Fortress Europa (1978)

Game Description

Fortress Europa recreates the Allied campaign in Western Europe from D-Day to March 1945. The Allied player must select an invasion site and make a successful landing, breakout of the beachhead, drive across France and push deep into Germany. The German player must prevent the Allied Invasion or else conduct and orderly withdrawal across France, constantly delaying the Allies, and then counter attacking in the winter.

Fortress Europa is the successor to Avalon Hill’s highly acclaimed Russian Campaign...The basic game is 37 turns long, but several scenarios are provided for those wishing a shorter game. In addition, Sudden Death Victory Conditions are included which shorten the basic game ...

Fortress Europa comes in an 8.5” x 11.5” x 2” game box with two part mounted 22” x 24” map board; 520 double-sided die cut cardboard counters; a 16-page rule booklet with rules for play, optional rules and scenarios; several cardstock player aids including German & Allied Order of Battle charts, Aircraft Mission and Replacement Chart and a Time Record Chart; and one six sided die.

Avalon Hill also published a Play By Mail (PBM) kit for Fortress Europa including two-page, pink instructions and double sided pages for the German and Allied Order of Battle Charts used for tracking play.

Editions

Original Originally designed by John Edwards and published by Jedko Games in 1978.

Avalon Hill Fortress Europa was later re-designed by Alan R. Moon and Richard Hamblen, and published by Avalon Hill in 1980.

Wargame Academy An unofficial 3rd Edition rulebook has not been completed by the WGA.

Other Republished in Command Magazine Japan #35 in 2000.

L2 Design Group Soon to be republished by L2 Design Group in the later part of 2009. Map samples and counter artwork can be found in the L2 Design Group forum on ConSimWorld.

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

Fortress Europa (1980)
Freelance design redesigned by Avalon Hill
Designed by John Edwards
Development by Alan Moon

Another entry from the Australian Jedko Games stable, albeit with a great deal of AH revision. The game resembles TRC on the western front.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List

• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.4
  • Fortress Europa – “The Von Stauffenburg Plan - German Strategy in Fortress Europa” (Strategy) David Perlman
  • Fortress Europa – “Flying Cap - Playing Fortress Europa by Mail” (Variant) Don Eisen
  • Design Analysis Fortress Europa – “Errata & Clarifications” (Design Notes) Alan R. Moon
  • Fortress Europa – “Optional Rules for Fortress Europa” (Variant) Don Eisen, Don Greenwood, Alan R. Moon
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.4
  • Fortress Europa – “On to Berlin - Balancing the Fortress Europa Scenario” (Discussion/Variant) Jim Eliason
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.6
  • “Operation Fortitude - Coming Ashore in Fortress Europa
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.2
  • “The Lowlands Gambit - Allied Approach for Fortress Europa
• The GENERAL Vol.21,No.3
  • “A Perspective on Solitaire - Going it Alone in Fortress Europa
  • “Question Box
• The GENERAL Vol.22,No.6
  • “Making the Best of a Shot in the Dark: Invading the First District” (Strategy) by Felix D'Alban
  • “Question Box
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.2
  • “Contest Number 138 - Fortress Europa
  • “Little Things Mean a Lot - Tactical Nuances in Fortress Europa
• The GENERAL Vol.24,No.4
  • Fortress Europa - “The Inland Defense - The Runstedt Plan for Fortress Europa” (Strategy) by Dennis Devine
• The GENERAL Vol.27,No.3
  • “To Spring a Trap - Rommel's Plan in Fortress Europa
  • “Normandy's Backdoor - Invading the 7th Military District