For the “non military researcher”.....a “map trace” was made on very thin vellum, that you could see thru. The “trace” was the key positions, routes, code names, etc etc that the units were tasked to take, or move to, or locate enemy positions etc. The “trace” was placed OVER a real map of the area, then you looked thru the trace, to termine the location of the item using the real map.
Map traces were easy to copy (so many soldiers or leaders would have a copy) and EASY to destroy, if you thought you might be captured. Also, it left the original map “unmarked” and you could have multiple “traces” with different things on them to look at using the same map.
If you look at the trace’s below, you will see a “cross type mark” around the corners of the map, with numbers on them. This was so you could position the “trace” accurately on the map. The crosses and numbers referred to the “grid lines” on the original map. So if one of the crosses said 04, 86......that meant you placed the cross on the two grid lines......the vertical line being O4.....and the horizontal line being 86
Feel free to post questions if you need more help
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