Historical background
The German commander, General Erich Ludendorff, in the spring of 1918, believed it was essential for Germany to use the troops freed from the Eastern Front from the collapse of Russia, to achieve a victory against the war-weary Allies on the Western Front, before American troops arrived. The German offensive, Operation Michael, was directed against the British army north of the Somme River. It was the first time German tanks were used. Three of the five A7V Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagens (tanks) broke down, but Number 501, called “Gretchen”, and Number 506, known as “Mephisto”, helped the Germans overrun the first and second allied trench lines near St. Quentin. By March 22, the British 5th Army was in retreat. The offensive had obtained the single largest territorial gain on the Western Front since the early months of the war, but in spite of these gains, the Allied lines were only bent, not broken.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
Victory Medals: 6
- 1 Medal for each soldier unit eliminated.
- 2 Medals for each tank eliminated.
- The German forces gain 1 Permanent Victory Medal for each soldier unit that exits the battlefield from the British baseline and 2 Permanent Victory Medals for each tank.
- The German forces gain 1 Temporary Victory Medal at the start of their turn, when one or more German units occupy any British trench hex in the front line, and for the second line, provided the first trench is also occupied by one or more units.
- The German forces are racing against time. The British player may take a Victory Medal, instead of taking two command cards, when playing a “Recon” command card.
Special Rules
- German player does the No-Man’s-Land shelling roll.