Panzergruppe Guderian (1976)

This game is the re-enactment of the German capture of Smolensk in 1941 played in twelve turns, each one representing approximately 2 days of time. The Soviet player begins the game by deploying his units in a mixture of predetermined and user determined hexes. These units are in an unknown state - their chits are upside down. The German player then enters units from the West on a deployment schedule each turn. If enemy units are in adjacent hexes at any time they enter combat. If the Soviet units are in an unknown state they are flipped, revealing their strength, and combat is carried out. At the end of twelve turns, the sides add up their victory points to determine the winner.

The game includes: 1 hex map board, 260 markers, 1 6-sided die, 1 Soviet reference card, 1 German reference card, 1 rules book, and 1 advanced rules insert.

Originally published by SPI in Strategy & Tactics magazine #57 (1976); re-issued by Avalon Hill in 1985. Kharkov uses the same system.

Magazine References:

Campaign Article Index:

• Number 79, May-June 1977
  • Panzergruppe Guderian - "Game Analysis: Panzergruppe Guderian" (Strategy), Larry Lippert and Gregory Mumm
• Number 82, November-December 1977
  • Panzergruppe Guderian - "Panzergruppe Guderian: A Rebuttal" (Strategy), Charles Starks

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.4
  • "The Quagmire Defense: Playing the Reds in Panzergruppe Guderian" (Strategy), Brett G. Murrell
• The GENERAL Vol.25,No.3
  • Panzergruppe Guderian – “Storming Smolensk via the postal route- Panzergruppe Guderian by mail” (Variant Discussion) Jim Lutz

Moves Article Index:

• Number 25, February/March 1976
  • Panzergruppe Guderian /Terrible Swift Sword / Kasserine: Baptism of Fire, February 1943 / Supercharge / War in the West / Breitenfeld / Napoleon's Art of War: Eylau and Dresden - "Desinger's Notes" (Design Notes), Various
• Number 26, April/May 1976
  • Firefight / Kasserine: Baptism of Fire, February 1943 / Terrible Swift Sword / Panzergruppe Guderian / Outreach / Napoleon's Last Battles / Conquistador / Highway to the Reich / Minuteman: The Second American Revolution / Wellington's Victory - Battle of Waterloo - "Designer's Notes" (Design Notes), Various