About this Item
This phenomenally scarce collection of British Army military plans was prepared in Germany between March 15th and March 19, 1945, by different elements of the XII Corps Air Photo Interpretation Section. Detailed large-scale topographic maps have been overprinted in blue ink to present the latest available information on enemy defenses across a large area in northwestern Germany. The set was issued as part of the strategic preparations for Operation Varsity, the largest single-day airborne operation ever conducted (March 24, 1945). By March, the Allied advance across Europe had proceeded to the Rhine River in Germany. Navigating the formidable natural obstacle required extensive tactical planning and several operations were designed to support the crossing at different sectors. Operation Varsity would consist of the U.S. 17th Airborne Division and the British 6th Airborne Division dropping onto the eastern shore of the river and linking up near the town of Hamminkeln. A third division, the U.S. 13th Airborne, was also scheduled to participate, but the lack of available aircraft was prohibitive. Over 16,000 paratroopers were dropped using a mix of 1,500+ transport planes and 1,000+ gliders - the largest single-day airborne drop in history. Despite suffering heavy casualties and several inaccurate glider drops, the operation was considered a success and both divisions captured important strategic objectives (towns, bridges, etc.) that helped the Allied advance. The eventual triumph may be partly due to superior Allied intelligence-gathering, manifested with these immensely detailed plans of German defenses across the area. Several aerial reconnaissance flights were flown in the days leading up to the operation to obtain the requisite images, which were then analyzed and overlaid atop 1:12,500 scale topographic maps. Nine such sheets, each encompassing an area of about 12 square miles, are included with the set. They are titled after the nearby towns and villages - Diersfordt, Wesel, Drevenack, Schnellshof, Hamminkeln, Brunen, Dingden, Wulfing, and Wertherbruch. Collectively, the maps include the entire area within which the US XVIII Airborne Corps carried out its parachute drops and glider-borne landings. Areas within which these and supporting units subsequently advanced to expand their bridgehead are also covered. Each sheet, boldly marked SECRET, provides the reader with the best available information on German defensive works, emplaced weaponry, minefields, signals installations, storage dumps, airfields, and more. A comprehensive legend on the verso is offered, along with relevant annotations, where applicable. Notes can be found regarding trench lines, incomplete railway bridges, and a 'dummy' German airfield near the town of Bocholt. The base image provides further strategic information regarding terrain, infrastructure, and prominent geographic features. The creation of defensive overprints was a complex and fast-moving process, as shown by the tight turnaround times in the various listed dates between March 15-19. At least three different mapping units were utilized in the production of these nine sheets alone (519th Royal Engineers Survey Company, 14th Royal Engineers Map Reproduction Section, and 521st Royal Engineers Survey Company), identifiable by a printer's code in the lower left corner. Because of their ephemeral nature (German defenses were ever-changing), overprints were issued as frequently as possible and generally discarded when obsolete. It's unlikely that there was sufficient time to issue a newer edition before the start of Operation Varsity, making these exceptional survivors an incredible preview of the forthcoming engagement. Sheet Width (in) 19.6 Sheet Height (in) 24.5 Condition Description Collection of nine double-sided lithographed sheets, each with blue contemporary overprinting and somewhat later 'Unclassified' rubberstamps. Likely stapled together at one point previously, as there is some damage. Seller Inventory # W001202
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