ARCHIVE FROM STAFF SERGEANT DONALD KARL, 1ST ARMORED DIVISION

ARCHIVE FROM STAFF SERGEANT DONALD KARL, 1ST ARMORED DIVISION

Enormous grouping of materials from the military service of Staff Sergeant Donald Karl, 1st Armored Division, who fought extensively in Northern Africa and Italy throughout the war, includes: Five photo albums, each approx. 12 x 9 in., containing hundreds of newspaper clippings, postcards, air-dropped propaganda, pieces of currency, and original photographs, many with descriptive captions from Karl's service in North Africa and Italy, notably including a clipping of a bombed Axis train, captioned beneath "HAVE NO MERCY - AND WE DIDN'T", a clipping of a dead Nazi, shot while trying to retreat, captioned beneath "I SEEN THIS WITH MY OWN EYES - GERMAN CRIED - SHOW NO MERCEY - KILL ALL...", and a clipping of a German Afrika Corps officer, captioned beneath "WHY IN THE HELL DON'T ROMMEL GET WISE�AND QUIT? CAUSE JUST AS SOON AS WE GET FINISHED HERE WITH KESSELRING, WE WILL START THE BALL ROLLING�IN FRANCE. REMEMBER AFRICA?". Karl also shows a strong disdain for General George Patton, writing beneath clippings of the general on multiple pages: "HE WAS SHELL SHOCKED BEFORE THE WAR? HEADLINES ARE TO EARLY IN THE GAME", "NOT SO HOT. HE HAD THREE STAR - BUT THEY COOKED HIS BRAINS - HE LOOKS DISGUSTING", and "THIS CAPABLE MAN SO CALLED - STOOD UP BEFORE HIS DIV. (1st AR-DIV)...AND CALLED EVERYONE OF US A BUNCH OF CHICKEN-SHIT HEROES AND A BUNCH OF YELLOW BELLIED SON-OF-A-BITCHES...SAY WHERE THE HELL IS PATTON TODAY...MUST HAVE BEEN IN JAPAN - HE WASN'T IN AFRICA". Much more great content. Very good condition. WITH: 15 war-date "Stars and Stripes: Mediterranean" newspapers, notably including the April 13, 1935 issue titled "ROOSEVELT DIES", the May 3, 1945 issue titled "NAZI ARMIES IN ITALY SURRENDER", and the V-E day issue titled "IT'S ALL OVER OVER HERE". Generally worn from age and use, evenly toned, just good condition. WITH: Multiple medals and insignia, including a gold-plated tank pin constructed of sterling silver, a First Armored Division patch, two Sergeant insignia patches, WWII Victory medal, Good Conduct Medal, a personalized war-date lighter engraved with his name, and some other miscellaneous pieces. Very good condition overall. A great collection!