The Rand McNally Map of New Europe

Attempting to rebuild the TNT market after World War I!

This large and striking map of Europe was published in Chicago by Rand McNally in 1919, shortly after the terms of the Treaty of Versailles had been dictated by the Allied victors to the defeated Central Powers. A heavily truncated summary of the treaty can be seen in the upper right. Various sections refer to the creation of the League of Nations, the mandate system, and the self-determination of new nations, but the document’s most lasting impact was in the form of recriminations towards Germany. These restrictive terms required Germany to pay heavy war reparations, give up its overseas territories, Alsace, and Lorraine, forego most of its military, and outright admit to causing the war.

“Section VII – Reparations – The Allies affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of herself and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the allies have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.” 

The map of ‘New Europe’ provides a detailed overview of the political organization of the continent. Pre-war and postwar national borders are reflected within the map’s image, the former identified with solid red lines. A key in the upper center explains sixteen distinct territorial changes that occurred as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, from the recognition of Finnish independence to the separation of the Caucasian states from the Russian Empire. Topography is shown in hachure and major railroad routes and cities are noted.

In the upper left can be seen a large advertisement for Gold Medal Explosives by the Illinois Powder Manufacturing Company. Despite claims that “it has a hundred different uses”, the immense violence of the preceding conflict frames the promotion in poor taste. Undoubtedly, some members of the American Expeditionary Force came home from France with a good enough idea of ‘What Dynamite Will Do.’