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Lot #318
World War II

“Top Secret” Operation Overlord strategic revisions two weeks before D-Day

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Estimate: $7000+
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Description

“Top Secret” Operation Overlord strategic revisions two weeks before D-Day

Rare mimeographed addendum document intended for insertion within the Neptune Monograph, twelve double-sided pages plus four maps, 8 x 13, headed: “Top Secret—Bigot. Naval Commander, Western Task Force, Intelligence Bulletin Number 1, 21 May 1944.” A fascinating Operation Overlord addendum prepared just two weeks before D-Day. The document contains special instructions summarized in section headers including, “Destruction of previously issued Omaha shoreline sketches.” It describes “Enemy E-Boat Tactics,” noting: “The most modern E-Boats carry both torpedoes and mines, and are expected to constitute the greatest surface threat to Operation ‘OVERLORD.’” Other topics reported on include small submarines and "human torpedoes," secret enemy weapons such as long-range rockets and "robot mines," the enemy army order of battle, underwater obstacles, the estimated enemy air force effort in the face of an invasion, and mines and obstacles to be expected on beaches. In very good to fine condition, with burn marks at upper left corners and areas of paper loss and chipping to edges (affecting no text). The main plan for Operation Overlord was constantly changing as new information and intelligence became available, with these pages reflecting revisions for the America sector in Western Normandy. The complexities of Operation Overlord and its successful execution make it one of the greatest feats of military strategy of the modern age. This original document is a testament to the thorough planning and enormous effort that went in to orchestrating the invasion.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs And Artifacts
  • Dates: #495 - Ended March 15, 2017