World War 2 Western Front, 1944-45, drawn in 1944 by military cartographer Edward J. Krasnoborski, distills the decisive final campaigns in Western Europe into a lucid field-grade overview. Designed as a historically informative thematic map, it overlays Western France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland with clear red and blue vectors that differentiate opposing plans, advances, and withdrawals. Roman numerals—V, VII, IX, and others—pinpoint the disposition of major corps, while dated notations track the shifting front over crucial months. Major cities—Amiens and Lille in the north; Brussels and Liège across the Belgian plain; Luxembourg City on the Ardennes flank; Metz, Nancy, and Verdun in Lorraine; Strasbourg and Colmar in Alsace—serve as anchor points, tying operational arrows to the topography, rivers, and passes that governed strategy.

Across the Channel-coast corridor and into Belgium, the map captures the Allied post-Normandy momentum and the push toward Germany’s fortified Westwall. Blue thrust lines sweep past Amiens and Lille, then pivot through Brussels and Liège, converging on the Aachen salient—the first German city to fall to the Western Allies. Krasnoborski’s use of corps numerals along these axes conveys the layered depth of the advance and the coordination required among V, VII, IX and neighboring formations to breach the Siegfried Line. Timelines etched along the Belgian and Luxembourg approaches underline a tempo that alternated between rapid exploitation and attritional battles, illuminating how geography—from the Ardennes ridges to river crossings—both enabled and constrained operational art.

In Lorraine and Alsace, the composition turns from sweep to siege. Around Metz, Nancy, Verdun, and Dijon, the notated sequence of attacks and counterattacks evokes the grueling autumn battles along the Moselle, where fortress belts and river bends demanded methodical reduction. Eastward, the legend “The German Offensive in Alsace-Lorraine” flags the winter counterstroke that would strain Allied lines from the Saar near Saarbrücken through Karlsruhe, and down toward Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse along the Upper Rhine. Krasnoborski delineates advances and retreats like a cardiograph of the front, showing how the Vosges barrier and valley corridors funneled movement. Basel and Freiburg sit as geographic bookends, emphasizing the tight interplay among neutral frontiers, river crossings, and the defense of bridgeheads.

The Rhineland campaigns emerge as a converging geometry of pressure. From the Saar basin east of Metz to the Upper Rhine opposite Karlsruhe and Freiburg, the map’s blue arcs mass against red defensive screens, depicting the staged unhinging of the Westwall and the creation of bridgeheads that opened the path into Germany’s heartland. Timelines and corps markers trace the Allied pivot from containment of winter offensives to deliberate river assaults and crossings, culminating in drives toward Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Here the scale line matters: distances shrink as road and river nets thicken, and Krasnoborski’s symbology makes legible the operational choice to turn river lines—once obstacles—into springboards for the final penetration.

Beyond its immediate narrative of victory and reversal, this map embodies the analytical craft of wartime cartography. Krasnoborski, renowned for thematic clarity, fuses strategy with terrain by pairing color-coded movements to named cities and marked geographic features—the Meuse and Moselle valleys, the Rhine floodplain, the Vosges. Event timelines annotate the Western Front’s evolution from late 1944 into 1945, helping the viewer reconstruct cause and consequence: why Aachen mattered, how Metz delayed, why Strasbourg and the Colmar sector were fought over so fiercely. For historians and collectors alike, it offers a compact, authoritative key to the Western theater’s decisive months, revealing how command decisions were shaped, and ultimately constrained, by Europe’s physical geography.

Places on this map

• Strasbourg
• Metz
• Mulhouse
• Basel
• Frankfurt
• Stuttgart
• Luxembourg City
• Lille
• Brussels
• Liege
• Nancy
• Colmar
• Saarbrücken
• Karlsruhe
• Freiburg
• Dijon
• Verdun
• Amiens
• Aachen

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Military divisions denoted with Roman numerals (e.g., V, VII, IX).
• Depictions of significant military offensives, such as "The German Offensive in Alsace-Lorraine."
• Specific event timelines for changes in the Western Front.
• Regions marked for attacks, advances, and retreats.
• Cities and locations indicated alongside troop movements.
• Battle lines and significant geographical features marked.

Historical and design context

• Creation Date: 1944
• Cartographer: Edward J. Krasnoborski
• Edward J. Krasnoborski was a military cartographer known for his detailed thematic maps during World War II, providing essential geographical insights for military operations.
• Military strategies and operations during World War II.
• Various offensives and campaigns on the Western Front.
• Western Europe, specifically areas within France and Germany.
• Specific mention of Alsace-Lorraine and the Rhineland.
• Historically informative thematic map.
• Utilizes distinct red and blue markings to signify various military movements and plans.
• The map is marked with a scale for geographic reference.
• Highlights key military operations during a decisive period in World War II.
• Assists in understanding troop movements and strategic planning that influenced the outcome of the war in Europe.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.