1942 Thai Pictorial Map Illustrating the WWII Pacific Theater

The only known example of a 1942 Thai pictorial map illustrating the progress of the Pacific theater in World War II (1939 - 1945). The map captures the apex of Japanese expansion, just before the pivotal Battle of Midway, when the United States decisively defeated the Japanese Fleet, changing the course of the Pacific War.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces from the Persian Gulf to San Francisco and from the Bering Strait to New Zealand. Japanese territory is highlighted in red, while Japan's conquests and allied nations are emphasized with Japanese flags, including Thailand, which declared war on the United States and Great Britain on January 25, 1942. Blue bombs indicate the targets of Japanese bombing campaigns, while half-sunk ships indicate destroyed Allied naval vessels - including at Pearl Harbor.

Thailand During World War II

During World War II, Thailand initially declared neutrality but eventually aligned with Japan after the Japanese invasion on December 8, 1941. The Thai government, led by Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram, signed a military alliance with Japan, granting them access to Thai territory for military operations. Thailand declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom in 1942, although the Thai ambassador to the U.S. refused to deliver the declaration. The country’s alliance with Japan ended with Japan’s defeat in 1945, after which Thailand shifted its allegiance to the Allies.

Publication History and Census

This map was issued in Thailand by an unknown publisher after Thailand's declaration of war against the United States and Great Britain in January of 1942. The verso contained a key, which has been somewhat obscured by necessary restoration, although a digitally enhanced scan of it, pre-restoration, can be provided upon request. The last noted event on the key was the June 1942 Japanese Bombardment of Fort Stevens. This is the only known surviving example.