We found this old map in grandmas house. How old is it?
Very interesting. Poland has been partitioned by the USSR and Germany (finished October 1939), but according to the map, Hungary has been awarded Transylvania (August 1940), yet the Baltic states haven’t, according to the map, been annexed by the USSR (June 1940). France is defeated- you can see the Vichy border marked.
So I don’t know if this map is entirely chronologically accurate, but it’s late 1940.
But there might be a reason for the inaccuracy. This map is in Norwegian, and Norway was itself occupied by August 1940, so the status of the Baltics may reflect the German attitude of the time, and be a bit of foreshadowing before their own invasion the next summer!
Hm it’s a bit strange because Hungary already got parts of Transylvania which were given to it in the Second Vienna Award in August 1940 but the map doesn’t depict the Northern and Western campaigns of Germany, which all happened before August 1940.
So assuming the map doesn’t recognise the occupations and annexations of 1940 (which also include the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states), I’d say its from late 1940 or early 1941 before the Balkan campaign.
From what me and my sister can see, we think it may be from the very beginning of WW2, but we are a little unsure.
The map is in norwegian, so I hope it makes sense.
Of course there is a relevant xkcd
My guess is between March and July 1940. After the Winter War ended in March 1940 because the map shows Viipuri (Finland) is annexed by the Soviet Union. Before the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) were annexed in July 1940 also by the Soviet Union.
I’d say it’s a map from ‘80 depicting first part of ww2, that’s why is not consistent (presents past and future events)
I think this is a historic map of WWII produced sometime between the early 1960s and the early 1980s. If I had to put a definitive date, I would say late 60s to early 70s.
Like others pointed out, there are clashing historical events on this map that would have put the map production in a very narrow window. Usually, when that happens, it means it is a historical map (as in one meant to display the past), and not a map of the time of printing.
In my opinion, the most damning evidence that this map is NOT from 1939-1940 is the paper. The glossy-looking paper this map is made out of was not used until the post-war period, and was not used widely until the 1960s. A map actually made during the war would not have that glossy finish. Instead, it would look more like cardstock but with a thinner consistency.
It is also quite common to see historical maps with conflicting information like this one. The fact that the Vichy government borders are outlined, no Poland, Yugoslava and the Baltic states are still independent probably means it was made retroactively. Unless there were very strong political motivations or a lack of resources, most map makers from the actual period the map is portraying wouldn’t get this many things wrong—however, I’ve seen many historical maps that get things wrong time and time again. It’s a lot easier to mess up when you didn’t live through the period, aren’t a historian, or weren’t making maps at the time of the actual events.
All of this being said, I do want to put a little disclaimer and say that I’m saying all of this from an American perspective. I am not from Europe and I do not speak Norwegian/Swedish (I apologize for not know which language this is). So please take my perspective for what it is, I wouldn’t consider my opinion definitive evidence since I’m not European.
Anyway, that’s my two cents.
The age of the map does not correspond to the political situation depiction
I like the idea, that someone posted above, that the map is from later, maybe the 80s, trying to depict 1940 so they’re getting some stuff wrong.
Late 1939/Early 1940. This map dates and describes the frontiers of Europe before the Fall of France and the low countries, but after the fall of Poland
The Noordoostpolder in the Dutch Zuiderzee (which is not on this map) was finished in 1942.
I think late 1939/early 1940; definitely later than October 1, 1939 (Poland occupied by Germany and Russia, Vilnius to Lithuania) and before June 1940 (Baltics still independent). Possibly from second or third week of October 1939 since General Government (formally established October 26) is not listed as such and all of German occupied Poland is shown as part of the Third Reich.
Something Is not right in that map… Istria and Dalmatia are not italian, so It should be pre 1918 or post 1944.
Germany, Austria and France are a while. Jugoslavia then… i am confused
1940, but it’s not consistent on how it displays annexations
The map is norwegian
•north transylvania ceded to hungary on 1 september 1940
•south dobruja ceded to bulgaria on 7 september 1940 (not yet shown on map)
some time between 1-6 september 1940
But where is czechslovakia, I vote 1940
The period between WW1 and the end of WW2 was ‘Die Gluckliche Zeit’ for Map makers who got to sell a new map every couple of years…and eventually months!
This might be something called a Newsmap
These were WW2 maps printed right along side the nightly newspapers back home at least here in the USA. The maps didn’t have to be accurate and, I bet you some of them were inflated for propaganda. This could just be a newsmap with missing context, but based on all other options I do believe it is some form of one.