Sword of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942 – February 2, 1943) was a pivotal and grueling confrontation between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. Centered on the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), it was marked by intense urban warfare and massive casualties. The battle began with German forces attempting to seize the city as part of their offensive to secure the oil-rich Caucasus and cut Soviet supply lines. Despite initial German advances and devastating bombing campaigns, Soviet forces tenaciously defended the city.

17 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 9

Axis – 10

plus Combat Cards

Complexity:

Conditions:

Urban

Location:

Russia

Year:

1942

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Context:

Historical

Summary:

This is a massive and complex scenario with many strategic elements that makes for an exciting and challenging game.

Objectives:

17 VP’s (!), including numerous territorial medals

Battlefield:

This battlefield has countryside on the Axis side, and urban factories, towns, and other buildings on the Allied side. It is a quite complex battlefield.

Troops:

Allies – Infantry, Armor, Artillery

Axis – Infantry, Armor, Artillery

Allied Strategy

1. Historically, the Russians were defending themselves from the Nazi’s, so much of this scenario is spent behind sandbags, attacking the enemy where you can, to degrade their offensive capabilities.

2. You need to protect the territorial medals which are available to the Axis, should they gain control of various railroad stations, the central hills, or the factory complexes. At the start of the game, you will be granted control of these and the three medals that go with them. But as the game proceeds it will be increasingly difficult to defend and keep this territory and its medals.

3. Your left flank is the most medal-rich area for the Axis to target. So be prepared for an attack there. Manage your cards so that you can respond to aggression.

Axis Strategy

1. This game is won by making your forces mobile. Invade the city hexes with your infantry, and get your armor onto the Allied back row to start snatching those territorial medals.

2. There is a large hill and woods complex in the center section which is worth two VP territorial medals. Control it with both infantry and armor.