1943 Jylbert Pictorial Map of French Guiana

This is a 1943 Jylbert pictorial map of French Guiana. This map was part of a series of 20 maps of the French Empire drawn by Jylbert during the Nazi occupation of France to educate French schoolchildren on the wonders of the Empire and foster national pride. Trees fill the colony and impart ideas of a tropical land. The famous penal colony is not included.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces French Guiana bounded on the west by the west by Surinam (Dutch Guiana) and the Maroni River and on the east by Brazil and the Oyapock River. Dense greenery throughout underscores the region's connection with the Amazon and its rich resources - mining, lumber, sugar plantations, and more. A portrait of two indigenous Guyanais adorns the bottom right.

French Guiana During World War II

After the Fall of France in June 1940, French Guiana's governor, Robert Chot, aligned the colony with the Vichy regime led by Philippe Pétain. A small anti-Vichy resistance formed, but as the Chot government became entrenched, most went underground. At this point, the United States was still neutral and tacitly supported the pro-Vichy government in French Guiana. In April 1941, Chot granted a parcel of land to the United States (specifically Pan American Airways) to build an airfield. This move proved unpopular in French Guiana, and Chot was removed and replaced by René Veber. Under Veber, the population became more hostile toward the Vichy, and on March 16 and 17, 1943, demonstrations caused by food shortages and anti-Vichy sentiment ousted the pro-Vichy government. American President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not like De Gaulle, so the U.S. pushed for the appointment of the Giraudist Jean Rapenne. Nonetheless, the Conseil Général fired Rapenne and replaced him with a Gaullist, Jean Surlemont, in November 1943.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Jylbert and published by 'BD' in France in 1943. This piece does not appear in OCLC. We note only one other instance when this map has appeared on the private market.