Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original U.S. WWII Newsmap, Volume II, No. 40, dated Monday, January 24, 1944, with the large color GERMAN ARMY Uniforms recognition chart printed on the reverse. Produced for the U.S. Army Orientation Course, Newsmap was a weekly visual digest intended to keep American servicemen informed about the progress of the war while also providing useful military identification and instructional material.

The uniform side is especially impressive, presenting a large illustrated guide to the clothing, equipment, insignia, and appearance of German Army personnel. The principal sections are titled:

FIELD GRAY UNIFORMS
TROPICAL UNIFORMS
MOBILE TROOPS
MOUNTAIN UNIFORMS

Within these sections are numerous full-color figures depicting officers and enlisted personnel in a variety of uniforms, including infantrymen, artillery personnel, armored and Panzer Grenadier troops, mountain troops, signal personnel, and soldiers in tropical dress. Smaller illustrations identify items such as field and service caps, steel helmets and their insignia, belt equipment, packs, footwear, rank and branch devices, and other characteristic uniform details. The poster itself notes that this identification material was taken from Joint Army-Navy J.A.N. No. 1, the loose-leaf guide to uniforms and insignia, making this an actual wartime recognition and instructional aid.

The opposite side is the weekly NEWSMAP dated:

MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1944
WEEK OF JANUARY 13 TO JANUARY 20
228th WEEK OF THE WAR
110th WEEK OF U.S. PARTICIPATION

This side provides contemporary reports from the USSR, Italy, the air war, Southwest Pacific, and Burma, illustrated with wartime photographs. A large map of the Eastern Front dominates one portion of the sheet, showing railroads, rivers, prewar boundaries, battle lines, and areas associated with Soviet advances. The result is an excellent snapshot of what American servicemen were being told about the global military situation in January 1944.

Newsmap was produced as part of the Army's wartime orientation program and distributed to military installations for display where servicemen could read current news and instructional material. Government records identify the series as a weekly Army publication consisting of maps, photographs, illustrations, and explanatory text covering both military and civilian developments.

Condition is good for a large original wartime paper poster, though careful handling is recommended. It shows age toning, prominent original fold lines, wrinkles and creasing, along with edge and corner wear. There are several marginal tears, small chips and areas of paper loss, with additional wear along some folds and intersections. Despite this, the poster remains very presentable, with strong color on the German Army uniform side and clear headings, figures, photographs, maps, and printed details. Please consult the photographs carefully for the exact condition.