Red Storm over the Reich: The Last Days of the Third Reich

About this board game

Red Storm over the Reich: The Last Days of the Third Reich is a two-player historical wargame covering the final campaigns of World War II on the Eastern Front, with an approximate playing time of 480 minutes. Soviet forces smash into the German armies defending Poland, East Prussia, and Pomerania before advancing across the Oder toward Berlin.

The game includes three scenarios. The historical scenario begins with German forces out of position, leaving their armies vulnerable to shattering attacks, while demanding that the Soviets achieve at least as much as they did historically. A second scenario introduces Operation Sleigh-ride, allowing a more orderly German withdrawal to a defense line along the Vistula. The third combines Sleigh-ride with major German reinforcements from other fronts, including increased overall strength and doubled tank strength.

Red Storm reverses the familiar 1941 East Front situation. The Soviet player commands a massive force capable of creating gaping holes through blitzkrieg-style attacks, while the German player must assemble a desperate defense and repeatedly rebuild after it is broken apart. Time is critical for both sides: the Soviets must meet their objectives by the final turn, while Germany must delay the assault on Berlin long enough to prevent a Soviet victory.

Moderate rules complexity is supported by a range of specialized mechanics and historical detail, including Soviet logistical constraints, Kampfgruppe divisions, naval evacuations, panzerfausts, Volkssturm divisions, leaders, and Hitler-mandated attacks.

• Two 22" × 34" maps
• 456 counters across two sheets
• Three scenarios with estimated durations of 8–12 or 12–16 hours
• Rules, setup charts, tables, dice, and game box included

With its scenario variety and sharply contrasting Soviet and German challenges, Red Storm over the Reich recreates a desperate campaign where battlefield momentum and the calendar are equally decisive.