The German offensive plunges Europe into war.
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
The history of World War II is vast, and certainly too much to present in the space we have available here. Suffice it to say that ‘World War’ is a truly apt title, encompassing nearly every environment and climate on Earth over six years of fighting. From the blasted dry heat of the North African desert, the dense tropics of Burmese jungles, across bitter European winters on the Ostfront, the amphibious assaults on D-Day and the brutal city fights of Stalingrad and Budapest, Bolt Action allows you to recreate all of these battles and more.
GERMANY STRIKES!
On 1st September, 1939, Germany shattered the peace of Europe by invading Poland. The following year they swept across the Low Countries and into France itself with their famous Blitzkrieg tactics, and in less than two years became the undisputed masters of mainland Europe.
Early-war armies look and feel significantly different to other Bolt Action armies. Whilst the core tenets of gameplay remain the same, the equipment used and the tactical doctrines employed differ significantly. A Blitzkrieg German army looks very different to a late war German army, for instance.
You could also field the French in their defence of their homeland, the British Expeditionary force or the plucky armies of Belgium or Poland and try to stem the seemingly unstoppable Blitzkrieg!
DUEL IN THE SUN!
The battles in and around the Mediterranean theatre may seem inconsequential when measured up against the more well-known theatres of the war, but they were vital. The
initial clashes between British and Italian armies in Crete, the desperate battles against German paratroopers on that island, and the epic duels between legendary commanders
in the deserts of North Africa all had far-reaching consequences for the war at large for both the Allies and the Axis.
initial clashes between British and Italian armies in Crete, the desperate battles against German paratroopers on that island, and the epic duels between legendary commanders
in the deserts of North Africa all had far-reaching consequences for the war at large for both the Allies and the Axis.
Desert-clad British Commonwealth and Afrika Korps armies are especially popular amongst wargamers, with plenty of scope for tank battles, reconnaissance forces and special forces such as the British SAS.
After driving the Axis from North Africa, Allied forces invaded Italy via Sicily, but it proved tougher than expected. Despite the Italian Armistice of 1943, dogged German defenders fought right up until war’s end. Amphibious landings, airborne raids and entrenched defensive actions provide plenty of inspiration for collectors of the British Commonwealth, the US Army, the Italian Army (both Axis and post-armistice Allied) and the German Army.
Battle spreads to North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Operation Barbarossa turns the Soviet Union into a vast battlefield.
OSTFRONT!
The Soviet Union proved a step too far for Hitler’s ambitions, and with troops spread thin, supply lines straining and meeting an unexpectedly stoic resistance, the advance faltered. The Battle of Stalingrad cemented the fate of the Axis forces on the Ostfront, with the Soviets subsequently pressing west, eventually into Berlin itself.
The Ostfront provides plenty of variety for games of Bolt Action. As well as German forces, you might consider fielding Hungarian, Italian, Finnish or Romanian troops against the might and massed manpower of the Soviet Union. Bitter city-fighting goes hand in hand with battles over rural plains and dilapidated farmland. The harsh weather conditions also allows the choice of theming your troops for winter or (slightly) warmer climes.
EMPIRES IN FLAMES!
You may be forgiven, when thinking of the Pacific theatre, for only picturing the amphibious operations conducted by US forces as they swept the Japanese from a seemingly endless series of tiny islands in some of the most ferocious battles of the entire war. However, Japanese armies also faced British and Commonwealth opposition in their invasions of Burma and New Guinea.
In addition to featuring the forces of Imperial Japan, the US Army and the United States Marines Corps, the conflict in the Pacific allows Bolt Action players to do battle with forces a little more niche, such as British Chindits, Gurkhas and the Australian Army. With these forces you can recreate all the famous battles of the Far East, such as Guadalcanal,
Okinawa, Singapore, the Philippines and Iwo Jima.
The daring Japanese attacks and Allied counteroffensives rage across the Pacific.
As the Allied forces close in, Germany itself becomes the scene of savage fighting.
BATTLEGROUND EUROPE!
Germany’s complete and utter control of Western Europe was shattered in June 1944, when Allied forces conducted the most audacious invasion in military history. D-Day saw the largest seaborne invasion ever enacted, supported by an extensive airborne operation which resulted in the German defenders being swept back from the Atlantic Wall and the liberation of France. Such scenes have been immortalised in the popular consciousness thanks to the likes of Saving Private Ryan (some of the heads on the US Rangers sprue in this set are modelled upon that film’s characters) and the TV series, Band of Brothers.
D-Day laid the foundation for Germany’s eventual surrender, but the war was not yet done. Bitter fighting through the winter of 1944 in the Ardennes, the abortive landings at Arnhem and the push into Berlin itself provide plenty of wargaming and hobby inspiration. For instance, there are the winterclad troops for the Battle of the Bulge, infantry-focused US or British airborne forces, and various flavours of increasingly desperate German troops as the Allies approach Berlin.
EXPLORE THE FORCES OF BOLT ACTION!
What’s next? Dive in and take a closer look at the armies awaiting your command in Bolt Action!
