{"product_id":"barbarossa-army-group-center-1941-second-edition","title":"Barbarossa: Army Group Center, 1941 ‐ second edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWe are happy to present the long-awaited second edition of this fascinating game. It stands as the first in its series to benefit from a full system overhaul. We have rewritten all first edition game rules for clarity and simplification and then reorganized it for readability. Some old rules details were dropped, others added. We then thoroughly reviewed the orders of battle in light of considerable information that has come to light in the years since the first edition was published. Likewise, the charts and tables have benefitted from some small adjustments. Overall, the whole game system is greatly improved for your enjoyment.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Setting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJune 1941 -- Army Group Center hurls itself through the Soviet border defenses, and its two Panzer groups race headlong toward Minsk. Behind them lie the remnants of the Soviet Western Front -- almost a million men in four armies. The Soviets are stunned by the German Blitzkrieg. Their responses are slow, confused, and governed by pre-war contingency plans made obsolete by the speed of the German advance. In little more than a week, the German panzer spearheads meet east of Minsk. Though isolated units continue to fight, the entire Soviet Western Front has ceased to exist!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Germans' next target is Smolensk, but the Soviets resist more effectively. Entire armies are dispatched from other parts of the Soviet Union as the true scope of the Minsk pocket disaster and the magnitude of the German threat become known. Soviet counterattacks, especially around Lepel, are thrown back with horrific losses. Once again the Panzer Groups charge eastward, creating yet another huge Soviet pocket west of Smolensk. The Soviets resist savagely. Smolensk falls on July 13th, but the pocket does not close. Many Soviet units escape to fight another day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHitler now makes a fateful decision and overrides his generals. Over half of Army Group Center's armored and air formations are diverted south to take Kiev or north to isolate Leningrad. No longer under heavy pressure, the Soviets gain time to form solid fronts around Vyazma and Bryansk. Did Hitler's decision cost the Germans the war? Play Barbarossa: Army Group Center and find out for yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThird-Party Game Overview (via Boardgame Geek)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a very popular series of games from GMT covering the first months of the invasion of the USSR; units are battalions through divisions, hexes are about 5 miles, and turns are two days. The system encompasses five other games: Barbarossa: Army Group North (2000), Barbarossa: Army Group South (1996), Barbarossa: Kiev to Rostov, and Barbarossa: Crimea, with Typhoon! (1995) as the progenitor of these games.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile not simple, these games are also not overly complex and present an excellent simulation of the early war. Most of the details of the campaigns are covered in a playable manner. Perhaps the most obviously interesting detail is the sequence of play, which is asymmetrical to account for the difficulties the Soviets labored under. Make no mistake, the Soviets are going to take a lot of abuse, but this is no walkover for the Germans and both sides are interesting to play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGame Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEight scenarios allow players to vary their level of involvement, complexity, and starting point, from introductory to full campaign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn asymmetrical sequence of play that highlights Axis armored breakthroughs and Soviet difficulties in combined arms warfare. This includes a “non-op” Soviet HQ system to simulate the rigid, yet fragile, Soviet Command structure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed air rules which integrate with land combat and weather rules\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncredibly detailed Order of Battle, including special coverage of artillery, rocket artillery, engineers, bridge units, armored trains, and much more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModifications to the proven “EFS” include many revised rules and procedures, as well as new Order of Battle information\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtensive bibliography and design\/historical notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTIME SCALE\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 days per turn\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMAP SCALE\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 miles per hex\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGROUND UNIT SCALE\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eDivision\/Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAIR UNIT SCALE\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003e40-80 aircraft per counter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNUMBER OF PLAYERS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne to four\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(First Edition)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/boardgamegeek.com\/boardgamehonor\/22027\/1998-charles-s-roberts-best-world-war-ii-board-gam\"\u003e1998 Charles S. Roberts Best World War II Board Game Nominee\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/boardgamegeek.com\/boardgamehonor\/22033\/1998-charles-s-roberts-best-wargaming-graphics-nom\"\u003e1998 Charles S. Roberts Best Wargaming Graphics Nominee\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GMT","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39927242195023,"sku":"GMT2121","price":84.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1380\/9101\/products\/594.jpg?v=1649347368","url":"https:\/\/leisuregames.live\/products\/barbarossa-army-group-center-1941-second-edition","provider":"Leisure Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}