Battles in the East #1: Sandomierz Offensive and Bagration Stopped, 1944

Battles in the East (BITE) is a series simulating World War II Eastern Front battles. The system rules are an evolution of the SPI classics Panzergruppe Guderian, Army Group South, and Cobra. Unit integrity bonuses include Soviet Corps and vary to show the increasing Soviet cohesion and decreasing German cohesion as the war progresses. HQ units provide higher level combat support and supply advantages to corresponding units in range. BITEs also incorporates standardized scales (unit size, distance, time) for easy comparisons.

While the series rules allow players to play many games with the same core rules, the scenario rules add unique situational elements of each battle. Each volume includes two battles from one year with two copies of the charts and tables as well as scenario rules and set-up cards for easy reference.

Bagration Stopped

Warsaw, 1944: Operation Bagration had all but destroyed Army Group Center. Frantically the German army attempted to patch together a new defensive line. Armor reserves were rushed to the sector from as far away as Italy to hold the Vistula River line and Warsaw. At the same time 2nd Tank Army, working with 1st Belorussian Front, attempted to strike North, isolate Warsaw, and race for the Baltic to cut off all German forces in the North. The Soviets were unaware a new strike force was being assembled to prevent this, IV SS Panzer Corps. All is set for a classic armor thrust and counter thrust on the Vistula plain.

The game runs from 27th July 1944–20th August 1944—ten game turns.

Sandomierz Offensive

Vistula Bridgehead, 1944: Army Group North Ukraine had been driven backwards in the Soviet Summer offensive. More concerning was that the army group’s front had a huge hole between 1st Panzer and 4th Panzer armies. The Red Army moved to exploit this and cross the Vistula River. This was the last major obstacle to capturing Southern Poland. The Wehrmacht fought to delay the Soviet advance while drawing mechanized reserves from across the Eastern front to launch a counterattack. This would include the first use of King Tigers in action.

The game runs from 28th July 1944–20th August 1944—ten game turns.

Game Contents

• One double-sided 22×34 inch game board

• 440 die-cut 5/8-inch counters

• 16-page system rules booklet

• System charts card (2 sets)

• Scenario rules/setup cards (2 sets of 2)

• Scenario display card

• 1 six-sided die

• Storage bags

Battles in the East Series

Players: 2

Playing Time: 2–4 hours

Map Scale: 3–5 miles per hex (5–8 km)

Counter Scale: Regiment–Division

Complexity: Medium

Solitaire: High