CAPTURED GERMAN TRENCH MAP OF THE ST. MIHIEL SALIENT, OWNED BY COL. WILLIAM J. DONOVAN

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Raynor's Spring Americana Auction Prt 2

By Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions

Mar 1, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-03-01 10:00:00 2026-03-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Raynor's Spring Americana Auction Prt 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/raynors-historical-auctions/raynors-spring-americana-auction-prt-2-22416
Fascinating Americana Auction offering item in all periods of American history., from colonial through WWII. The items are offered as Autographs, Broadsides, Civil Wat Relics, Civil War Diaries, Confederate items. Political, Presidential, 20th Century Israel, Early Sports. Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions bob@hcaauctions.com

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• Lot Description
  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. Presented here is a very uncommon and interesting German trench map, owned by Donovan and likely captured during the brutal Battle of St. Mihiel from Sep. 12-16, 1918, in which 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. The map, 81 x 21 in., presents a 1:25,000-scale view of the environs of St. Mihiel itself, on the western edge of the heavily-fortified German salient inside French lines which blocked lines of communication between Nancy and Verdun. The intricate network of German trenches, fortifications, gun emplacements and munitions depots is shown in blue, with the corresponding Allied lines to the west printed in red. The map is marked ‘Stabskarte – Geheim' [‘Staff Map – Secret'] in blue at upper right, with the date ‘Abgeschlossen am 17.5.18' [‘Completed on May 17, 1918']. It bears the additional warning ‘Nicht uber die Rgts.-Befehlsstelle hinaus mit nach vorn nehmen' [‘Not to be taken forward beyond the regimental command post'] in blue at top right. A key is printed along the top edge, identifying trench lines, flak guns, hospital facilities, and many other points of interest, as identified by aerial and ground-based reconnaissance. Four sectors are delineated in red indelible pencil to the north of St. Mihiel, labeled ‘A' through ‘D'. The verso shows a partial map of the commune of Troyon, crossed out with blue indelible pencil, indicating that it was cut down and reused to print the more recent map on the recto. The verso also bears the pencil notations ‘West leg St. Mihiel Salient' in the hand of 1st Lt. Harold L. Allen, intelligence officer of the 165th Regiment Headquarters Company, as well as ‘German Map St. Mihiel' in another hand, possibly Donovan's. The map shows folds overall, particularly at the edges, but remains in very good condition. The 165th Regiment, as part of the 42nd Infantry Division under the French Fourth Army, would lead the advance into the St. Mihiel salient on its eastern edge, while the sectors depicted by this map, far to the west, would be in the area of responsibility of the French Fifth Army.
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