WWII Combat Photographer Letter, Gen Patton France, vintage WW2 film, "Cold" ETO

Description

An important original WWII 3 page letter written by one of WW2’s most famous Combat Photographers; Lt. Joseph M. Zinni of the 166
th
and 168
th
Signal Photo Companies, attached to the Third Army, 26
th
Infantry under General Bradley and General Patton.
Most of Lt. Joseph M. Zinni duty in the Army was with the 166
th
Signal Photo Company known as
"
Patton’s GI Photographers"
.
Being a
combat photographer during WWII was extremely dangerous. Many of them were killed in action and in Lt Zinni's case he was never wounded that I am aware of but his Jeep Driver was.
T
he 166th Photo Company, worked in combat but it also documented the Holocaust images/photography. Some of those
Holocaust
reprints are on a DVD/CD Rom also included in this grouping.
In this original 3 page letter Lt Zinni is writing to his wife about where he is in France, wears a German Jecket under his uniform to keep warm and officers he is with. Lt Zinnia's very much in love with his wife.
Here is part of what he writes:
"
I forgot to tell you that about two months ago I picked up a very fine fur-lined jacket in a German tool-box the outside of the jacket honey ... but all appearances dear I think it is rabbit fur. I wear the 'jacket' under my army field jacket darling ....
"
This is an important WW2 letter.  The letter also comes with one original photo that he took and most likely developed himself. The photo is of two officer he is serving with, two named.
In addition to this original letter and envelope there are two large reprints of his photos
that Lt. Zinni took during the war of five 26th Infantrymen pointing guns at a photo of Hitler in a building just captured. Also there is a DVD/CD Rom with many many photos. The DVD may be worth the value of the original letter because it has great WWII photo content on it.
More about the letter:
Great content written not long before The Battle of The Bulge ... cold is coming.
The letter comes with the original envelope . The letter is signed Joe and the envelope has Lt Zinni’s signature which appears two times on the envelope. The envelope has a A.P.O. 403 Postmaster and was postmarked October 29, 1944.
Lt. Zinni is an excellent writer and is very devoted to his loving wife - Great love letter too.
About Lt. Joseph M. Zinni:
After landing on Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day
Lt. Zinni and his team of six men (Detachment) two drivers and one clerk and three photographers, documented the war
fighting across France to Metz before becoming engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. With the 26
th
Infantry after braking through the Ardennes, then the 166
th
SPC moved into Luxembourg and Austria to take Linz, then into Czechoslovakia until war's end. During that time the 166th Photo
Company
lost two officers in combat.
Lt. Joseph M. Zinni was not only documenting combat with the Infantry and Armored but also conducted dangerous close range reconnaissance flying in a Piper Cub during the Battle of the Bulge. One of the large photos in this grouping is a photo he took from the air of the 26th Infranty moving in on a town during the battalion of the bulge. This is a copy photo print of an original photo he took and I believe this is an unpublished photo.
There is much written about the 166
th
SPC and Lt. Zinni in books like; Armed With Cameras by Peter Maslowski and Patton’s GI Photographers by Ralph Butterfield. The National Archives and museums are full of his Combat images.
While in the field of battle the most photographers carried as weapons, if any, were 45 Col pistol and even with that they could not shot a camera and fight, their eyes were focused on the action.
Lt Zinni once remarked
“A Cameraman has to expose himself a great deal while “shooting” combat action & he can’t very well operate a gun and a camera at the same time.”
166th Signal Photographic Company.
"Patton's GI Photographer."
THIRD ARMY ETO COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER,
1st Lt. Joseph M. Zinni
who shot virtually every aspect of the war in Europe. He was assigned with the 26th Infantry Division and participation in action that covered covered images of: Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley and Marshall in the field; gliders; camouflaged field artillery; sniper nests; Battle of the Bulge and aftermath with shattered tanks, men in the field under harsh winter conditions, aerial views of bombed towns, etc.; Westwall fortifications, destroyed towns, landing craft operations, liberation of American POWs; murdered Jews in concentration camps, GIs in the field, advancing with tank support in various towns and villages,
Nazi gold plunder in walled-in caves
; surrendering Germans including the surrender of Gen. Erich Elster and nearly 20,000 of his men; and a great deal more. In short he may be the most combat photographer to
1st Lt. Joseph M. Zinni was assigned to the 166th and 168th Signal Photographic Company. After landing in Normandy he was attached to the 26th Infantry under Bradley and Patton. The 166th Signal Photographic Company did so much work for Patton it was called Patton’s GI Photographers. Entire books have been written about the incredible stills and film shot by the166th Signal Photographic Company.    The 26th arrived in France in September, 1944, and fought across France to Metz before becoming engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. It broke through the Ardennes, moving into Luxembourg and Austria to take Linz, then into Czechoslovakia until war's end.
I do know that Lt.
Zinnia's
did go to the CBI T
heater not long after he wrote this letter.
What you will get:
The original 3 page letter and envelope written by Joseph M
Zinni and one original photo. Plus you will receive one print of 26th Infantrymen
(the photo is a reprint)
. Also a DVD/CD Rom as pictured. The last image in the listing show some files that are on the DVD/CD Rom - this content has taken me years to build and supports the amazing contribution Lt. Zinni make in the ETO and CBI. I will also include many copies of other important content letters he wrote during the war and a few copies of photos. These additional photos are just print outs of the photos.
Email me if you have question.
About the seller:
I have been buying and selling Americana, rare books & documents, since the early 1970’s.
I have sold large collections and important individual items to some of the largest
libraries, Auction Houses, Rare book rooms, Universities and Museum in the US.
I have published unique Americana works which are in University and private libraries throughout the world.
Some of the proceeds from my sales go to
support WW2
Primary Source Material for class rooms at High Schools in my area
. (If you are a teacher and are interested in
WW2
Primary Source Material for your class room please email me.)
My main goal is by selling WW2 and other historical Primary Source material; I can distribute letters, documents and items around the world that tell the true story of the courage, bravery and sacrifice, made by millions of Americans and the Allied Forces during the war.
I have a 100% positive rating on ebay so when you buy from me you have my guarantee that what you are buying is authentic.
Email me if you have questions.
See photos for condition and letter content.
Bidding conditions and mailing below:
I ship Priority Mail US Post Service, three day delivery.  The reason why is virtually all of the items I sell are one of a kind and even though an item may not have a high selling price it is sometime priceless to the buyer. Also
Priority Mail US Post Service is insured and is tracked to
guarantee
delivery.
You must have bought over 25 items on eBay, Paypal preferred and you must have a good rating in order to buy on this item/items.
I have a 100% rating and have sold many rare and important document, letters and items on Ebay so you know you will receive this original item.
See photos for condition.
Email me if you have any questions.