Command, Strategy for Push Against Europe

Moving toy soldiers across the map.

“Map shows the military set-up at present and indicates Allied strategy (white arrows) what will lead to Berlin. The extent of the air umbrella, regarded as necessary for any successful landings, is shown on the map on the basis of planes based in Britain in the west and Italy in the south. The German divisions stationed in the various theaters are based on the latest reliable estimates.” Text, lower left.

P.E. Manning designed this interesting map for inclusion in the January 17, 1944 issue of The Chicago Sun. It presents speculative invasion routes for the Allied forces to breach ‘Fortress Europe’ through France, Italy, the Balkans, and even by directly assaulting Germany itself. Major Allied leaders are represented with toy soldiers, including two ‘unnamed’ commanders of the invasion and American ground forces. Soviet generals are omitted, despite tying down more German divisions in the east than the rest of the continent combined.