1971 Zbrodnie Hitlerowskie na Ziemiach Polski w Latach 1939-45
By: Państwowe Przedsiębiorstwo Wydawnictw Kartograficznych
Date: 1971 (dated) Warsaw
Dimensions: 62.5 x 49 inches (rollers included)
A scarce and dramatic map of Poland showing Nazi crimes against civillians during WWII. The publication of this map was initiated by the Rada Ochrony Pomników Walki i Męczeństwa (Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites) and supervised by Poland's Główna Komisja Badania Zbrodni Hitlerowskich w Polsce (Main Commission for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes in Poland).
The map is dense with symbols that represent different types of Nazi crimes. Large black stars with the symbol of a skull denote the locations of major extermination camps like Auschwitz (Oświęcim), Treblinka, Sobibor, and Belzec. Surrounding these sites are numerous smaller symbols representing various forms of Nazi brutality, including forced labor camps (indicated by square symbols) and places where villages were completely or partially destroyed (marked with flames and ruins). The map also includes numerical annotations indicating the scale of the crimes, such as the number of victims or the extent of the destruction, making it clear that these were not isolated incidents but part of a widespread system of oppression and extermination.
Soviet Influence and Narrative of the Map
It is often noted with this map that while it was produced by the Polish Government, the country was then under control of the Soviet Easter Bloc, a group of Eastern and Central European countries that were aligned or controlled by, the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Eastern Bloc was formed in the aftermath of World War II, as the Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, sought to secure its western borders and spread communist ideology. Thus, the information presented in the series of wall maps of which this example is a part of should be interpreted through the analysis and influences of the Soviets.
The borders depicted on the map reflect the post-war boundaries imposed by the Soviets, which altered Poland's borders significantly compared to its pre-war state. Additionally, while the map focuses on the crimes of Hitler and the Nazis, it omitts the crimes committed by the Soviets in poland, such as the Katyn massacre or the repression of the Polish Home Army. The map functions not only as a historical document but also as a tool of Soviet-era propaganda, reinforcing the narrative that suited Soviet geopolitical and ideological interests at the time.
Codntion: Map is in B+ condition with some doiling and fraying along the ecged. Original rollers are securely attached to the map backed with original linen.
Inventory #12871
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