[Map Series of Polish Defensive Operations during World War II]

Mapping Poland’s downfall during World War II.

This interesting collection of Polish maps was apparently published in Edinburgh by the firm of John Bartholomew and Sons – possibly in some relationship with the government in exile in London. Oddly, the group focuses exclusively on the Western Front with Germany in 1939 and omits Soviet incursions in the East.

A schematic map notes the publisher’s impression in the lower margin, but the remaining maps (on different paper) are unmarked by an author or printer. The series of ten sheets tracks the movement of different military groups across Poland between the eve of the conflict (late August) and the ‘Final Fights’ in early October 1939. Each plan, numbered 1-9, notes the date and direction of German (red) and Polish (blue) divisions. Unit and leaders are named in certain circumstances. Major engagements around Kock, Tomaszow, and Warsaw are shown with insets.