Europa Games and Military History

Month: October 2017 (Page 1 of 6)

Rounding up

While the generals talk I’ve slowly reached the limit of this years ideas and plans, and/or the limits of what I can post online without running afoul of copyright laws.

This is probably a good moment to repeat my mantra: This website lives by its contributors. If there is anything online you think violates any copyright laws, I would be very grateful if you let me know, and I will immediately remove the offending content. I do not make a single cent from this website, so I would very much like to avoid legal issues.

So, probably the last news for a bit untill the jubilee comes around (Generalstab turns 20 next year!):

  • Line of Communications pages online – Luiz Duartes fanzine, despite folding after only six issues for the want of submissions, was the indian summer of Europa and the best attempt of putting the game system on a footing without a publishing game company. Seems so long ago.
  • Two more links, one a more self-referencial (and incomplete) bibliography of publications by the Great General Staff (obviously none of them related to World War Two, but some still excellent sources, most of them available online), the second one to a similar, but way more sophisticated project collecting links to books available online about german and prussian history. And Prussian history comes with a lot of military history, so even though the books are german, even some of the map sections alone are worth a look.
  • Referencing the games is mostly done, means most games have a section listing all articles devoted to the game.

Be safe!

Sources for German Military History Online

Note: This months link leads to german books and sources exclusively, so you might want to skip this link tip if you cant read german.

Markus Maria Hof is a historian and publicist, and he found the time to scrounge archive.org for books related to german and especially Prussian history. And since Prussia shaped more than a century of European military history, his findings are a treasure of sources on that topic, all of them available online. Due to copyright only old books end up at archive.org, so you’ll miss out on the most recent scientific consensus, which in a lot of cases has significantly evolved since the days when writing military history was done to instruct and motivate soldiers for the next war. However, some of the works reach a level of detail unsurpassed since.

A last grain of salt: Hofs political writings place him firmly on the conservative side of conservatism (to put it mildly), elsewhere on his blog he extensively discusses Spengler and Carl Schmidt, and his language as well as choice of topics echoes the national conservatives of the Twenties and Thirties. Still – I appreciate the bibliographical work, and reading Spengler and Nietzsche in my twens didn’t stop me from developing emphathy.

Bibliographies of (german) books on Prussian and German history online

Generalstab Publications Bibliography

Military history in 19th century Prussia used to be an exclusive club run for and by staff officers. Despised by their brethren who would rather be in the middle of an bombardment than caught reading a book, these “demigods” as they were derisively called, in turn looked down on academic historians as amateurs dabbling with things best left to professionals. The main task of the Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung (historical department) of the General Staff was to prepare future officers for war – intellectually, but also mentally. This called for brutal honesty, but maybe not too much of it, lest the spirit for war be stunted.

The resulting studies were oft biased, uncritical towards the officer corps, glossing over routs and setbacks.  They exclusively focused on operations to the detriment of such mundane topics as logistics, supply, intelligence and economy, The price for this folly has since been paid (and mostly, mind you, not by the Germans), so we can now return to these works and value them for the qualities they also posess. The level of detail, familiarity with the topic on hand, the often clear and vivid description of events as well as the operational analysis make these books still an necessary read for anyone interested in the topics they cover.

Historical Works

Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen

Hg. vom Großen Generalstab. Berlin 1890/1914

Erster Theil: Der Erste Schlesische Krieg 1740-1742
1. Band, „Die Besetzung Schlesiens und die Schlacht bei Mollwitz“
2. Band „Von Mollwitz bis zum Beginn des Mährischen Feldzuges“
3, Band
 Der Feldzug in Mähren und der Feldzug in Böhmen und Oberschlesien“,

Zweiter Theil: Der Zweite Schlesische Krieg 1744-1745
1. Band, „Böhmen 1744“,
2. Band, „Hohenfriedeberg“,
3. Band, „Soor und Kesselsdorf“,

Dritter Theil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763
1. Band, „Pirna und Lobositz“,
2. Band, „Prag“,
3. Band, „Kolin“,
4. Band, „Groß-Jägersdorf und Breslau“,
5. Band, „Hastenbeck und Roßbach“,
6. Band, „Leuthen“,
7. Band, „Olmütz und Crefeld“,
8. Band, „Zorndorf und Hochkirch“,
9. Band, „Bergen“,
10. Band, „Kunersdorf“,
11. Band, „Minden und Maxen“,
12. Band, „Landeshut und Liegnitz“,
13. Band, „Torgau“,

Geschichte des siebenjährigen Krieges in einer Reihe von Vorlesungen mit Benutzung authentischer Quellen. Großer Generalstab (Hg.), Berlin 1824/1841

1. Band: Der Feldzug von 1758, Berlin, – also online at archive.org
2. Band: Der Feldzug von 1758, Berlin, – also online at archive.org
3. Band: Der Feldzug von 1759, Berlin, 1828, – also online at archive.org 
4. Band: Der Feldzug von 1760, Berlin, 1834, – also online at archive.org
5. Band: Der Feldzug von 1761,, Berlin, 1836 – also online at archive.org
6. Band: Der Feldzug von 1762 und der Schluss des Krieges 1763, Berlin, – also online at archive.org

Das preußische Heer der Befreiungskriege (3 Bd., Berlin 1914).

Band 1: Das preußische Heer im Jahre 1812, Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn: Berlin, 1912

1806. Das preußische Offizierkorps und die Untersuchung der Kriegsereignisse. Großer Generalstab, Berlin 1906

Der Deutsch-dänische Krieg 1864 hrsg. vom Großen Generalstabe, Abteilung für Kriegsgeschichte

Vol 1. E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1886, 515 pages – Political background, mobilisation and operations in Jutland until April 18th, 1864
Vol 2., E.S: Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1887, 566 pages – Operations in Jütland and Alsen up to the end of the war.
Vol 3, Kartenband, E.S: Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1887 – maps

Der Feldzug von 1866 in Deutschland redigiert von der Abteilung für Kriegsgeschichte des Großen Generalstabs, E.S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1867

Der deutsch-Französische Krieg 1870-71

redigiert von der Abteilung für Kriegsgeschichte des Großen Generalstabs

Erster Theil: Geschichte des Krieges bis zum Sturz des Kaiserreiches
Erster Band: Vom Beginn der Feindseligkeiten bis zur Schlacht von Gravelotte, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1874
Zweiter Band: Von der Schlacht von Gravelotte bis zum Sturz des Kaiserreichs, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1875

Zweiter Theil: Geschichte des Krieges gegen die Republik
Erster Band: Von der Einschließung von Paris bis zur Wiederbesetzung von Orleans durch die Deutschen, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1878
Zweiter Band: Die Ereignisse im Norden Frankreichs von Ende November, im Nordwesten Anfang Dezember und die Belagerung von Paris von Anfang Dezember bis zum Waffenstilstande. Die Operationen im Südosten von Anfang November bis Ende Januar, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1880
Dritter Band: Die Ereignisse im Südosten Frankreichs von Mitte Januar bis zur Beendigung der Feindseligkeiten. Rückwärtige Verbindungen. Der Waffenstillstand. Rückmarsch und Okkupation. Rückblicke. E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1881

Die Kämpfe der deutschen Truppen in Südwestafrika. Auf Grund amtlichen Materials bearbeitet von der Kriegsgeschichtlichen Abteilung I des Großen Generalstabes. 3 Bände

1. Band: Der Feldzug gegen die Hereros. (1.-3. Heft) 248 pages, 24 pictures and 27 maps, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1906
2. Band: Der Hottentottenkrieg. (4.-6. Heft). 349 pages, 47 pictures and 28 maps, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1907

And then there is “Der Weltkrieg 1914-1918”

General Military Studies

Kriegsgeschichtliche Einzelschriften. In 6 Bänden, Großer Generalstab-Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung (ed); E.S. Mittler & Sohn, 1908

Erster Band (Heft 1.-6.), E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1887
Zweiter Band (Heft 7-12), E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1889
Dritter Band (Heft 13-18), E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1895
Vierter Band (Heft 19-24), E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1898
Fünfter Band (Heft 25-30), , E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1902
Sechster Band (Heft 31-36), E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1905

Studien zur Kriegsgeschichte und Taktik
Volume 1: Heeresbewegungen im Kriege 1870-71, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin
Volume 2: Das Abbrechen von Gefechten, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin 1903. 25. Maps
Volume 3: Der Schlachtenerfolg, mit welchen Mitteln wurde er erstrebt?, Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn: Berlin, 1903
Volume 4: Die Festung in den Kriegen Napoleons und der Neuzeit.  E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin
Volume 5: Der 18. August 1870, E.S. Mittler und Sohn Berlin 1906

Urkundliche Beiträge und Forschungen zur Geschichte des Preussischen Heeres

Erstes Heft: Die Anfänge der alten Armee, E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1901
Zweites Heft:
Drittes Heft:
Viertes Heft:
Fünftes Heft: Erinnerungen aus dem Leben des Friedrich Karl v. Schmidt.  E.S. Mittler & Sohn, 1909
Sechstes Heft: Der Preussische Kavalleriedienst vor 1806. E. S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin, 1904

Collected Editions

Moltkes militärische Werke, Herausgegeben vom Großen Generalstabe, Abtheilung für Kriegsgeschichte, Berlin, E. S. Mittler, 1892-1906

I: Militärische Korrespondenz, Berlin, E.S.Mittler, 1892-1895

Erster Teil: Moltkes militärische Korrespondenz: Krieg 1864
Zweiter Teil: Aus den Dienstschriften des Krieges 1866.
Dritter Teil: Aus den Dienstschriften des Krieges 1870/71: Der Krieg bis zur Schlacht von Sedan; Vom 3. September 1870 bis zum 27. Januar 1871; Waffenstillstand und Friede.
Vierter Teil: Aus den Dienstschriften des Jahres 1859.

II. Die Thätigkeit als Chef des Generalstabes der Armee im Frieden, Berlin, E.S.Mittler, 1895-1906

Erster Teil: Moltkes taktische Aufgaben aus den Jahren 1858-1882
Zweiter Teil, Vol 1: Moltkes taktisch-strategische Aufsätze aus den Jahren 1857-1871
Zweiter Teil, Vol 2: Maps and Appendices
Dritter Teil: Moltkes Generalstabsreisen aus den Jahren 1858 bis 1869. 401 pages with 22 maps, Berlin 1906

III. Moltkes kriegsgeschichtliche Arbeiten, Berlin, E.S.Mittler, 1899-1902

Erster Teil: Geschichte des Krieges gegen Dänemark 1848/49.
Zweiter Teil: Kritische Aufsätze zur Geschichte der Feldzüge von 1809, 1859, 1864, 1866, und 1870/71.
Dritter Teil: Der italienische Feldzug des Jahres 1859

IV “Kriegslehre”, Berlin, E.S.Mittler, 1910-1912

Erster Teil: Die operativen Vorbereitungen zur Schlacht.
Zweiter Teil: Die taktischen Vorbereitungen zur Schlacht
Dritter Teil: Die Schlacht

Another one bites the Dust

Some days ago, while expanding the “Europa Online” page, I noticed the “one Week Europa” crowd also joined the landowners: The website is offline, and as with most things Europa, I doubt they’ll be back any time soon. My updating frenzy of the last weeks is slowly coming to an end (not because of lack of ideas or material, though). For the future I might slowly broaden the outlook of this website to maybe include some successor projects to sad Europa, lest this website becomes a purely historical documentation about some dead game.  Then again, I might have trouble updating for some weeks anyway, so don’t expect too much. Latest so far:

  1. Individual pages for The Grenadier. I maybe will add a vidual index like the one for TEM at some point.
  2. Speaking of TEM: Finished the TEM visual index and added TOCs for every issue.
  3. Started adding a reference section to most games with a list of articles about or with scenarios for the respective game, compare the entries for “Fire in the East” for example. Still loads to do, as always.
  4. Eric Pierce sent a new version of his Updated OB for the Soviets in AWW, so I replaced the download and the page.

Still working on: Uploading and linking some custom game charts made by Ken Newall for his awesome FWtBT-report, and adding more turns to the ME/ER-report by Greg Bartels.

The Grenadier 35

The Grenadier # 35 - Cover

The Grenadier # 35 – Cover

published February 1990
Pages: 60
Dimensions: 8.5x11x.2″

Contents:

  • Editorial: Generally Speaking by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Advanced Squad Leader: Part Two Game Mechanics – review by James M. Collier
  • Back to Basics: A dissenter’s thoughts on Advanced Squad Leader by John T. O’Toole
  • Dragen Slayer: Balloon Buster review and a Variant by Eric F. Lawson
  • Competition and Confrontation: Europe and the Middle East – a review of GDW’s The Third World War Series by James C. Gordon
  • Pass in Review: books of interest to the military hobbyist
  • By Chance… or By Design: What’s Wrong with Game Reviews? by Jon Southard
  • CRT [computer wargame review column] by Bill Nichols
    • Dreadnoughts by The Avalon Hill Game Company
    • Napoleon at Waterloo by Krentek
  • Europa Notes: RIP? by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Short Arms – Reviews in Brief
    • Tokyo Express by Victory Games
    • 13: The Colonies in Revolt by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics 104
    • Clash of Empires – Battles in the Bohemian Mountains by Total Fighting Power Games
    • Monty’s D-Day by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics 102
    • Against the Reich by West End Games
    • Raid on St Nazaire by The Avalon HiIl Game Company
    • Malaya and Burma by Hobby Japan Company
    • Fireteam: Modern Squad Level Command by West End Games
    • Soldiers by West End Games
    • St Lo by West End Games
    • 7th Fleet by Victory Games, Inc
    • 2nd Fleet by Victory Games, Inc

The Grenadier 34

The Grenadier # 34 - Cover

The Grenadier # 34 – Cover

Published October 1988
Pages: 60
Dimensions: 8.5x11x.25″

Contents:

  • Editorial: Generally Speaking by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Advanced Squad Leader: Part One The Phenomenon – review by James M. Collier
  • Watchdogs of the Empire: His Majesty’s African Troops in WW II – historical article by John Gee
  • The Cabinet War Rooms – Britain’s Newest Tourist Mecca by Alvin T. Guthertz
  • Central America: A Game Review and Commentary by John D. Burtt and Joseph Miranda
  • CRT [computer wargame review column] by Bill Nichols
    • Battalion Commander by SSI
    • Kampfgruppe Scenario Disk I by SSI
    • War in the South Pacific by SSI
    • Gunship by Microprose
  • Europa Notes: Total War in Baltimore by Andy Nunez
  • 9:00 by Jack Radey
  • Pass in Review: books of interest to the military hobbyist
  • A Company on Parade: Changes at DTI, 3W, West End and GAMA by Wallace Poulter and Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Short Arms – Reviews in Brief
    • Drive on Frankfurt by Pacific Rim Publishing
    • Knights of Justice by 3-W in The Wargamer 50
    • Hastings 1066 by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics 110
    • End of the Iron Dream by 3-W in The Wargamer 42
    • Mission: Grenada by Close Simulations
    • Anvil-Dragoon by 3-W in The Wargamer 60
    • Line of Battle: Tactical Capital Ship Combat 1914-1924 by Simulations Canada
    • Battleship: Tactical Capital Ship Combat 1925-1945 by Simulations Canada
    • France 1944 by Victory Games
    • Clash of Empires by 3-W in The Wargamer 58
    • Fallen Eagle: the Battle of Khe Sahn by 3-W in The Wargamer 62

[Previous] [Grenadi

The Grenadier 33

The Grenadier # 33 - Cover

The Grenadier # 33 – Cover

Published March 1988
Pages: 60
Dimensions: 8.5x11x.2″

Contents:

  • Editorial: Generally Speaking by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Assault: The System – review by James T. Naughton
  • Soviet Offensive Doctrine – analysis by James T. Naughton
  • Origins ’87: Fire in the Streets (of Baltimore) by Terry Alan Baney
  • Terrible Swift Sword: A System in Evolution by David S. Bieksza
  • A Wargamer’s Guide to Civil War Battlefields by David S. Bieksza
  • CRT [computer wargame review column] by Bill Nichols
    • Operation Overlord by Simulations Canada
    • Kursk Campaign by Simulations Canada
  • 9:00 by Jack Radey
  • Europa Notes: Operation Exporter – the invasion of Vichy Syria for Europa by Harold Andrews
  • Pass in Review: books of interest to the military hobbyist
  • Short Arms – Reviews in Brief
    • Bloody Keren by 3-W in The Wargamer 59
    • Aegean Strike by Victory Games
    • Duel in the Desert by 3-W in The Wargamer 51
    • Leopard II by Tsukada Hobby Company
    • The African Campaign (2nd Edition) by Jedko Games
    • Napoleon and the Archduke Charles by 3-W in The Wargamer 49
    • Okinawa by 3-W in The Wargamer 55
    • Knights of the Air by The Avalon Hill Game Company
    • Panzer Command by Victory Games
    • Air and Armor by West End Games

The Grenadier 32

The Grenadier # 32 - Cover

The Grenadier # 32 – Cover

Publish Date: 1987
Pages: 60
Dimensions: 8.5x11x.2″

Contents:

  • Editorial: Generally Speaking by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Yonder: The Wild Blue – a discussion of aerial wargames by John Prados
  • Watchdogs of the Empire: The British Army’s Participation in World War Two by John Gee
  • Game Designers Census by Bill Stone
  • Figures Don’t Lie: World War Two Casualty Comparisons by Suzanne Sobel
  • 9:00 by Jack Radey
  • By Chance …or By Design: By Design or by Development by Jonathan Southard
  • Europa Notes: Optional Rules for Fire in the East by Paul X. F. Dunnigan
  • CRT [computer wargame review column] by Bill Nichols
    • Playability versus Reality: Warship by SSI
  • Short Arms – Reviews in Brief
    • Rommel’s War by Quarterdeck Games
    • Hellfire Pass by 3-W in The Wargamer 39
    • O’Connor’s Offensive by 3-W in The Wargamer 41
    • Norseman by Simulations Canada
    • McArthur: The Road to Bataan by 3-W in The Wargamer 44
    • Remember the Maine! The Spanish-American War, 1898 by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics Magazine 108
    • Dynamo: Dunkirk 1940 by 3-W in The Wargamer 53
    • Terrible Swift Sword – Battle of Gettysburg 2nd Edition by SPI [TSR]
    • Air Superiority by Game Designers Workshop

The Grenadier 31

The Grenadier # 31 - Cover

The Grenadier # 31 – Cover

Published February 1987
60 pages
Dimensions: 8.5x11x.2″

Contents:

  • Editorial: Generally Speaking by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Solitaire Gaming: The Closet Erupts – overview by Terry Baney
  • Ambush! review by John Jorgensen
  • RAF: So Few and So Much – review by James C. Gordon
  • Stoking Your Fire in the East Advanced Variants by Charles Sharp
  • Russia x 3 – a discussion of Stalingrad, Russian Campaign, and Russian Front by Andy Nunez
  • By Chance …or By Design: The Problems of Solitaire by Jonathan Southard
  • Europa Notes by John M. Astell
  • 9:00 by Jack Radey
  • CRT [computer wargame review column] by Bill Nichols
    • Patton vs Rommel by Electronic Arts
    • Carriers at War by SSG
    • Field of Fire by SSI
  • Pass in Review – books of interest to the military hobbyist
  • Short Arms – Reviews in Brief
    • Bitter End by Hobby Japan Company
    • Khyber Rifles by 3-W in The Wargamer 40
    • The Great Invasion: The Gettysburg Campaign June 24 – July 3, 1863 by Clash of Arms Games
    • Ruweisat Ridge: The First Battle of El Alamein by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics Magazine 101
    • Fight on the Beaches by 3-W in The Wargamer 34
    • Cromwell’s Victory by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics Magazine 105
    • War to End Wars by 3-W
    • Paratrooper, The Normandy Airborne Invasion, June 6-8, 1944 for Advanced Squad Leader by The Avalon Hill Game Company

The Grenadier 30

The Grenadier # 30 - Cover

The Grenadier # 30 – Cover

Published July – September 1986
Pages: 62
Dimensions: 8.5x11x.25″

Contents:

  • Editorial: Generally Speaking by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Sharpsburg Epic: A Gleam of Bayonets review by Peter P. Perla
    • Crossing Burnside’s Bridge – historical insight by William Keith
  • A Wargamer’s Guide to American Civil War Battlefields by David S. Bieksza
  • It’s a VERY BIG Place: Three Views of Russian Front by Randy Heller, Edward McCormick, and Andy Nunez
  • The Umpire Strikes Back! – reply by Kevin Zucker
  • Germany’s East Front Allies: Italy by Franklyn Prieskop
  • Convention Reports:
    • Atlanticon ’86 by Terry Baney
    • Origins ’86: California Style by Wallace Poulter
  • CRT [computer wargame review column] by Bill Nichols
    • Computer Versus Counter: Battlefront by SSG
  • 9:00 by Jack Radey
  • A Company on Parade: Wargaming in Japan by Jack Greene
  • By Chance …or By Design by Jonathan Southard
  • Pass in Review – books of interest to the military hobbyist
  • Europa Notes by Jeffry Tibbetts
  • Short Arms – Reviews in Brief
    • The Korean War by Victory Games
    • RAF by West End Games
    • Wellington vs Massena by 3-W in The Wargamer 43
    • Storm Over Arnhem by The Avalon Hill Game Company
    • Shanghai Trader by Panther Games
    • Superpowers at War by Dragon Publishing in Strategy & Tactics Magazine 100
    • Persian Gulf: Third World War Game 4 by Game Designers Workshop
    • Rise of the House of Sa’ud: Civil War on the Arabian Peninsula by 3-W in The Wargamer 46
    • Torch: The Invasion of Northwest Africa, 1942-43 ( Europa XI) by Game Designers Workshop
    • Hitler’s War by The Avalon Hill Game Company
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