Resources at History Facts Archive
This section of our Internet site can be regarded as a service or as something we do simply because we enjoy doing it.
We present a selection of relevant sources and literature we use at History Facts, as well as some Internet links that we believe are interesting.
Whenever we publish original documents, we do not offer a translation. The same goes for lists of sources and recommended reading. If possible, quotes are translated
We present a selection of relevant sources and literature we use at History Facts, as well as some Internet links that we believe are interesting.
Whenever we publish original documents, we do not offer a translation. The same goes for lists of sources and recommended reading. If possible, quotes are translated
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SourcesAs sources, we primarily use original records in paper format, copied onto paper or microfilm, and photographs. Source editions can be put in the same category.
Secondly, we use not only printed matter from the observed period, such as service regulations, orders, laws and ordinances, but also memorandums and historical publications.While doing the research on our next publication Sturmgeschütz III [German Assault Gun] Volume I, History and Volume II, Visual Appearance we've gone reading a whole lot of documents, some of them were helpful for writing the books.
We've listed only those sources, that we used directly for the publication. All documents are part of the archive at History Facts.For reseaches it is an advantage to use a diversity of sources. If the topic is a machine, then manuals and orders how to use it are most recommended, also lists of spare parts help to understand the technology.
When concerned with German military materials, then allied intelligece documents and reports about test on captured equipment are very interesting, giving a different view. At the right, we show the title of a German manual and a page of an English analysis. We used these documents for the Heinkel-Book.Numberless German documents of military or civil origins were taken by the allies at the end of World War Two. These Folders were microfilmed, ending in the sixties, and are now available for history studies in several archives or for purchasing. History Facts owns several hundred of those films, each with approx. 1000 microfilmed documents.
For giving an example we show you the content of the National Archives Film T73-120: "Records of the Reich Ministry of Armament and War Production (Reichsministerium für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion)".After the Second World War, the U.S. went to great lengths to evaluate the results of their bombing raids on Germany and Japan. The results were published as "United States Strategic Bombing Survey", with 208 volumes concerning Germany and 60 volumes concerning Japan. We have the volumes shown on the opposite list (available June 2008). -
Reference BooksIn this section, we will occasionally publish selections of lists of recommended reading or small reviews. We will only present books and magazines from our archives in this area. Therefore, the list cannot be - and is not designed to be - complete.
The list reaches back to the early days of the 20th century. Some publications were rendered obsolete by history or newer publications. Their value, at best, is that you can see the state of research or the political situation.
Not all publications on our list have been worth their money. We did make a bad choice every now and then. Nevertheless, we also want to include those publications in the lists. The 'value' of the publications is discussed in our reviews.For our documentation "Sturmgeschütz III . Backbone of the Infantry" Volume I and Volume II we cross-checked a long list of books. The ones we used for getting additional or surrounding information to the book topic we have listed on the right. Unfortunately we hat to note, that many authors are simply copying information (and errors) from other books. Fact is, that copied and spread errors seem to get a touch of truth, as they are omnipresent - this is only a problem, as long as the authors don't show their sourcesFor the reserches in favour to our Source Edition Heinkel He 162 "Volksjäger" we not only used a large amount of source documents, but also went through big piles of books. When choosing the books we always wanted to have a general picture of the time too, not only the technical part of it.
From all the consulted publications we present here a choice of those, that we felt to be most helpful in the topic or for finding an approach to it.Another selection of our bookcase is concerned with the German Panzerkampfwagen I. All of the shown publications content at least one relevant article of that early Tank.
The most recent publications are the English written "Panzer Tracts" by Thomas L. Jentz and the "Allied-Axis" Nr. 9. For modellers the Japanese "Achtung Panzer" is highly recommended. If you're searching source editions, try to get second hand the German written Karl R. Pawlas publications.An incomplete list of publications by Walter J. Spielberger will get things started. Spielberger contributed greatly to the research and documentation of military mechanization during the Third Reich. Although its readability and clarity are somewhat poor at times, and although scientific standards are not met, the works of Walter J. Spielberger can be recommended as a whole. -
WebsitesThe Internet definitely offers useful information as well, be it only for getting into a certain subject. Here is a selection:General historyLogo & LinkName of websiteLang.last seen
History and ScienceD12.2021
Source editioD12.2021Picture sources on the InternetLogo & LinkName of websiteLang.last visited
Historicmedia-Verlag Dietrich KloseD12.2021
Deutsches WehrkundearchivD (E)12.2021
Finnish Tanks in WW IIE12.2021
German tank museum in MünsterD12.2021
General information, Heereswaffen selectedD12.2021
Archive of German technical documents 1900-1945D12.2021
Sturmgeschütze (Website of Author Wolfgang Zimmermann)D12.2021