St Aubin - Sword & Juno Beaches 1944 - 40/18 SW

St Aubin (Sword and Juno Beaches) in a series of reproductions of the Bigot Plans prepared by the GSGS (Geographic Section General Staff) for the D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944, showing German defences and other obstacles facing the invading Allied troops. The map covers the area north of the Ouistreham map with St Aubin, Langrune-sur-mer, Lion-sur-Mer and La Brèche including parts of the landing areas known as Juno and Sword.

The Bigot Plans were classified Top Secret and issued under the highest level of "Need to Know" regulations. They were updated with aerial and intelligence information to 19th May 1944, less than three weeks before the landings. The reprints, taken from the 1:25,000 series catalogued as GSGS 4347, are very detailed and show the terrain, obstacles and defences that the Allied forces expected to meet, with blue colour indicating those confirmed and purple those not verified. Each sheet has a topographic legend, with the two maps covering the Omaha Beach and the Sword and Juno Beaches also carrying an extensive Defence Legend for defence works, weapon types, obstacles, minefields, personnel accommodation, etc. Also provided are notes about the D-Day Landing and the particular area covered by each map.

* PLEASE NOTE: only three sheets have been published so far, covering Omaha Beach, Sword and Juno Beaches, and the Pegasus Bridge area. Maps shown in grey on our series grid have not been reproduced.