Duel for Kharkov

About this board game

Duel for Kharkov is a divisional- and regimental-level board wargame for two players, with scenarios ranging from 4 to 30 hours and a listed play time of 1,800 minutes. It recreates the 3rd and 4th battles of Kharkov, including the Soviet operations “Star” and “Leap” and von Manstein’s “Backhand Blow.”

The game begins after Stalingrad has been relieved and five Axis armies have been swept away. The Red Army faces a vast opening in the German lines, with the industrial Donets Basin and Ukrainian farmlands beyond it, while a potential move toward the Sea of Azov could threaten two more German armies. Yet ten German panzer and motorized divisions are maneuvering on the flanks, ready to contest the advance.

With a scale of 3 miles per hex and two days represented by each turn, the system emphasizes sweeping movement, low counter density, and dynamic action. The result is a broad operational contest centered on the largest tank battle the world had seen at the time.

• Two 34-by-22-inch maps
• Die-cut counters, rules, charts, and tables
• Six scenarios covering the Kharkov operations
• Designed for two players, with limited solo play possible

Originally published in 1985 by People’s War Games, this edition features revised counter art, streamlined rules, and an updated Soviet order of battle based on newly opened Russian archives. Duel for Kharkov offers a high-complexity historical campaign for players interested in operational decision-making, armored maneuver, and the shifting opportunities of the Eastern Front.