Hi,
Wife and kids away for a week and have been playing lots. Really like the new land doctrines tech screen and their effect on the game, and the really nice integration with the tech teams in the various countries – seems the most efficient way through is via the historical route, but also gives players plenty of options. This is really nicely done!
Have a very minor, and equally pedantic comment. The German teams ‘Guderain’ and Manstein’ give this nation a major advantage because of their very high skill. I feel that the German army is qualitatively too superior compared to other nations by ’39 (mind you, the situation in vanilla is way worse). I can understand ‘Guderain’ since he was instrumental in the development of the panzer arm – but his ideas were helped by the fact that Hitler thought that tanks were cool – allowing him to overcome some of the conservatism and protectionism that permeated some of the general staff (Cawthorne). I think Manstein’s influence in doctrinal and army development is over-represented. Clearly Manstien was recognised as a talented staff officer, and was an important figure in his early years at the Generalstab. However, after his dismissal as Oberquartiermeister I from the Generalstab following the Blomberg/Fritsch scandal, his influence in doctrinal matters was greatly diminished – made worse by the fact that Halder (Manstein’s replacement) saw him as a rival, despised him and continually undermined him (Stein). Halder later had Manstien removed as chief-of-staff of Rundstedt’s Army Group A prior to the invasion of France, and refused to pass on Mainstien’s memoranda pertaining to the Sichelschnitt plan. It was only after Hitler suggested that there should be a thrust towards Sedan that Manstien’s plan was taken seriously by the high command. Even before his dismissal he found the going tough. For example, Manstein was a strong advocate of motorised artillery, but when he presented his ideas to Beck, Beck replied ‘My dear Manstien, this time you have hit wide of the mark’. Even when the concept was eventually adopted, it was significantly reduced in scope by Brauchitsch (Stein). It was probably not until 1941, and in his command of LVI motorised corps, that his genius for large scale mobile operations was recognised. Wonder, then, if in the game context Mainstien’s skill should be reduced prior to 1941, or perhaps he could be removed with the Blomberg/Fritsch event and reappear in ’41? Who were the other significant figures in doctrinal development in the ’36 to ’41 period? Maybe tech team Hitler!?
Am new to this forum, so I hope these comments a taken in the spirit they are intended, am not in any way trying to be argumentative, pretentious or critical of the mod – I love the CORE because of its attention to detail and obvious careful and extensive historical research. As I said, a very minor point, and one that may well have been considered by the CORE team. Just interested in what others think.
Oh, and because Piggy and Simon_Jester appeared to enjoy the previous bibliography (thanks), have included one here as well!
Cawthorne, N ‘Panzer! Tank warfare 139-45’ Capella, 2003
Stein, M. ‘Field Marshal von Manstein – the Janus head, a Portrait’, Helion, 2007 (and a really nice book)
Anyway family back tomorrow, better clean up and feed the chooks.
Cheers,
M
Wife and kids away for a week and have been playing lots. Really like the new land doctrines tech screen and their effect on the game, and the really nice integration with the tech teams in the various countries – seems the most efficient way through is via the historical route, but also gives players plenty of options. This is really nicely done!
Have a very minor, and equally pedantic comment. The German teams ‘Guderain’ and Manstein’ give this nation a major advantage because of their very high skill. I feel that the German army is qualitatively too superior compared to other nations by ’39 (mind you, the situation in vanilla is way worse). I can understand ‘Guderain’ since he was instrumental in the development of the panzer arm – but his ideas were helped by the fact that Hitler thought that tanks were cool – allowing him to overcome some of the conservatism and protectionism that permeated some of the general staff (Cawthorne). I think Manstein’s influence in doctrinal and army development is over-represented. Clearly Manstien was recognised as a talented staff officer, and was an important figure in his early years at the Generalstab. However, after his dismissal as Oberquartiermeister I from the Generalstab following the Blomberg/Fritsch scandal, his influence in doctrinal matters was greatly diminished – made worse by the fact that Halder (Manstein’s replacement) saw him as a rival, despised him and continually undermined him (Stein). Halder later had Manstien removed as chief-of-staff of Rundstedt’s Army Group A prior to the invasion of France, and refused to pass on Mainstien’s memoranda pertaining to the Sichelschnitt plan. It was only after Hitler suggested that there should be a thrust towards Sedan that Manstien’s plan was taken seriously by the high command. Even before his dismissal he found the going tough. For example, Manstein was a strong advocate of motorised artillery, but when he presented his ideas to Beck, Beck replied ‘My dear Manstien, this time you have hit wide of the mark’. Even when the concept was eventually adopted, it was significantly reduced in scope by Brauchitsch (Stein). It was probably not until 1941, and in his command of LVI motorised corps, that his genius for large scale mobile operations was recognised. Wonder, then, if in the game context Mainstien’s skill should be reduced prior to 1941, or perhaps he could be removed with the Blomberg/Fritsch event and reappear in ’41? Who were the other significant figures in doctrinal development in the ’36 to ’41 period? Maybe tech team Hitler!?
Am new to this forum, so I hope these comments a taken in the spirit they are intended, am not in any way trying to be argumentative, pretentious or critical of the mod – I love the CORE because of its attention to detail and obvious careful and extensive historical research. As I said, a very minor point, and one that may well have been considered by the CORE team. Just interested in what others think.
Oh, and because Piggy and Simon_Jester appeared to enjoy the previous bibliography (thanks), have included one here as well!
Cawthorne, N ‘Panzer! Tank warfare 139-45’ Capella, 2003
Stein, M. ‘Field Marshal von Manstein – the Janus head, a Portrait’, Helion, 2007 (and a really nice book)
Anyway family back tomorrow, better clean up and feed the chooks.
Cheers,
M