War Maps

The First World War is regarded as the inaugural major "modern" conflict, characterized not by "traditional" means but by a plethora of innovations, particularly within the military sector. The rapid technological advancements in warfare made it experientially unprecedented in all spatial dimensions: combat unfolded across extensive distances on land, in the air, and beneath the ground. This novel spatial experience found expression in the production and reception of cartographic materials. The innovative warfare also imposed significant demands on cartography, requiring maps to be updated at increasingly shorter intervals. Simultaneously, the military operations, coupled with new technological possibilities and heightened interest in this field, provided new impetus, such as the advent of aerial reconnaissance.

The project investigates the trajectories of German cartography during the course of the First World War, focusing on the aspects of production and consumption. Central inquiries revolve around new production structures, emerging types of maps, and the utilization of maps. Given that cartography served not only military but also propagandistic purposes, especially in geography education, the study also scrutinizes publisher cartography. Special attention is directed towards the Gothaer Perthes-Verlag, which held a prominent position both nationally and internationally in the realms of cartography and geography, distinguishing itself in school geography. Through an examination of the preserved map collection and geographical writings of the publisher, the research aims to explore the development of cartography under the conditions of war, as well as the reception and popularization of military knowledge. Notably, the role of school geographers is analyzed, who presented themselves as experts in the public sphere and, utilizing maps, brought military education and propagandistic interpretations of the war into classrooms.