65th Armd. Inf. Bn.

The route of the 65th Armored Infantry Battalion across the ETO during World War II.

This uncommon unit history map follows the path of the 65th Armored Infantry Battalion across France and Germany during WWII. A stylized inset of the USA in the lower left shows training in America, followed by deployment to the beaches of Normandy and travel by rail and foot across Europe. The 65th operated as part of the 20th Armored Division, the insignia for which can be seen above the title.

The map was illustrated by T/5 Vince Urbino and published in 1945 by the S-3 Section. Evidently, Tech. Urbino (and his Commanding Officer) had a good sense of humor, as his cartoon vignettes are among the bawdiest found on the campaign chronicles I have seen. Women in tight-fitting dresses (one wearing the armband of a Displaced Person), drunk soldiers, and military SNAFUs are boldly presented in the negative spaces across the sheet. The downsides of war – bad weather, enemy engagements, etc. – are also depicted with a jocular attitude. The devil is even shown dancing with Hitler’s decapitated head near Berlin!

The map is rare on the market and unlisted in WorldCat as of July 2024. This is the first example I have handled. After Action Report at Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library.