156. [World War II]. Hand-colored map titled “Administrative Map Western-Germany”, 1 page (22 x 29 in.; 559 x 737 mm.), “4 June 1945”, printed by the 649th Engineer Topographic Battalion (“649th Engr. Top. Bn 1945”) in Waiblingen-bei-Stuttgart. One mid-horizontal fold, one mid-vertical fold. Pinholes at corners from posting it on a wall or bulletin board.

The creation of West Germany, 1945: unique hand-colored and annotated map outlining the division of Germany according to the Berlin Declaration, produced by the military just after Germany’s surrender.

The landkreise (rural district), stadtkreis (urban district within landkreis), and land boundaries (made up of adjoining stadtkreis) are noted. Identified with flags, there are three Region Headquarters (Darmstadt, Marburg, Stuttgart) and five R.B. Headquarters (Frankfurt, Kassel, Wiesbaden, Mannheim, Karlsruhe).

It was agreed at the Yalta Conference, held in Crimea, 4-11 February 1945, that after the war, Germany would be split into four occupied zones: American, British, French, and Russian. On 7 May 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Reims, France, to take effect the following day. The Berlin Declaration of 5 June 1945 confirmed the division of Allied-occupied Germany into four occupation zones according to the Yalta Conference.

Eight areas are outlined by hand in various colors. There are 17 landkreis at the western and southern borders of this map that are not outlined. These areas are in the French occupied zone. France was not represented at Yalta and Russia would only agree to a separate French occupation zone “within the British and American zones.” It is possible that when this map was printed, it was not yet determined if the 17 non-outlined landkreis were American. The four divisions were not confirmed until the Berlin Declaration on 5 June 1945, the day after this map was published. The French zone includes the stadtkreis Baden-Baden and Bavaria. The French zone bordered mostly France and Switzerland, but also small parts of Belgium, Luxembourg, and Austria.

Also present are 25 pages of V-Mail, each (4.25 x 5.25 in.; 108 x 133 mm.) from Lieutenant General Keyes to his wife, May-August 1945. She was living at the Hotel Thayer, West Point. V-Mail used standardized stationery and microfilm processing to produce lighter, smaller airplane cargo, making space available for war supplies. V-Mail was used from mid-1942 to the end of 1945. Excerpts: 
”The capitulation of the Germans yesterday has us all on the hump-just as much so as while we were still fighting … We are still awfully busy even if the fighting has ceased on this front … “VE Day!! Now if we can quickly wind up the Jap affair we can really relax … We move to Salzburg this week … Well here we are installed in the Archbishop’s Palace sweetheart each room is large enough for a battalion almost. Our offices here … flew to 3d Army to attend the homecoming ceremonies for Gen Patton. It really was a great show and he was in rare form – Had a nice visit with him … With the approaching end of the Jap war it will certainly be open season on generals! … Sunday is to be a gala ay – All the High Commissioners of Austria are gathering and Gen Clark’s guests and others are going to the music Festival … just had a call and a concert by the Vienna Boys Choir … This afternoon the No 1 British, French & Russian VIPs are coming to Salzburg as Gen Clark’s guests and big festivities are slated…”

Provenance: From the Estate of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes. $12,000 - $15,000

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by Profiles in History
June 11, 2015 11:00 AM PDT
26662 Agoura Rd
Calabasas, CA, US 91302

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