Original WW2 British INTELLIGENCE MAP of Norway entitled "HEDMARK FYLKE" which features HAMAR etc
It was clearly produced as part of a British Intelligence dossier relating to covert activities in Norway as it is headed 'I.S.T.D./B/258 Supplement No.1'.
The 'I.S.T.D.' (Inter-Services Topographical Department) was a specialist intelligence unit in WW2 which prepared maps and reports for important military operations.
In addition, the map doesn't form part of a standard GSGS series and was designated as 'GSGS (Misc) No.191.
Such sheets were often produced in support of imminent operations, or the planning of future missions. As most were for inclusion in intelligence reports or planning dossiers, it is common to find variants bearing intelligence document references, and in this case that appears to be 'I.S.T.D./B/258 Supplement No.1'.
It seems that 'Supplement No.1' refers specifically to a collection of 22 separate 'I.S.T.D.' maps which were prepared to cover the whole of Norway. I currently have fifteen 'First Edition' maps from this collection which were produced between June and July of 1944, and they all bear this 'Supplement No.1' reference.
The timing of the maps is also interesting, because the Allies were conducting operations in Normandy at the time, and Norway was the focus of a deception operation codenamed OPERATION FORTITUDE (NORTH) - designed to fool Germany that the Allies were actually planning to liberate Europe via landings in Norway. Similar deceptions were codenamed OPERATION FORTITUDE (SOUTH) which focused on Calais being the main invasion target.
It's no secret that Churchill desperately wanted to liberate Norway, so it's possible that the maps were produced in advance of a genuinely intended invasion once the Liberation of France had been accomplished. There were tensions amongst the Allies over the Norway dilemma, and it's difficult to say for sure why they were commissioned, but some of the maps have pencil notes and calculations on them, so they were clearly used for their intended purpose, and that would have been at a fairly senior level.
This particular sheet '20B' covers the HEDMARK FYLKE county area of Southern Norway.
It's a fantastic and intriguing piece of History which provides some great research opportunities.
Measures 102cm x 91cm.
In very good condition.
Will be shipped as per its existing fold lines.
Please see my other WW2 (and WW1) maps, documents, photos etc.