Vol. 2 - Continuation War - 1941-1944

Germany launched operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union on June 22nd, 1941. Finland, now a co-belligerent with Germany, took the opportunity to take back the areas lost to the Soviet Union as part of the bitter Winter War peace terms. The almost 200,000 men strong German “Armee Norwegen”, operating in northern Finland was part of Hitler’s operation plan Barbarossa. Finland and Germany were fighting two separate wars against the same enemy. Finnish units reached their objectives in late December, 1941, and a static period in the war began (also called the “Trench War”).

In the summer of 1944, the Soviet Red Army launched a major offensive in the Karelian Isthmus after the withdrawal of the German “Heeresgruppe Nord” from the Leningrad area. This time the Finnish units couldn't hold back the thrust. Viipuri (Vyborg) was lost and the situation was critical. The largest battle in the Northern Europe took place in Tali-Ihantala, where German Stukas supported the Finnish units. Like a miracle, the Finns and Germans managed to halt the Soviet onslaught, and because Stalin was eager to reach Berlin before the Americans, he decided to withdraw a number of units from the Finnish front. Finland was again saved by the bell.

The second game of the trilogy is the largest. Now the Germans make an entrance with a wide variety of units and special rules. The Soviet side gets the Guards units as well as numerous new air unit types. The grande campaign 1941-1944, can take up to 155 turns! Relax, in the middle of the campaign, approximately from Jan. I '42 to Jun. I '44, there will be a special feature, called the Position War (Entrenchment War), which will speed up the playing considerably.

There are also two shorter scenarios included, that are very well suited to introduction; the 1941-scenario (Jun. IV '41 – Dec. IV '41 = 26 turns) and the 1944-scenario (Jun. II '44 – Sept. I '44 = 12 turns). In the 1941-scenario, the Finnish/German side has an advantage, while in the 1944-scenario, the Soviet side has an advantage.

Contents:

The game includes twelve counter sheets in a total of 3,192 die-cut unit counters! Ground units are written in standard Nato symbols, while Air and Naval units have correct silhouettes.

The map is 100 cm x 140 cm (39” x 55”) in four pieces, depicting Finland and its' vicinity in "summer" colors with additional Railroads and Airfields as well as some new Marker boxes.

A 48-page colored rule book includes basic, advanced and optional game rules.

The three full-color OOB's (one Finnish, German and Soviet) include a HUGE Main Campaign; a 1941, and a 1944-scenario; and seven Small Scenarios: (1) Litsa '41, (2) Salla '41, (3) Kestenga-Ukhta '41-'42, (4) Rugozero, (5) Ladoga Karelia '41, (6) Karelian Isthmus '41, and (7) Karelian Isthmus '44. See further in the Beta News menu. A lot of sources have been used to make them as historically correct as possible. For added feeling, the OOB's are written in their native language (Soviet with Cyrillic) with usually the correct unit abbreviation and then translated into English in parenthesis.