Origins of World War II

About this board game

Origins of World War II is a diplomatic game for 2–5 players, with a playing time of about 60 minutes, first released in 1971. Players take the roles of the major powers during the 1930s and attempt to achieve their diplomatic objectives while preventing rival powers from achieving theirs.

The game unfolds over six turns, with the final turn set in December 1939. In each area, such as Poland or Romania, diplomatic conflicts are resolved by comparing the attacker’s diplomatic points with those of the defender on the diplomatic conflict table.

The outcome determines more than individual diplomatic successes. If Germany or the USSR wins, World War II begins. If one of the allied powers wins, the war would have been prevented, giving the game a distinct historical “what if” focus.

• Play as one of the major powers of the 1930s.
• Compete for diplomatic objectives across areas including Poland and Romania.
• Resolve diplomatic conflicts by comparing diplomatic points.
• Explore alternate policies such as a Strong Franco-British alliance, an Aggressive French policy, or the Anti-Bolshevik Crusade.

Origins of World War II also includes a useful chronology of the actual diplomatic moves made by the major powers before the Second World War. This historical reference complements the alternate outcomes created during play.

Presented as an Avalon Hill bookcase game, it carries an Avalon Hill complexity rating of 1. A German edition, Diplomatie, was published by Schmidt Spiele in the Schmidt Spiele-Bar series bookcase format.