“WE COME AS CONQUERORS, BUT NOT AS OPPRESSORS”: EXTREMELY SCARCE 1944 EISENHOWER WWII BROADSIDE PROCLAMATION ANNOUNCING THE END TO NAZI RULE WITHIN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORY

EISENHOWER, Dwight D. Proclamation No. 1. Military Government—Germany. Supreme Commander's Area of Control. No place, [1944]. Printed broadside (measures 19-1/2 by 21 inches); matted and framed, entire piece measures 27 by 27 inches.

1944 World War II broadside of Proclamation No. 1, General Eisenhower’s powerful message to the German people announcing the Allied Forces’ arrival in Germany, their intent to “overthrow Nazi rule, dissolve the Nazi Party and… eradicate that German Militarism which has so often disrupted the peace of the world,” text printed in both German and English.

On September 28, 1944, two weeks after U.S. troops cross the Siefried line and entered Germany, Eisenhower issued Proclamation No. 1. This momentous document proclaims a turning point in history with its immortal line: “We come as conquerors, but not as oppressors.” Eisenhower’s Proclamation further reads, in part: “We shall obliterate Naziism and German Militarism. We shall overthrow the Nazi rule, dissolve the Nazi Party and abolish the cruel, oppressive and discriminatory laws and institutions which the Party has created. We shall eradicate that German Militarism which has so often disrupted the peace of the world Military and Party leaders, the Gestapo and others suspected of crimes and atrocities will be tried and, if guilty, punished as they deserve.” Eisenhower additionally provides for the suspension of all German courts and the continuation of essential public utilities. The United Press reported from Allied Supreme Headquarters in London that same September: “A broadcast message directed to Western and Southwestern Germany said that Eisenhower will exercise supreme legislative, judicial and executive authority in the theatre under his command…The broadcast, sent by a Supreme Headquarters spokesman over ABSIE (American Broadcasting Station in Europe) said that ‘this process begins immediately on the arrival of the Allied armies in each area and the inauguration of the Allied Military Government… Front dispatches have told of the posting of Allied Supreme Headquarters announcements in such towns as Roetgen, Echternach and Vollendorf, towns which the Allied armies are known to have occupied.” With printed September 1944 date “(9/44)” present in the lower left corner; future printings did not have a date. Text printed on the recto in both English and German.

Text fresh and clean, light edge-wear, some expertly repaired closed tears along foldlines. Beautifully framed.