Panzergruppe Guderian cover
1976BGG rank #3,579

Panzergruppe Guderian

by Jim Dunnigan · The Avalon Hill Game Co

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Players2
Time180–300m
ComplexityMedium-Light
Age14+

About the game

What is Panzergruppe Guderian?

"Panzergruppe Guderian": The Battle of Smolensk, July 1941, is a wargame simulation of the German campaign to capture Smolensk in July, 1941. The game is played in twelve turns, each one representing 2 days time, on a map scale of 10.5 km/hex. This wargame is famous for its innovative use of "untried" Soviet units. These untried Soviet counters enter play face down, their combat strength unknown to either player, until they take part in combat, at which time they are flipped to reveal their strength and defense numbers. The game also models the effectiveness of German operations by allowing them a full mechanized movement phase both before and after combat, while the Soviets only move prior to combat. In addition, if all of a German division's regiments attack or defend in the same hex, their strength is doubled by a divisional integrity bonus. The German player scores victory points for the capture of cities, and for any Soviet units redirected from the Southwestern Front. The Soviet player scores vp for recaptured cities and destroying entire German divisions (which possess several steps of strength). The game includes: 1 map, counters (AH edition = 260; SPI edition = 200), 1 6-sided die, 1 Soviet reference card, 1 German reference card, 1 rules book, and 1 advanced rules insert.

How it plays

Mechanics

Dice RollingGrid MovementHexagon GridMovement PointsRatio / Combat Results TableScenario / Mission / Campaign GameSimulationVariable Set-upZone of Control

On the shelf

Categories

WargameWorld War II

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in Panzergruppe Guderian?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?