Ottoman Military Map of the Battle of the Arras WW1 Empire 1920s France War Army Western Front
Ottoman Military Map of the Battle of Arras, Spring 1917 – “Kroki 16”
Description:
This original Ottoman Turkish military map depicts the Battle of Arras, also known as the Second Battle of Arras, a major British offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. Fought between 9 April and 16 May 1917 near the French city of Arras, the battle saw British troops launch a series of attacks against German defensive positions as part of the Allied spring offensives of 1917.
Marked “Kroki 16 – 1917 Senesi İlk Baharında Vuku Gelen Arras Muharebesi” (Sketch 16 – The Battle of Arras That Took Place in the Spring of 1917), the map features a legend illustrating changes in the front lines over different dates. These markings document the shifting positions during the campaign, offering a visual record of the military developments on this sector of the Western Front.
The exact source book has not been identified. However, other maps in the collection depicting battles such as Verdun and Flanders suggest that this example may have been removed from an Ottoman Turkish book documenting First World War battles, possibly published in the early 1920s. Although its original publication remains unconfirmed, the map is an appealing historical piece for collectors of Ottoman printed material, First World War history, and military cartography.
Key Features:
• Subject: Battle of Arras (Second Battle of Arras), spring 1917
• Title on Map: “Kroki 16 – 1917 Senesi İlk Baharında Vuku Gelen Arras Muharebesi” (Sketch 16 – The Battle of Arras That Took Place in the Spring of 1917)
• Historical Context: First World War, Western Front
• Opposing Forces: British and German armies
• Map Details: Dated legend showing changes in front-line positions
• Language: Ottoman Turkish
• Dimensions: 17.2 × 14.2 cm
• Possible Origin: An Ottoman Turkish publication about First World War battles, possibly from the early 1920s; exact source unidentified