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Souvenir typescript of the the United States’ “Declaration of War on Germany, December 11, 1941,” one page, 8.5 x 11, signed by a total of 11 generals in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force who participated in World War II, including: Ira C. Eaker, James M. Gavin, Alfred M. Gruenther, Earle E. ‘Pat’ Partridge, Elwood ‘Pete’ Quesada, Ralph C. Smith, Dean C. Strother, Maxwell D. Taylor, James Van Fleet, Matthew Ridgway, and Lauris Norstad. In fine condition.
The United States declared war against Germany on December 11, 1941, just hours after receiving Germany's declaration of war on the United States. Pub. L 77-331, originally signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice President Henry Wallace, and House Speaker Sam Rayburn, had been passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Of course, this war declaration set the stage for the signers' illustrious military careers during World War II.
- Alfred M. Gruenther (1899-1983), U.S. Army General. Nicknamed ‘The Brain,’ Gruenther was instrumental in planning the Allied invasions of North Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943.
- Ira C. Eaker (1896-1987), U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General. Eaker successfully advocated for precision daylight bombing of industrial and military targets in Germany in conjunction with Royal Air Force night raiding.
- Elwood ‘Pete’ Quesada (1904-1993), U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General. Quesada perfected methods of obtaining real-time information for combined air-ground missions, including the use of pilot air controllers in tanks and the use of early warning radar.
- Ralph C. Smith (1893-1998), U.S. Army Major General, signed as "Ralph C. Smith / Maj Gen. US ARMY. RET." Smith commanded forces in the Pacific Theater, and was tasked with the defense of the Hawaiian Islands.
- Earle E. ‘Pat’ Partridge (1900-1990), U.S. Air Force General, signed as "E.E. Partridge / General U.S. Air Force (ret)." Partridge oversaw Air Force actions in the Pacific Theater, notably in Okinawa.
- Maxwell D. Taylor (1901-1987), U.S. Army General. Taylor served with distinction in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, and the Netherlands, and was the commander of the 101st Airborne Division, ‘The Screaming Eagles.’
- James Van Fleet (1892-1992), U.S. Army General. Van Fleet's leadership during the Utah Beach landings on D-Day earned him a Distinguished Service Cross.
- James M. Gavin (1907-1990), U.S. Army Lieutenant General. Gavin trained paratroopers of gliders and parachutes all over the European Theater.
- Dean C. Strother (1908-2000), U.S. Air Force General. Strother was sent on missions in the Pacific Theater, in Italy, and to the Soviet Union to assist the Soviets on the Eastern Front.
- Matthew B. Ridgway (1895-1993), U.S. Army General. Ridgway commanded the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II and later led U.N. forces in Korea, reversing the tide against Chinese offensives.
- Lauris Norstad (1907-1988), U.S. Air Force General. Norstad was a key planner of Allied air strategy in World War II and later served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe during the early Cold War.
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