Militargeographischer Uberblick Uber Belgien Und Angrenzende Gebiete [Military Geographical Overview Of Belgium And Adjacent Areas] - A German Compilation Of Strategic Information About Belgium Issued In The Lead-Up To The Battle Of France. Abteilung Fuer Kriegskarten Und Vermessungswesen

This fascinating volume of WWII informational material was compiled by the German Army General Staff - Department of War Maps and Surveying and published in Berlin in October 1939. The invasion of Poland the month prior had plunged Europe into war and Hitler next planned to turn his attention to France. A thrust through Belgium was a critical component of what would become known as the Manstein Plan, necessitating intimate knowledge of local geography in the Low Countries. Three booklets and five large maps comprise the collection, with the former trio focusing on aerial photographs, city maps, and a general geopolitical overview. The folding maps of various sizes emphasize different components of infrastructure - road conditions, canal systems, telephone & telegraph networks, and primary waterways. Each piece is prominently marked Nur fur den Dienstgebrauch! (For Official Use Only). It is notable that the German plans, crafted with the help of these details, were made aware to the Belgians shortly after the group was originally published. In January 1940, an officer carrying a copy of the proposed attack crash-landed in Belgium, causing a political uproar in the Low Countries and likely contributing to several subsequent changes in overall strategy. Sheet Width (in) See Description Sheet Height (in) See Description Condition Description Collection of three booklets and five folding maps with original stiff paper envelope. Scattered spotting and light wear present on each item, but overall the group is in very good condition.