Soviet military maps of Britain

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[jb6]

Soviet military maps of Britain

I have been researching the history of the Soviet global mapping project and, in particular, the large scale plans of British and Irish towns and cities produced from 1950s to 1990.  These are of astonishing accuracy and contain an amazing level of detail, especially considering they were compiled under great secrecy during the Cold War. 

 

I have documented my findings so far in two articles. Part 1  was published in Sheetlines 72 dated April 2005, part 2 in Sheetlines 73 of August 2005.  Sheetlines is the journal of The Charles Close Society.

 

A Study day was held at Cambridge University Library on 8 October 2005 comprising an exhibition, speakers and audience contributions. The illustrated Exhibition Guide is here and a report will be posted here after publication in Sheetlines.

 

Soviet maps of UK and elsewhere can be viewed at The British Library Map Room,  Bodleian Library Oxford, Cambridge University Library and Trinity College Library Dublin. In all cases a Reader’s Card is necessary which must be obtained from the respective Admissions department.

During my researches, I used this Russian keyboard and pasted here the text for translation.  Transliteration of Cyrillic alphabet can be found here.

Most of my collection has been acquired as original paper maps from Jana Seta map shop, Riga. 

The maps are also available, mainly in electronic format, from various shops and dealers in several countries.

A very useful reference when viewing the maps is Soviet Topographic Map Symbols (1958 edition)

In the Sheetlines story I refer to the Pravda report on Soviet espionage in Sweden.  This can now be seen at : http://english.pravda.ru/society/2003/02/21/43579.html.  I also refer to the OS copyright statement (1997).

Some sample extracts of town plans (and print dates):

Bournemouth (1990)        Bristol (1972)            Calais (1976)                   Chester (1973)

Crewe (1957)                 Dublin (1980)            London (1985)                 Manchester (1975)

Newcastle (1977)            Riga (1983)               Swansea (1976)                Vilnius (1991)

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[Walkingfeather]

check your links.

[jb6]

If the links don't work, go to the source of the article and use them there, those work.

[Walkingfeather]

thanks

[aug645]

Special Note:
I've been able to view the links (all of which are UNWORKABLE from this post) by going directly to the Jomidav Home Page.
http://jomidav.aldavies.net/SovietMaps/index.htm

jb6;
You deserve the highest commendation for your incredible work and phenomenal research. It's quite shocking, mind-boggling to see first hand the overwhelming level of comprehensive information available to the Soviet intelligence agencies. All I can say is, God Bless Ronald Reagan!!

[mym]

==All I can say is, God Bless Ronald Reagan!!==

Reagan did almost nothing. Collapse of Bolshevism is mainly Gorby's achievement. And Brezhnev's marasmus's.

[El Sordo]

Just like how Adolf Hitler & Tojo Eiku ended World War II.

[APFel]

Reagan did almost nothing. Collapse of Bolshevism is mainly Gorby's achievement. And Brezhnev's marasmus's.

Yes. All hail the Soviets.

Economic and military pressure by the United States had nothing to do with it; the arms race in the '80s was merely window dressing for the inevitable.

APf

[APFel]

Oh, yeah. /sarc off

APf

[Professional Engineer]

ping

[mym]

==Just like how Adolf Hitler & Tojo Eiku ended World War II.==

Incorrect comparison. Gorbachev didn't start Bolshevism.

[A CA Guy]

England is a free society, so any tourist could be hired to take various pictures and stats to make a very good map. This is of no surprise to me that they could do it, but why bother?

[aug645]

Thanks very much for your most eloquent response. Couldn't have said it any better myself. :-)
One more time, mym (May this resonate deep within your tormented psyche);
God Bless Ronald Reagan!!

[aug645]

Thanks very much for your most eloquent response. Couldn't have said it any better myself. :-)

One more time, mym (May this resonate deep within your tormented psyche); Ronald Bless Ronald Reagan!!

[mym]

==One more time, mym (May this resonate deep within your tormented psyche)==

I've nothing against Ronald Reagan, he's a great politician.

But I do remember perestroika (1985-1991). My father was kicked from Communistic Party of USSR in 1988 when he said something anti-communistic. That meaned the end of his career.
USSR mainly stayed on enthusiasm after revolution in 1917 and after WW2. But by 1980 people tired, many were disappointed. So called 'zastoy' (stagnation) leaded to perestroika.

I remember so.

[aug645]

I apologize for my crass, rude comments. I thought you were a troll. :-)

[mym]

Accepted.

"Mir, druzhba, zhvachka" :))
(Peace, friendship, chewing gum)

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

God Bless Ronald Reagan!!

I couldn't have said it better myself! :)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Cool thread. Thanks for posting.