A wartime situation map of the D-Day landing sites will sell at Heritage Auctions.
It’s offered with an opening bid of $43,750 in a June 11 Arms and Armor sale in Dallas.
The map was drawn up from aerial reconnaissance reports.
Lieutenant General Omar Bradley commanded the First US Army
It was given to Lieutenant General Omar Bradley,who commanded the First US Army during the attack and would have reviewed the map on the morning of June 7, the day after the landings.
The map shows the state of play at midnight on June 6, 1944, following the capture of four of the main beaches.
It’s marked: "Situation - 2400 Hrs 6 June 1944 Hq. Fusag [First United States Army Group] Secret".
Enemy placements are shown, as are the locations of Allied troops.
Another two maps from Bradley’s office, from June 8-9, will sell as a single lot with an estimate in excess of $25,000.
Expert Luther D Hansen writes in a letter of provenance accompanying the lots: "From my examination of these Omar Bradley WWII Headquarters FUSAG/12th AG battle maps, I conclude that they are original to WWII and one of only four original sets ever produced...
“I believe that this Omar Bradley map set is the only set in private hands.
“The maps show wear and use as well as aging, and yet they are of the highest quality and clearly show the most famous battles of WWII unfolding for us today as they did for General Omar Bradley in 1944.
“To view Bradley's maps 70 years later with the benefit of historical reassessment, we can see the omissions and intelligence failures that impacted his decisions and battle outcomes…in terms of rarity and historical significance, these maps are a perfect 10."
We have an Omar Bradley autograph for sale.
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