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World War II U.S. Army Newsmaps (1942-1946)

World War II U.S. Army Newsmaps (1942-1946)

419 images of World War II Newsmaps, the front and if there is an image, the obverse of each map.

This collection is composed of 216 issues of "Newsmap" that were published by the United States Army from 1942 to 1946. "Newsmap" was a weekly issuance by the U.S. Army, distributed to members of the military to provided news about the progress of World War II. Each measuring 36 by 48 inches. Each issue generally had information on the obverse and reverse sides. They featured text, photographs, illustrations, and maps. The reverse is usually a poster. The publications were designed for posting on bulletin boards or other display areas. The obverse side would have been displayed during the week the publication was issued and on the following week the back was displayed.

The Army produced several versions of Newsmaps.  Most in this collection are the large posters that were distributed to military installations in the United States. Smaller versions were sent to units overseas. An industrial version was also published for display in war production facilities. The production ran from April 1942 until March 1946.

At the beginning of the program these large, two-sided posters were meant to provide American servicemembers with news on the progress of the war in the various theaters of conflict and expose them to information on both enemy and friendly equipment and tactics.

In 1943, many posters had short snippets of wartime news with accompanying photographs and maps on one side, and a large map of a region or nation on the reverse. Others had full-size advertisements or lay-outs on one side. Later the scope of the content of the newsmaps changed, from strategic and tactical war material to information looking forward beyond the war, such as information about the GI Bill, post-military life, U.S. occupation policies, and other matters of interest and importance that would occur after the war, related to the World War II fight and those who fought it at home and abroad.

Among the events highlighted in the publications are raids on the Japanese mainland, air offensives in 1943, Allied action in Italy, and Soviet Union action on the Eastern front. They also included Information on how to prevent disease, how to avoid unexploded ordnance and display of the layout of a German infantry regiment. Examples of some of the posters are "Know Your Enemies: The Nazi Army", "Italian Navy Uniforms and Insignia", "Learn to Recognize These Vehicles", and "That Home of Your Own May Be Just a Dream Now...But It's a Dream that Can Come True if You'll Save Some of Your Hard Earned Pay!"

The volume one and two issues were prepared by the Army Orientation Course, Special Service Division, Army Service Forces. The volumes three, four, and five issues were prepared by the Army Information Branch, Army Service Forces. All the issues in this series were distributed to the Coast Guard by the Educational Services Section, Bureau of Personnel, Department of the Navy.























Also see:

World War I & II Posters

World War II American Propaganda Leaflets, Psychological Warfare Manuals, and Documents

World War I & World War II Canadian Posters

Korean War: United States Army Propaganda Leaflet Program

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