As recent events on Cyprus have shown, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not the most stable alliance that ever existed. Old enmities, some of which are centuries old, have not dissolved but have simply been varnished over by new ideologies. The European 'Community' is perhaps no closer to unity today than it was in 1946, or 1846, or 1046.
With this situation in mind, I have come up with a NATO variant that is quicker but just as bloody as the standard M+31 scenario. But first, to set the mood, some hypothetical newspaper headlines from the not too distant future.
From the NEW YORK TIMES, 197?, arranged chronologically:
- CHINESE TROOPS CROSS SOVIET BORDER! RUSSIANS CAUGHT NAPPING!
VLADIVOSTOK FALLS TO CHINESE!
SOVIETS STRIP EUROPE TO MEET EASTERN THREAT!
HEAVY FIGHTING NEAR VLADIVOSTOK! CHINESE REPORTEDLY FALLING BACK!
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES U.S. STEP-DOWN IN EUROPE! SAYS RUSSIANS GONE, WHY BOTHER?
CASUALTIES APPROACH ONE MILLION MARK IN COMMIE WAR! U.S. OFFERS TO MEDIATE!
NEW SOVIET OFFENSIVE! RUSSIAN TROOPS ENTER CHINA! PEKI% SAYS WAR WILL LAST FIVE YEARS!
WARSAW PACT MEMBERS ANNOUNCE ITS DEMISE! KREMLIN SILENT!
TWO SOVIET ARMIES TRAPPED NEAR PEKING! HUGE AIR-SUPPLY OPERATION MOUNTED BY RUSSIAN AIR FORCE!
DEFENCE DEPT SPOKESMAN ESTIMATES BOTH SIDES FULLY COMMITTED AND NEAR EXHAUSTION!
CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND RUMANIA INVADE HUNGARY! SPORADIC FIGHTING ALONG ITALIAN-YUGOSLAV BORDER!
WEST GERMAN CHANCELOR SUBMITS TO POPULAR OUTCRY! ALL FOREIGN TROOPS TO LEAVE GERMANY!
HARVARD PROFESSOR SAYS EUROPE A TINDERBOX!
BONN RENOUNCES NATO PACT!
NEO-NAZI COUP IN GERMANY! ANSCHLUSS WITH EAST GERMANY ANNOUNCED!
HENRY KISSINGER FOUND DEAD!
PRESIDENT URGES EVERYONE KEEP COOL! EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN!
CONGRESS PASSES CASH AND CARRY BILL!
FRANCE DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY! FIGHTING IN STRASBURG!
BRITISH, BELGIANS, DUTCH, DANES JOIN FRENCH IN ANTI-GERMAN PACT! SIGN LONDON ACCORDS!
GENERAL WAR IN EUROPE!!! PHILS ROCK CARDS 9 TO 1 !!!1!
The Sides
One player controls the French, British, Belgian, Dutch and Danish M+31 forces. He deploys them within their respective countries. (British units start within three hexes of any Amsterdam hex.)
The other player controls the West and East German M+31 Armies. These forces may begin anywhere within East or West Germany. EG units use WG stacking limits and supply sources. Germans deploy first and move second. Game lasts 25 turns.
No entering Czechoslovakia. Luxembourg is Allied. Forces not mentioned above do not enter the game. Territorial units have no movement or set up restrictions.
How to Win
Anglo-Allies win if destroy 62 German (west or east) attack factors and control at least 20 German (west or east) cities. Germans win if prevent this.
Poland
If you have trouble beating Germany, add M+31 Polish Army to Anglo-Allied force, entering on eastern edge (north of CZ) on turn 2 on any hex not in German ZOC. Poles enter with one supply uniot and receive one on eastern edge of map every other turn.
Czechs
Following the same line of thought, the Czechs may also be brought in as a play balancer.
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© Copyright 1974 by Donald S. Lowry
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