Roads to Stalingrad: Campaign Commander Series

About this board game

Roads to Stalingrad: Campaign Commander Series is a two-player operational-level wargame covering the campaign in southern Russia, with games lasting about 180 minutes.

Set from the summer of 1942 through the end of the winter of 1943, it recreates the Axis offensive known as Case Blue, the advance toward the Caucasus and the Volga, the struggle for Stalingrad, and the Soviet counteroffensive that followed. One player commands the Axis, while the other directs the Soviets.

The game uses a zonal map at a 1:120000 scale, counters, and cards. Cards do not drive the game; instead, they trigger events, influence battles, and bring the resources and reinforcements needed to continue the campaign.

• Fight for victory points by destroying enemy forces or occupying cities.
• Manage troops and resources across a shifting operational front.
• Decide whether the Axis should focus on the Caucasus, Stalingrad, or both.
• Prepare for the Soviet winter offensive and the dangers of overextension.

The Axis begins with the initiative and can apply intense pressure during the summer. The Soviet player must endure the advance, build strength, and meet the conditions needed to play the winter card before attempting a decisive counterstroke.

As the campaign develops, Soviet offensives threaten the Axis armies on the Don and force difficult choices across the front. Roads to Stalingrad combines straightforward rules with constant interaction, offering a compact way to experience one of the most dramatic campaigns of the Second World War.