Fire in the East

Get ready to dive into the intensity of the Eastern Front of World War II with Fire in the East, a wargame that puts you in command of German or Soviet forces. This giant from the Europa series simulates the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, from June 1941 through the Soviet winter counteroffensive in March 1942. With a colossal map stretching from Warsaw to Stalingrad, and from Murmansk to Sevastopol, you'll have a detailed battlefield with over 20 different terrain types, including rivers, forests, mountains, and various cities. There are over 2500 counters, each marked with its historical designation, representing divisions, brigades, regiments, and battalions, offering the most accurate order of battle ever published for the Eastern Front. The variety of units is impressive, from armor and infantry to Soviet Guards, NKVD, Katyushas, and German flammpanzers, railroad artillery, and Finnish ski troops. Air units are also richly detailed, ranging from I-15 biplane fighters to Me-109F, Ju 87 Stukas, Il-2 Sturmoviks, and Pe-8 long-range bombers. Even the capital ships of the Soviet Baltic and Black Sea fleets are represented. The rules are extensive and cover armor and antitank effects, special capabilities for assault engineers and paratroopers, and an air system that's almost a game in itself. Logistics are crucial, with rules for different German and Soviet rail gauges and temporary extension of supply lines by trucks. Isolated units gradually lose combat ability, while those besieged in cities resist longer. Weather effects, the unique nature of the Arctic front, the need for artillery support, the German surprise attack, doctrinal limits of Soviet mechanized units, and more are just some of the many details you'll need to master. Fire in the East is an immense challenge for both sides. German panzer spearheads can advance rapidly, but must manage their supply lines and support. The Soviets, in turn, must preserve their army for the final defense of major cities, using determined resistance and carefully chosen local counterattacks to delay the enemy advance. It's a long and epic journey to Moscow!