Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous piece of WWII trench art, a brass tobacco box with a wooden knob handle, engraved on the side for the 2nd Armored Division, which saw extensive combat during World War II.

The tobacco box measures 5⅛ x 4 x 1¾” with the knob adding an extra inch in height. The side of the box is engraved with the insignia of the 2nd Armored Division with 41ST A.I.R. HELL ON WHEELS engraved around it. The interior of the box is gorgeous with machining marks heavily visible. The brass has small bits of oxidation throughout but this adds to the patina.

This is a fantastic piece of WWII Trench Art, perfect for any armored collection. Comes ready for further research and display.

The 2nd Armored Division was formed at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia on 15 July 1940, by reorganizing and redesignating the Provisional Tank Brigade (the 66th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks), 67th Infantry Regiment (Medium Tanks), and 68th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks)). It was originally commanded by Major General Charles L. Scott, with Colonel George S. Patton Jr. in charge of training. Scott was promoted to command the I Armored Corps in November of that year, which put Patton, now a brigadier general, in command of the division. The division, which in February 1942 passed over to the command of Major General Willis D. Crittenberger, served with the First, Seventh, and Ninth Armies throughout the war.

The 2nd Armored was organized as a "heavy" armored division meaning it contained two armored regiments; each regiment having two medium tank battalions and one light tank battalion, with each battalion consisting of three companies (18 tank companies total). Along with the 3rd Armored Division, it retained its organization throughout World War II–the 14 other U.S. armored divisions were reorganized as "light" armored divisions, having three tank battalions, each consisting of three medium tank companies and one light tank company (12 tank companies total). Both types had an infantry component of three mechanized battalions, although the heavy divisions maintained an "armored infantry regiment" organization.

The core units of the division were the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, the 66th Armored Regiment, the 67th Armor Regiment, the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and the 142nd Armored Signal Company. The 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was known as the "eyes and ears" of the 2nd Armored Division.