Impressive World War II period color map of the planned zone of occupation by the United States Third Army in the Rhineland of Western Germany, dated between November-December 1918, 51.25 x 32.5, annotated in black ink to reveal corps and divisional boundaries as well as the planned locations of the main headquarters at Koblenz and the advance headquarters at Trier, with right side marked: "Legend, Operations Map No. 4, 3rd American Army. Plan of occupation of American Forces in Germany," with upper left identifying the map as an "Amended Copy." In very good to fine, folded condition, with some short edge tears and several areas of reverse reinforced with paper.
Consignor notes that this map originates from the personal collection of General Robert C. Richardson (1882-1954). By the time the United States entered the first World War, Richardson, a captain, assisted in the rapid buildup of training of the American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) bound for France. Fluent in French, Richardson served as an aide and observer with foreign armies before being assigned to the Operations Division, General Staff, A.E.F. as a liaison officer in June 1918. In that capacity he was involved in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. Following the Armistice of November 11, 1918, Richardson served on the Reparations Board of the Peace Commission in Paris and then as part of U.S. Army occupation forces in Germany stationed at Coblenz and later at Mainz. Richardson, a career Army officer was a member of the West Point Class of 1904, serving in the Philippines and as an instructor of modern languages at the United States Military Academy. During the second World War, Richardson served as Commanding General of the Hawaiian Department, and was instrumental in training American troops in the fundamentals of jungle warfare and amphibious assaults.
