1942 CBC Pictorial Wall Map of the World, World War II

Little-known WWII octopus map.

This is a colorful, large-format c. 1942 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) pictorial map of the world illustrating events early in World War II (1939 - 1945). Aside from presenting the conflict from the often-overlooked Canadian perspective, the map is notable for its distinctive aesthetic. Of note, a pictorial map in the lower right incorporates everyone's favorite map monster - the geo-octopus - popularized by Fred Rose in the late 1800s, to illustrate the grasping reach of Nazi German and Imperial Japanese expansion.

A Closer Look

The map presents the world on a Mercator Projection with Canada and the United States at center, thereby dividing Eurasia (and the two main theaters of the war). Countries are color-shaded by allegiance (Axis, Allied, Neutral), with the British Empire highlighted in red. A detailed legend at the bottom left explains the symbols used throughout for railways, sea routes, naval and air bases, and ice limits of the world's oceans and seas. Additional symbols indicate resources important to the war effort, such as iron, coal, and oil. An inset map at the bottom right, done in a stylized Social Realist aesthetic, depicts the conflict with Germany and Japan as octopuses spreading their tentacles across the world, with the Allied powers offering up their resources and manpower for resistance. A text box at the bottom explains that CBC listeners (which dominated Canadian airwaves as both a broadcaster and regulator) could use the map to track the war's progress while listening to daily news broadcasts.

This map was prepared at the Allies' low point in the war (as noted in the legend, it reflects the situation in March 1942). Although the Nazis had been stopped outside Moscow in December 1941, they still occupied large portions of the Soviet Union, and Japan was completing a lightning advance through Southeast Asia. While the Allies waited for the United States to mobilize its vast resources and manpower fully and for the Soviets to regain strength, they planned local counterattacks to boost morale (often at great cost), such as the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942 or the Canadian-led Dieppe Raid in August. The references to strategy reflect contemporary debates among the Allies. Although they agreed that the primary effort should focus on defeating Germany, they disagreed on how to do it. Eventually, the British convinced the Americans that the best course was to chip away at the periphery of the Axis' European empire before rushing headlong into an invasion of France, to the annoyance of the Soviets, who desperately wanted a 'second front' to alleviate pressure, as the bulk of German and Axis forces were on the Eastern Front.

Canada's World War II

Canada entered World War II on September 10, 1939, with an independent decision of its own Parliament, signaling both loyalty to Britain and the country's growing autonomy. In the early years of the war, Canada played an essential role as an industrial and training hub. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, headquartered in Canada, became one of the largest aviation training programs in history, preparing more than 130,000 aviators for service across the Allied air forces. Most of those trained were British, Canadian, Australian, or New Zealander. The Plan also trained crews from throughout the Commonwealth, occupied countries (such as Poland and the Netherlands), and beyond. At the same time, Canadian shipyards and factories rapidly expanded production, supplying escorts, merchant ships, vehicles, munitions, and other materiel critical to sustaining the Allied war effort, particularly during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Canadian forces saw major combat beginning with the costly 1942 raid on Dieppe, which, despite heavy losses, provided important lessons for the later Normandy invasion. From 1943 onward, Canadian troops fought in the Italian campaign and then played a significant role in Northwest Europe after D-Day, including the liberation of the Netherlands. On the home front, the war effort spurred economic transformation, including manufacturing growth and increased participation of women in the workforce. By the end of the war, Canada had emerged as a significant military power with one of the world's largest navies and air forces, and its contributions helped shape its postwar identity as a committed participant in international security and reconstruction.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Harris-Parlane Studios and was copyrighted to (i.e., designed by) the graphic arts firm McLaren and McCaul for the CBC. A note in the legend explains that the map reflects battle lines as of March 17, 1942. The map is held by four institutions in the OCLC, all in Canada: the University of Toronto, Brock University, Carleton University, and Western University. Scarce to the market.

Cartographer

John Wilson McLaren (1896 - 1988), often as J. W. McLaren, was a Scottish-born Canadian painter, illustrator, and owner of a successful graphics art firm in the mid-20th century. Emigrating to Canada with his family as a child, McLaren gravitated towards the graphic, literary, and performing arts and served as an entertainer and comedian for Canadian units in the First World War. After the war, McLaren worked for the firm Rous and Mann in Toronto before founding his own graphic arts company and partnering with John McCaul, who operated the sales portion of the business. The company found quick success and signed up many leading Canadian companies as clients. McLaren's aesthetic was up-to-date and his methods even avant-garde; he was among the first to use plasticine to produce three-dimensional promotional sets. In 1950, McLaren and McCaul closed operations. McLaren briefly continued the business with his son, John, as McLaren and Son, Ltd., but this company lasted only two years and J. W. McLaren began a long retirement filled with painting and other artistic works.   Further Details...

Condition

Good. Toning. Wear along original fold lines. Some loss at nearly every fold intersection. Verso repairs to fold separations and at fold intersections. Closed margin tears slightly extending into border professionally repaired on verso. Accompanied by original mailing envelope in poor condition.

References

OCLC 290981148, 1110211726.