Russia on the March: An Imperialism Success Story. Cold War propaganda map 1948

£45

SKU: P-7-028100

'Russia on the March: A Success Story in Imperialism'


A powerful Cold War propaganda map illustrating the perceived expansion of Soviet influence across Europe between 1940 and 1948, published as part of Two Worlds Atlas by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Through a sequence of six maps, the composition charts the progressive extension of communist control westwards, with newly absorbed territories highlighted in red and presented as a deliberate and systematic process of imperial expansion. The narrative culminates in the then recent February 1948 Communist coup in Czechoslovakia, depicted here as the latest and most alarming “acquisition of the Kremlin”. The overthrow of Czechoslovakia’s democratic government shocked Western opinion, confirming fears that Soviet influence was spreading through political coercion as well as military occupation. Earlier panels trace the incorporation of the Baltic states, the post-war realignment of Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, and the tightening of Soviet control across Eastern Europe. Austria is shown as a divided state, reflecting its post-war occupation by the Allied powers and the uncertainty surrounding its future at the time of publication. Unlike Germany, Austria would later regain full sovereignty under the Austrian State Treaty of 1955, becoming permanently neutral and avoiding permanent partition. The sequential “fall” of Eastern European states embodied the logic that would later be formalised as the Domino Theory, shaping Western strategic thinking throughout the Cold War era and reinforcing policies of containment far beyond Europe. Combining cartography, chronology and overt political messaging, the map captures American anxieties at the dawn of the Cold War and stands as a vivid artefact of post-war ideological propaganda.

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Size 34 x 27 cm | 13.5 x 10.5 inches

Date Published: April 15th 1948

Type: Vintage colour propaganda info map

Author: Anderson

Publication: Two Worlds Atlas

"Two Worlds Atlas" section of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Condition: Good |

Good; suitable for framing. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. There is text and/or images printed on the reverse side

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We assess the condition of each item using three categories: Good, Fair, and Poor. We strive to ensure that any significant flaws are clearly shown in the images provided and detailed in the accompanying condition statement.

Good

The item presents well, with no significant flaws, and is in frameable condition. Minor imperfections—such as light spotting or offsetting, small blemishes, tight margins, neatly repaired tears, or discreet/professionally executed restoration—do not materially detract from its overall appearance.

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Poor

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