COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Generalny Shtab Kranoi Armii
Date:
1941
Short Title:
(Map of Kharkiv/Kharkov)
Publisher:
Generalny Shtab Kranoi Armii
Type:
Separate Map
Obj Height cm:
84
Obj Width cm:
41
Scale 1:
100,000
Country:
Ukraine
City:
Kharkiv (Ukraine)
Subject:
Military
Full Title:
(Map of Kharkiv/Kharkov)
List No:
15543.000
Publication Author:
Generalny Shtab Kranoi Armii
Pub Date:
1941
Pub Title:
(Map of Kharkiv/Kharkov)
Pub Note:
"Upper sheet notes that the field situation is drafted in relevance to the year 1938 - and the printed list itself is second edition from 1941, bottom list notes the issue date as IX.41. Upper list is M-37-61, top part of the bottom list is cut, but from the GenShtab database it’s M-37-73. So both lists are 1941, possibly made by different printing houses as there is slight difference in shading of the buildings, especially notable at the center, where the Kharkiv plan area is situated. The maps by Generalny Shtab Kranoi Armii – Joint Staff of the Red Army – were among the most detailed military maps used by any of the forces involved. Joining Russian extensive air surveillance with 1930’s German data, GenShtab maps are relevant even today. They are used in the modern Russian-Ukrainian war. All Soviet city plans scaled 1: 100 000 were classified and not available to the public, although up to 1980’s Genshtab made even more detailed maps of 1: 50 000, 1: 10 000 and even 1: 5000. Comparable city plans were distorted in a way that a spy was unable to use them for any divergent / guerilla activities. Their fears were exaggerated but understandable: this map for example notes not only something one might expect: like roads, city blocks with details on the structural solidity of important buildings along with the general area geomorphological information - even separate but infrastructurally important buildings such as windmills, farms, apiaries, schools, dog kennels, food storages. Map shows Kharkov – a notable city in the Western part of modern independent Ukraine – during the early stage of WWII. Kharkov was lucky to use Western Ukraine steel and coal, thus becoming a strategic area of utmost importance as it housed tank factories, officer academies, motor factories. The vast majority of Soviet T-34 tanks – the symbol of WWII victory for any Russian - were produced mainly in Kharkov. Hitler understood this and during Aug 1941 was saying to his generals that Donetsk region – starting from Kharkov – “houses the ground base of the Soviet production”. It led to Kharkov being under German occupation from Oct 1941 to Aug 1943. Dated September 1941, this map was printed in preparations for the 1-29.10.41 First battle of Kharkov – most probably a for region-wide September 1941 evacuation that included crops and livestock transportation outside the soon to be occupied area. Any WWII Soviet city plans are rare. Hard to name the run on this one: they were printed by demand, sometimes with hundreds of copies daily if the maps were used during extensive battles like Stalingrad defensive operation." (Bookvica, 2023)
Pub List No:
15543.000
Pub Type:
Separate Map
Pub Height cm:
84
Pub Width cm:
41
Image No:
15543000.jp2
Authors:
Generalny Shtab Kranoi Armii
