Brigadier General Robert I. Stack Commissions- Insignia

Description

WWII Grouping for Brigadier General Robert I. Stack / 36th Infantry Division. Brigadier General Stack, was the assistant commanding general of that division. When the division picked up information that Hermann Goring was in their area, and seeking to surrender to the Americans, a plan was formulated to go behind German positions, (a cease fire was in effect) to collect the Reichsmarschall before the Russians could lay claim to him.  Moving rapidly through German Army positions, the American recon scout cars turned their turrets to the rear and raised their guns to show no hostile intent.  Some 50 miles into enemy held territory, the meeting took place and General Stack met with Goring, and thereafter traveled to 36th Division Headquarters for the formal surrender proceedings.  Photographs of Stack pouring wine for Goring with Major General Dalhquist (they were taking a friendlier approach to interrogate the high ranking Nazi) was seen as coddling by SHAEF HQ, and Ike was furious with the bad press.  This no doubt was the reason that Stack never received his DSM after the war, which was well deserved, as he was ,to say the least, a “Kick Ass” Assistant Div. Commander.  During a difficult period toward the end of the war, Stack had to take command of one of the infantry regiments, fully engaged in combat and maintained his responsibilities in the No.2 position in the division.

His promotion to brigadier general came after exemplary actions while a colonel with the 1st Armored Division in North Africa. General Stack was known affectionately to his men as “Uncle Bob.”

This material is the remains of once having a very large part of his WWII material.  Guaranteed to be his.

• 36th Infantry Division Patch – Measures approx. 2 5/8″ x 1 7/8″

• Two 36th Infantry Division DUIs – both unmarked on the back & pin back.  One is missing the locking mechanism on the clasp; Both pins move nicely.  Each has some light wear and scuffing on the surface.  They are not a matched set as one has a slight convex shape to it (lighter green “T”) and the other has a flat surface (darker green “T”).  Both measure approx. 1 1/8″ x 13/16″.

• J.R. Gaunt “Made in England” marked screw back cap insignia – Marked on the back with the last name “STACK”.  The insignia has some light wear and scuffing on the surface.  Measures approx. 2″ x 2″.

• Calling card for Brigadier General United States Army, Ret. Robert I Stack – Has some light wear along the border, some light fading and discoloration throughout.  Measures approx. 3 3/16″ x 1 9/16″.
• Commission; 2nd Lieutenant, 15 August, 1917. Signed by Newton D. Baker, Sec. of War, and Henry P. McCain, The Adjutant General.
• Commission; Provisional 2nd Lieutenant, 1 May, 1918. Signed by Asst. Sec. of War, and Henry P. McCain, The Adjutant General.
• Commission; Provisional 1st Lieutenant, 6 January, 1920.  Signed by Asst. Sec. of War,
• Commission; 1st Lieutenant, 13 April, 1920.  Signed by the Asst. Sec. of War, and the Adjutant General.
• Commission; Captain, 14 March, 1921.  Signed by the Sec. of War John W. Weeks, and The Adjutant General, P.C. Harris.
• Photo copy document, “FRATERNIZATION by GENERAL OFFICERS of 36TH DIVISION.” 25 May, 1945.  24 page document; listing the names of German Officers (not all captured by the 36th ID), Official letters dealing with the subject of fraternization from 7th Army (approved Lt.Gen. Patch), sworn testimonies from Maj.Gen. John A. Dahlquist, Robert I. Stack, Walter W. Hess.; evidence from “T-Patch” 36th Divisional News. Important content.
• Photo, 8×10 b&w glossy of Gen. Stack. None official-private purchase.
• Photo copy of one of my listings from the Stack collection sold prior, and a signed statement concerning the authenticity of this material offered in this grouping here.
• German/Austrian porcelain tankard in blue and natural colored clay, with pewter lid.  Engraved monogram on the top appears to be either “FB or SB.” I was told when this came out of the auction in 1986, this was acquired by Gen. Stack from one of the German officers or from the castle where the surrender took place behind the lines.

I had the insignia from the original lot which was miscellaneous additional lots, and the commissions, copy of fraternization documents came to me from the original collector source last fall.  The tankard I have had for nearly 20 years when I first acquired the collection, and had the intention of researching the monogram, but it made its way to a dark corner until now.