The historical significance of these iconic multiplayer map locations

The historic significance of these iconic multiplayer map locations

Activision and Sledgehammer Games did a fantastic job on instilling historical significance into their latest release through their multiplayer maps. Marty Morgan, (https://www.martinkamorgan.com/#intro), an author, historian, and technical advisor, who specializes in WWII history, worked closely with Sledgehammer Games advising them whilst creating Call of Duty WWII. He provided his knowledge for the creation of specific multiplayer maps set in locations such as Gibraltar, Pointe Du Hoc, and the Ardennes Forest. He also provided, in an interview, detailed summaries of the importance of these locations and why Activision and Sledgehammer Games chose to include them in the game,

Gibraltar.

The first of the three historic locations, Gibraltar. Gibraltar was a place where the British Army had a presence and had fortified it, making it difficult for Germans to attack. Despite the British maintaining most of the control, the Government of Generalissimo Francisco of Spain controlled part of it, that was known as Spanish Gibraltar, with strong ties to Germany. This brought about a balance to this area, which was crucial in the outcome of the war because there would be no German domination of the Mediterranean area.

Pointe Du Hoc.

Anyone who has knowledge of World War II will be familiar with Omaha Beach, the five-mile wide cove that has numerous bunker networks. Anti-ship batteries were implemented at locations along the beach; these were positions for artillery that could fire out into the open water, with sufficient caliber to damage battleships. Pointe Du Hoc was exactly that. It was located three miles west of Omaha Beach, with six of the best long-range cannons in the world, at that time, that were stolen from the French. These guns became pivotal in the eventual battle that took place at Pointe Du Hoc.

US Rangers conducted an amphibious landing, beneath the guns line of fire as the area has cliffs, with the plan of capturing the guns to prevent them being used on D-Day. They completed their two objectives, of neutralizing the battery and then setting up a roadblock, before 10 a.m. on D-Day. Out of the 225 Rangers that landed on Pointe Du Hoc, 79 men walked out under their own command.

The Ardennes Forest.

This place was the location for the Battle of the Bulge that began on Dec. 16, 1944, and continued into Jan. 1945. It was the largest land battle the US military fought during World War II. This battle didn’t solely occur in the Ardennes Forest, but it was important to what eventually transpired from that battle. It started because Adolf Hitler launched a major offensive, with the hope of recapturing Antwerp in Belgium.

I’ve always been a fan of the Call of Duty games, ever since the first one was released in 2003. But the historical significance that the multiplayer maps in this release, possess, makes this game that much more meaningful. They’re attempting to recall stories with the iconic locations, and teach some history within the game, which makes the game so captivating.

If you know of any historical significance for any other multiplayer maps on Call of Duty WWII, then please feel free to share them.