Unusual WWII Map Game

"[Board Game] Follow the Flag to Victory ", Cram, George F. & Company

This rare, World War II "board game" was issued by the Cram Company shortly after the United States joined the war effort. The game was to be played with while listening the news on the radio, and provided its players with visual context of the current situation. Small paper flags of the various powers (USA, Nazis, Axis, Allies, Soviets, etc.) were to be pinned to the game board as news of troop movements and territory takeovers were announced. The tagline on the box cover is "Be an Arm-Chair Strategist on World-Wide Battle-Fronts!"

The contents include a map board of the world on Mercator's projection with the United States at center. Political boundaries are presented “at the beginning of World War II, September 1, 1939." A legend at bottom notes U.S. possessions, military bases leased from the British, and commercial air routes. There is a second map on the inside box cover showing the “Possessions of the United States” outside of the continental U.S with large insets of Alaska and the Philippines. The game pieces include many colorful flags already made into pins for placement, and additional uncut flags were provided. Of particular interest is the Axis Powers flag which is an ominous skull and crossbones and the German swastika flag. Includes cover art by Walt White featuring a family playing the game with a battle scene along the lower border.

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Condition: B+

The game board is mostly clean and bright with only a few pinholes from the game pieces, meaning that this example was barely used. Game pieces are near fine. The box top is somewhat concave with abrasions and light soiling, and the side panels have separated in a few places. A well-preserved example given its intended use.