Exceedingly rare pair of imprints: 'AFTER ACTION REPORT THIRD US ARMY 1 AUGUST 1944 - 9 MAY 1945. VOLUME ONE. OPERATIONS' and '...VOLUME II. STAFF SECTION REPORTS' (Washington, DC: U.S. Army), 1945. Heavy stock covers. The two volume set of the formerly 'Secret' history of the Third Army, produced by the Third U.S. Army Headquarters and the XIX Tactical Command on Gen. George Patton's Army in Europe during World War II. The work was classified as 'Secret' when first published, and indeed, this very set bears the word 'SECRET' printed upon every page, but on June 10, 1946 the volumes were, with some exceptions, declassified. Volume I, 'The Operations', combines narratives and data on movements, operations, loss of war material, and casualties, and is heavily supplemented with maps and supporting documentation. It is 421pp. with annexes and also includes printed photographs and maps throughout. Original acetate sheets remain between chapters. Volume II, 'Staff Section Reports', is unpaginated but about 1,000pp. and consists of 25 section reports: Command, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, Adjutant General, Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Artillery, Chaplain, Chemical Warfare, Engineer, Finance, Headquarters Commandant, Inspector General, Judge Advocate, Medical, Ordnance, Provost Marshal, Public Relations, Quartermaster, Signal, Special Services, Tank Destroyer, and Air. It too is illustrated with maps, photographs, and other illustrations, with the addition of various annexes. Apparently, some of the annexes were 'EXTRACTED' according to red ink stamps on the table of contents, seemingly indicating that the military or administration chose not to declassify them with the balance of the contents in these volumes. These massive 18 x 13 in. volumes are bound with screw posts with heavy cardboard backing. The illustrated covers are just a bit worn, but the contents, filled with data unavailable elsewhere, are near fine. A very rare printing, believed to have been issued in an edition of 250 copies or less.