I'm interested in Mitcham's 3 volume German OOB series because it provides page or so unit histories for many formations.
But does Mitcham do good work? I've never seen it beyond google book, and don't have the expertise to judge.
Any other works I should check out? Again, my main interest is unit history.
Generally I like Mitcham's work and own several of his books, among them Hitler's Legions and Panzer Legions.
However there are a couple of things that you should have in mind regarding his work: 1) he bases much of his work in secondary sources, some of them outdated, some of them biased and some discredited, and he uses them somewhat uncritically.
2) I have found many smaller errors in his work, some more serious than others. In Panzer legions, for example, while recounting 11th Panzer history he states that that unit fought against the allied landings in southern France ... in July 1944. Dealing with the 1st Mountain Division in one of the books you want to buy the author claims that that unit fought in Crete. It didn't, it never went further south than Yugoslavia. In Crete only mountain troops from the 5th and 6th Mountain division participated, tough one of the regiments of the 5th Mountain had been part of the 1st Mountain a long time ago, which may be the source of the confusion.
These are only some examples I remeber from memory, but I believe you get the picture. Nevertheless they are not expensive, are good read and work well as quick reference books. And I don't think you could get anything as cheap as that. Each volume of Tessin's work, which is the greatest authority, costs about 50€ and they are about 20 volumes. And they're in german.
Aetius Wrote:....And I don't think you could get anything as cheap as that. Each volume of Tessin's work, which is the greatest authority, costs about 50€ and they are about 20 volumes. And they're in german.
You can also check out online resources. One up and coming resource is War and Tactics. A website specifically designed to bring military history to a single place for wargaming requirements.
The site is designed to support military history for all time periods and all levels of activity. From Army Group all the way down to battalions and companies in some instances.
War and Tactics - One Place for all Times
At the moment we have all the Panzer Division OOB's on the site. Not to mention many others.
Tessin may be expensive but he's certainly worth it. I understand those books have been put on CD as well as having them in hard copy.
Good Hunting.
MR