1941: Operation Barbarossa

About this board game

1941: Operation Barbarossa is a two-player World War II wargame designed for a play time of about 120 minutes. It covers the German invasion of Russia during the initial onslaught from June through December 1941.

The game presents the campaign at an army and corps scale, with each hex representing 65 kilometers. Each game turn represents one month, creating a focused way to portray the opening period of Operation Barbarossa.

As one of GDW’s Series 120 games, 1941: Operation Barbarossa belongs to a line of introductory wargames spanning a range of historical eras. The series was built around a compact format: games included 120 counters and were intended to be playable in 120 minutes or less.

The game’s defined scope makes its historical setting clear and approachable. Rather than covering the entire Second World War, it concentrates on the German invasion of Russia and the campaign’s first seven months.

• Players: 2
• Play time: 120 minutes
• Campaign period: June through December 1941
• Scale: army and corps units, with 65 km per hex
• Turn length: one month
• Series: GDW Series 120

Released in 1981, 1941: Operation Barbarossa offers a concise tabletop treatment of a major World War II invasion, framed within GDW’s introductory Series 120 format.