Silk escape map
Item
Title
Silk escape map
Description
RAF Silk Escape Map 43C Holland, Belgium, France, Germany. 43D France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium. Double sided printed in colour with heat sealed edges. Sheet C - Holland, Belgium (except west coast) France (north east) Germany (west & central). Sheet D - France (south east) Germany (south west) Switzerland (except south east). Enlargement of German - Swiss Frontier.
Date
Identifier
008.500.161
Medium
Provenance
During World War II, the United States and Great Britain produced in excess of 3.5 million silk maps and cloth maps for Allied military personnel to use as escape maps. In 1940, the British military intelligence unit, known as MI 9, started issuing silk maps for use by British aircrews shot down over enemy occupied territory in Europe. The silk maps were intended to assist airman in evading capture. MI 9 also smuggled silk and tissue paper escape maps into POW camps in Germany along with other escape aids to encourage POWs to attempt escape.