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last updated: 2/7/2012

WWII Newsmaps

Map Collections » WWII Newsmaps

The University of North Texas have digitized a wide array of the U.S. Army Newsmaps, in their collection of Federal Newsmaps. To see the originals at IU-B, contact staff in Government Information, Maps and Microform Services, C264 IUB Wells Library, 812-855-6924, or by email at: libet2@indiana.edu.



The Newsmaps were received as depository items in the 1940's and are available upon request. Because of their fragile nature today, they are housed in our secure area. Please contact ET2 before your visit so we can have them available.


Newsmaps were published by the Special Service Division, Army Service Forces, War Department. The issues were prepared and distributed by the Army Orientation Course. One standard feature that appears on all maps is a short textual summary of key events titled "The War Fronts," that includes descriptions of war-related events, mostly by geographic area, such as China, Russia, Tunisia, South Pacific, Aleutians, Wake, etc. Quite often supplementary map inserts show the principal theatres of conflict, e.g. a portion of the Eastern Front or the Solomon Islands. There are also many photographs. Some of them depict Axis soldiers and weapons.


Another standard feature is a world map that shows the areas controlled by Axis and United Nations forces, as well as neutral countries. Until Nov. 1942, when Axis troops occupied Vichy- France, the area controlled by the Vichy government (including all colonial possessions) was depicted separately (in a different color). Most Newsmaps include other types of information on the back page. Early issues often highlighted enemy weapons or insignia. Later, large detailed maps of one of the principal theaters of conflict became more common. The earlier Newsmaps always included a front page photo essay that highlighted a theme, a feature that disappeared in late 1942. Later all the space on the front page was devoted to The War Fronts feature.


Beginning with the Iwo Jima issue (Feb. 1945) additional changes took place. In subsequent editions of Newsmaps text was usually cut down to a minimum even on the front page. Much of this space was used for more attractive lay-out features. As a consequence all subsequent issues of Newsmaps look more like posters. In the fall of 1945 demobilization and repatriation emerged as the major issues of concern. Some issues of Newsmaps are entirely devoted to this theme. There is also information about life insurance, college, employment, and making the transition to civilian life. Other issues analyze the new world order that emerged in the aftermath of World War II. They focus on war crimes trials, U.S. occupation policies in Germany and Japan, U.S. foreign policy commitments, the future role of the United Nations, conferences of Allied leaders. There are also for the first time features that are primarily celebratory and emphasize the achievements of the Marine Corps, Army combat divisions, U.S. military leaders, etc.


JUMP TO: 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945

1942 Newsmaps

1st Volume

  • Training of Airborne Infantry W109.107:1/1 April 17 - 24, 1942
  • Training of U.S. Army Glider Pilots W109.107:1/2 April 24 - May 1, 1942
  • Cavalry Regiment Changes Mounts to Steady Steel W109.107:1/3 May 1 - May 8, 1942
  • British Troops Practice Street Fighting Tactics W109.107:1/4 May 8 - May 15, 1942
  • RAF Salvages Wrecked Planes from Desert W109.107:1/5 May 15 - May 22, 1942
  • Know Your Enemies: The Nazi Army W109.107:1/5 May 15 - May 22, 1942
  • Training for Motor Torpedo Boat Service W109.107:1/6 May 22 - May 29, 1942
  • Jap Ground Forces W109.107:1/6 May 22 - May 29, 1942
  • Producing the Big Seacoast Rifles W109.107:1/7 May 29 - June 5, 1942
  • Enemy Tanks Are Vulnerable W109.107:1/7 May 29 - June 5, 1942
  • The Russian Front W109.107:1/8 June 5 - June 12, 1942
  • A Gruppe is the Basic Unit of the German Infantry W109.107:1/8 June 5 - June 12, 1942
  • Jungle Fighting; Swimming Through Flames W109.107:1/9 June 12 - 19, 1942
  • Russia Has Held the Nazis since June 22, 1941 W109.107:1/9 June 12 - 19, 1942
  • The Battle Along the Atlantic W109.107:1/10 June 19 - 26, 1942
  • These Are the Principal Combat Ships W109.107:1/10 June 19 - 26, 1942
  • Production Hits Its Stride; British Weapons W109.107:1/11 June 26 - July 2, 1942
  • Southwest Fighting Bases W109.107:1/12 July 3 - 10, 1942
  • Seagoing Tractor on Test; Wing, Engine, Fuselage, Tail W109.107:1/13 July 10 - 17, 1942
  • U. S. Tanks in Australia W109.107:1/14 July 17 - 24, 1942
  • Tanks of the British Army W109.107:1/14 July 17 - 24, 1942
  • Stingers on the Flying Fortress W109.107:1/15 July 24 - 31, 1942
  • U. S. Army’s Troopship of the Skies W109.107:1/16 July 31 - Aug. 7, 1942
  • This Is Aid to Russia W109.107:1/16 July 31 - Aug. 7, 1942
  • Club for U. S. Forces in London W109.107:1/17 Aug. 7 - 14, 1942
  • British Battle Dress W109.107:1/17 Aug. 7 - 14, 1942
  • War in the Heart of Africa; China’s Cadets W109.107:1/18 Aug. 14 - 21, 1942
  • Airborne Command Lands W109.107:1/19 Aug. 21 - 28, 1942
  • Tanks Train in the U. S. Deserts W109.107:1/20 Aug. 28 - Sept. 4, 1942
  • Russian Armored Vehicles W109.107:1/20 Aug. 28 - Sept. 4, 1942
  • U.S. Marines Toughen Up Each Other W109.107:1/21 Sept. 4 - 11, 1942
  • Globes Give a True Picture of the World W109.107:1/21 Sept. 4 - 11, 1942
  • Blimbs Hunt Subs; Somewhere in Alaska W109.107:1/22 Sept. 11 - 18, 1942
  • Jap Midget Starts New Mission; Jungle Fighting W109.107:1/23 Sept. 18 - 25, 1942
  • Guiding Plane Back Home to Roost; W109.107:1/24 Sept. 25 - Oct. 2, 1942
  • Landing Operations: Solomons, Europe W109.107:1/21 Sept. 4 - 11, 1942
  • Paratroopers Train for Action; Convoy W109.107:1/25 Oct. 2 - 9, 1942
  • Alaska Road in Use by December W109.107:1/26 Oct. 9 - 16, 1942
  • Airborne Command W109.107:1/26 Oct. 9 - 16, 1942
  • Freight Cars with Wings; Foxholes Are Life Savers W109.107:1/27 Oct. 16 - 23, 1942
  • Port Moresby, New Guinea W109.107:1/28 Oct. 23 - 30, 1942
  • There Is no All-Purpose Plane W109.107:1/28 Oct. 23 - 30, 1942
  • Own Weapons Turned on Japanese W109.107:1/29 Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, 1942
  • Desert Destroyers W109.107:1/29 Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, 1942
  • Tanks Land for Beach Operation; Why We Fight W109.107:1/30 Nov. 6 - 13, 1942
  • North Africa: The March Westward W109.107:1/31 Nov. 13 - 20, 1942
  • Winning Friends - Helping People W109.107:1/31 Nov. 13 - 20, 1942
  • Unloading in North Africa; Aircraft Insignia W109.107:1/32 Nov. 20 - 27, 1942
  • Stalingrad Strikes Back W109.107:1/33 Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, 1942
  • The Battleground of North Africa W109.107:1/33 Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, 1942
  • Convoy to Africa; Antiaircraft Artillery W109.107:1/34 Dec.4 - 11, 1942
  • Yanks Advance on Japs in New Guinea W109.107:1/35 Dec. 11 - 18, 1942
  • 1942: A Milestone in the Development of Infantry W109.107:1/35 Dec. 11 - 18, 1942
  • British Keep Rolling West in Libya W109.107:1/36 Dec. 18 - 25, 1942
  • For Yanks Dreaming of a White Christmas W109.107:1/35 Dec. 11 - 18, 1942

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1943 Newsmaps

  • Along the Road to Tunisia W109.107:1/37 Dec. 25, 1942 - Jan. 1, 1943
  • The Nerve System of the Army W109.107:1/37 Dec. 25, 1942 - Jan. 1, 1943
  • Waiting for Action on a U. S. Carrier W109.107:1/38 Jan. 1 - 8, 1943
  • Learn to Recognize These Vehicles W109.107:1/37 Dec. 25, 1942 - Jan. 1, 1943
  • Navy Scout Boards Its Cruiser W109.107:1/39 Jan. 8 - 15, 1943
  • Learn to Recognize These Vehicles W109.107:1/39 Jan. 8 - 15, 1943
  • Jap Ships Feel U. S. Air Blows W109.107:1/40 Jan. 15 - 22, 1943
  • Italian Navy Uniforms and Insignia W109.107:1/40 Jan. 15 - 22, 1943
  • New Rubber Raft for Bombers W109.107:1/41 Jan. 22 - 29, 1943
  • Soviet Infantry W109.107:1/41 Jan. 22 - 29, 1943
  • The World at War W109.107:1/42 Jan. 29 - Feb. 5, 1943
  • Vital Supply: Water for the Eighth Army W109.107:1/43 Feb. 5 - 13, 1943
  • German Army Uniforms and Insignia W109.107:1/43 Feb. 5 - 13, 1943
  • Light Tanks and Self-Propelled Weapons W109.107:1/44 Feb. 12 - 19, 1943
  • Learn to Recognize These Vehicles W109.107:1/45 Feb. 19 - 26, 1943
  • Kriegsmarine Uniforms and Insignia W109.107:1/46 Feb. 26 - Mar. 5, 1943
  • Learn to Recognize These Vehicles W109.107:1/47 Mar. 5 - 12, 1943
  • Military Courtesy W109.107:1/48 Mar. 12 - 19, 1943
  • Gas W109.107:1/49 Mar. 19 - 26, 1943
  • British Aircraft. W109 107:1/50 Mar.26 - Apr. 2, 1943
  • The Marine Corps: A Unified Fighting Force W109.107:1/51 Apr. 2 - 9, 1943
  • Tunisia [and the central Mediterranean]W109.107:1/52 Apr. 9 - 16, 1943
  • 2nd Volume The War Fronts: Tunisia, Raid on Japan W109.107:2/1 Apr. 16 - 23, 1943
  • [Doolittle’s Raid of Apr. 18, 1942], Southwest Pacific, Italy, Air Offensive, Russia and Aleutians; Dig or Die: Foxholes W109.107:2/1 Apr. 16 –23, 1943
  • The War Fronts: Tunisia, Command, Air Offensive,Russia, Southwest Pacific, Aleutians; Don’t Help the Enemy W109.107:2/2 Apr. 23 – 30, 1943
  • You May Be Eligible for the Army Specialized Training Program; Clearing Mine Fields in Tunisia W109.107:2/3 Apr. 30 – May 7, 1943
  • So He Can Fight W109.107:2/4 May 7 - 14, 1943
  • The Not-So-Soft Underside W109.107:2/5 May 13 - 20, 1943
  • You Can Crack that Tank W109.107:2/6 May 20 - 27, 1943
  • Secret Weapons Are the Little Drops of Information W109.107:2/7 May 27 - June 3, 1943
  • You Could Give Away W109.107:2/7 May 27 - June 3, 1943
  • The Making of a U. S. Bluejacket W109.107:2/8 June 3 - 10, 1943
  • Disease in the Tropics W109.107:2/9 June 10 - 17, 1943
  • Gliders: Weapons of War W109.107:2/10 June 17 - 24, 1943
  • Abandon Ship W109.107:2/11 June 24 - July 1, 1943
  • Battle Area on the Eastern Front W109.107:2/12 July 1 - 8, 1943 [GPD also owns smaller size Overseas edition]
  • Gas W109.107:2/13 July 8 -15, 1943 [GPD also owns smaller size Overseas edition]
  • Pacific and Far East W109.107:2/14 July 15 - 22, 1943
  • Failure to Recognize Destroyed Our Own Tank W109.107:2/15 July 22 - 29, 1943
  • The Long Tough Fight Ahead Beyond Sunny Italy W109.107:2/16 July 29 - Aug. 5, 1943
  • Jap Aircraft W109.107:2/17 Aug. 5 - 12, 1943
  • China’s Army Is a Seasoned Military Force W109.107:2/18 Aug. 12 - 19, 1943
  • Weapons of the German Infantry Division W109.107:2/19 Aug. 19 - 26, 1943
  • Typical German Infantry Division W109.107:2/20 Aug. 26 - Sept. 2, 1943
  • Something Money Can’t Buy W109.107:2/21 Sept. 2 - 9, 1943
  • Battleground Italy W109.107:2/22 Sept. 9 - 16, 1943
  • Progress of the War W109.107:2/23 Sept. 16 - 23, 1943
  • A Mournful Melody W109.107:2/24 Sept. 23 - 30, 1943
  • Typical German Infantry Regiment W109.107:2/25 Sept. 30 - Oct. 7, 1943
  • Target Tokyo W109.107:2/26 Oct. 7 - 14, 1943
  • Target Berlin W109.107:2/27 Oct. 14 - 21, 1943
  • Northern Italy W109.107:2/28 Oct. 21 - 28, 1943
  • This Is Ann,,, She Drinks Blood W109.107:2/29 Oct. 28 - Nov. 4, 1943
  • U.S. Army Decorations and Awards W109.107:2/30 Nov. 4 - 11, 1943
  • The World W109.107:2/31 Nov. 11 - 18, 1943
  • Surprise: A Powerful Weapon W109.107:2/32 Nov. 18 - 25, 1943 [GPD also owns smaller size Overseas edition]
  • Sentinels Must Know the Eleven General Orders W109.107:2/33 Nov. 25 - Dec. 2, 1943
  • A Sign to Comradeship W109.107:2/34 Dec. 2 - 9, 1943
  • Tarawa: The Battle for the Gilberts W109.107:2/35 Dec. 9 - 16, 1943
  • W109 Land of the Setting Sun.107:2/36 Dec. 16 - 22, 1943
  • [Map of Eastern New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago] W109.107:2/37 Dec. 22 - 29, 1943

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1944 Newsmaps

  • Courageous Care: Army Nurse Corps W109.107:2/38 Dec. 29, 1943 - Jan. 5, 1944
  • Southeast Asia W109.107:2/39 Jan. 6 - 13, 1944
  • German Army Uniforms W109.107:2/40 Jan. 13 - 20, 1944 [GPD also owns smaller size print of the back page showing -German Army Uniforms-]
  • France W109.107:2/41 Jan. 20 - 27, 1944
  • Jap Army Uniforms W109.107:2/42 Jan. 27 - Feb. 3, 1944
  • {GPD also owns smaller size print of the back page showing “Jap Army Uniforms”] Central Italy W109.107:2/43 Feb. 3 - 10, 1944
  • Landing Craft W109.107:2/44 Feb. 10 - 17, 1944
  • In Mein Kampf Hitler stated W109.107:2/45 Feb. 17 - 24, 1944
  • Luftwaffe Uniforms W109.107:2/46 Feb. 24 - March 2, 1944 [GPD also owns smaller size print of the back page showing “Luftwaffe Uniforms”]
  • [Photo Essay; various themes]W109.107:2/47 Mar. 2 - 9, 1944
  • Europe W109.107:2/48 Mar. 9 - 16, 1944
  • USS Ranger W109.107:2/49 Mar. 16 - 23, 1944
  • Southeastern Europe W109.107:2/50 Mar. 23 - 30, 1944
  • Northern Burma W109.107:2/51 March 30 - April 6, 1944
  • Are the Folks at Home Backing Us up? Yes W109.107:2/52 Apr. 6 - 13, 1944
  • 3rd Volume Smoke W109.107:3/1 Apr. 13- 20, 1944
  • Memorandum for the Armed Forces: Home Front Production W109.107:3/2 Apr. 20 - 27, 1944
  • Four Approaches to Japan W109.107:3/3 Apr. 27 - May 4, 1944
  • Moscow to Berlin W109.107:3/4 May 4 - 11, 1944
  • Your Battleship and Her Requirements W109.107:3/5 May 11 - 18, 1944
  • New Guinea W109.107:3/6 May 18 - 25, 1944
  • Air Commandos W109.107:3/7 May 25 - June 1, 1944
  • The Battle-Line Is where the Infantry Is W109.107:3/8 June 1 - 8, 1944
  • Germany and Adjacent Areas W109.107:3/9 June 8 -15, 1944
  • Far East W109.107:3/10 June 15 - 22, 1944
  • Teamwork W109.107:3/11 June 22 - 29, 1944
  • The Po Valley W109.107:3/12 June 29 - July 6, 1944
  • Japan and Adjacent Regions W109.107:3/13 July 6 - 13, 1944
  • Saipan W109.107:3/14 July 13 - 20, 1944
  • Europe as Viewed from the U.S.S.R. W109.107:3/15 July 20 - 27, 1944
  • The Amphibs W109.107:3/16 July 27 - Aug. 3, 1944
  • Let This Do Your Talking: Silence Means Security W109.107:3/17 Aug. 2 - 9, 1944
  • Philippine Islands W109.107:3/18 Aug. 9 - 16, 1944
  • One Way to Blow Your Top W109.107:3/19 Aug. 16 - 23, 1944
  • Celebes: Netherlands Indies W109.107:3/20 Aug. 23 - 30, 1944
  • Crew: 147,142 Men and Women W109.107:3/21 Aug. 30 - Sept. 6, 1944
  • Conquest and Liberation of France W109.107:3/22 Sept. 6 - 13, 1944
  • Mindanao: Philippine Islands W109.107:3/23 Sept. 13 - 20, 1944
  • If Each of Us Wastes One Pound of War Material W109.107:3/24 Sept. 20 - 27, 1944
  • Dots in the Sky ; Dynamite on the Ground W109.107:3/25 Sept. 27 - Oct. 4, 1944
  • Air Technical Service Command W109.107:3/26 Oct. 4 - 11, 1944
  • The United States and Adjoining Portions of Canada and Mexico W109.107:3/27 Oct. 11 - 18, 1944
  • Your Versatile Warship Submarine W109.107:3/28 Oct. 18 - 25, 1944
  • Rumor! Rumor! Rumor!. Spike It! W109.107:3/29 Oct. 25 - Nov. 1, 1944
  • Post-War Plans! W109.107:3/30 Nov. 1 - 8, 1944
  • Amphibian Armies W109.107:3/31 Nov. 8 - 15, 1944
  • Mulberry Secret Floating Harbor W109.107:3/32 Nov. 15 - 22, 1944
  • These Guys Are O.K W109.107:3/33 Nov. 22 - 29, 1944
  • Jap Infantry Weapons W109.107:3/34 Nov. 29 - Dec. 6, 1944
  • W109.107:3/35 Missing
  • South Burma and Thailand W109.107:3/36 Dec. 13 -20, 1944
  • Every Day Be Careful What You Say Or Write W109.107:3/37 Dec. 20 - 27, 1944

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1945 Newsmaps

  • Germany and Its Approaches W109.107:3/38 Dec. 27, 1944- Jan. 3, 1945
  • Duren, Germany Before and After W109.107:3/39 Jan. 3 - 10, 1945
  • Malay States and Sumatra W109.107:3/40 Jan. 10 - 17, 1945
  • That Home of Your Own May Be Only a Dream Now W109.107:3/41 Jan. 17 - 24, 1945
  • 40 Million a Week W109.107:3/42 Jan. 24 - 31, 1945
  • Inside Japan W109.107:3/43 Jan. 31 - Feb. 7, 1945
  • The Corps of Military Police W109.107:3/44 Feb. 7 - 14, 1945
  • The Big Three Crimea Conference W109.107:3/45 Feb. 14 - 21, 1945
  • What the Army Is Doing to Help the Folks? W109.107:3/46 Feb. 20 - 27, 1945
  • Iwo Jima W109.107:3/47 Feb. 27 - Mar. 6, 1945
  • Pacific and the Far East W109.107:3/48 Mar. 6 - 13, 1945
  • Some Facts about the U.S.S.R W109.107:3/49 Mar. 13 - 20, 1945
  • Research and Development W109.107:3/50 Mar.20 - 27, 1945
  • China: Southeast Coast W109.107:3/51 March 27 - Apr. 3, 1945
  • It will look even bigger after the war W109.107:3/52 Apr. 3 - 10, 1945
  • 4th Volume WAC, 3rd Anniversary W109.107:4/1 Apr. 10 - 17, 1945
  • United Nations: Geared to Peace and Progress W109.107:4/2 Apr. 17 - 24, 1945
  • Japan from Siberia W109.107:4/3 Apr. 24 - May 1, 1945
  • Victory in Europe; This Is Why We Fight W109.107:4/4 May 1 - 8, 1945
  • Two Dow;One to Go!W109.107:4/5 May 8 - 15, 1945
  • Reconnaissance Aviation W109.107:4/6 May 15 - 22, 1945
  • Paper Bullets W109.107:4/7 May 22 - 29, 1945
  • Ribbons Representing Decorations and Awards W109.107:4/8 May 29 - June 5, 1945
  • Save: Don’t Help Delay V-Day W109.107:4/9 June 5 - 12, 1945
  • Jap Facts W109.107:4/10 June 12 - 19, 1945
  • Now, if he will just save some money everything will be ok. W109.107:4/11 June 19 - 26, 1945
  • Allies Push Closer; Size!W109.107:4/12 June 26 - July 3, 1945
  • 8 Years of War in China W109.107:4/13 July 3 - 10, 1945
  • The Battle Line W109.107:4/14 July 10 - 17, 1945
  • Army Air Force W109.107:4/15 July 17 - 24, 1945
  • Special Devices W109.107:4/16 July 24 - 31, 1945
  • Potsdam Briefs, Formosa W109.107:4/17 July 31 - Aug. 7, 1945
  • The Knockout Blow Falls; Advance Base Sectional Docks W109.107:4/18 Aug. 7 - 14, 1945
  • Japan’s Empire: It’s Advance and Retreat; Please, get there and back W109.107:4/19 Aug. 14 - 21, 1945
  • Yanks Land on Japan; Armed Forces Radio Service W109.107:4/20Aug. 21 - 28, 1945
  • Occupation Begins; The United States Marines W109.107:4/21 Aug. 28 - Sept. 4, 1945
  • Japan: American Troops Invest the Enemy Homeland; Comparison Chart of Non-Commissioned Grades and Ratings of the Armed Forces W109.107:4/22 Sept. 4 - 11, 1945
  • When Do I Go Home? Shoulder Insignia of United States Army Combat Divisions W109.107:4/23 Sept. 10 - 18, 1945
  • New Discharge Scores; General Marshall on Demobilization; Important Facts about Your Service Insurance W109.107:4/24 Sept. 18 - 25, 1945
  • What Job Are You Best Fitted For? Code for the Conquered W109.107:4/25 Sept. 25 - Oct. 2, 1945
  • The Planned Assault on Japan; World Population W109.107:4/26 Oct. 2 - 9, 1945
  • The Sun Is Down; The United States We Will Live In W109.107:4/27 Oct. 9 - 16, 1945
  • The World We Live In; The Berlin Indictment W109.107:4/28 Oct. 16 - 23, 1945
  • Air Transport Command; Naval Air Transport Service W109.107:4/29 Oct. 23 - 30, 1945
  • Please Don’t Double-Cross Yourself: Save Some of the Hard-Earned Money; Army Plan of Unifying Armed Forces W109.107:4/30 Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, 1945
  • Strategic Concept; The Job Now W109.107:4/31 Nov. 6 - 13, 1945
  • The Atomic Question; Progress Report on Demobilization W109.107:4/32 Nov. 13 - 20, 1945
  • Changes in Army and Navy Commands; Where Will the Best Jobs Be? W109.107:4/33 Nov. 20 - 27, 1945
  • After Pearl Harbor; Per Person Income Payment W109.107:4/34 Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, 1945
  • U.S. Role in World Affairs W109.107:4/35 Dec. 4 - 11, 1945
  • Troop Deployment; There Is an Enemy Still to Be Defeated! VD W109.107:4/36 Dec. 11 - 18, 1945
  • 1945: Year of Victory; If You Plan to Return to High School and College W109.107: 4/37 Dec. 18 - 25, 1945
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last updated: 2/7/2012