1946 US Marburg Germany WWII Monuments Men Co D 30th Inf. 3rd div Marne TN

Description

c1946 ...Probably One of a kind... an unusual WWII US Army Military collectible .. interesting conversation piece for your study, den or office.   Or donate to a military club or museum.
ORIGINAL.. 1946 Military Souvenir from Marburg Germany made of carved wood
carved into the wood is
CO. D 23 INF. 3. Div.  Marburg 1946 Germany
Blue and white symbol in center ....One reference calls this symbol the Marne Division and associates it with TN
Artistically Conserved without alteration or damage onto a framed themed
Collage for display
Framed size 18x22 1/2”
Conserved onto a Framed Picture story board that includes prints of 1946 era photos of US soldiers in Marburg during the occupation.  These soldiers are participating in the
Monuments Men activities of retrieving looted antiques and art from salt caves and other warehoused locations.  The pictures selected for the collage were based upon the theme suggested after investigating why this military unit might have been in Marburg in 1946.
See below...
The Wooden Dish Shaped Plaque is about 10 1/2? diameter and shows signs of age and I believe it to be from the period, so 74 years old.
I bought it from an antiques mall in Murfreesboro from a booth that had several military collectibles and as you can see it only had a tab
to hang it on a wall and it's military history... it's "story" is lost to the casual observer.
Having family from Germany, I have seen other treen made in Germany.  So I am thinking that the local craftsmen in Germany
may have made things like this to sell to the occupation forces.  However, it is noted that the carver was attentive enough to put periods
after abbreviated English words like Co. and Inf.   that makes me think that a US soldier may have whittled this during the occupation or the
soldier gave the design to the German craftsman who followed the design to the "period".   Either way... it is a lovely souvenir of military service and the history of 1946 US Forces in Germany.
The next question was.. what was Co. D. 23 Inf. 3 Div. doing in Marburg 1946?
(I am not a militay expert or knowledgeable about regmiments divisions and units.
It is confusing to me so forgive me if I get it wrong (I am a an artist and a grandma ...never been in the military.
I like taking "forgotten" treasures, researching them, and using them in a piece of artwork or display (with out damaging the item) so that they "tell a story" and
are repurposed so they can be conserved by future generations and used today in our home or office for conversation and display."
Because of this item, I learned that Marburg was one of four collection sites post WWII for processing the inventory of looted European art and antiques. The “Monuments Men” were involved in this process. According to the internet soldiers from this unit (Co. D 23 Inf. 3 Div)
provided security in Marburg in 1946, for the Monuments Men activity and security of the rescued items. (see photos).
The photos included are from my research.  One shows George Stout from Harvard University, the conservator officer, and one shows Major General Frank T. Schmidt (C.G. 3rd Division) delivering a speech at the rededication of a synagogue in Marburg.
“The previous synagogue was destroyed during Kristallnacht.  Also pictured is U.S. Army chaplain, Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz (third from the left). The Hebrew banner reads, "Open the gates of the Land of Israel."
Date    1946 February 03   Marburg, [Hesse-Nassau; Hesse] Germany
Variant Locale   Marburg an Der Lahn
Photo Designation  DISPLACED PERSONS/RETURN TO LIFE –
DP Camps/Postwar Communities -- Germany -- Marburg
Photo Credit.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Mayer & Rachel Abramowitz
While searching “3rd Infantry division 30th Infantry Co D Marburg Germany 1946” I found a reference to the “Monuments Men” operation.   Only found two national achieves documents, neither of which I could open and enlarge big enough to read or copy.  I had to just go on the blurbs and snippets provided by the google engine which are below.  Basically it seems that soldiers from this unit in Marburg  … “Company D, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.”… Provided security over the loot collected at Marburg by the “Monuments Men” until the treasures could be inventoried and transported to another location. See below.
Research ref #1: Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historical Monuments in War Areas
(The Roberts Commission), 1943-1946 ›
MFAA Field Reports › ETO Marburg Central Collecting Point Reports, 3 May 1946 And 3 March 1946 [AMG-382] › Page 2
While I could never get my computer to enlarge or open the archieved document on
“fold 3” I was able to capture some of the google snippets such as “The Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA) Section transferred Nazi- looted works of art and artifacts from various storage areas and shipped the objects to one of four U.S. central collecting points including Marburg. In order to research restitution claims, the MFAA officers gathered intelligence reports, interrogation reports, captured documents, and general information regarding German art looting” (Ref:
Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Branch (MFAA) Field Reports, compiled 1943 - 1946 , Series:MFAA Field Reports , Category:ETO Marburg Central Collecting Point Reports, 3 May 1946 And 3 March 1946 [AMG-382]
Date Range:1943 - 1946
Conflict Period:World War II
ETO Marburg Central Collecting Point Reports, 3 May 1946 ...www.fold3.com › document (with the googled snippet of:) “
Greater Hasse APO 633, U.S. Army ,1- 'i ATT : Monuments, Pine Arts and ... 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, .. sergeant and two guards are on duty ...
Reference #2:  on google staff from this military unit provided security for the identified loot until it could be transported elsewhere. See “Status of [Central] Collecting Point Reports Marburg, 1946 ...www.fold3.com › document, 633, U.S.Army ATT : “Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Officer 1. ... Collecting Point… is furnished by Company D, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.”
Reference #3 3d INFANTRY DIVISION
"Marne Division"
The three white stripes represent the number of the division and the three major operations in which the division participated during World War I. The clear field of blue stands for loyalty, steadfastness and undying devotion to the principles of right and justice by the American soldier.
The division fought in France in World War I. In World War II, it landed with Gen. Patton's task force in a contested amphibious landing on the coast of Morocco, North Africa, overwhelming Vichy French defenders in November 1942. In 1943, the division invaded Sicily in July, and invaded Italy at Salerno in September, before fighting in France and finally Germany. Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy, featured in the Hollywood movie, "To Hell and Back," was a member.
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