Barbarossa: Army Group North, 1941

Get ready to relive one of the most intense moments of World War II with Barbarossa: Army Group North, 1941! This heavy wargame puts you in command of Axis or Soviet forces, simulating the German offensive towards Leningrad. On June 22, 1941, Army Group North, the smallest of the three German groups, pushes into the Baltic states with a clear objective: Leningrad. This city, once the crown jewel of Tsarist Russia, was then the second most vital center of the Soviet Union, housing the gigantic Kirov Tank Works, responsible for the production of the formidable KV-1 and KV-2 tanks. Its fall would mean a devastating blow to the Soviets, as well as a crucial strategic position for an advance on Moscow from the northwest.

However, history shows that Army Group North, with limited air support and motorized forces, was the only one that failed to achieve a significant encirclement. The Soviets, ingeniously using terrain and civilian population, erected a fortified line along the Luga River, delaying the Germans for a month. Only with massive reinforcements from the Luftwaffe and motorized units from Army Group Center was a decisive breakthrough towards Leningrad possible. In a furious September battle, the Germans almost captured the city, but time ran out. Operation Typhoon, the final push against Moscow, was imminent, and Army Group North had to give up almost all of its air and motorized formations. With no strike force remaining, the Germans dug in, and Leningrad survived, enduring an epic 900-day siege.

Now, the question is: can you, as the Axis commander, succeed where German High Command failed? Or, as the Soviet commander, can you repeat history and halt the invaders before they reach Leningrad? The game comes with four 22" x 34" color maps (B, C, L, and W), plus a full sheet dedicated to the Leningrad inset map, and one 17" x 34" color map (front and back printed). There are also double-sided scenario cards, a rulebook, a playbook, a naval rulebook, and several charts with game and scenario information. With eight scenarios (plus a learning scenario), players can vary their level of involvement, complexity, and starting point, from introductory to a full campaign. The asymmetrical sequence of play highlights Axis armored breakthroughs and Soviet difficulties in combined arms warfare, with detailed air rules integrated with land combat and weather rules. The Order of Battle is incredibly detailed, including artillery, rocket artillery, engineers, bridge units, armored trains, and much more. There are modifications to the proven East Front Barbarossa system, including revised naval rules, and an extensive bibliography and design/historical notes. The time scale is 2 days per turn, the map scale is 5 miles per hex, the ground unit scale is Division/Regiment, and the air unit scale is 40-80 aircraft per counter (2nd edition).