Le pavillon victorieux du Japon flotte au dessus du Pacifique (THE VICTORIOUS FLAG OF JAPAN FLIES OVER THE PACIFIC).

Cartographic propaganda World War II & the Japanese empire. A magnificent large-format propaganda broadside, or ‘wall newspaper’ made in December 1942, during World War II, to celebrate the conquests made by Japan across the Asia-Pacific region, published in Fascist Spain. - This brilliantly designed, large format propaganda broadside, or ‘wall newspaper’, was issued in December 1942 to celebrate the impressive conquests that Japan had made during the early stages of World War II in the Pacific Theatre.

The work was issued in the Castilian language in Fascist Spain, likely sponsored by an unknown agent of the Nazi German government, Japan’s key ally. The focus of the work is a powerful map that shows the entire theatre of the war, extending from India, across East Asia, and then all the way over to the west coast of North America.

Japan enjoys the pride of place, with bright arrows branching out in all directions, showing the paths and targets of Japanese conquests and attacks. Indeed, by this time, Japan had vanquished all British, American and Dutch positions in East Asia, and was mounting sporadic attacks upon Allied positions as far war as Alaska and Sri Lanka.

The red cloud which rests over East Asia shows the extent of Japanese conquests to date, while imperial Japan’s ‘Rising Sun’ flag flies over the scene in the upper-left corner. The balance of the composition is filled with photographs and rhetorical text that proclaims how Japan is mowing down its opposition. Japan and the Early Stages of the Pacific War - Although they had suffered some set backs, in December 1942, Japan was the dominant force in the Asia Pacific region, with the Allies, based in India, Australia and the North America, on the defensive. World War II in East Asia, or at least the Japan vs. the Allies element of it, began in December 1941, over a year later than in the Western theater.
Japan famously mounted a successful seek attack upon the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. From there, Japan quickly found itself at war with the U.S., Britain, Australia and the Netherlands.
For the next six months, Japan enjoyed rapid and almost complete success everywhere. On December 25, 1941, Japan conquered Hong Kong from British-Canadian forces. In January 1942, she conquered Burma and Malaysia from the British, and most of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) from the Netherlands, and the Philippines for the United States.
In February, Japan took Singapore, the last major British base in East Asia.
That same month, the Japanese air force made a devastating air raid upon Darwin, Australia, and in the following months made air raids into the Indian Ocean, striking Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).