History Colorado

This case explores some stories from the Home Front. All families were affected by the fighting in some way - and contributed what they could to the war effort.                        Click on the blue stars to learn more!

Zoom In: The Home Front

The attack on Pearl Harbor was devastating surprise attack that brought the United States into World War II. On December 7, 1941 Japanese military forces launched a surprise attack against the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japanese attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel and destroyed or damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships. One battleship that experienced the heaviest of casualties was the U.S.S. Arizona. Amongst these casualties were the Morse Brothers. 

Close-Up: Pearl Harbor

This case explores the war in Europe and the Mediterranean. In particular, it helps tell the story of the 10th Mountain Division, an elite unit trained in the Colorado Rockies.                                                                     Click on the red stars to learn more!

Zoom In: The European & Mediterranean Theaters

This is the story of First Lieutenant James S. “Pete” Peterson. He served as a P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang fighter pilot during the war. The Air War was an important component to both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operation.

Close-Up: The James S. Peterson Story

Since the earliest days of warfare, soldiers have enjoyed the "spoils of war," items captured from their vanquished enemies. This practice can also be seen in World War II, when American soldier were permitted to bring home enemy weapons, personal items, and even champagne! Many cherished these souvenirs as reminders of their and their fellow soldiers' service and sacrifice in this monumental conflict.

Bring Me Back a Souvenir!

Ralph Bromaghin was born in 1918 and enlisted in the Army in 1941. He had been working as an athletic and ski instructor, so it wasn't long before he joined the elite 10th Mountain Division. After his training in the Colorado Rockies, he shipped off to Italy with his division. He was killed in action at Monte Della Torraccia in February 1945. His personal effects seen here were returned to his parents back home. Click on the blue stars to learn more about the objects!

Close-Up: The Ralph Bromaghin story

This case explores the war in the Pacific. This is where the war began and ended for the United States, from the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. Click on the green stars to learn more!

Zoom In: The Pacific Theater

World War II was a conflict that left a mark on all who lived through it. The items showcased in this resource kit are physical reminders of the heroic sacrifices Americans made to secure a place for democracy in the world. 

Join us in a virtual exploration of objects and stories from the Pacific Theater of Operations, the home front, and the fighting in Europe and the Mediterranean. 


Want to learn more about how Colorado contributed to the war effort? Click the 

 to read "Doing Our Part: Eleven Ways World War Two Came to Colorado".

Interested in learning about Camp Hale, home to the 10th Mountain Division during World War Two? Click the 

 to read "Building Camp Hale: A Deeper History of America's High-Altitude Army Training Ground".

Liberated: America Fights for Democracy in World War II

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Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division liberated this champagne bottle from an German supply train in 1945. Troops got two bottles of champagne of wine each from this cache to celebrate the end of the war. The sales stamps on the label translate to “German Armed Forces merchant goods, free market sales forbidden.”

Dark green glass bottle, formerly held champagne. Typical size and shape. Two labels, one rectangular and one circular label around the bottle neck, Wehrmacht marked. Restricted sale stamp in German in red ink, upper left corner on the main label; the same in red ink in French in the upper right corner. Late King George V Royal Warrant Seal in gold leaf, upper center. Bottle is empty, no cork or foil wrapper is present.

Champagne Bottle, Louis Roederer

Champagne Bottle, Louis Roederer 1

Champagne Bottle, Louis Roederer - Wehrmacht marked

The Walther firearms company designed the PP (short for Polizeipistole) for German police in 1935. A German soldier carried this private-purchase sidearm in Italy where an American soldier took the gun as a souvenir. A similar weapon, the Walther PPK, was later made famous as fictional spy James Bond’s weapon of choice. 

This is a Walther Model PP (Polizei Pistole) first produced in 1929. The serial number identifies this example as having been manufactured in 1936. There is a civilian firing proof and no police or military markings, identifying this is a commercial pistol. It is chambered for the 7.65mm round. It is one of the first single/double action semi-automatic pistols ever developed.

Pistol, German Walther PP 1

Pistol, German Walther PP 2

Pistol, German Walther PP 3

Pistol, German Walther PP 4

Pistol, German Walther PP

The Mauser K98k was the standard issue rifle of German troops during World War II. This example showcases some late-war manufacturing shortcuts like unpolished weld marks and stamped metal parts that sped up production as the war dragged on. An American soldier captured this rifle in northern Italy early in 1945. 


This is a Mauser Karabiner Modell 98k, also known as a K98k or Mauser rifle. It was manufactured in 1944 by Waffenwerke Bruenn AG at their Bystrica facility in German-occupied Czechoslovakia. The rifle has numerous signs of late-war manufacture, including machining marks on the receiver, inconsistent bluing below the rear sight, rough weld marks on both bands, and a stamped (rather than milled) floor plate and trigger guard. This rifle is a "bolt mismatch," wherein the rifle is original to itself with all matching components save for the bolt, which was taken from another rifle. This is usually explained by surrender protocol, wherein German soldiers piled rifles and bolts separately to make them temporarily unusable. GIs then "reassembled" their trophy rifles from these piles with no regard for matching numbers.

Over 14,000,000 of these rifles were produced for the German armed forces before and during World War II. The basic design and operation mirror the earlier Mauser Gewehr 98, which had been the standard issue battle rifle for German troops during World War I. The K98k was shorter, lighter, and had an improved rear sight that allowed for quicker target acquisition. A leather sling would have originally been attached to the left side of the rifle.

The stock has been heavily sanded. The sanding pattern near the bolt suggests the rifle was used after the war by its new owner, presumably as a target or hunting rifle. The rifle was donated by 1LT Earl Ervin Clark, formerly of 1st Battalion Headquarters, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He offered no details on the origins of the rifle, but did donate numerous other German souvenirs he presumably brought home from Italy. The initials "T. W." are carved into the stock on one side, which suggest he may not have been the original owner, but obtained it from another soldier.

Rifle, German Mauser K98k bolt action

Rifle, German Mauser K98k bolt action 2

Rifle, German Mauser K98k bolt action 1

Rifle, German Mauser K98k bolt action 5

Rifle, German Mauser K98k bolt action 4

American troops brought home lots of war trophies and souvenirs. When soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division captured Benito Mussoloni’s villa in Gargnano, Italy, in April 1945, they helped themselves to the late dictator’s personal items. This iconic fez adorned with fascist emblems was brought back to Colorado after the war. 

Black felt fez with large metallic gold-on-red perched eagle at the center front. Over the top from front to back and around the wearer's right side is a thick double strand of corde, knotted at the front next to the eagle and at the back right. Black fringe is at the top front of the hat between the cords, somewhat like a loose, draping rooster's comb. A wide, pinkish-orange chevron with a thin, black stripe running through the middle is on the wearer's left side of the hat. A smaller metallic gold-on-red perched eagle is at the chevron's center. On the hat's inside is a wide, brown leather headband and cream-colored cloth lining. A cream-colored silk tassel is stitched to the inside back. Several retailer's, manufacturer's and other inscriptions are embossed on the headband and printed inside the crown.

Fez, From Benito Mussolini's home 3

Fez, From Benito Mussolini's home 2

Fez, From Benito Mussolini's home 1

Fez, From Benito Mussolini's home

This Japanese Flag was captured by an American soldier in the 87th Mountain Infantry at the Invasion of Kiska in 1943. Kiska is located in Alaska's Aleutian island chain and was part of the Aleutian Campaign, the only military land campaign fought in North America between the United States, Canada, and Japan during the Pacific Theater of World War Two. 

Japanese National Flag made of white cotton with a red circle sewn in the center. The edges are folded over and stitched. Two brass grommets are attached to one end to attach the flag to a pole.

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Bring Me Back a Souvenir!

Wehrmacht-marked champagne bottle