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STICKING TOGETHER: Swagger sticks weren’t commonly carried by American officers, but a group of German POWs in Château-Thierry, France, overseen by John D. Sweitzer of the 551st Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company, felt that their supervisor’s appearance needed an upgrade. In 1945, the prisoners bestowed upon Sweitzer this intricate accessory; likely carved from packing-crate parts, it’s adorned with commemorative engravings and tipped with metal from a .50-caliber bullet.
Full size4812 × 1918

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Trench Art 101: How Servicemen Turned Trash Into Treasure During World War II
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