WW1 US ARMY CHRISTMAS 1919 POSTER 3RD ARMY WWI

WWI Souvenir US Army Occupation Forces Poster Christmas 1919. As the end of WW1 drew near, the Third Army was formed on the 7th of November 1918 to pursue the retreating German Army, enforce the Armistice and assume a defensive posture at the Rhine in case of a later German attack. They were also responsible for the re-establishment of civil government within their area of control. The Third Army was composed of the III, IV and VII Corps within which were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 32nd, 42nd, 89th and 90th divisions; HQ was in Coblenz, Germany. The Third Army went home June, 1919, but the occupation continued until January of 1923, under a much smaller force, the American Forces in German (AFG). Divisional and Corps patches were worn, although the 3rd Army patch, an "A" within an "O" became the norm as most divisional troops were sent home in the summer of 1919. Divisional patches were also seen with a mini 3rd Army patch with the divisional. This poster was created for the AFG, celebrating Christmas, 1919, after one full year of occupation. Poster measures 28 1/2 X 22 1/2 framed and was printed in Bonn Germany. Excellent