2334

ARMY US FORCES AUSTRIA SUPPORT COMMAND FLAG.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
ARMY US FORCES AUSTRIA SUPPORT COMMAND FLAG.
3’ x 4’ double applique theatre made flag on blue, with bullion fringe. The flag of the USFA Support Command crest/insignia uses the Austrian flag, albeit turned vertically instead of its red, white and red horizontal bars. The bayonet and olive branch were added to symbolize toughness and yet a peaceful use of the Army. This flag dates from the 1945-1955. With the fall of Nazi Germany in May 1945, some elements of the U.S Army had already pushed into western Austria. On its eastern borders, the Soviet Red Army had done the same, with Stalin hoping to force a Communist government on the nation as he would do on the Eastern European nations. The situation was complex and Stalin’s moves angered his Western Allies but in time all was sorted out. However, things remained tense and it can be argued that the Cold War broke out in Austria in the Spring of 1946, fully a year before it did everywhere else. Austria, which had been declared by the Allies in 1943 as the first victim of Nazi hegemonism via the Anchluss with Germany, was instead broken into zones of occupation much like Berlin. The nation would remain this way until 1955 when, in May, the nation was granted full independence in exchange for perpetual neutrality. After this, Allied troops withdrew by October. The issues were far more complex but this synopsis hits the highlights. U.S. Forces Austria Support Command utilized the Italian port of Livorno (Leghorn) on the West Cost of Italy as its supply hub. Benito Mussolini had greatly expanded the port before the war and the U.S. Army brought in more heavy equipment including large cranes, for off-loading supply ships. Everything needed to keep the 40,000 U.S troops fed and supplied came in through this part and was transferred to the American Zone of Austria by rail and truck. Some 346,000 tons of supplies were moved in this manner. USFA had subordinate units to handle the port and other functions. 9th Medium Port handle the functions of offloading in Livorno while 7689 General Depot handled storing and disbursing vehicles after receipt from the United States. 7617 USFA Post took care of administrative and related functions designed to make sure everything ran smoothly. USFA ran this from 1945 to the pullout of U.S troops by October 1955. CONDITION: very good overall, several small holes and tears, but sound overall. (02-19473-39/JS). $200-300.