#World war ii online map series#

We also have a number of WW II maps listed below that are very rare and, in some case, were used by agents of the British intelligence service. All are printed on both sides with adjoining sections. The collection we offer of these unique examples of mapping differ slightly in size. The story of the WWII cloth (silk maps) has been difficult to piece together because of the manner in which they were developed and their production was shrouded in secrecy during and after the war. Air Force was formed and under their Aeronautical Chart Service the cloth maps continued until the early 1950’s as part of the Cold War effort.

After WWII the cloth ‘silk maps’ continued to be used as the Cold War escalated.

There durability and foldability were ideal for downed pilots in enemy territory, for escape and evasion needs. One of the military uses of the silk (cloth) maps was to have them included in the survival kits of allied pilots.

#World war ii online map series#

The Army Air Force (AAF) through the efforts of there Aeronautical Chart Service produced a series of the cloth maps on printed on rayon. In addition to the British, the Australians and the United States began production of cloth maps. The first maps during WWII were issued by M19 and based on existing maps of John Bartholomew, one of England’s most prominent map-makers. The maps we offer were first introduced by the British during World War II.

After careful restoration, it became clear that one of these maps (now known as the Garrison Map), had been prepared by cartographers to the king of Ch’ang-sha, whose kingdom was made up of modern Hunan and that the map was for military use sometime around 168 BC. In 1973-74 excavations near Mawangdui, in the province of Ch’ang-sha, China produced three maps drawn on silk. The fabric map technique dates from the Han dynasty. Most maps today are printed on good quality paper, but there were maps produced on cloth (or, textile cartography) dating back many centuries.