Hardware Simulation?

I'm not sure exactly what the question is asking for. I think you are asking for a way to emulate certain HW?

Prepare the images reflecting (more or less) the state of the target machines (speed, hardware, etc). And use them for testing the deployment?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.