1945 Kulacz WWII Route Map of the 5th Tank Destroyer Group in Europe

Tank Destroyers across Europe.

This is a 1945 World War II Emil E. Kulacz unit route map of Europe memorializing the movements of the 5th Tank Destroyer Group.

A Closer Look

This map follows the 5th Tank Destroyer Group from Newbury, England, across Europe to Salzburg, Austria. Arrows illustrate the division's movements through 51 cities, numbered in chronological order. The arrows are four colors, each representing a different campaign: Normandy (black), Northern France (orange), Rhineland (brown), and Central Europe (green).

5th Tank Destroyer Group

The 5th Tank Destroyer Group was a crucial component of the United States Army during World War II, specializing in anti-tank warfare to counter the formidable armored units of the Axis powers. Activated in 1942, the group was equipped with highly mobile and powerful tank destroyers, such as the M10 Wolverine and later the M18 Hellcat, which were designed to outmaneuver and eliminate enemy tanks. The 5th Tank Destroyer Group played a vital role in several key campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and the advance into Germany, providing essential support to infantry and armored divisions by neutralizing enemy armor threats. Their strategic deployment and aggressive tactics significantly contributed to the Allied forces' ability to repel German counterattacks and secure victory in Europe.

World War II Route Maps

Maps tracing a unit's movements during World War II were created by American and British units both during and after the war. As a genre, these maps represent a wide range of aesthetics, from the purely functional, limited to places and dates, to the artistic and comic. Many combine the two and provide a visually striking but historically informative summary of the unit experience.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Emil Kulacz and reproduced by the 665th Engineers in 1945. We note a single cataloged example, which is part of the Unit Histories special collection at the U.S. Army Military History Research Collection at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Cartographer

Emil E. Kulacz (October 26, 1920 - August 27, 1995) was an American commercial artist and World War II veteran. He was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Kulacz worked in the art department of the James McKinnon Company and The Springfield Union (the local newspaper) before enlisting in the U.S. Army on March 7, 1942. Eventually he reached the rank of Master Sergeant with the 5th Tank Destroyer Group. He served as a draftsman in the group headquarters, working on maps and operational charts. During his time in Europe, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Kulacz worked as the manager of Creative Services and Marketing at Stanley Home Inc. in Easthampton, Massachusetts, for 23 years, retiring in 1982. He was married to Valeria Wilk for 50 years, with whom he had 4 daughters.   Further Details...

Condition

Good. Even overall toning. Light creasing. Some foxing along right side.

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