1941 Nazi German Army Group North Atlas of First Months of Operation Barbarossa

A proof-state white-kid-bound 1941 World War II German general's presentation atlas, here in its only known example, chronicling the first 6 months of Operation Barbarossa. It was lavishly published on Christmas Eve 1941 by the General Staff of Army Group North as a gift to members of Army Group North's General Staff participating in the invasion. This atlas appeared at a high point in the Nazi campaign to conquer the Soviet Union, and the bravado that accompanied their early successes is evident. The present example, 'proof no. 2', is the only known surviving copy.

A Closer Look

The atlas's editor, Lt. Colonel Paul Reinhold Herrmann, and the General Staff of the Heeresgruppe Nord (Army Group North) paid special attention to its production. It is technically extraordinary work with over 100 custom-made maps, some with transparent overlays, as well as aerial photographs. These maps track with granular detail the progress of Army Group North through the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) towards Leningrad. In addition to the more conventional maps, some feature transparent plastic overlays. A few are aerial photographs, a handful of which also feature the transparency overlays.The first few maps, in a section titled 'Der Aufmarch' [The March], illustrate the Group's preparations for Operation Barbarossa. The next section, titled 'Der Feldzug' [The Campaign], forms the bulk of the work. Maps chronicle daily progress from June 22, 1941 (the date Operation Barbarossa launched) through July 31, 1941, and a few days in August. After that, the maps cover a few days in September and October, likely only showing the major changes to the siege around Leningrad. The final section comprises a group of 'situation' maps that illustrate broader periods of time and actions. The last map in the atlas illustrates the Eastern Front as it was on December 11, 1941.

This Example in Focus

Even though this is the only known surviving example of the atlas, there almost certainly were more printed. The present example is marked 'Prüf[ung] nr. 2' or 'Proof No. 2' in manuscript on the inside front cover, meaning that it was the second proof state of the atlas. The fact that it is a proof explains why the present example is not inscribed to a specific officer. This example also features a beautiful manuscript half-title page signed by the atlas's editor, Oberstleutnant Paul Reinhold Herrmann (1898-1980).

Operation Barbarossa and Army Group North

The Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord) was created to invade the northern sector of the territory occupied by the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa. Launched on June 22, 1941, Army Group North was responsible for capturing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and then proceeding into northwestern Russia. It included the 16th and 18th Armies, the 4th Panzer (Tank) Division, and the Luftwaffe's 1st Air Fleet. Army Group North launched its attack from German Königsberg and made rapid progress, conquering virtually all of Latvia and Lithuania in the first 3 weeks. Nazi Germany declared the creation of Reichskommissariat Ostland on July 17, 1941, which was meant to govern all of the Baltic territories and the adjacent lands and under which the Nazis could implement their regime of oppression and genocide.

Army Group North continued to make fantastic gains, capturing Pskov, Russia (which became the Army Group's headquarters and where this atlas was published), Tallinn, Estonia, on August 28, and Novgorod, Russia, on September 9. Army Group North had reached the southern outskirts of Leningrad by early September 1941, and the Finns (the Nazi's allies) occupied the land to the north of the city. Hitler planned to raze the city completely and either kill or expel its 2.5 million residents and annex all the territory south of the Neva River. The Finns would gain all the territory north of the Neva. Hitler was so confident that victory was near that invitations to a victory party at Leningrad's luxurious Astor Hotel were printed.

Not the Victory They Envisioned

Almost 84 years after the beginning of what became known as the Siege of Leningrad (September 8, 1941 - January 27, 1944), we know that the laudatory and celebratory tone the atlas exudes did not last. The Soviet Red Army stopped the Nazis before they reached Moscow, and by January 1942, the Red Army began pushing the Nazis back. After 3 years of fighting and millions of lives, the Red Army pushed the invading Germans all the way back to Berlin.

Publication History and Census

This atlas was created by and for the High Command of Army Group North under the direction of Lt. Colonel Paul Reinhold Herrmann. It was published in Pskov, Russia, at the headquarters of Army Group North on December 24, 1941, by the Druckereizug der Vermessungs- und Karten- Abteilung (Motorisiert) 624 [Printing Company of the 624th Motorized Surveying and Map Detachment.] Numerous specialized units, such as the 624th Motorized Surveying and Map Detachment, were part of the Nazi German Army. These units consisted of skilled surveyors, draftsmen, and printing technicians and usually traveled in specially equipped train cars that included drafting/photography studios and advanced printing presses. At other times, these units were based at specific locations in Nazi-controlled territory. At the time of this atlas's production, the 624th Motorized was based at the headquarters of Army Group North in Pskov. As stated above, this is the only known surviving example.