Set of Four World War II European Battle Maps

I wanted to share with you guys something that I’ve had laying around for 43 years and I plan to take them in today to see about having framed. A set of Four World War II European Battle Maps by Steve Kaliher and Harry D. White, printed in 1946.

My Uncle Howard Starnes now deceased was in the 79th Infantry and participated in the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Upon returning from his service in Europe he gave a set of four printed color maps to my grandparents outlining the encounters along the way. I’m now finding several sets of these maps are surfacing I guess since the vets are leaving us.

I’ve recently discovered that the drawings were created by two officers of the 79th Division, Harry D. White, and Steve Kaliher while they were in the 79th. These maps were published in the German city of Dortmund in the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia in 1946. These maps provide an in depth look into the average soldiers view on their campaign and even the Second World War in general through their personal experiences. When these maps were published and printed in Germany during U.S. occupation in 1946, approximately 8,000 were printed for the 79th Infantry Division, which totaled at close to 15,000 men. Because of the large nature of the maps, it is unlikely that many of the men who received these returned home with all four maps in good condition.

Here is an example of the maps that were recently sold.

I also see that there is a complete set available today on EBay