Non-Traditional Haggadah – Field Survey Company 524 – Italy, 1945

Passover Haggadah, Palestine Field Survey Company 524. Italy, 1945. Printed in blue.
Non-traditional Haggadah, partly humorous, with illustrations depicting the company's life. The chapter "Vayehi Bachatzi Halalyla" was adapted as a parody telling about a guarding officer who fell asleep while on duty, and "Adir Hu" reflects the professional specializations of the unit's soldiers.
Enclosed with the Haggadah are a menu leaf and an illustrated map. The menu is humorous and details the dishes – mainly the disadvantages of army food: "Eggs – next year… warm drinks – tea with no chlorine…". On the bottom of the leaf appear the title "Passover dinner menu", the name of the company and the year.
The map, titled "Exodus from Egypt from slavery to liberty", presents the journey trail of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. No date.
Field Survey Company R.E. 524 was formed in 1942, after two British field survey companies were taken as war prisoners. Most soldiers of the company had training in engineering, surveying, architecture, graphics and printing, mechanics and driving. For preparation of the maps the company used a mobile printing press which explains the extraordinary technical level of the Haggadahs that it printed.
Haggadah: [13] leaves (including cover), 15 cm. Menu: 25.5X17 cm. Map: 26.5X22.5 cm. Good condition. Some stains. On the inside front cover appears a dedication written by hand: "to Amitai, as a souvenir".