D-Day landing site map realises $44,000

A map showing allied and axis troop positions after the first day of the D-Day landings made $43,750 at Heritage Auctions on Sunday.

The document was prepared for Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, who commanded the First US Army.

D-Day map Heritage

The Allies captured two beachheads on D-Day (June 6, 1944)

It’s marked: "Situation - 2400 Hrs 6 June 1944 Hq. Fusag [First United States Army Group] Secret".

The lot is one of a set of maps that reveal how the action played out in the immediate aftermath of D-Day.

It shows the two beaches (Juno and Gold) that were captured on June 6. The other three would not be taken until June 12.

The sale also included two other maps from Bradley’s office (sold separately).

A letter of provenance from expert Luther D Hansen reads: "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...

“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 signature for sale.

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