The Battle of Sokolovo

by GeneralHowitzer | Sep 13, 2025 | 1943, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Eastern, Winter

The Battle of Sokolovo

Historical Summary

8 Medals plus for Axis, the death of the heroic leader

Card Balance:

Allies (Czechoslovak)- 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Winter

Context:

Historical

Location:

Year:

1943

Theater:

Easter

Campaign:

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

8 VP’s, plus special rules (see the PDF).

Battlefield:

Winter countryside with a river, roads, hills.

Troops:

Allies – see PDF

Axis – see PDF

Allied Strategy:

1.

Axis Strategy

1.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Tigers in the Snow

by GeneralHowitzer | Sep 13, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Overlord Game, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western, Winter

Tigers in the Snow

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“Tigers in the Snow”—that wasn’t just a clever title, it was the actual truth of what happened in the Ardennes. Peiper and his SS boys came charging with their big, shiny King Tigers, the heaviest brutes the Germans could throw on a battlefield. They thought those monsters would smash through anything in their way.

But tanks don’t win wars by themselves. The snow was deep, the roads were narrow, and fuel was scarce. Our boys—American infantry, artillery, and tankers—kept hammering them from every side, day after day, bleeding them dry. Those great Tigers ended up stuck in the woods, running on fumes, while our men boxed them in.

In the end, Peiper’s vaunted force had to abandon their precious tanks right there in the snow. The lesson? I don’t give a care how thick your armor is—when you run into Americans who won’t quit, you’ll find out that guts, brains, and relentless pressure beat steel every time.

13 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 9

Axis – 9

Complexity:

5 (Overlord)

Conditions:

Winter

Context:

Historical

Location:

Normandy, France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Normandy

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

13 VP’s, including a bridge Territorial Objective Medal.

Battlefield:

Winter countryside with a river, roads, hills, and many hedgerows.

Troops:

Allies – 13 Infantry, 10 Armor, 4 Artillery

Axis – 14 Infantry, 8 Armor, 4 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1.

Axis Strategy

1.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Battle in the Schnee Eifel

by GeneralHowitzer | Dec 10, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Special Weapons, Strategic, Winter, Winter Wars

Battle in the Schnee Eifel

The Battle of Schnee Eifel occurred in December 1944 during the early days of the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive on the Western Front in WWII.

The Schnee Eifel, a forested ridge in eastern Belgium, was held by U.S. forces, mainly the 106th Infantry Division. On December 16, 1944, German forces launched a surprise attack, encircling and overwhelming two regiments of the 106th. After intense fighting and lacking supplies, around 6,000 American soldiers were forced to surrender—one of the largest mass surrenders of U.S. troops in the war.

The loss was a setback for the Allies but did not stop their eventual counteroffensive and victory in the Ardennes.

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 6

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Winter

Context:

Historical

Location:

Belgium

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Battle of the Bulge

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s, plus three Permanent Medal Objectives for the Axis (Turn Start) for Roth by Prum, Auw by Prum and Pleialf), plus a Sudden Death Exit hex for the Axis

Battlefield:

Winter countryside with a hilly ridge across the center, with scattered forests, and a road encircling almost the entire battlefield.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry including two Engineers, 3 Armor (Tank Destroyers), 2 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry including one Machine Gun unit and five Elites, 2 Armor, including one Tank Destroyer, 1 Artillery

Special Weapons: Tank Destroyers, Machine Guns.

Allied Strategy:

1. Historically, the Allies got routed, so the primary goal here is to protect the permanent medal objectives and the exit hex.

2. Get your two Artillery into play quickly and use them as much as you can to take out the enemy.

3. Your two Tank Destroyers on the left flank should move forward, in and around to defend the city of Roth by Prum, which is a Permanent Medal Objective.

4. Your other Tank Destroyer and two Artillery should defend the city of Blelaif, which is another Permanent Medal Objective.

Axis Strategy

1. Historically, the Axis had the largest victory of the war in this battle, so speed and attack are your principle tools.

2. Get your Tank Destroyer and Infantry on the right flank mobile and engaging the enemy as soon as you can.

3. On your left flank, you have overwhelming advantage with your four Infantry units, and one Armor. Use it to overwhelm the defenses at the town of Blelaif to gain the Permanent Medal Objective.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Twin Villages

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Winter

Twin Villages

The Battle of the Twin Villages took place in December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Located near Krinkelt and Rocherath in Belgium, these “twin villages” became key defensive positions for American forces as German troops launched a surprise offensive in the Ardennes.

U.S. infantry and armored units held strong defensive positions in the villages, facing fierce attacks from German forces, including tanks and infantry. Despite being heavily outnumbered and subjected to intense artillery fire, the American defenders managed to delay the German advance through skillful use of terrain and resilient fighting.

At Krinkelt-Rocherath the Germans thought they could roll through and keep their offensive charging forward—but the men dug in there had other ideas. Those towns became roadblocks of fire and steel. The resistance was fierce enough to choke the enemy’s advance, bleed their momentum, and give the rest of our forces time to regroup and fortify the Ardennes. That stand wasn’t just stubborn defense—it was the kind of fight that blunted the Bulge and helped turn the tide toward ultimate Allied victory.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 4

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Winter / Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

Belgium

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Ardennes

“Battle of the Bulge”

Codename:

Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein

Summary:

In Twin Villages, the Axis commander begins with almost all of their forces locked behind a wall of forest. The goal for Axis is to get out of the forest as quickly as possible in order to be prepared for battle. For Allies, the goal is to take out as many Axis units as possible before they break free.

Objectives:

6 VP’s ; no territorial medals

Battlefield:

The twin villages of Krinkekt and Rocherath are in the center of the map, and provide cover for whomever can control them. There is a large forest towards the Axis side, blocking their initial movement.

Troops:

Allies – Infantry 9, Armor 3, Artillery 1

Axis – Infantry 9, Armor 5

Allied Strategy

1. Remember, that historically, the Allies are on the defensive early in this campaign. But you have the opportunity to score some hits with your advance Infantry units, before you are forced to pull back. Once you remove (or lose) your Infantry at the Lausdell Crossroads, the path is clear for your tank to blast any enemy units that attempt to make their way up through the gap in the trees.

2. Early goals are to get your Infantry into the Twin villages, prepared to defend. Also, get your tanks mobile on the flanks to prevent any advances from the enemy.

Axis Strategy

1. Mobility is the first order of the day. Your Infantry and Armor are congested and need to start advancing.

2. Your infantry at h8 is only two hexes from the enemy, with no means of retreat. You need to move and attack with that unit ASAP.

3. Your right flank is very weak, with just a single infantry unit. Do not launch attack there until you move more units into the section. Once the infantry advances into the woods, your back row will be clear for the armor to move out into attack position on the right flank.

4. An early goal will be to target the two advance Allies infantry near the Lausdell Crossroads.

5. Until you get the gap cleared on the way to the Crossroads, your armor is trapped in the woods, and it will take you two turns to get them into play.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

57%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Suomussalmi – Russo-Finnish War

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1939, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Eastern Front, Infantry, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Sudden Death, Winter

Suomussalmi

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Russian – 4

Finnish – 6

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Winter

Location:

Finland

Year:

1939

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Russo – Finnish War

Summary:
The Finns switched sides during WW2, all in the name of defending themselves.

Objectives:
Six VP’s, plus if the Finns occupy three of the four hexes of Suomussalmi, they win immediately, which I have done, and is a very satisfying win.

Battlefield:
The battlefield for this scenario is marked by three frozen rivers cutting across the field of play and creating hazardous conditions for troop movements.

Troops:
Finns: 10 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Russians: 10 Infantry, 2 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

Allies must defend the town of Suomussalmi, as it will be instant defeat if the Axis occupies 3 of the 4 town hexes. But the town is heavily defended with sandbagged troops, so do not try the attack unless you are able to assemble a strong force with powerful Combat cards.

Axis Strategy:

Axis (Finnish) ski troops have a major movement advantage. They can move 0-3, and fire at 3 or 2. Plus they can move onto any terrain and still fire. So your infantry movement cards will allow you to quickly mass your troops for an attack.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

54%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Rzhev – The Meat Grinder

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1942, Armor, Artillery, Eastern Front, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Winter

Rzhev (the Meat Grinder)

“Listen up, men! The Battle of Rzhev in that God-forsaken winter of ‘42 was a real bloodbath—some called it the ‘Rzhev Meat Grinder’ and they weren’t kidding. Those Russians threw everything they had at the Germans, trying to smash their lines and give Stalin a breather for Moscow. But the Germans had their trenches dug deep and those Red boys paid for every inch of dirt with buckets of blood.

The snow and ice turned the whole mess into a living hell—no damn place for a man or a tank. Despite all that, the Soviets never stopped coming. Sure, they didn’t take Rzhev right then and there, but they hammered the Germans so hard they finally had to pack up and haul ass out of there later on.

So here’s the lesson, boys: courage is the fuel, and persistence is the blade—but even the toughest steel can wear down when you keep pounding it. The Rzhev campaign was brutal, but it was one more nail in the coffin of that damn Nazi war machine.”

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 6

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Winter

Location:

Russia

Year:

1942

Theater:

Eastern Front

Summary:

Rzhev is a complex scenario recreating the Soviet counter-offensive with a 10 VP goal. This requires a long-term plan, as quick tactical hits will not win such a long battle. Night rules are in effect.

Objectives:

10 VPs,
including Objective medals for both Axis and Allies, plus Exit objectives for Allies.

The town of Belyi is a temporary medal objective worth 1 medal for both sides. If any unit occupies any of the three hexes marked with an ‘A’ they gain a medal irregardless if an opponent occupies any of the other hexes. Both sides can earn 1 medal at the same time.
The town of Rzhev is a temporary medal objective worth 2 medals for both sides. If any unit occupies any of the 3 hexes marked with a ‘B’ they gain 2 medals irregardless if an opponent occupies any of the other hexes.

Terrain:

The Axis forces already control much of the battlefield, as sandbagged troops who are very difficult to dislodge, while the Russians are pressed up against the wall.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 5 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry, 2 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Big picture strategy for the Allied forces is to concentrate your firepower on the towns of Belyi and Rhzev. Once you take out the enemy you will gain not only points for destroying units but also objective medals for controlling the towns.

2. You can attack the well-protected Axis Infantry units by placing your Armor in the forest and degrading them over several turns. Time is on your side, so there is no need to rush the attack until you are ready.

3. The Axis have a sniper (as do you). Because they are lethal at five hexes away, and can slowly degrade your troops, you need to move armor in close proximity and take him out.

4. You have a well-placed Artillery right in the center of the battlefield. Use it at every opportunity to take out enemy forces. If you get the chance to concentrate firepower using a card like Firefight, Barrage, or Airpower, then use it to destroy the enemy Artillery against the back border before it moves forward.

Axis Strategy:

1. Because this is a Russian counter-attack scenario, the Germans are primarily in a defensive position and out-numbered. So use your protections well. You must get your Armor into a good defensive tactical position to allow for mobility when needed, and defense of open terrain in the center and left section.

2. Your artillery is well-placed in the center. Use it to good effect before it is overwhelmed by the enemy.

3. The Axis begins the scenario with three medals. Keep the enemy out of the towns of Belyi and Rhzev to retain them.

4. The Russians have a Sniper. So the best way to deal with him (or her), is to move in armor to block its attack, and pick him/her off.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

31%

Author:

Days of Wonder