Jim.
Start with Hastings, Sheffield, Todman, and Brown.
Add in Prof saul David who described Sheffield as the "foremost authority" and Nigel Jones who described Hastings as our "leading military historian."
Malcolm Brown. How many do you want?

Not even Max Hastings, the tabloid journalist, makes the case you are making

Yes he doe. Exactly so, as do those above.

- real historians have described his analysis of the causes of World War One as "weak"

No they have not.

Musket.
There is no pay-wall on the Indie.
Let's have a look at it.