GRD Europa: Poland, Sep I 1939 Surprise Turn [WW2 Battle 3 (2-player)]

My friend and I have begun the next battle of our playthrough of WW2 battles using the GDW / GRD Europa series of hex and counter wargames. This one is a variant of GR/D Europa - First to Fight from The Europa Magazine #77 (or TEM), called First to Fall. I've just completed my surprise turn as the Germans and my opponent has finished his reaction phase. Next we'll begin the Sept. I (two week) turn.

Hitler invades Poland on September 1, 1939. The first time the Germans actually declare war and the world learns of Blitzkrieg.

We're using Wavell's War rules and charts, Since things changed over the years between the GDW games from the 1970's and the GR/D games into the 1990's and 2000's. The variant recommends Storm Over Scandinavia, but Wavell's War works just as well since there isn't any part of the map with weather zones in the arctic region where Storm Over Scandinavia is most applicable.

GRD Europa or GR/D Europa - First to Fight is considered an 'upgraded' release of the original GDW Europa game, Case White.

Fall Weiss, the German name for the operation which translates to 'Case White' in English has some very interesting and unique aspects to the game. How Stalin's Soviet forces getting involved and the possibility for the French to begin an offensive on a 'West Front' adds some real flair to a battle that we know the Polish will lose.

All of the Europa games can be linked together to play through just about all of World War 2 in Europe and I hope more people will find time to get it out and on the table to play!

This particular variant changes the original games rules that use three day turns and a cost for moving into zones of control (which were not part of any of the other Europa series) into a scenario that works well with the standard Europa rules, while adding some changes to the order of battle setup so the Polish player has a better chance at defending.

The whole Europa Magazine #77 is worth reading cover-to-cover, so check it out if you can. There's a lot of great articles in that one!

#europa #wargaming #hexandcounter