Introduction to World War II on the Western Front

This section of the forum is dedicated to the game World War II on the Western Front. Please feel free to ask questions about the game, and share strategies.

This is a boxed game with mounted folding map. Rulebook and charts are printed on high quality glossy paper.

This game is available through Combat Miniatures:
https://combatminiatures.org/collections/historical-board-games/products/world-war-ii-on-the-western-front

It is a game of the lightening fast Blitzkrieg that shattered France in 1940, to the massive Allied push from the beaches of Normandy in 1944, the Western Front was a battlefield of strategy, sacrifice, and high stakes.

Take command of German or Allied forces in this dynamic, turn based strategy game where every choice influences the outcome of the war. Can Germany shatter the Allies in France and threaten the United Kingdom itself in 1940? In 1944, will the Allies break out from the beaches and start their relentless drive across France and into the German heartland? High stakes require bold decisions!

Outwit your enemies, manage your resources, and rewrite the story of the West in the ultimate World War II showdown!

Even though this game comes with its own rules, game mechanics and map, consider this to be an unofficial expansion to Axis & Allies 1940: Europe, as you will need the pieces from that game to play.

The game includes rules for terrain, such as forests, mountains, rivers, wetlands, and beaches. Game mechanics allow for rapid exploitation and reinforcement. The optional event cards add unpredictable events, such as storms, civil unrest, and political interference.

Two scenarios are included in the game:

The Battle of France, May 10th, 1940. The Germans are about to launch their long awaited invasion of France and the Low Countries. The French, British and Belgian armies are positioned north of an expected German attack, but the Germans have their forces ready to smash through the Ardennes forest. As the Allied player, you will need to quickly reposition your forces to blunt the German attacks, and maybe even push them back to Germany. As the German player, you have the initial advantage of the Allies being in the wrong place, but you will need to be fast to reach Paris before the Allies regroup.

D-Day to the Rhine, June 6th, 1944. The Allies land in France. Will the Germans contain the Allied breakout, or are the Germans better to defend behind the Siegfried Line? As the Allies, you will enjoy numerical superiority in planes, tanks, and men. But as you drive deeper into France and then into Germany, you will find that keeping your armies supplied is a real challenge. The German player will need to either contain the Allies, or at least slow the Allied breakout and advance to keep them out of Germany. Taking advantage of the long Allied supply lines and bad weather will be crucial …

What is included? The components found in the base set are:

• 1 18x27 mounted folding game map
• 1 colour illustrated rulebook
• 1 double sided battleboard
• 4 double sided set-up charts & player’s aid
• 30 event cards for The Battle of France
• 30 event cards for D-Day to the Rhine
• 3 Off Board Cards

In the deluxe set, the following is also included:

• storage pouches
• Control markers for France, Germany, UK, US, and the neutral countries in the game
• Fortress markers
• Beachhead markers
• Supply markers
• Strategic Damage markers
• Entrenched markers
• Mulberry Harbour marker
• Airfield markers
• tokens for trucks, air transports, and airborne
• 6 Dice

Some action shots of the 1940 scenario:

Action shots of the 1944 scenario:

@FranceNeedsMorePower
It is its own game, with its own rule set and game mechanics. But the base set does not include:

• control markers
• miniatures and chips
• supply tokens
• fortresses
• entrenched markers
• damage markers
• air bases

You will need Axis & Allies 1940: Europe for most of the miniatures and markers. If you have Battle of the Bulge, then you have the trucks and supply tokens. If you have D-Day, you will have the fortress markers.

There is a deluxe set that has everything except the miniatures and chips, however. But since it relies on the player already owning Axis & Allies games, I have to call it an ‘expansion’. But considering that this is aimed at Axis & Allies players, I don’t think this is a problem.

@barnee said in Introduction to World War II on the Western Front:

@FranceNeedsMorePower

“just an expansion” ??? C’mon now. It’s much more than that :)

A hundred bucks doesn’t go as far as it used to. Save 10 a month and you’ll be there in no time :) Or maybe you’ll get a Christmas present :)

Unfortunately no, 100 doesn’t go that far anymore …

@barnee Hi Barnee! I did not do ‘Over the Top’. I am not familiar with that game, sorry.

@barnee Lol, all good.

@FranceNeedsMorePower You can message me for details on the deluxe set.

@tmartin Message me

Here is a look at the rules for the terrain in the game. It usually benefits the defender, and in some cases inhibits the attacker. The effects of terrain are cumulative. So if you are defending behind a river, and are in a fortress in a forest, you get the defensive bonuses for all those features unless otherwise stated.

On page 7 you can see the role that supply has in the game. The supply management in the game is similar to AA Battle of the Bulge.

The unique rules for the airborne unit: