During the Allied invasion of Germany U.S. forces including the U.S. 78th Infantry «Lightning» Division saved the opening and the destruction of the Schammenauel dam and captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, one of the last bridges across the Rhine. The GIs' actions permitted the Allies to transport troops and tanks across the Rhine River into the heartland of Nazi Germany.

Black crackle Zippo with various engravings: on the front the name of the owner and the unit with the shoulder insignia of the U.S. 78th Infantry Division including nickname. And, on both sides, his stays with sketches of the bridge and dam: «Scotland, Geneva, Switzerland, Luxembourg, England, Belgium, Le Harve France, Holland, Remagen Bridge on the Rhine, Schwammenauel Dam and 1945 Berlin Germany».

During WWII, the "Blackhawk" Division arrived in France in March 1945. It quickly proceeded to Germany, where it took part in the fierce fighting in the Ruhr area where the troops discovered and liberated the Attendorn civilian forced-labor camp on April 11, 1945. The U.S. 86th Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1996. It then was ordered to move southward and crossed the Danube River on April 27, 1945, advancing into Austria where the division captured the crown jewels of Hungary in Mattsee on 4 May. After a short time back in the USA, the division left San Francisco, 24 August 1945, for the Philippines. The U.S. 86th Division was aboard ship in Leyte harbor when the Japanese surrendered. After landing on Luzon the unit was dispersed throughout the Island, participated at the occupation und was deactivated in December 1946. 

Chrome plated Zippo with U.S. Infantry and «Black Hawk» insignia including battle engagements in the «ETO» for European Theater of Operations and «SWP» for South West Pacific.

Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower issued this Order of the Day on June 5, 1944. Printed on small sheets of paper, original copies like this one were distributed to Allied forces ahead of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6.

After France fell in 1940, the Allies began planning a cross-Channel assault, which was reaffirmed at the 1943 Quebec Conference. At the Tehran Conference later that year, Stalin pressed for more details, prompting President Roosevelt to appoint Eisenhower as Supreme Commander.

By May 1944, nearly 2.9 million troops were stationed in England, with a vast armada and air fleet assembled. Despite weather concerns and strategic disagreements, Eisenhower gave the final go-ahead on June 5. His official Order of the Day, drafted in February, was distributed to 175,000 troops on the eve of battle.

The U.S. 4th Infantry Division played a crucial role in World War II. They landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and advanced through Normandy, capturing Cherbourg and breaking through at Saint-Lô. In August 1944, they helped liberate Paris. The division fought in the Hurtgen Forest in late 1944 and played a key role in defending Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge. They crossed the Rhine River and advanced into Germany in the Rhineland Campaign, continuing until the German surrender in May 1945.

Black crackle Zippo engraved with the insignia of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division and the date of D-Day «June 6 44» on the front. Untouched, in original return box from 1950 after repair by Zippo with post-war box. According to the address, the Zippo belonged to Sigmund J. Nalewjka, an Army veteran of WWII, he served In Europe and was wounded  during the D-Day Invasion. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

During WWII, the U.S. 8th Infantry Division was sent to Europe to fight against the Axis. The division landed on Utah Beach, the westernmost beach of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of WWII. It was divided into zones assigned Tare Green, Uncle Red and Victor. Shortly after its arrival, the division captured the French cities of Rennes and Brest. Following these actions, the division turned east towards the German border, taking part in the heavy fighting in the Huertgen Forest in November 1944. In early March 1945, the division had advanced into the Rhineland. It fought its way into the Ruhr region the following month. By war's end, the «Golden Arrow» division had advanced to the Elbe River in central Germany. On May 2, 1945, as it advanced into northern Germany, the U.S. 8th Infantry Division encountered the Neuengamme concentration camp Wöbbelin subcamp, near the city of Ludwigslust.

Black crackle Zippo engraved with «8th Co. F» and the the insignia of the U.S. 8th Infantry Division on the front, various important dates «6.6.44 Fr», «28.8.44 Paris» «25.12.44 Hurtgen» on the back, «Red Uncle» along with eight counting marks on the sides.

After several months of training and preparation for Operation Overlord, the U.S. 29th Infantry Division took part on the 6 June 1944 in the first wave of the D-Day assault. The U.S. 115th & 116th Infantry Regiments landed on Omaha Beach early in the morning and joined the battle of Normandy. In the spring of 1945 the division started its offensive in Germany.

Black crackle Zippo with different engravings: «29th Infantry Division», «D-Day» and the three ETO stays «England», «France» and «Germany» on one side and the year «1944» and the name «Snider» on the other side.

Well worn chrome plated Zippo together with his dog tag from Donald St. John with different engravings: His name, «Donald St. John», «Normandie» with the date of D-Day «6 June 1944», years of service «1943 - 1945» and his places of action «Scotland», «Wales», «England», «France» and «Belgium» on one side and «Don» on the other side.

The owner's service likely began with the 98th Infantry Division, where he underwent training and was stationed in Hawaii for defense duties from 1942 to 1944. Later, for active combat, he transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division, participating in its daring campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and later in Europe, including Normandy and the Netherlands. As the war progressed, he was reassigned to the 36th Infantry Division, fighting in the grueling Italian campaigns at Salerno and Anzio, and later advancing into Southern France. Toward the end of the war, he joined the 63rd Infantry Division, taking part in the final Allied offensives through the Rhineland and into Germany and Austria. This trajectory highlights the soldier’s active and dynamic role across multiple theaters of WWII.

Worn Zippo with «Infantry» in the center, «98th», «82nd», «36th» and «63rd» engraved on the front.

The U.S. 101st Airborne Division ♠ is a light infantry division renowned for its role in the D-Day landings and airborne landings on 6 June 1944 in Normandy (operation overlord) and in the liberation of the Netherlands and its action during the Battle of the Bulge around the city of Bastogne (Operation Market Garden). During the division's drive into southern Germany, the unit uncovered Kaufering, one of 11 camps in the Kaufering complex in the Landsberg region. The Kaufering complex was under the administration of the Dachau concentration camp.

Worn black crackle Zippo with U.S. Airborne collar, unit number «IOI» and a British Three Pence 1944 coin.

The U.S. 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (506th PIR) was an Airborne Light Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army during WWII with the nickname «Currahees». 1943 the regiment became part of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division ♠ and participated at important operations: operation Overlord (D-Day), operation Market Garden and battle of the Bulge.

Black crackle Zippo with the «Pair of Dice» U.S. 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment insignia on the front.

Chrome plated Zippo heavy crowded with different insignias including a German one as a trophy of the U.S. G.I. who owned this lighter and fought against the Nazis.

Worn Zippo with the U.S. Army Air Force insignia on the front and a British Three Pence coin on the back.

Black crackle Zippo with the U.S. Army Air Force insignia on the front.

Established on October 8, 1940, the US Second Air Force was one of the primary commands of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Its primary mission was to train aircrews and support personnel for combat duty in various theaters of the war. The Second Air Force conducted extensive training programs for pilots, bombardiers, navigators, gunners, and other aircrew members. With the war's end, Second Air Force was inactivated on 30 March 1946.

Well worn black crackle Zippo with the U.S. Army Second Air Force insignia on the front.

Chrome plated Zippo from U.S. Army Air Force officer with various engravings: the owner's name «Edward R. Ford», his personal service number «O-22146» and the insignia of the U.S. Army Air Force on the front and his place of deployment «Italy-1944» on the back. Together with a portrait photo, his dog tag, his cigarette case and other personal items.

Very special, well worn black crackle Zippo with a framed picture of GI's darling and a U.S. Army officers collar insignia on the front and a U.S. Army Air Force insignia on the back with a centered Island 1 Eyrir coin underneath with a M1 Garand .30-06 Springfield bullet on the left and on the right of the coin.