Jugoslavia [Yugoslavia]

Mid-20th century tourist map of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

This eye-catching map of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was published by the country’s tourist bureau in 1954, during a period known as the Informbiro (1948 – 1955). Tito’s leadership of Yugoslavia often found him at odds with Stalin and the rest of the Eastern Bloc, resulting in domestic political turmoil and closer ties with the West. In 1953, Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Greece signed The Balkan Pact, allowing for a non-aligned Communist state to have a direct relationship with members of NATO.

This pictorial map was issued the year prior to encourage Western tourism into the country. A legend in the lower center identifies symbols in four different languages – Serbo-Croatian, French, German, and English – and illustrated vignettes throughout the image highlight the incredible architecture, recreational opportunities, industrial productions, and local communities across Yugoslavia.

Notably, the image was drawn by Vlasto Kopac, a Slovenian artist and WWII partisan who survived the Dachau concentration camp. He was caught up in Communist party purges as part of the Slovenian Dachau Trials and given a death sentence that was later commuted to 20 years in prison. He was released early, in 1954, the same year he drew the map.

Source: Geographicus