Rise and Decline of the Third Reich

A 1974 hex-and-counter simulation of the entire European war, from the invasion of Poland to the final defeat.

Designers: Don Greenwood, John Prados
Published by: The Avalon Hill Game Co
Editions by: Hobby Japan

Your table becomes Europe, 1939 to the bitter end. Rise and Decline of the Third Reich is a strategic-level hex-and-counter wargame from 1974 with 560 counters, and it covers the whole war effort, not single battles. You take the roles of the major powers and move armies, fight with a ratio-based combat table, and watch alliances shift as the war turns. There is a 24-turn campaign, an advanced version and shorter 12-turn scenarios, and it plays with two to six people (even the Italian player can win). Honest warning: this is an all-weekend simulation, not an evening game.

560 counters covering the major powersCampaign of 24 turns plus shorter scenariosRatio-based combat on a hex map

Who it's for

You love classic grand-strategy wargames and have a dedicated group, a big table and a weekend to devote to the whole of World War II in Europe.

Not for you if…

You want something to start and finish in one evening, or you are new to wargames. This is a very long, dense simulation.

Vibe's take

Heavy, grinding and deeply historical. Expect long stretches of moving counters, tracking supply and fronts, and a campaign that tells its own version of the war.