German situation maps on this site

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Abicht
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German situation maps on this site

Post by Abicht »

All-

I have kicked this idea around with Mr Pipes, and would like to get feedback from the site.

I live in the DC area and go to NARA often. I have been scanning in the 2500 plus German situation maps over all fronts. I see often on this site folks wanting maps, and if they had access to the original ones the Germans had for operational planning and daily situation it would help greatly/

Not only that but there are a huge amount of maps captured by the Germans that show movements, positions, and plans by the Russians in 1941 and 1942 that were made by the Soviets, all done by hand and very interesting (all unpublished too(.

Right now the only way to see them would be to come to DC and see then or go to BAM (which only has some of them).

I would like feed back on the level on interest for these maps if Jason put them as a thumb nails here and sold them for a small cost in batches of 100 on a DVD.

For free would be great but isnt quite doable right now as high res scans would take up a great deal server space I guess and time and effort on my part.

If the site wants I can list the types and regions of maps that would be included, including German plans for contigency ops. Very intersting!
M.Abicht
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donwhite
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Situation Maps

Post by donwhite »

Abicht,
I for one would be very interested especially in any late war East front situation maps (1944/45).

Cheers
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Tom Houlihan
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Post by Tom Houlihan »

YES!!!


Was that resounding enough?
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Paulus II
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Post by Paulus II »

And YES!!! again!
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Post by Jan-Hendrik »

Ad definitum: Yes 8)

:[]

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Jerry
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Post by Jerry »

Yeah, me too!

Jerry
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Abicht
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Post by Abicht »

Just a bit more data on the maps that Jason may host on the site, either on a pay section or by CDs…TBD. I also was incorrect; there are not 2500 maps but about 5200 total.

There are about 2075 Lage Ost maps (Military Situation Eastern Theater) from June 1939 to 19 April 1945. They were created by the Mapping and Survey (Abt fur Kriegskarten und Vermessungwesen) and then annotated by the OKHs Operations Branch (Operationsabteilung). The maps held at NARA were captured from the OKWs Operations Staff (Wehrmachtfuhrungsstab).

There typically two maps per day, a morning and an evening set. During the advance on Moscow a third map for the for the 2nd Panzer Army during November and December 1941 exists too. From April 21 to May 22 the remnants of the OKW made Lage Reich maps.

The set is not 100% complete; the following days were lost or destroyed before their capture.

5 Dec 41, 31 Dec 41, 15 June 43, 18 June 43, 21-22 June 43, 1-2 Feb 44, 6 Feb 44, 8 Feb 44, 12-13 Feb 44, 28 Feb 44, 5 Dec 44, 26 Jan 45, 20 April 45, 22-23 April 45, 27-28 April 45, 1-3 May 45.

In addition there are special maps sets for the following units:

Army Group Vistula (Heeresgruppe Weichsel) 23 Jan – 30 April 1945 (84 maps)

Army Group Courland (Heeresgruppe Kurland 24 Jan – 19 April 1945 (83 maps)

20th Mountain Corp (Gebrigs Armeeoberkommando 20) in Finland

Specific Army Group situation map series (prepared by each group for their own needs)

Aerial reconnaissance map series

Red Army situation map series

Railroad information map sets

Strength comparison maps

More to follow on the other fronts
M.Abicht
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Abicht
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Post by Abicht »

Situation Maps for the European and North African theaters

There are about 3100 of these maps which cover the following areas and operations. Interesting with this group area many sets of maps for contingency operation and anti-partisan operations.

Northern Theater: 315 maps total from April 1940 to May 1945 that are arranged in the following groupings;

--Scandinavia- 26 Sept 1944 to 11 May 1945
--North- Denmark, Northern Germany and sometimes Holland 19 May to 22 May 1945
--Northwest- Denmark and Northern Germany 7-17 May 1945
--Norway- 11 April to 21 May 1940, and 13-21 May 1945
--Norway / Denmark- 20 Sept 1941 to 4 Sept 1944
--Finland- 20 May 1941 to 21 Nov 1944
--Finland North, Finland South, Finland Central/North – May-Oct 1944

Southern Theater: 157 maps total from May 1943 to April 1944 arranged in the following groupings;

--Lage Sud (Italy and Sicily)- 20 June to 13 Sept 1943
--Corsica- 5 July to 2 Oct 1943
--Sardinia –July 1943
--Sicily- 5 July to 15 August 1943

Southeastern Theater: 615 maps total from March 1939 to April 1945 arranged in the following groupings;

--Lage Sudost (Yugoslavia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary)- 15-18 March 1939 (occupation of Western Czechoslovakia, 20 Oct 1940 - 29April 1945.
--Lage Balkan-three groups; 5-29 April 1941, 10 March -29 April 1940, 21 May 1943-12 Dec 1944
--Slovakia- 13 Sept-23 Dec 1944
--Hungary- 9 March – 3 Dec 1944
--Serbia- 1 April – 9 Nov 1944
--Istria-1 Oct – 23 Nov 1943
--Syrmia- 7-12 Dec 1944
--Belgrade/Brac/Corfu/Crete-March 1943-Oct 1944 (Fantastic information on the Soviet capture of Belgrade from 17-19 October 1944!)

Southwest Theater: 442 maps from November 1943 to April 1945 arranged in the following groupings;

--Lage Sudwest- (includes some specialized maps for Armee Ligurien)- 20 Nov 1943 to 3 Jan 1945
--Italy- 1 July 1944 to 19 April 1945
--Lage Sudwest und Sudost- (comprises of overviews of the Balkans and Italy)- 14 June to 2 Dec 1944
--Italy and Balkans- 27 Sept 1943- 16 April 1944
--Italy and the Southest- 16 April – 5 June 1944

Western Theater: 1326 maps from June 1939 to March 1945 arranged in the following groupings;

--Lage West- 5 June 1939 to 20 Dec 1944 (more details but too much to go into here)
--Lage Holland-17 Sept 1944 to 20 March 1945
--Lage OB West- 15 March 1942- 23 Aug 1944
--Lage Frankreich-14 June – 3 Sept 1944, 16 Sept – 16 Dec 1944, 16 Dec 1944 – 31 Jan 1945, 1-15 Jan 1945, 1 Feb – 19 March 1945

North African Theater: 252 maps from January 1942 to May 1943 arranged in the following groupings;

--Lage Nordafrika-(cover operations in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia)- 29 Dec 1941-12 May 1943
--Algeria- 30 April – 12 May 1943
--Tripolitania- 17 Dec 1942 -27 March 1943
--Cyrenaica – 27 May 1942-18 March 1942
--Libya- 19-21 Jan, 27 April 1942
--Egypt-23 Aug – 12 Nov 1942

The “K” Series maps were maps captured by the Allies that deal with various contingency operations and operations against partisans in the Balkans. Unfortunately about half of these map sets have disappeared over the years (prior to being transferred to NARA). Here are what remains-

--K 1/2: Four maps showing possible movements, reinforcements, and countermeasures by German forces in the event of an Allied invasion in northern France (Blume 1) or southern France (Blume 2) 12 Jan-3 Feb 1944.
--K1/3: Ten maps showing planned movements and measures of OB West to counter a possible Allied invasion of southern France though Spain (Fall a, Fall 2) 4 April – 25 May 1944.
--K 1/4: One maps of prepared defenses and defensive measure along the Franco-Spanish border 16 March 1944.
--K 1/5: One maps showing possible German reinforcements and movements to counter an Allied invasion of Norway or Denmark (Falke, Hanne) 31 Dec 1943.
--K 1/6: Two maps relating to the availability of German forces in France for use in Operation Alarich (occupation of Italy) 27 July 1943.
--K 1/7: One map with one overlay of plans depicting German dispositions in France to execute Operation Anton (occupation of southern France) 6 June – 27 Oct 1942.
--K 1/9: One map “Vorchlag fur Einsatz Attila” showing proposed unit dispositions and movements for the occupation of southern France 20 Jan 1942.
--K 1/11: 16 maps pertaining to planned and actual defensive dispositions and movements of German and Italian troops in southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica July-August 1943. Includes movements of German reinforcements into Italy and four maps of Italian troop dispositions in Albania, Greece, and the Aegean islands.
--K 1/12: One map of a proposed German offensive along the Sangro River line in Italy against British forces (Operation Apulien) Oct 1943.
--K 1/13: One map showing possible German strategic reinforcement of northern Italy in the event of an Allied invasion (marger). 1944
--K 1/15: Two maps of contingency German movements to counteract possible Allied landings in northern Italy, Jan 1944.
--K 1/16: Two maps depicting contemplated Germans movements and offensive against Allied forces north of the Volturno River in Italy (Fall Sud/ Operation Sudfall) Feb 1944.
--K 1/17: Four maps depicting Germans movements through Bulgaria and offensive into Greece (Marita) Feb 1941.
--K 1/19: Collection of 18 maps relating to joint German-Croatian-Italian-Cetnik Operation “Weiss I-II” against Yugoslav Partisans, March-April 1943.
--K 1/20: One map pertaining to the German operation against British and Italian forces on the islands of Leros and Cos (Leopard, Oct 1943.
--K 1/21: Three maps, relating to a contingency operation of German and Bulgarian forces against Turkey (Gertrud) Dec 1943 – Oct 1944.
--K 1/22: Four maps depicting German operations against Yugoslav Partisans (Kugelblitz, Ziethen) in Serbia and Montenegro, Dec 1943.
--K 1/23: One map depicting German operations against Yugoslav Partisans in Croatia (Panther) Dec 1943.
--K 1/24: Two maps of operations (Seepferd) against Greek partisans in eastern Greece, Dec 1943.
--K 1/25: Sven maps of proposed German, Croation, and Bulgarian movements relating to the occupation of Italian-held areas in Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, and the Aegean Islands (Konstantin) June-July 1943.

There are another 40-50 “K” series that I have not added here but this should provide a good flavor of what will be to come.
M.Abicht
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Yes, please!

Post by Jason Petho »

I would be definitely interested in these!

Take care and good luck
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Post by Richard Schoutissen »

Yes, me too!

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Post by Abicht »

All-

I am working as fast and furious on this project as I can, dont worry I am working with Jason on this subject right now on how to get the maps arranged, priced, and distributed by CDs.
M.Abicht
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Post by von Salza »

Most definitely.

I know it is still early days but any idea of a rough ball park figure on the price. I won't hold you to any figures quoted. Just want to re-configure the Christmas wish list.

What? Never too early to plan ahead :wink:

Regards

David
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Lexxx
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There is a God!

Post by Lexxx »

Just posting so I get the updates to this post. I feel like King Arthur who has just found the Holy Grail!
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Tom Houlihan
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Re: There is a God!

Post by Tom Houlihan »

Lexxx wrote: I feel like King Arthur who has just found the Holy Grail!
You've got that right! Do you know how long I've wanted to access that map storage? Since long before I launched my website! I keep looking at the original post, trying to find the


X

that marks the buried treasure!
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Post by Paulus II »

Hehe :D

I feel more like King Arthur enjoying his wine and having the Holy Grail delivered on a silver platter by his brave knights 8)

The antcipation of what's to come is a treat in its own right and when its there....that will really be a dream come true.
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