Roads to Leningrad: Battles of Soltsy and Staraya Russa, 1941

About this board game

Roads to Leningrad: Battles of Soltsy and Staraya Russa is an operational-level World War II game package for 1–2 players, covering two battles that may have helped save Leningrad.

During the summer of 1941, German Army Group North advanced toward Leningrad, but difficult terrain, lengthening supply lines, and stronger Soviet resistance slowed the offensive. At Soltsy, a powerful Soviet force struck Manstein’s LVI (Panzer) Corps and forced the German advance to halt for three crucial weeks.

In August, a Soviet counteroffensive south of Lake Ilmen threatened the German flank near Staraya Russa. German motorized reserves were diverted to meet the danger, producing a strategically barren victory far from the main objective and leaving the Germans without enough strength to break into Leningrad.

• Battle of Soltsy: Advance toward Novgorod and cut Leningrad off from the rest of Russia while exposed German flanks face Soviet attacks.
• Counter-Blow at Soltsy: Surround German armor, disrupt motorized infantry in the swamps, raid supply columns, and attempt to escape the 8th Panzer Division.
• Battle of Staraya Russa: Launch or withstand a surprise Soviet offensive that penetrates deeply and threatens German X Corps.
• Manstein Attacks: Manage the mobility and timing of German reinforcements as Manstein’s troops strike the Soviet flank and encircle the 34th Army.

The game uses a 12-hour turn scale, with each hex representing 1.2 miles and units representing battalions and companies. Its double-sided 22 × 34-inch map, three sheets of 5/8-inch counters, rules and play books, setup cards, and player aid cards support both battles.

With its focus on operational movement, armored breakthroughs, Soviet counteroffensives, supply difficulties, and reinforcement timing, Roads to Leningrad presents two connected historical crises on the road to Leningrad.