By JAY VERDOORN
GERMANS RETREAT FROM PENINSULA OF CHERBOURG. RED ARMY SURGES THROUGH FINNISH BORDER. ALLIES CONTINUE MARCH THROUGH ITALY. AMERICAN FORCES ON ROUTE TO JAPAN.
During the summer of 1944, those were the headlines that captured the front pages of America's newspapers and flashed across the screens in America's movie theaters. During the 1940s, newspaper, film and radio were the chief means of informing the American public, but for the men and women of the armed forces another news medium may have been more familiar.
In 1941, when America entered World War II, the U.S. Army Information Branch developed poster-size newsmaps, which, as the name suggests, were part newspaper and part map. Each newsmap contained the latest happenings in Europe, Asia and Africa and illustrated the latest moves of the Allied forces.
Throughout the war, newsmaps were produced weekly and posted in every American military installation around the world. They were intended to inform and motivate American military personnel.
Until the end of summer, visitors to the Madison Building may experience the drama of World War II as it unfolded in newsmaps. On display in the Current Events Corridor of the Madison Building, "D-Day + 50 Years: Newsmaps" is a collection of original items from the Geography and Map Division collections.
The exhibition, which opened June 6, was developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
Edward Redmond, curator of the exhibition from the Geography and Map Division, said the display is changed twice a month with a new newsmap that shows the activities of the Allied forces 50 years ago.
"Typically we've put maps of events that are topical in the corridor," Mr. Redmond said, "but with D-Day we decided to look at a piece of history as a current event."
Newsmaps didn't just cover current events. They also supplied information and exhortation.
"All the newsmaps were two-sided," Mr. Redmond said. "On one side they had a newsmap with text and on the back they had informational items with pictures or sayings like 'Loose lips sink ships.'"
On exhibit are several of the reverse sides of the newsmaps. Topics ranged from color drawings of German uniforms and rank badges to a pictorial essay on the Army Rangers' special training program.
"D-Day + 50 Years: Newsmaps" shows more than just the events of the time. The exhibition reflects contemporary attitudes and reminds the viewer of a time when Americans were united in a common effort to win a costly worldwide struggle against redoubtable foes.
"D-Day + 50 Years: Newsmaps" is on view indefinitely in the Madison Building's Current Events Corridor Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Jay Verdoorn is an intern in the Public Affairs Office.