The release of the brand-new plastic French infantry is just around the corner, as well as the new early-model Panzer IV (Ausf B/C/D), and we’ve been using the occasion to take a look through the rules and miniatures that will allow us to best replicate the early stages of the war through the medium of Bolt Action. As befits such an important phase of the war, there are a couple of supplements covering the first German conquests in Europe which can help you get the most out of your forces, and provide plenty of inspiration for wargaming the period. We’ve already covered campaign supplement, Battle of France (read that article here), so today, we’re looking at the theatre book, Germany Strikes!
Covering the early German conquests of Poland, Denmark, Norway, and the Low Countries, as well as the key engagements of what would become known as the Battle (and subsequent Fall) of France, the book is packed with scenarios allowing you to re-fight the battles of the early war in Europe. Starting with the opening salvos of the entire war, moving on to the legendary capture of the Belgian fortress of Eben Emael, and ending with the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk, Germany Strikes! has everything you need to get some great early-war gaming going. I’m particularly partial to the Frankforce at Arras scenario, which pits British tanks against German Panzers in a classic shoot-em-up – Matildas versus Panzer IIs, anyone?
Accompanying all of the missions is, of course, plenty of historical background that allows you to really put your games into context – an important part of this kind of wargaming – as well as a bunch of awesome artwork and scenic shots to provide painting and modelling inspiration, perfect for planning out that next project (we all know it’ll be some early-war goodness – it’s just a matter of which flavour!) or convincing your buddies to join you for a game or two!
Naturally, for all of these missions, in all those countries, there need to be some new units and rules, and Germany Strikes! is packed with them. Denmark gets an army list of its very own, with plenty of conversion opportunities and some unique armoured cars, while the Polish go postal… literally! One of the first actions of the war was an attack on the Polish Post Office in Danzig, which the Poles had been expecting. The small garrison fought heroically before being overwhelmed by Sturmabteilung thugs and Ordnungspolizei officers, and naturally, both sides are represented with new units. The Poles can also bring a frankly terrifying Armoured Train Platoon(!) to the fray – I’ve been waiting to see someone take one of these bonkers lists to a tournament for a while now!
As one of our older supplements, Germany Strikes! has been providing solid service for a while now, and is certainly worth revisiting, armed with the gorgeous new plastic French infantry – the perfect chaps to play through the Fall of France sequence of missions alongside the British!
It’s also one of my favourite books for the very simple reason that it deals with the very beginning of the Second World War, which tends to be somewhat overlooked by wargamers (it’s okay, it’s only natural to gravitate towards assault rifles and super-heavy tanks – we’ve all been there!). I’ve been slowly working on a first-day-of-the-war German force (only slightly interrupted by managing to get my hands on some new French sprues a bit early – the perks of the job!) for just this kind of gaming – early-war, infantry-heavy combat with minimal ‘heavy’ support. I think it can provide a fantastic tactical challenge, and can also be surprisingly competitive in the tournament arena. Remember, if you’re not early – you’re late!
Prepare Your Forces
French Army
This Bolt Action starter army provides a solid core to your new French Army force. The highly detailed multi-pose plastic infantry can be assembled and painted as regular infantry, fortress troops, chasseurs a pied, engineers or colonial troops (Algerian, Moroccan & Tunisian), giving you a colourful army with plenty of variety and flexibility with which to face the German Blitzkrieg.
This Bolt Action Starter Army contains:
- 36 multi-pose plastic infantry
- Plastic Char B1 bis medium tank
- Metal HQ
- Metal medium mortar team
- Metal MMG team
- Metal 25mm anti-tank gun
- Plastic bases
- Bolt Action stat card
- Vehicle damage markers
- Full-colour waterslide decal sheet
British Expeditionary Force
The British Expeditionary Corps was an army of nearly a third of a million troops which Great Britain sent to France to try to resist inevitable German aggression. Allied with Belgian and French forces, its ten infantry divisions were supported by artillery, tank brigades and air squadrons. Despite fighting well they were outmanoeuvred all too often, leading to tactical withdrawal and the heroic but tragic defeat at Dunkirk.
Blitzkrieg Germans
Superbly equipped and trained, the German soldier in the early years of World War II was a formidable opponent. Utilising revolutionary mobile tactics, he rampaged across mainland Europe sweeping all aside. The German army was only halted by the combined might of the United States, Soviet Union and British Commonwealth.
The Blitzkrieg German starter army contains:
- 36x Plastic Blitzkrieg German Infantry
- Plastic Sd.Kfz 251/1 ausf C halftrack
- Early War German 81mm Mortar Team (Metal)
- Early War German 7.5cm leIG 18 light artillery (Metal)
- Panzer IV Ausf. D (Resin and Metal)
1 comment
I would be a lot more inclined to buy that Blitzkrieg starter army if the new plastic Panzer IV was in it 😕 Honestly that whole set could use redux, but at the very least the new plastic tank should replace the resin one to make it more in line with the other boxes.