Lionel Tarr's Modern Wargaming Rules 1939-1945

Lionel Tarr (1920-2003) is widely recognized as the first modern wargamer, modern being 1939-1945. He first came to prominence when his rules were published in 1962 in Donald Featherstone’s classic book, War Games.

This book contains much previously unpublished material about the Tarr wargame and his epic decade long WWII Eastern Front Russian Campaign. This wargaming campaign was almost as well-known at the time as Tony Bath’s Hyborian campaign.

The History of Wargaming Project aims to document the development of wargaming, including publishing new material about these early wargames

This book includes:

The previously unpublished Tarr wargaming rules he first drafted in 1947 and modified until 1973.

Donald Featherstone’s 1962 summary of the rules

Reflections on the rules

Tarr’s Armies: Russian and German Army ORBATs

Solo Wargaming Eastern Front Campaign

Wargaming the Battle of Stalingrad

Air warfare on the Eastern Front

Various articles by Tarr

A.W. Saunders (Tarr’s cousin) modern warfare rules from 1957

Tarr’s Napoleonic Rules