WWII Newsmaps (Geography/Map Library)

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

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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

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1943 Newsmaps continued

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

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1944 Newsmaps continued

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

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1945 Newsmaps continued

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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