Sean Gillies (Posts about cartography)

Maps, France 1944

Sean Gillies — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, I received in the mail my grandfather's cloth escape maps of France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He flew a Piper Cub for the US Army, mainly shuttling brass between England and France. Never used, the maps went from a pocket in his jacket to an envelope in a foot locker; they're in great condition.

Above is a 1:2,000,000 scale map entitled "Zones of France", second edition, and dated "MAR 44". Silk or rayon. I know little about the origins of this one.

It features 4 hand-drawn "placemarks" South of Cherbourg. Positions of forces? Airfields supplied with beer?

I've quickly found much more information about the 1:1,000,000 scale 43 Series map above. It is most likely rayon, as silk was then in short supply. Map C on one side, D on the reverse.

I'll be having these framed soon.

Comments

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Guillaume

That's a very interesting set of maps indeed ! I think hand-drawn placemarks are German troops positions, as Canisy, south of Saint-Lô was an important part of Atlantic Wall. Saint-Jean de Daye has been an important victory of allied forces, on the 7th of july 1944. Avranches has been a major battle too, but later, around the 31st. Thanks for sharing this !

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Sean

Thanks for the context, Guillaume.

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Patrick

Interesting post. Just to let you know that these kind of maps, digitally produced on tafetta (artificial silk) are being used by the Netherlands Armed forces (SF and pilots) today in Afghanistan. The maps still serve the same purpose as 60 years ago during WWII. There is a bit more survival information printed on them. Regards

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Jack

Speaking of survival, take a look at the DoD Evasion Chart (EVC) "produced on a strong, moisture-resistant polyester material (spin-bonded olefin)"--purportedly an important part of Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady's survival after being shot down in Bosnia: http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/nga01/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&itemID=17386591e1b3af00VgnVCMServer23727a95RCRD&beanID=1629630080&viewID=Article Note also the background note concerning the EVC: "The history of the [EVC] goes back to charts printed on rayon during the 1940s, and to cloth 'blood chits' printed in various languages that identified American airmen and offered rewards for safe passage during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts."

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Sean

Anybody recognize, or better yet: have a reference for, the symbology in the "Zones of France" detail image?

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Guillaume

You have the three main zones : annexed zone at north-east, dedicated to future colonization by german settlers, the occupied zone in north and west, including Paris, and the "free" zone, in the south, which will stay under direct franch govermenment of Vichy until november 11th 1942 (full occupation). I guess blue lines along the coasts show restricted zones of security, to avoid a sea attack from the allies. You have some good infos (in french...) here : http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_libre Regards, Guillaume

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Sean

Guillaume, I'm thinking specifically about the placemarks. I think I've found an explanation at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/101-5-1/f545-c4a.htm. Unless somebody used this map to track the location of a particular friendly unit in the campaign, you're right about it being pre-landing German positions. Here's a map showing German units arrayed diagonally across the peninsula on 6 June 1944: mp1.jpg.

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: Guillaume

Indeed, but it highly depends of the precise date on which the placemarks have been drawn. Things moved quickly during that summer, and what was a German position soon became an allied one !

Re: Maps, France 1944

Author: MatthieuR

I confirm all the infos given by Guillaume, and I also agree that it is interesting information in a very good quality shape !!! Keep this maps with you, they may become really researched in a couple of years !

Happy birthday, Ursula K. Le Guin

Sean Gillies — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

79 today. Geography was a key ingredient in her Earthsea novels (which I read again earlier this year, and the Other Wind for the first time). Did you know that her website has maps of Earthsea?

Is that crayon? I've been looking at a lot of crayon coloring lately, and would swear it is. Cool! Maps of Archaic Latium from her new novel, Lavinia, are also available from her site.

Comments

Re: Happy birthday, Ursula K. Le Guin

Author: matt

I just reread the series this year too. I loved the maps, finding myself thumbing back to them just about every time locations are mentioned in the novels. The geography is extremely important to the storyline.

Mapping McCain's homes

Sean Gillies — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Speaking of maps in the media -- I like this one of John McCain's homes:

I know he doesn't personally use the internet tubes, but maybe an aide can print it out and help McCain keep track of these places.

Does this kind of "attack map" contribute to the stupefication of US politics? Yes, perhaps, but I for one am happy to see the other side get the rare pleasure of defending itself from this kind of bullshit. For once.

Comments

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: Andres

Awesomeness. Thanks for sharing this! I'm booking a spa vacation at the compound right now,

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: Sean

Book with care. John McCain, as a former POW, has the right to modify the terms at any time.

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: KoS

Wow...you don't get out much if you think one side slings all or most of the mud. Need to diversify your readings. How do we know those are "his" places? They could be all "her" places. KoS

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: Sean

Yes, I do expect that he'll try to duck behind his second, much younger, heiress wife -- for whom he dumped his not rich and no longer young, first wife. Good strategy? I don't know ... pass the popcorn!

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: carl

Did you all forget we are Capitalists? Since when is makeing money a crime? The other thing is there is no way to tell what happened in the first arriage, they were not married that long, and then the terrible seperation, the POW camp and an accident for the other..who knows how any one of us would react...and who knows what's in a marriage. The fist wife still thinks alot of him...how often does that happen. I'm not saying vote for him for any of these reasons...but you can't use that as a basis not to...not if you are a fair minded person. I think we need to choose on substance...not anything else...and there is no need to hate, just because someone is an opponent. This seems to go against the Dem principals. and no..since Hillary is gone I have not made up my mind...still hoping she's the VP...that would change things.

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: Sean

Choose on substance! What, are you from a parallel universe where Gore was elected in 2000? This universe doesn't work like that.

Re: Mapping McCain's homes

Author: Sean

KoS, this isn't a toilet for anonymous cowards. I'm exercising my comment policy and deleting your comments.

Tufte and Cartography

Sean Gillies — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Good stuff. My favorite Tufte tip is outlining regions with a slightly darker hue of the fill color. Because our visual system is non-linear, a difference as small as 5-6% can sharpen up your map dramatically.