Target Berlin

Designed by F. E. Manning in 1943, Target Berlin is a striking propaganda map produced as part of the Newsmap series and distributed by the Army Orientation Course to American naval bases during World War II. This particular copy was in the possession of the naval air station in Lakehurst, N.J., where it was received on October 23, 1943.

Rendered in an azimuthal equidistant projection centered on Berlin, the map presents an exaggerated three-dimensional perspective of Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia and North America. By placing Berlin at the center, the design conveys a sense of strategic focus, emphasizing the city as the primary military target. The use of shading and elevation gives the continents a dramatic relief, further highlighting the global scope of the conflict.

The azimuthal equidistant projection was widely used during World War II, especially in aviation and strategic military planning. One of its key advantages is that it accurately represents distances from the central point— in this case, Berlin— making it an ideal tool for understanding the range of air strikes, troop movements, and supply lines. This projection was particularly valuable in an era where air power had become a decisive factor in warfare, allowing military strategists to visualize operational reach and attack plans effectively.

The creation and distribution of this map occurred at a critical juncture in World War II. By 1943, the tide of the war had shifted in favor of the Allies. The United States had been fully engaged in the war effort since the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and American forces, along with their British and Soviet counterparts, were mounting increasingly aggressive operations against Nazi Germany. In Europe, the strategic bombing campaign against German industrial and military targets was intensifying, with Berlin emerging as a focal point for Allied air raids.

At the same time, the Allied invasion of Italy had begun in July 1943, and plans were well underway for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, which would take place in June 1944. Against this backdrop, Target Berlin served a dual purpose: as an instructional tool for military personnel and as a propaganda piece designed to boost morale. By visually demonstrating Berlin’s vulnerability to Allied reach, it reinforced the idea that Nazi Germany's days were numbered.

A notable feature at the bottom of the map is a special scale, allowing users to measure distances from Berlin and between two points that lie on a direct line passing through Berlin. This scale was designed to be cut out and used for taking actual measurements on the map itself, making it a functional tool for understanding distances and strategic positioning.

In addition to Target Berlin, another map in the same style, Target Tokyo, was produced. This companion piece was centered on Tokyo and used the same azimuthal equidistant projection to emphasize the reach of Allied forces in the Pacific theater. Together, these two maps visually reinforced the idea that both Axis capitals were within striking distance, serving as powerful tools in the psychological warfare of the time.

The Target Berlin map was not just an informational tool but also a psychological weapon. By depicting Berlin as the center of a shrinking battlefield, it symbolized the encirclement and eventual downfall of the Nazi regime. As a piece of wartime cartography, it exemplifies how maps were used not only for navigation but also for shaping perception and sustaining morale during one of the most pivotal conflicts in modern history.