An important set of maps and a bound pictorial and textual reference books with protective cardboard slip case: 'Entwurf Militargeographische Angaben von Nordost-Afrika' ('Draft Military Geographical Details on Egypt'), prepared to inform and educate German military officers before and during the important proposed German invasion of Egypt which if successful would have seized the Suez Canal and valuable oilfields. This capture of geographical area would have been the responsibility of Gen. Erwin Rommel and the Afrika Korps under his command. The book and maps were published in Berlin by the General Staff of the Army, Department for War Maps and Surveying (IV. Mil.-Geo.), 1942 - very late in the North African campaign. Included are five large, folded and highly-detailed maps showing the regions south of Marsa Matruh (half-way from Libya to El Alamein), specifically indicating areas suitable for road transit versus steep inclines, rocks, etc.; the same type of map for a large area surrounding Cairo; two maps showing extensive sections of the Suez Canal; a map of the mouth of the Suez Canal; and a road and topographical map of all of Egypt. Also present are two accompanying books. The first, 200pp. 8vo., is text with maps offering a wealth of information on Egypt's population, climate, peoples, geographic details, etc., with, more importantly, specific details on every city and town in the country, including power generation, hospitals, military facilities, etc. El Alamein is accorded five or six lines. The second book is an approx. 200pp. 8vo. complement to the first, this being the photographic supplement and shows towns and cities, bridges, roads of all types, river crossings, oases, and much more. The entirety is presented in a brown cardboard imprinted case, now quite ragged, contents being in generally fine condition. On 6 February 1941, Rommel was appointed commander of the Afrika Korps. He would be heavily engaged in Egypt, in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein, just west of Alexandria. His defeat in the second battle, Nov. 11, 1942, led to the eventual end of German designs on North Africa. This map set is very similar to those prepared for the invasions of England (Operation Sea Lion), but much rarer.