Escape and evasion map printed on playing cards distributed to Prisoners of War which could be soaked and pealed apart revealing the escape map. Many of the maps of the Pacific region were printed by the US Army Map Service, while the UK was responsible for many of the European Theatre maps. Many of the US Navy charts were folded in envelopes and distributed to the air crews before a mission, and to be turned in when the mission was successfully completed. They were called "drift charts" by the Navy, "...since their prime purpose was to indicate to aircrews survivors in their life rafts
Captured German equipment in Soviet use on the Eastern front Captured German equipment in Soviet use on the Eastern front During World War II losses of major items of equipment were substantial in many battles. Due to the expense of producing such equipment, many armies made an effort to recover and re-use enemy equipment that fell into their hands. Small items of equipment such as personal firearms, clothing and so forth are routinely lost as personnel are wounded, killed, or taken prisoner. There is often a perception (and sometimes a reality) amongst soldiers that the foreign equipment is better or more convenient than the equipment issued by the soldier's own