Routes & Bridges overprint map of the Caen sector, August 1944
This detailed operational overprint map, based on the France 1:25,000 Sheet 40/16 S.W. (Edition of August 1943), depicts the road and bridge network in and around Caen, with special emphasis on route classifications and crossing points over the Orne River. Produced on a standard topographic base and heavily annotated in the field, it shows bridge names, tonnage limits, one-way and two-way routes, and tracked versus wheeled vehicle suitability.
Centred on Caen and extending south toward Ifs, Hubert-Folie, and Bourguébus, the map highlights the complex web of approach roads and key river crossings that would later prove decisive during operations in Normandy. Bridges such as Reynold, Winston, and Churchill are clearly marked with their respective load classifications, while coloured route markings identify traffic control measures and vehicle restrictions. The careful grading of roads by tonnage illustrates the logistical realities faced by Allied planners and engineers as they prepared for large-scale manoeuvre across contested terrain.
Overprints include route designations (e.g., CL 40, CL 9), notes on single-lane and double-lane traffic, tank tracks, and engineer assessments of infrastructure capacity. The map serves as a striking example of how battlefield mobility depended not only on combat units, but on the detailed survey and classification work carried out behind the lines.
Product Details:
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Printed on 175gsm premium fine-art paper
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Matte finish for an authentic archival appearance
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Created from high-resolution scans of the original wartime map
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Displays bridge classifications, route capacity, and detailed 1:25,000 topography
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Ideal for collectors, military historians, engineers, and Normandy battlefield visitors
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Ships worldwide in protective packaging
A faithful reproduction of the Caen Routes & Bridges overprint—a precise record of the infrastructure assessments that underpinned Allied operational planning in the Normandy theatre.