Churchill's Wartime Journeys. Dunkirk 1940 to Berlin 1945. De Vine Hunt 1947 map

CAPTION PRINTED BELOW PICTURE: 'Dunkirk to Berlin June, 1940 - July, 1945. Journeys undertaken by the Rt. Honble. Winston S. Churchill, O.M., C.H., F.R.S., M.P., in Defence of the British Commonwealth and Empire'

A map of the 19 journeys undertaken by Churchill during the course of the Second World War, often travelling considerable distances and at great personal risk, and illustrating his pivotal diplomatic role in maintaining Allied unity, shaping Allied strategy and the post-war world order. The most significant meetings are all noted: The Atlantic Charter meeting with Roosevelt in August 1941 laid the foundation for the Anglo-American alliance and principles later embedded in the United Nations. The Casablanca Conference in January 1943 established the policy of unconditional surrender and planned the invasion of Italy. At the Tehran Conference in late 1943, the first Big Three summit, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin committed to Operation Overlord (D-Day) and discussed post-war Europe. The Yalta Conference in February 1945 cemented agreements on Germany’s division, the formation of the UN, and Soviet involvement against Japan. In the October 1944 Moscow Conference, Churchill and Stalin controversially divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. The Quebec Conferences of 1943 and 1944 coordinated D-Day planning and addressed the atomic bomb project. Although Churchill began the Potsdam Conference in July 1945, his influence was curtailed by his electoral defeat midway through. Vignettes illustrate the naval vessels and aircraft employed for these journeys. The map was published by George Philip & Son in collaboration with 'Time and Tide', a British weekly political and literary review founded by Margaret, Lady Rhondda, whose contributors included D.H. Lawrence, C.S. Lewis, and Virginia Woolf. Churchill himself gave his consent to the publication of the map. The map was created by Frank de Vine Hunt, who had worked in the Map Room at the Cabinet War Rooms during the Second World War, and to whom he wrote in a letter dated 18th April 1946 "I have no objection at all to Lady Rhondda's publishing the map of my journeys. I only wondered whether there would be sufficient public interest to justify the expense which she would incur, but, if she is satisfied about that, and it is your desire and hers, I should be very glad indeed."

DATE PRINTED: The imprint on the map is 1947. This example was issued to World Books Members in 1956 to accompany the republication by the Reprint Society of Churchill's War memoirs, as noted on the back of the slipcase attests. We can find no evidence that the first publication of the map was earlier than 1956.    

IMAGE SIZE: Approx 89.5 x 116.0cm, 35.25 x 45.75 inches (Large); Please note that this is a folding map.

TYPE: Vintage colour folding map with slip case

CONDITION: Good; suitable for framing. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. Please contact us if you would like to arrange to view this map. Virtually all antiquarian maps and prints are subject to some normal aging due to use and time which is not obtrusive unless otherwise stated. We offer a no questions asked return policy.

AUTHENTICITY: This is an authentic historic print, published at the date stated above. It is not a modern copy.

VERSO: There is nothing printed on the reverse side, which is plain

FOLDING: This is a folding print.

ARTIST/CARTOGRAPHER/ENGRAVER: Frank A. de Vine Hunt. FRGS, FRSA, Lt. Commander RNVR

PROVENANCE: Printed and Published in Great Britain by George Philip & Son., Ltd., 32 Fleet Street, London E.C.4 in association with "Time and Tide"