Research help needed

[Hans-Brink]

Hi fellow war gamers!

For as long as I remember, WW2 has been a passion to me. I have been reading tonnes of books and seen hundreds of films on the subject. I have been studying economical, political, logistic, and of course, military aspects of this historical period. Needless to say, I have played every strategic WW2 game I have come across.
To me Gary Grigsby’s War In Russia and Pacific War are some of the best WW2 games I have ever played. I just love the concept in these games.
But then again, and maybe some of you have tried this too; sometimes the game engine is annoying. Why the heck can’t I do this or that, why isn’t it a little more detailed here, this is not logical and nag…. nag…… nag.
So! Two months ago I decided to make my own WIR-alike-game, that is look-alike, but very different.(actually I have been thinking of this for years)
I have been researching OOBs since then, and have gathered almost everything I need on the Axis side. Also I have bookmarked a list of links to web sites regarding the US and British involvement, including the equipment transferred according to the lend lease agreement.
Two weeks ago I started researching Soviet OOBs, and here I got stuck.
I’ve got a thorough OOB for the Red Army, covering all districts from Manchuria to the Romanian border.
As for the Soviet air force, I found a relatively good site with an analysis of the general structure. In addition I found a site containing specifications and pictures of the most common used aircrafts.
That’s all I have been able to retrieve of the Soviet forces at present time.

What I’m looking for is links to web sites with the following data:

1) Soviet commanders down to corps level with assignments, biographies and pictures (division level will be great)
2) Soviet deployment of air divisions and type of aircraft (location of airbase if possible)
3) Soviet aircraft types with specifications and pictures (paintings/drawings will also do).

As the OOBs I’m reconstructing are for Barbarossa, the date of origin must be between June 21. - morning June 22.
Can any of you help me with links to such sites? I appreciate any help you can give me

Thanks in advance
Hans

[MikeB]

I suspect many of us have it.(including me)

Rather than deal with OOB, I am opting for something like Victory play by mail. (Company out of Denver USA, had game going - not certain of their current status) One starts with population, perhaps land area, raw materials(how many types-not certain yet), # of machinery/factories, and cost of building from there. One can design one's own tanks/airplanes, economy factors by time period can be applied, etc.

I started working on the game components/concepts this winter. I will need to learn C++ before i could start to program it.

The business model is that you charge players to process their turn. You own/control the game engine. Reporting is as much as possible...to the extent of providing massive database or spreadsheet material per turn(if player desires such).

I would prefer to keep randomness to a very bare minimum. It would have minimal impact if any...in any given turn. Spy/observation of enemy data is the most random.

The game scale is Europe(including Russia), North Africa and some part of the Middle east. I am uncertain about time scale.

Have fun. I am sure many of us are looking forward to hearing more from you.

Mike B