Seventh Army 10 Jul 1943 – 4 May 1945

“Born at Sea, Baptized in Blood, Crown in Glory.” – General George S. Patton, Jr.

The Seventh Army under the command of General George S. Patton was first activated while en route to Sicily in July of 1943 (born at sea). It was the first U.S. field army to see combat in World War II (baptized in blood) and would ultimately participate in numerous actions including the landings at Sicily, invasion of southern France, Battle of the Bulge, and capture of Munich (crowned in glory).

Such significant contributions to the Allied victory are somewhat downplayed on this relatively simple map of the European Theater of Operations. The approximate route of the Seventh Army can be tracked using the bright red arrows as they (apparently) effortlessly cross hundreds of miles of sea and land. The only indication of apparent resistance is a ‘burst’ on the southern coast of France. Unit insignia within the image denote particularly meritorious engagements while those in the margins reflect the various divisions attached to the Seventh during the campaigns.

Prepared and printed in Germany by the 524th Engineer Topographic Company in 1945. The map is scarce on the market. As of April 2024, only three examples are noted in WorldCat, at the New York Public Library, Georgia Historical Society, and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. OCLC# 51458992.

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