The Russian Campaign
Anecdote
A legendary creation by John Edwards, first published by Jedko Games and later by Avalon Hill, The Russian Campaign reconstructs the entire Eastern Front from June 1941 to May 1945 within a hex-and-counter system of remarkable elegance for its time. Two players take command of the Wehrmacht and the Red Army on a strategic map stretching from Berlin to the Urals. The system combines movement, combat, and rules specific to the Eastern Front — winter conditions, rasputitsa, and supply. A full game requires roughly fifteen to twenty hours, though shorter scenarios allow players to focus on specific phases in five to eight hours. The learning curve is moderate, thanks to a clear rulebook in the best Avalon Hill tradition. Edwards brought a fresh vitality to strategic wargaming with rules whose elegance left a lasting mark on a generation of designers. The original components are understated but of typical Avalon Hill quality. The Russian Campaign went through several successive editions at Avalon Hill and then L2 Design Group, a testament to its enduring success. The title's influence on strategic modelling of the Eastern Front is immense. It inspired several generations of designers, including Mark Simonitch in his '41–'45 series. The community remained loyal to the title for five decades, filling the internet with campaign accounts and variants. A French translation appeared on multiple occasions and remains sought after by collectors. The title received several major awards upon release and appears in every wargaming hall of fame. For enthusiasts of Eastern Front history, The Russian Campaign is an absolute classic. It embodies the maturity of an Australian and American school of strategic wargaming in the 1970s. It continues to serve today as a reference point for anyone seeking to understand the origins of modern strategic wargaming.
Popularity & reception
Awards — Charles S. Roberts Award - Best Strategic Game (1976) · Origins Award - Hall of Fame · BGG Hall of Fame Wargame
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