Guns of August WW1 Coverage - New article every week this summer!

[SPQR7070]

Summer 2024 marks the 110th anniversary of the cataclysmic events that led to World War I. Despite being one of the most pivotal events of the 20th century, WWI has not achieved nearly as much representation on the tabletop as its sequel, and we at Goonhammer hope to shine a little light on this fascinating period of history.

Therefore, Goonhammer is pleased to present our Guns of August summer event. Every Monday, from June to August, will see a new article on wargaming the Great War. Expect painting guides, model reviews, interviews, ruleset spotlights, and more!

Our directory has collected all our articles on the subject.

Our most recent articles are:
Goonhammer Reads WW1 - our staff's favorite book recommendations on World War I. Did you favorite book make the list? What recommendations would you add?

Interview with the author of Chain of Command: Great War about the upcoming ruleset. Is this a project you're excited for?

WWI 6mm-20mm Model Index in which I attempt to collect all major small scale WWI mini ranges in one article for comparison.

[Metternich]

Will the Chain of Command - Great War be a printed ruleset?  Or available only in PDF format (I hope printed).  I would be very interested in them.

[armchairgeneral]

Will the Chain of Command - Great War be a printed ruleset?  Or available only in PDF format (I hope printed).  I would be very interested in them.

Same here. Hoping for a nicely produced printed set.

[SPQR7070]

Will the Chain of Command - Great War be a printed ruleset?  Or available only in PDF format (I hope printed).  I would be very interested in them.

Good question. I assume it will be a printed supplement, but I suppose there is a chance it could be PDF only (hopefully not though!).

[Hang Tuah]

You missed so many 20mm manufacturers!

IT Miniatures and Tumbling Dice have the biggest ranges in terms of nationalities. Early War Miniatures, Britannia, and Shellhole Scenics have good offerings for 1914. B&B Miniatures is good for the Middle East. Then there is FAA, which does late war Americans and Germans as befits the company's geographic locale.

[vtsaogames]

Nice selection of suggested reading. I've read perhaps half of them. I worked in the NYU library many years back, processing new books. Co-workers would drop new history books on my desk. They would make it to the shelves after being read. As a result, I have a couple books but am not sure the titles and authors are right. Poking around the internet, I think Cyril Falls' Caporetto is one.

I read anther called the Brusilov Offensive but can't find a mention online. I read it back in the mid 70s. Excellent, if I can ever find one.

[monk2002uk]

The book is by Timothy Dowling (ISBN-13 978-0253351302). There is a Kindle version too.

Robert

[thestoats]

Cyrill Falls' book on Caporetto is a good general work, but it does suffer from the historiographical period it was written in. As such, Falls does place some unfair blame on Cadorna in terms of the Italians' tactical failures while also singing Capello's praises.

[thestoats]

Sorry for back to back replies, but I just looked at Goonhammer's reading list and want to tell people to stay away from Ring of Steel, which goes through great leaps of logic to pardon the Central Powers for their various injustices and crimes during the Great War, and White War, particularly because Mark Thompson spreads misinformation in his book (and not just about Cadorna's supposed decimations)

[SPQR7070]

Ok, after a short delay here is our 28mm range review article to join our smaller range review overview.

Sorry for back to back replies, but I just looked at Goonhammer's reading list and want to tell people to stay away from Ring of Steel, which goes through great leaps of logic to pardon the Central Powers for their various injustices and crimes during the Great War, and White War, particularly because Mark Thompson spreads misinformation in his book (and not just about Cadorna's supposed decimations)

Good to know!

You missed so many 20mm manufacturers!

IT Miniatures and Tumbling Dice have the biggest ranges in terms of nationalities. Early War Miniatures, Britannia, and Shellhole Scenics have good offerings for 1914. B&B Miniatures is good for the Middle East. Then there is FAA, which does late war Americans and Germans as befits the company's geographic locale.

Cool, thanks for the info, I'll check these out!

[vtsaogames]

The book is by Timothy Dowling (ISBN-13 978-0253351302). There is a Kindle version too.

Robert

I have the Dowling book. It isn't the one I read back in the day. That one said Brusilov sent cavalry divisions away from the impending attack because they used 4 times the supplies (fodder and such) for half the number of troops. This led the enemy to think no attack was planned since cavalry was always waiting for the inevitable breakthrough. Other stuff too, but it was 50 years ago.

Edit: the Dowling book was written in 2008, not the one I read in the 70s.

[monk2002uk]

Perhaps you are referring to the book that Brusilov wrote?

Robert

[vtsaogames]

Perhaps you are referring to the book that Brusilov wrote?

Robert

No, it was a book about his offensive in English, not translated. One that apparently escaped being included in the internet, at least as far as my google-fu goes.
Read some 50 years ago.

[monk2002uk]

There is also a novel translated into English on the Brusilov Offensive. It covered a soldier's perspective as well as insights into the command decisions.

Robert

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

White War, particularly because Mark Thompson spreads misinformation in his book (and not just about Cadorna's supposed decimations)

It’s too late for me to steer clear of The White War, as I read it last year. It’s the only detailed study of the Italian front I’ve read and I wasn’t aware it was unreliable. Could you mention some more authoritative sources? I’ve recently bought Nick Lloyd’s The Eastern Front, which covers Italy, but haven’t begun reading it yet.