Mud and blood in the final months of World War II: ‘soil’ maps of north-west Germany that helped to guide British and Canadian Military Operations in Early 1945

Towards the end of World War II, from January 1945, British/Canadian forces supplemented the use of topographical maps by compiling innovative specialist thematic maps to assist troops advancing eastwards from Belgium and the Netherlands into north-west Germany. 'Soil' maps were used to predict (1) cross-country trafficability and (2) potential airfield construction sites. Intensive bombardment of ground that was unexpectedly waterlogged as well as deliberate flooding by the enemy created mud which initially slowed cross-country movement. So too did determined German military resistance: the campaign included arguably the bloodiest operation for troops of 21st Army Group since their battle for Normandy in the summer of 1944. Significant maps, mostly at 1:100,000, are now preserved in England within the Shotton Archive at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, Birmingham. Together with expertise from geologists Major F.W. Shotton and Squadron Leader J.F. Kirkaldy, the maps contributed to terrain analysis that assisted with operational planning.