Fifth Corps: The Soviet Breakthrough at Fulda

About this board game

Fifth Corps: The Soviet Breakthrough at Fulda is a two-player board wargame, designed for approximately 120 minutes, that depicts the early days of World War III in West Germany. Originally published by SPI in 1980 as part of the Central Front Series, it appeared in the September/October issue of Strategy & Tactics magazine #82.

The game focuses on the Fulda Gap and the surrounding Fulda/Frankfurt area, with a map covering the major West German cities of Frankfurt and Mainz. Units are represented at company, battalion, and regiment level, while each hex covers 4 kilometers of terrain.

Fifth Corps uses several mechanics intended to portray modern battlefield conditions. Operations Points shape movement and activity, Friction Points represent battlefield complications, and variable-length turns add uncertainty to the flow of operations. Zones of Control are also used, alongside rules for airpower, airmobile operations, and nuclear and chemical warfare.

Three scenarios provide different views of the conflict:

• Rhein-Main Raid: Two Soviet motorized rifle divisions enter the Fulda Gap with attack-helicopter support, targeting a NATO nuclear site at Giessen, Wiesbaden Airfield, and the Rhein-Main Airbase.
• The Battle for Fulda: An entire Soviet Army and supporting units, including an airborne regiment, attack as NATO attempts to contain enemy breakouts until the 5th Panzer Division arrives.
• Fifth Corps: The Soviets commit the 1st Guards Tank Army, creating a race for the important Pomcus and Reforger sites.

From a focused introductory engagement to the full campaign, the game presents a concentrated examination of a Soviet breakthrough at one of the central front’s most important sectors.