WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. Large annotated German map of the region about Verdun, used by Donovan as commander of the U.S. 165th Regiment, originally the famous 69th New York Infantry 'Fighting Irish'. The regiment would distinguish itself at the Second Battle of the Marne, the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan himself would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in mid-October, 1918. The 42 x 33 in. map is entirely printed in German and was issued by the German General Staff in 1917. At the center, in the area about Mangiennes, a small area bears red and blue additions of the German and French front lines. Mangiennes was the scene of a pitched battle on Aug. 10, 1914 during which French cavalry took heavy casualties assaulting emplaced German machine guns and artillery. Wear about the folds, clearly from use. Obviously of little use to Donovan, as the epic struggle at Verdun ended years before the Americans arrived in Europe, but still an excellent relic. This map, along with other maps and documents, were contained within two of Donovan's footlockers purchased by our consignor and offered elsewhere in this sale.