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Rare WWII Letter & Map – 5th Armored Division, A Co 46 AIB – Command Squad Named
This listing offers a rare, original WWII letter and map grouping directly connected to the Command Squad of “A” Company, 46th Armored Infantry Battalion (46 AIB) of the 5th Armored Division.This is a unique historical set, and items tied to specific command squad members are seldom found.
Included in This Lot1. Original WWII Letter (Postmarked May 5, 1945)
Letter dated April 18, 1945 (postmarked a few weeks later).
Written by a soldier in A Co., 46th Armored Infantry Battalion.
Mentions sending home the included map and wondering if more maps will be issued to show the division’s full route through Germany.
Writer expresses hope for discharge due to being a new father.
Envelope shows corner wear, edge wear, and Army censor markings, consistent with wartime mail.
Letter is on thin WWII‑era stationery and pairs historically with the map.
2. WWII Map – “Advance of the 5th Armored ‘Victory Division’”
Title: Advance of the 5th Armored “Victory Division” – Normandy to the Seine River
Coverage Dates: 1 Aug – 29 Aug
Scale: 1:800,000
Lower left corner includes handwritten notation:“Command Squad of ‘A’ Co 46 AIB” followed by the names of the command squad members and their hometowns.The letter writer’s name appears without a listed home location.
This handwritten detail directly links the map to the soldiers who carried it, adding strong provenance and collector value.
Condition
Letter & Envelope:
Wear consistent with age and wartime handling.
Envelope has corner wear and light soiling.
Letter is intact and expected age‑related wear.
Handwritten command squad names remain clear.
All items are original WWII pieces and have been kept together since the period.
Historical Context (For Reference Only – Not Included in Sale)
Publicly available historical summaries note that the 46th Infantry Regiment / 46th Armored Infantry Battalion served with the 5th Armored Division, known as “Victory’s Spearpoint.” The division participated in multiple campaigns from Normandy onward and earned several unit citations for gallantry.
Additional accounts describe the 46 AIB’s involvement in heavy fighting near the Hürtgen Forest, supporting the 5th Armored Division during intense operations in late 1944.
This background highlights the significance of the unit connected to this letter and map.
Shipping & Pickup
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