General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

Fabric map

Patents

N/A

General Description

Fabric; dye or paint.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

105.0 cm

Width

62.0 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Navigation instruments & equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Ordnance

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Norway

State/Province

Unknown

Period

After 1952.

Canada

This Cold War era fabric map was revised and reproduced by Great Britain’s Ordnance Survey in 1952, based off of maps published by the British War Office from Geographical Section, General Staff (GSGS) map series no. 2758. The GSGS was in charge of British mapmaking during peacetime and war. The map is two-sided, with one side depicting Trondheim, Norway at a scale of 1:100,000. It is from the third edition of the British Geographical Section, General Staff (GSGS) no. 2758 map series, which was originally published by the British War Office in 1943. The reverse side depicts Helsinki, Finland at a scale of 1:100,000 and is from the third edition GSGS no. 2758 map series, which was originally published by the British War Office in 1945. The maps feature principle railways, roads, oil pipelines, waterways, and key landmarks. Fabric maps, also known as an “escape and evasion map”, were very popular during the Second World War, with Allied airmen and troops. They were often used as a part of escape kits, as unlike paper maps, they are highly durable and quiet, making them valuable for consultation by those who had fallen behind enemy lines. This fabric map of Trondheim and Helsinki produced by the British Government in 1952 illustrates the continued need for easily concealable maps in the face of the Cold War. Maps such as this one were likely shared amongst NATO countries.

Function

A two-dimensional graphic representation of Trondheim and Helsinki, used by NATO forces to escape enemy territory.

Technical

Fabric maps are more durable, flexible, and water resistant than paper maps. They were often made of silk, but many were made of synthetic fiber. They could be silently concealed inside one’s clothing, avoiding unwanted attention.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Lettering above map border on Helsinki side reads: "EUROPE/Scale 1:1,000,000/HELSINKI/RESTRICTED/THIRD EDITION - G.S.G.S./NORTH P-34, 35 & 36"; lettering under map border on Helsinki side reads: "G.S.,G.S. No. 2758/Published by War Office, 1945/Third Edition - G.S.G.S. 1952./Annual change about 6' Easterly/Reference/[legend]/GLOSSARY/[legend]/HEIGHTS IN METRES/RESTRICTED/METHOD OF GIVING A POSITION/REFERENCE ON THIS SHEET/[paragraph]/This map must NOT be considered an authority/on the delimitation of international boundaries./INDEX TO ADJOINING SHEETS/[index]/Revised and reproduced by O.S. 1952."; lettering above map border on Trondheim side reads: "EUROPE/Scale 1:1,000,000/TRONDHEIM/(TRONDHJEM)/RESTRICTED/THIRD EDITION - G.S.G.S./NORTH P.31, 32, 33 & part 34."; lettering and graphic on proper left side of map border of conversion table from metres to feet; lettering under map border on Stalingrad side reads: "G.S.,G.S. No. 2758./Published by War Office, 1943./Third Edition - G.S.G.S. 1952./Reference/[legend]/Annual change about 7 1/2 Easterly/GLOSSARY/[legend]/HEIGHTS IN METRES/RESTRICTED/Scale 1:1,000,000/[scale]/METHOD OF GIVING A POSITION/REFERENCE ON THIS SHEET/[paragraph]/This map must NOT be considered an authority/on the delimitation of international boundaries./INDEX TO ADJOINING SHEETS/[index]/Revised and reproduced by O.S. 1952."; some lettering has not been captured for brevity.

Missing

The artifact appears complete.

Finish

Off-white background with elements in different shades of blue, black, and red.

Decoration

Lines, shapes, and shading meant to represent different terrains, key landmarks, waterways, roads, railways, and oil pipelines; drawn graphic in proper bottom left corners for adjoining multiple maps.