NOTES ON MAPS OF THE BALKANS
JULY 1944
WAR OFFICE / G.S.G.S., London, 1944
A very rare WW2 1944 edition of the War Office publication Notes on Maps of The Balkans, marked ‘Confidential’, and published just after D-Day and the invasion of Europe. It includes detailed information relating to the maps of the Balkans produced by the Geographical Section of the General Staff (G.S.G.S.) during WW2.
This volume covers Greece, Crete, the Islands of the Aegean, Albania, European Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. All the G.S.G.S. map series covering these countries are described in detail, together with all map series published during WW2 by the Survey Directorates in the Middle East and A.F.H.Q. It was intended to show which maps were available for the region, and to describe the sources and material used in their preparation up to July 1944.
Numerous coloured illustrations, maps and charts are included, along with information on the main G.S.G.S. map series, communications maps, town plans, air maps, notes on air photo coverage, road classifications, geological maps, grid zones, foreign maps, etc. In a pocket at the rear there are a series of appendices, consisting of 12 large fold-out charts and maps
This handbook would have been an invaluable reference work during the allied operations in the Balkans in the final year of the war.
G.S.G.S (M.I.4.): was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, and was part of the War Office. It was responsible for mapping, aerial reconnaissance, and interpretation. The unit had evolved rapidly during WW2, including several changes of name. Most of the maps used by British land and air forces in the Second World War were made by the Geographical Section, General Staff (G.S.G.S., also known as M.I.4), operating under the Director of Military Operations and Intelligence. G.S.G.S. senior staff were usually Royal Engineer officers with surveying qualifications, although there were a few Royal Artillery or infantry officers. The rest of the staff were civil technical assistants and clerks, together with some RE other ranks. In peace-time, the role of G.S.G.S. was to supply maps to the forces, collect data on foreign survey networks, provide training, and prepare survey data for Expeditionary Force mobilisation. G.S.G.S. was organised into small sections, each of which specialised in maps of a particular region. These maps were often produced in support of imminent operations, or for the planning of future operations.
In 1936 G.S.G.S. began to map north-eastern France and Belgium at 1:50,000, though some of this work was allocated to Ordnance Survey. The Directorate’s role during the war was to supply maps to the armed forces. The War Office Map Library, which was also part of M.I.4, acquired maps and cartographic intelligence data. In September 1939, M.I.4 moved to Cheltenham. In late 1940, the Map Depot moved to Alperton in west London and remained there throughout the war. This resulted in fragmentation of functions and records. M.I.4 at Cheltenham had limited accommodation so new accommodation for M.I.4 / G.S.G.S. was acquired at Eastcote in north-west London. A Distribution Section was set up to handle the supply of maps to overseas expeditions. The Map Section at the Air Ministry was also under the technical supervision of M.I.4 officers.
Condition:
In very good condition. The illustrated card cover is in good condition, with some wear to the edges and corners, and some minor marks to the rear cover. The text and illustrations are in very good condition. The 12 folding maps and charts in the pocket at the rear are are in very good condition.
Published: 1944
Illustrated card cover
With 12 folding maps and charts in pocket at rear
Illustrated with coloured maps and charts throughout
Dimensions: 210mm x 340mm
Pages: 50 (plus 12 separate appendix maps and charts in pocket at rear)
