bottom left. Throughout, German trenches and other defensive features are shown in blue, with the corresponding Allied lines shown in red. Many of the trenches and other defensive positions are labeled in French with evocative names bestowed upon them by Allied soldiers (‘B[ois] Boomerang', ‘B. de Rats', ‘Bois du Chien', etc.) Most interestingly, two lines of defense are boldly denoted, the first, just to the south of the Allied front lines and ‘no man's land', in blue ink, labeled ‘Intermediate Pos[ition]' in black, and the second, further to the south, in red ink and labeled ‘2nd Pos.' Along the second position line, twelve bodies of troops are outlined in green indelible pencil and named in black ink after regions of France and the greater French Empire, from west to east: ‘C[orps] R[eserve?] Tunis'; ‘C. R. Athenes'; C. R. Niger'; ‘C. R. Nancy'; ‘C. R. Algier'; ‘C. R. Grenoble'; C. R. Evian'; ‘C. R. Douamont [sic]'; ‘C. R. Rouen'; and ‘C. R. Verdun'. C. R.'s Nancy and Algier are further annotated in pencil to show the compositions of platoons stationed there, as well as observation posts and other strategic points; these likely indicate the positions taken by the 165th. The verso of the map bears a highly informative pencil notation, in the hand of 1st Lt. Harold L. Allen, intelligence officer of the 165th Regiment Headquarters Company: ‘1/20,000 Plan Directure [sic] showing trench positions Champagne offensive 15 July ‘19 [sic], also dispositions 21 Corps. 1st position, Int. position, 2nd position'. Taken as a whole, the map provides a clear picture of the strategy of ‘defense in depth' devised by Ferdinand Foch, overall commander of the Allied forces, to stop the German offensive, of which the Allies were pre-warned thanks to a series of intelligence victories. The strategy would prove to be a success, at least on this eastern flank of the offensive: When the Germans opened artillery fire they pounded the almost empty French front line, and as the attackers moved easily through the French front and then were led onward by a rolling barrage. When they encountered the French main line – the ‘2nd Pos.' labeled on the map presented here - they were ordered to rest, regroup and wait until their field guns were moved into range. They attacked the main line at 08:30 the following morning, but were stopped by accurate fire by the bulk of the French artillery. They tried again at noon, but failed. A French counter-attack gained little ground, but convinced the German commanders that they could not prevail. The Fourth Army was now able to send reinforcements to their neighbors to the west, at Reims and Chateau Thierry, who had not fared as well. The 165th was then part of the 42nd Infantry ‘Rainbow' Division, itself subordinated to the Fourth Army. The 42nd bore the brunt of the German attack launched at several of the sectors shown on the maps presented here, particularly at Sommepy-Tahure, now the site of the Sommepy American Monument, which honors the 42nd and other American divisions which served with the Fourth Army. The map shows heavy folds overall, with a few small holes to the edges, some mud stains and other minor soiling, all indicative of field use, but is otherwise in very good condition, making for an impressive display. This map, along with other maps and documents, was contained within two of Donovan's footlockers purchased by our consignor and previously sold by us.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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