Description:

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE MAPS, 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. Historic lot of three war-date battle maps, used by Donovan 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. The maps, one dated July 12 and two July 13, 1918, show changes to German trench lines and defensive positions in the Sommepy, Butte de Tahure, St. Souplet and Auberive sectors in preparation for the 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. The maps, titled ‘Rectificatif [Correction]' Nos. 4, 5, and 5 bis, provide updates to earlier charts of the defensive lines produced from aerial photographs on July 10 and 11. Features identified in the earlier maps are shown in blue, while new trench lines, ammunition depots, gun batteries, and other emplacements are shown in red. These last-minute updates were hastily printed in the field by the Fourth Army intelligence corps using the hectograph, or gelatin duplicator process on the versos of scraps of earlier maps, and measure 14.5 x 21.25 in., 20 x 14 in., and 13.5 x 10.25 in., respectively. The versos of Rectificatifs 4 and 5 are labeled ‘Commanding Officer 165th Inft.' and ‘Intelligence Officer 165th Inft.', respectively, in blue indelible pencil. A sheet tabbed to the verso of Rectificatif 4 bears the pencil notation: ‘Information sketches from French G.-2; showing new enemy works in preparation for the attack of 14-15 July ‘18; restituted from airplane photographs.' This note is signed with the initial ‘A', for 1st Lt. Harold L. Allen, intelligence officer of the 165th Regiment Headquarters Company. The 165th was then part of the 42nd Infantry ‘Rainbow' Division, itself subordinated to the French Fourth Army. The 42nd Division bore the brunt of the German attack launched at 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. Intelligence provided by French aerial reconnaissance and distributed to troops on the ground in the form of maps such as those presented here allowed the Fourth Army to prepare a defense in depth and rob the Germans of the element of surprise, with their offensive being halted by July 17. The maps show folds and other clear signs of field use, but remain fully legible and in very good condition overall. These maps, along with other maps and documents, were 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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