The First Blitzkrieg

The First Blitzkrieg - The First Blitzkrieg is the start of what will be a series of games called Total War in Europe. Unit scale ranges from divisions to battalions, and includes air groups. Map scale is 10 kilometers per hex and two days per turn. Each game map is part of a greater Master Map, encompassing the whole of Europe and parts of North Africa and Western Asia with a quarter million hexes. The Master Map will be released with the final game in the series.

First Blitzkrieg contains seventeen scenarios and campaigns from the invasion of Poland to the Fall of France. There are also hypothetical scenarios drawn from Operation Sea Lion (the planned German invasion of Britain) and “what if” the Allies had taken the offensive against Germany in the autumn of 1939. Players have the opportunity to alter the course of history on both the operational and strategic level.

I found this on a forum and I thought I would share it with those interested in our new - NON Panzer Campaign Game, as some people on some Forums and Newsgroups just won't accept that this is a new system. Anyway - here is what one player had to say.

The First Blitzkrieg - one mans opinion

I found this on a forum and I thought I would share it with those interested in our new - NON Panzer Campaign Game, as some people on some Forums and Newsgroups just won't accept that this is a new system. Anyway - here is what one player had to say.

Here are my 1st impressions of The First Blitzkrieg:

1) As HPS, and Glenn, have made clear, this is NOT PzC at a different scale--It is different system. With that said, it is familiar enough so that folks familiar with PzC will not be scratching their heads and going "WTF??"

2) It is a brutal contest. Dont expect the panzers to cut through the French like a hot knife through butter. This game (depending on the scenario) is hard fighting.

3) Over all, I like the game. It reminds me of the old GDW "Fire in the East." That is, divisional units with attendant support battions. Because of this, I can see this as an ideal vehicle for an East Front game.

4) As to the AI, hard for me to tell. The game seems CPU intensive, and I figure that this is because the AI is "thinking hard." Thus far, the AI seems capable and indeed, a dangerous foe.

5) As an aside, the SeaLion senarios are loads of fun!

6) The game, again, is NOT PzC!

Anyway, I recommend the game, loads of fun, although the map orientation is a bit disconcerting!!! (which way is north!!) LOL!! Good job HPS guys!

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The First Blitzkrieg comes with an extensive historical order-of-battle and scenario editor so players can create their own scenarios.

120: The Invasion of Norway

Norway – 9th April 1940: The confrontation between the Germans and the Allies over Norway during the beginning rounds of the Second World War in Europe is no surprise. Norway stood on Germany’s northern flank and offered an opportunity to secure supply lines from which Germany could import iron ore from neutral Sweden. Therefore, the Germans launched a bold naval invasion at six points along the Norwegian coast with seaborne infantry. The landings were further supported by paratroopers. Norwegian defenses were weak and quickly overrun. Some Allied troops did attempt to intervene and, in fact, the Allies did have some success in the north. In the end, with the collapse of France, Allied troops were withdrawn and Norway was to remain an occupied country for the remainder of the war. The scenario depicts the historical setup, German invasion and Allied intervention in Norway.

The next is an image shows the north part of the main Invasion of France scenario. The entire scenario extends to the Med covering the Italtian frontier.

130: The Invasion of France and the Lower Countries

France - 10th May 1940: On this date, the German Army launched a massive attack on France, Belgium, and Holland. The attack was aided by massive aerial bombardments and supported by small, but highly effective, paratrooper landings. The following morning, the Allies began to execute their own pre-planned war maneuvers. On the coast, the French 7th Army began a dash toward Holland. On their right flank, the British Expeditionary Force, along with the French 1st Army on its right, advanced to the Dyle River in central Belgium. However, the German’s move in central Belgium was only a feint. The bulk of the German forces were coming through the Ardennes, where they broke out over the Meuse River five days later. Thus, pinning the mobile elements of the French Army and the BEF to the coast and leaving the French with virtually no reserves to stave off disaster. *Designer Note: If players wish for historical results in Human vs. Human Play, then apply these House Rules or conditions on the Allied play - All French and British units that are not fixed, with the exceptions of the French 18th, 22nd, and 1st Light Divisions, must move into Belgium and continue moving east for three turns. Also, any unit that enters Belgium must stay north of the Meuse River.

Other scenarios include a number of France '39 options, Denmark, Poland, a Holland Panzer School and even a hypothetical Sealion invasion of Britain.

More images to follow - please stop back again soon.