Beschreibung:

A linen 48-star American flag, 980 x 2070 mm, with the 48 stars on blue ground at upper left canton, and horizontal red and white stripes over the field, with 4 brass grommets, the luff stencilled in black (faded), " 99th Inf. D." and dated [19]43 ." Some old paint stains on one side of lower luff, a few small holes and general staining, the fly heavily tattered and blown out due to wear. A fine and historic flag used by the 99th Infantry Division in its progress across Belgium and into Germany, and — given its size — most probably used on HQ buildings or attached to a military transport (truck). The 99th Infantry Division was originally activated in mid 1918, and then reactivated in November 1942, and was made up of the 393rd, 394th and 395th Regiments. Sent to Britain in September 1944, they landed in France in October 1944, and were deployed to eastern Belgium in November. They were on the Northern Shoulder of the German Ardennes Offensive in December 1944, the only division that did not yield to the German Panzer attack, although surrounded. At Losheim Gap, a platoon from the 99th held up the entire German 6th Panzer Army for 20 hours, which gave some time for American reinforcements to be brought up to push back the German advance. In March the following year they were the first Division over the Remagen Bridge, and got across the bridge just before it was destroyed. By May 4th they had crossed the Danube and liberated several labor camps, including Muhldorf Concentration Camp.