Rise and Decline of the Third Reich (1974)

Rise and Decline of the Third Reich is a classic "grand strategy" wargame covering the European theater of WWII. The game is huge in scope. Players take on the roles of all of the major national powers and can simulate the entire war effort from 1939 until the end (often isn't until 1946). This game is a favorite of many because of an excellent balance between politics and military might, and it gives players a chance to try things that did not happen historically to see if they might have worked better (e.g., Germany invading Spain). This game is definitely not for the novice gamer. The rules are intricate, and there are many factors for players to deal with: resources, unit production, negotiation, and, of course, strategic warfare.

Avalon Hill Complexity rating - 10

Re-implemented by:

• Advanced Third Reich
• John Prados' Third Reich
• A World at War

From "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Third Reich (1974) Revised 1975, Revised 1980
Freelance design redesigned by Avalon Hill
Designed by John Prados
Development by Don Greenwood
1980 Design by Don Greenwood
1980 Development by Larry Bucher

While suffering from a hurriedly prepared rulebook with more than its share of ambiguities, this game was terrifically successful as evidenced by an assortment of consumer awards. The 1980 revision consists of new rulebook, mapboard, and scenario cards and greatly improves play of the game. One of the company’s all-time best sellers.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.11,No.5
  • The Question Box - Alexander the Great, Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, 1776
• The GENERAL Vol.11,No.6
  • Design Analysis - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich John Prados, Don Greenwood
  • Series Replay - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich Demonstration Albert A. Nofi, Lenny Glynn, Lee Euler, David C. Isby, Don Greenwood
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Reader Buyer's Guide Submission Form” (Insert)
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “CONTEST NO. 65” (Insert)
• The GENERAL Vol.12,No.1
  • Reader Buyer's Guide - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, PanzerBlitz, Afrika Korps
• The GENERAL Vol.12,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Without America, Four Variants on a Theme” (Variant Discussion) Steve Newton
• The GENERAL Vol.12,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “PBM - The Hard Way” (Variant Discussion) Dean Miller
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Playing Aid: France 1939/Campaign” (Insert)
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “CONTEST NO. 69” (Insert)
• The GENERAL Vol.12,No.5
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Playing Aid: Turn Sequence” (Insert)
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Strategic Alternatives” (Strategy) Mark Saha
• The GENERAL Vol.13,No.2
  • Design Analysis - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich Don Greenwood
• The GENERAL Vol.13,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Rest of the Calculation” (Discussion) Rob Beyma
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.1
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Red Options” (Strategy) Rob Beyma
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.2
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Third Reich: The Early Years” (Strategy) David Bottger
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “BRP Warfare in Third Reich” (Strategy) Jeff Nordlund
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.5
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Early Years Reexamined” (Strategy) Richard Shagrin
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.2
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Correct Third Reich” (Variant) Stuart Smart
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Another look at 3rd Reich ” (Variant) David James Ritchie
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.5
  • “Origins of Third Reich” (Variant) by Robert Ott
  • The Question Box
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.1
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “British Victory in Third Reich” (Strategy) Rob Beyma
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.2
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Third Reich with Finesse - Diplomacy In Multi-Player Third Reich” (Discussion) Otto Schmidt II
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.1
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Pop Quiz - A Short Quiz on Basic Strategy in THIRD REICH” (Commentary) William Nightingale
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day - Italian Play in Rise and Decline of the Third Reich” (Strategy) Mark McLaughlin
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.5
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Would you Believe a Week? - A Veteran Limey Takes Issue with "Rome Wasn't Burn't In A Day” (Strategy) Marcus Watney
  • Series Replay - Rise and Decline of the Third ReichPart 1, Marcus Watney, Nicholas Palmer, Mike Nicholas, Richard Wein
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.6
  • Series Replay - Rise and Decline of the Third ReichPart 2, Marcus Watney, Nicholas Palmer, Mike Nicholas, Richard Wein
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.2
  • Design Analysis - “The Third Rise and Decline of the Third Reich” Larry Bucher
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.5
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Spanish Gambit - Achieving Total German Victory Over England in Rise and Decline of the Third Reich” (Strategy) David A. Hablanian
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Invading Norway in the 3rd Edition 3rd Reich ” (Strategy) Michael Anchors
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Yet More Possibilities - Additional Variant Counters for Rise and Decline of the Third Reich” (Variant) Larry Bucher
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Third Reich at The Club - More Antics and Discussion at the Emerald City Card and Game Club” (Discussion/Strategy) Bill Nightingale
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Questions and Answers” (Discussion) AH Staff
  • Design Analysis - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich “We Shall Never Surrender” - Larry Bucher
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Record Keeping in Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - Record Sheet ” (Insert Game Aid) AH Staff
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.1
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The French Campaign - The Invasion of France in Third Reich” (Strategy) Michael Anchors
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.2
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Third Reich at The Club - Further Play at the Emerald City Card and Game Club” (Discussion/Strategy) Bill Nightingale
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Russian Campaign - The Final Campaign in Rise and Decline of the Third Reich” (Strategy) Michael Anchors
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.19,No.6
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Diplomacy in the Third Reich” (Strategy) Larry Bucher & Steve Simmons
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich Unknown
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.2
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Corsican Factor: British Wasp Tactic in Third Reich” (Strategy) William Searight
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Club Rules for Third Reich” (Variant) Alan Emrich
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “'41 is Gonna be a Good Year: Russian Play in Third Reich” (Strategy) Nayyer Ali
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.5
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Luck of the Draw: Third Reich Variants” (Strategy) James C Gordon
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.1
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “GERMANY: The Mediterranean Strategy: Play on the Southern Front in Third Reich” (Strategy) Nicky Palmer
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Luck of the Draw, Supplement; More Variant History for Third Reich” (Strategy) James C Gordon
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.4
  • “Russia and the U.S.: Historical Capabilities in THIRD REICH” (Historical) Rob Beyma
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.1
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Hitler's Handbook: Third Reich Commentaries” (Strategy) Scott D Sabol
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Empire Strikes Back; An Aggressive Britain in Third Reich” (Strategy) Nayyer Ali
• The GENERAL Vol.23,No.5
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Like a Thunderbolt; Western Options in Third Reich” (Strategy) Craig F Posey
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.2
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Storming Fortresses in Third Reich; Strategies and Techniques” (Strategy) Douglas Chinn
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Empire Strikes Backfires; The Axis Riposte to an Over Aggressive Britain” (Strategy) Mark C Nixon
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.4
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - “Man the Beaches - Mediterranean Power Play in Third Reich” by Mark C Nixon
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.6
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Axis Southern Yearnings; Mediterranean Power Play in Third Reich” (Strategy) Mark C Nixon
• The GENERAL Vol.25,No.3
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “A new campaign -Third Reich -1941” (Scenarios) Larry Bucher
  • The Question Box - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich
• The GENERAL Vol.26,No.2
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “The Bulgarian Gambit; The Balkan Key to Third Reich” (Strategy) Don Spitz
• The GENERAL Vol.28,No.6
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich – “Monty Python Goes To War: New and (Very) Different Variants for Third Reich (Fourth Edition)” (Variant) Richard Hands

Moves Article Index:

• Number 26, April/May 1976
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Thrid Reich: Designer Intentions—Developmental Interventions" (Designer Notes), John Prados

Panzerfaust and Campaign Article Index:

• Number 77 January-February 1977
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Strategy in Third Reich" (Strategy), Bill Bishop
• Number 78, March-April 1977
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Two Years Down the Line: Evaluation of a Strategic Wargame" (Game Design / Scenarios), John Prados

Campaign Article Index:

• Number 81, September-October 1977
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Third Reich: Twisting the Allies Tail" (Strategy), Ted Shalack

BattlePlan Index Article List:

• Battleplan,No.3 July-August 1987
  • "Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - 1941 scenario", James G. Gordon
• Battleplan,No.8 January-February 1989
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Mega-Variant Over the Edge of the Map" (Variant), Siegfried Nelson
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "A Peek at the 5th Edition THIRD REICH" (Article), Compiled by Bruce Harper
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Third Reich: 1940 Scenario" (Variant), James C Gordon
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Third Reich: 1941 Scenario" (Variant), James C Gordon
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Third Reich: 1945 Red Star vs. White Star Scenario" (Variant), James C Gordon
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "More THIRD REICH Variants" (Variant), James C Gordon
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "THIRD REICH: Local and Limited Wars" (Variant), James C Gordon
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "General THIRD REICH Variant Rebuttal" (Article), Robert Calcaterra
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "The War of '33" (Variant), Stephen A C Gorard

The Wargamer

• THE WARGAMER,No.19 MAR/APR 1981
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - "Inside the Third Reich", James C Gordon

Phoenix

• Phoenix, Issue 4 (November/December 1976)
  • "Fall 1940: an additional scenario for Avalon Hill's Third Reich"

BOARDGAMER

• BOARDGAMER, Volume 3, #2 (April 1998) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"Strategies involving Vichy France" by John Michalski
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 3, #3 (July 1998) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"Analysis of opening set-ups" by John Michalski
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 3, #4 (October 1998) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"An analysis of initial Italian defense" by Steve Packwood
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 4, #1 (January 1999) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"Strategy dealing with sideshows and diversions" by John Michalski
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 5, #1 (January 2000) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"Early game strategy" by John Michalski
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 5, #3 (July 2000) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –John Michalski's 5th article in the Third Reich Workshop series dealing with gaining and keeping momentum
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 7, #1 (January 2002) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"An alternate opening against Poland" by Paul Edwards
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 7, #2 (April 2002) -
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"Alternative opening attacks on Poland" by Bruce Hatter
• BOARDGAMER, Volume 7, #3 (July 2002)
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"Early Italian play strategy" by Paul Edwards
  • Rise and Decline of the Third Reich –"A rules quiz" by John Michalski

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