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Hitler's War (game)
Encyclopedia
Hitler's War is a strategic
level World War II
war game
.
It covers the war in Europe
, for 2 or 3 players (playing
the Allies
, Axis
, and optionally a separate player for the Soviet Union
).
It was first printed by Metagaming Concepts
in 1981
, in a "pocket game" sized box
with all paper components,
then reprinted in 1984 by Avalon Hill
in a standard box with cardboard
mounted game board.
It uses standard square counters on a hex map
, but
at a larger scale than most other treatments of the subject: Italy
and Poland
are only two hexes wide, for example. Units are armies, and each
side usually has fewer than 10 units on the board at a time.
To make up for that, unoccupied hexes have a defense strength,
and must be attacked and captured. The
strength of each army is measured in abstract force points, recorded
off the board, that changes with combat and reinforcement.
Each turn represents 4 months.
The game includes rules for economics, submarine warfare
,
a few generals, and military research, including the A-bomb.
There are three scenarios included:
Game play is estimated at between 1½ to 5 hours.
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
level World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
war game
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
.
It covers the war in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, for 2 or 3 players (playing
the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
, Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
, and optionally a separate player for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
).
It was first printed by Metagaming Concepts
Metagaming Concepts
Metagaming Concepts was a publisher of board games from 1975 to 1983 owned by Howard Thompson. Metagaming created and popularized the microgame format. It specialized in science fiction wargames; titles included Ogre, G.E.V., Godsfire, Stellar Conquest and WarpWar...
in 1981
1981 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1981. For video and console games, see 1981 in video gaming....
, in a "pocket game" sized box
with all paper components,
then reprinted in 1984 by Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
in a standard box with cardboard
mounted game board.
It uses standard square counters on a hex map
Hex map
A hex map, hex board or hex grid is a gameboard design commonly used in wargames of all scales. The map is subdivided into small regular hexagons of identical size.-Advantages and disadvantages:...
, but
at a larger scale than most other treatments of the subject: Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
are only two hexes wide, for example. Units are armies, and each
side usually has fewer than 10 units on the board at a time.
To make up for that, unoccupied hexes have a defense strength,
and must be attacked and captured. The
strength of each army is measured in abstract force points, recorded
off the board, that changes with combat and reinforcement.
Each turn represents 4 months.
The game includes rules for economics, submarine warfare
Submarine warfare
Naval warfare is divided into three operational areas: surface warfare, air warfare and underwater warfare. The latter may be subdivided into submarine warfare and anti-submarine warfare as well as mine warfare and mine countermeasures...
,
a few generals, and military research, including the A-bomb.
There are three scenarios included:
- Operation Barbarossa, simulating the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
; - The Fall of Germany, simulating the Western FrontWestern Front (World War II)The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
from the D-Day invasions; - and the complete war from 1939 to 1945.
Game play is estimated at between 1½ to 5 hours.
See also
- Hitler's WarHitler's WarHitler's War is a history book by David Irving. It describes the Second World War from the point of view of Adolf Hitler.It was first published in April 1977 by Hodder & Stoughton and Viking Press . Avon Books reissued it in 1990...
- controversial 1977 book by David IrvingDavid IrvingDavid John Cawdell Irving is an English writer,best known for his denial of the Holocaust, who specialises in the military and political history of World War II, with a focus on Nazi Germany...
; may not have had any influence on the game besides a common name.
External links
- Hitler's War Wargame Academy page on the Avalon Hill game
- Hitler's War for Windows Fan-made free computer game version of the board game