1942 Sundberg World War II Map of the World One Year After Pearl Harbor

This is Edwin Sundberg's December 6, 1942, map of the world summarizing the first year of the American involvement in World War II (1939 - 1945).

A Closer Look

Centered on the United States, the map tracks U.S. activities around the world, highlighting 39 key events, from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Guam, and the Philippines. These are presented in chronological order below the map and correspond with numbers on the map itself. Among these are the first Japanese troop landings in the Philippines, the U.S. declarations of war, Japanese invasions of Malaya and Singapore, the collapse of American resistance on the Bataan Peninsula, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the U.S. invasion of Guadalcanal, and the Allied invasion of North Africa.

An American flag occupies most of the United States, from which lines emanate to mark American bases, allies, and actions. Areas controlled by the Allies are shaded red, while those occupied by the Axis are green. Tunisia and Libya are striped to highlight ongoing conflict. Yellow text boxes identify Allied and American commanders worldwide, including Admiral Chester Nimitz, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Douglas MacArthur, and Admiral William F. Halsy Jr. Yellow text boxes also provide 'box scores' for U.S. naval engagements in the Pacific, including at Pearl Harbor and the battles of Midway and the Coral Sea. A short paragraph in the lower-right corner narrates the preceding year's events.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Edwin Sundberg and published in the Sunday News on December 6, 1942. This is the only known cataloged example.