Rare U.S. Army: Europe Northern Army Command Logistical Services Booklet 1956 for Sale

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Rare U.S. Army: Europe Northern Army Command Logistical Services Booklet 1956 For Sale

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Rare U.S. Army: Europe Northern Army Command Logistical Services Booklet 1956 :
$49.56

Rare U.S. Army: Europe Northern Army Command Logistical Services Booklet 1956.

This is a rare booklet from the US Army Europe (Germany)Northern Army Command Logistical Services Booklet. With a letter written by R.W. Stephens, Major General, USA, Commanding, dated Feb. 1, 1956.

I got this at an estate sale in Akron, Ohio, ages ago. It was once owned by Sgt. Comdes, presumably of Akron, who wrote his name faintly on the cover in red. I purchased it because of the front cover. I thought I might frame it (with its booklet in tact) and put it in my library where I was working on a book on World War II. As it turned out, I finished the book before I had framed the booklet. So I put it away for another day – today!

And so just in time for the holidays, I’m offering an extremely rare booklet from the US Army Europe Northern Area Command Logistical Services with a just incredible cover.

Back in 1956 the epicenter of the Cold War was in Europe, Germany specifically. That meant that lots of Army service people (some with their families) were sent to Germany to supervise/support the US/NATO Cold War activities. When they arrived in Germany, they were issued a booklet like this. According to the letter from Stephens, the readers were reminded that they were guests “of a friendly allied nation” and that they needed to act in a way “which will reflect no discredit on our country,” obey the laws of that country and not participate in any“black market” activities by selling US goods to unauthorized Germans. This booklet (37 pages plus another form) has lots more. A portion of this is two color – this provides the table of contents (with the green drawing of the USA Deutschland insignia, “Advice to personnel ordered to United States Army Europe for Duty inNorthern Army Command” with lots of drawings of cathedrals, buildings and castles, and a map in green of the Northern Area Command with indications of the British Zone, Russian Zone,Southern Area Command, HQ Area Command, West Area Command, Wiesbaden, and French Zone (This is a great drawing that isn’t widely available.)

That’s followed by clear instructions of the procedures the Army personnel will follow from their welcome to property value of materials, from family billets to furniture. From electric current to water, from where to get food to dental care, from the commissary to religious services, from “dependent” schools to liquor, from hunting and fishing to insurance requirements for automobiles and lots and lots more. Then there is an application for commissary services, forms to requests goods from the commissary and a listing of available groceries (the commissary looked pretty well stocked). This booklet really tells what it was like to be stationed in this location and in this stress-filled time.

This booklet is“bound” by three tabs so presumably this booklet might be expanded as needed. The three tabs look like they have never been taken off. The cover (which could be taken off and the booklet itself remaining in tact) has a four color front cover, with all the products available through the logistical services,over the map of occupied Germany in 1956. There is some tiny little tears on the bottom edge, some wear on the right edge and the faint name of the originalowner in the upper right. There is no writing or tears inside. The forms have never been used.

This is a rare artifact from the US Army Europe in 1956. You get a real idea of what it must have been like to be stationed over there at that time. It would make a great holiday gift or a fantastic addition to any library dealing with the Cold War.

And what makes this even better, a portion of the proceedsof this sale goes to the American Red Cross, which was always been there intimes of emergency in US.