I have an antique store and I run across some interesting things I can figure out, but this one is throwing me for a loop. It's a Map, including a possible war trophy, and a few pictures of german and american soliders. Has anyone seen a map like this or might be able to tell me what kind it is? Was thinking command map that shows advancements and graveyards as well as landing sites. But that's just a guess. Took a few photos of the front, back, and a few of the add ins. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
It's a post-war Michelin road map so there's no value in it, I'm afraid. Now, if the Hohenstaufen cuff title is real - and I wouldn't want to venture an opinion on that because of the amount of repro and fake stuff out there - that could be worth a few bob: 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - Wikipedia
Its a post-war map and I notice that south of Bayeux the D94 (heading east off the D6) road is shown and construction of that was not started until 1964. It also shows this road before it was extended even further east in 1994.
The map is often found in Souvenir shops and is a Michelin map that has been overprinted, fitted with a cover and entitled 'Battle of Normandy'. Cheap item when new and with cover removed and now cut down totally worthless.
Something about it looked fishy to me. The stained spots looked manufactured. Kinda like the old looking pirate maps. Guess I'll have to pull the cuff title off and photo the back and see if it's real.
Just endorse the above - I live in France and I have a map with the same markings in my car that I bought at Arromanche about 10 years ago, and it is a tourist map which shows the dates the front line effectively moved [in general terms]. The photos are interesting, any chance you can upload them as seperate images? TD
It is a special 50th anniversary of the landings in Normandy and is a reprint from the No 102 Michelin 1947 map by Michelin. It was published as a Special 50th Anniversary Edition and was included in the sale of the 1994 Michelin Red Guide France....MIchelin declared not to be sold separately from the guide. Entitled Battle of Normandy June-August 1944.... additionally an interestingly illustration for it shows the runs of the Pluto fuel supply network and the various fuel infeeds into Manche and Calvados. The temporary military cemeteries situation is shown in 1947 gives an insight in the progress of establishing the permanent cemeteries as seen today.
I've seen at least 2 of the photos before. Probably Bundesarchiv photos. The mortar team & fag smokers are on here . Fallschirmjägers – Paratroopers – Green Devils The Rommel one. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...03,_Nordafrika,_Rommel_in_Befehlsfahrzeug.jpg
This is the 1947 Michelin Map No 102 reprinted for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy and issued free with the 1994 Michelin Red Guide France. TD's copy appears to be the same but declared to be free without reference to the 50th Anniversary of the 1944 Battle of Normandy.
Interesting in that there appears to be several issues of this map aimed at different markets. I'm quite sure I bought mine at the Arromanches Museum a number of years ago.
Here's the pictures of the pictures and the back of the cuff title. Stitching doesn't match up with any real or fake ones I've seen so far.
The quality of Michelin maps. Apparently the Germans invaded France using Michelin maps as the basis for their topography of France and the Allies did the same in 1944. In addition,Allied officers were issued with copies of the Michelin 1939 Red Guide. France.
Here's the 1984 edition, on which it says it's a reprint of a 1947 original... so don't throw away your map just yet...
The only thing that bugs me, is the back of my map has nothing on it. Indicating to me it was never a fold up map. There's defiantly creases where it was folded, but there are not illustrations or lettering or numbering on the back indicating anything. It's just completely brown, almost vellum paper feeling.
In slightly better news, my research on the Hohenstaufen cuff title shows it might be real. At least it passes the first check mark of the H line not being centrally located like it is on the repros.
