"[Lot of 2] Map Review No. 5: Monday May 22 to Sunday June 4 [on verso] Fortress of Europe [and] Map Review No. 16: Period Covered Monday 23rd October to Sunday 5th November [on verso] The Western Gates",

Two large British Army posters printed in Bombay, India for the Directorate of Army Education showing the progress of the war:

A. Map Review No. 5: Monday May 22 to Sunday June 4 [on verso] Fortress of Europe. The recto contains colorful maps of Europe and Asia augmented by text blocks with arrows describing the news for the week. Also features black & white maps "Roads to Rom" and "City of Rome" with related text on Italy. Describing the map on verso, a note at bottom states: "Fortress Of Europe is the map selected for the Map Review, showing possible invasion points. Shortly after this issue went to press unconfirmed reports were received that the invasion had started…somewhere in the region of Le Havre.”

B. Map Review No. 16: Period Covered Monday 23rd October to Sunday 5th November [on verso] The Western Gates. This map also includes colored maps showing the theaters of war with Allied news updates along the borders. Text includes up-to-date reports of Soviet advances and a speech by Roosevelt on American military strength. The verso contains a large black & white map of western Europe entitled The Western Gates.

Similar in nature to the U.S. government's "Newsmaps," these posters were meant to be displayed and then replaced with updated versions as the war progressed.

References:

Condition: B

Issued folding with light soiling and a number of short splits at the fold junctions. Map #5 has a 2.5" fold separation at top with a small chip in the top blank margin, and map #16 has a 3" separation at bottom.