[Map and Print Block of the 102nd Infantry Division]

An incredible artifact capturing the ‘approved’ commemoration of World War II.

Originally established as part of the Organized Reserve in 1921, the 102nd Infantry Division earned its nickname (The Ozarks) from the mountainous region that ran through the home states of many of its original members (primarily from Missouri and Arkansas). The unit arrived in France under the command of Major General Frank A. Keating in September of 1944, and would proceed across the European Theater to eventually link up with the Red Army outside Berlin in 1945.

The movement of the division is illustrated on this pictorial map, distributed to unit members to commemorate their battle during WWII. Four separation groups of actions are noted with arrows, numbers, and accompanying lists of command headquarters. Simple drawings include an American G.I., the Eiffel Tower, and the Cathedral at Cologne. The highlights from the campaign are listed at the bottom and include the crossing of the Roer, the capture of Krefeld, and the last battle at the Elbe.

Accompanying the printed version of the map is the original zinc letterpress block, which features a reverse of the entire image with the notable exception of the title header. The composition is an interesting mix of relief and intaglio, with some features and text raised above their surroundings, while others are faintly etched into the finely textured surface. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to conclusively determine the actual physical relationship between the two, but it’s possible the block was one of three or more (one for each color?) prepared for the mass production of the map. The text along the upper edge could have been added through a separate print run.