Prepare yourself. Prepare yourself for biting cold; for relentless Soviet attacks- for a bitter, bitter fight to the end. Hitler has ordered victory or death, and you, in the place of General Paulus, have been told that suicide is the only acceptable alternative to victory.

These are the conditions in which the German sixth army fought during its final days at Stalingrad during the winter of 1942-43.

Der Kessel, a solitaire game of the last weeks at Stalingrad, may not seem like a likely topic for a game. Most games that deal with this campaign end at the time that this game begins. Nevertheless, Der Kessel brings forth the decisions that faced the German leadership in a startlingly vivid manner. Many of you have perhaps now seen the movie Stalingrad, which was released last fall by the same people who produced Das Boot. Der Kessel brings the reality that movie portrayed to the gaming table in frightening detail. The decisions, the sacrifices, the hopes, and the disappointments are all here.

As the German player, you are faced with several options. Should the perimeter be maintained? How should resources be spent? Should a breakout be attempted despite orders to the contrary? All the while wondering, will help arrive in time?

The game system simulates the Soviet actions, which are not hard to determine. The system simply continues to tighten the noose around Stalingrad, choking off the last gasping breaths for life of the Sixth army.

So get out your history books and brush up on this campaign. You're going to be faced with many of the same realities, decisions, and possibilities of the actual combatants. Can you command your way to a better outcome? Can you successfully maneuver your way through the morass of Fuehrer directives? Can you deliver the Sixth Army from the boiling cauldron.? Can you change the outcome on the Eastern Front? Find out the answers to these questions in the next issue of Competitive Edge.

Be Prepared.