Analysis of the Polish Home Army drop zones during World War II, using geographic information systems
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1
AGH Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza
Katedra Geoinformatyki i Informatyki Stosowanej, Poland
2
Uniwersytet Pedagogiczny
im. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
Instytut Bezpieczeństwa i Edukacji Obywatelskiej, Poland
Publication date: 2017-09-30
Geomatics, Landmanagement and Landscape 2017;(3)
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of the research presented in this paper was to determine the precise location of drop zones
that were used for parachute jumps of the ‘Silent and Unseen’ paratroops (Polish: Cichociemni) and
for delivering military equipment during World War II. The studies were based on historical research containing information about the locations of the jumps and their schematic arrangement,
Ordnance Survey Maps of the pre-war period, and a GIS system with contemporary geographic
digital maps. Within the work, the available information about the drop zone locations of the
period from February 1941 to December 1944 is summarized. Moreover, the calibration of available schematic maps is presented, based on contemporary digital data. The final part of the study
contains an estimation of drop zone location errors compared against military tactical maps.