This well-used map of France is made of silk cloth, and maps of this sort were issued to officers in advance of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Along the top it says “Zones of France” and “Second Edition,” and also notes that the map is on a 1:2,000,000 scale.
This specific piece of WWII memorabilia — called an Escape & Evasion map — belonged to my paratrooper grandfather, Chet Graham, who was an Army Captain at the time. He was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
A second silk paratrooper’s map, including France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium, is also shown below.
WWII Escape & evasion map of France from D-Day
ALSO SEE: WWII newspaper headlines from the D-Day invasion of France (1944)
WWII D-Day escape and evasion map – 1944 Europe (on silk)
2 Responses
I am looking for the escape map of France you have displayed above. My father had a framed one that I lost in the Camp Fire in Northern California last year. I am having trouble locating one to again hang on our wall. Any information you can share on where to locate one for sale would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, I was looking up pictures of these silk maps and saw this one of yours. It is the same as the one I have. My dad and uncle were both in France in WWII (Uncle parachutists in the 508th battalion). I am wondering if there might be a way to display and preserve the map.
Mike