The Balkan League Matrix Game

Cards: The Second Balkan War (1913)

by Bob Cordery

SERBIA

Background : Serbia is an independent kingdom which was formerly part of the Turkish Empire. As a result of the First Balkan War (1912) Serbia has doubled in size, but the fact that Bulgaria has become the predominant country in the Balkans is much resented, arid relations between the two countries have become very strained. The Serbian Army is well trained and battle-hardened.

Aims:
1) To reduce Bulgarian influence in the Balkans, and to replace it as the most important country in the region.
2) To obtain an outlet to the sea.

Allies : Greece, Montenegro, and Rumania.

Armed Forces
1 Medium Army 50,000 men
1 Small Army 25,000 men
Total 75,000 men

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATRIX CARDS PER MOVE = 15

GREECE

Background : Greece is an independent kingdom which was formerly part of the Turkish Empire. As a result of the First Balkan War (1912) Greece has doubled in size, but the tact that Bulgaria has occupied Thrace and become the predominant country in the Balkans is much resented. and relations between the two countries have become very strained. The Greek Army is well trained and battle-hardened.

Aims :
1) To unite Greece with Thrace
2) To reduce Bulgarian influence in the Balkans.

Allies : Montenegro, Serbia, and Rumania.

Armed Forces :
1 Medium Army 50,000 men

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATRIX CARDS PER MOVE = 10

MONTENEGRO

Background : Montenegro is an independent and somewhat underdeveloped mountainous kingdom which was formerly pan of the Turkish Empire. As a result of the First Balkan War (1912) Montenegro has doubled in size, but the fact that the *spoils of war* were not shared equitably is much resented, and relations between Bulgaria and Montenegro have become very strained. The Montenegrin Army is battle- hardened and it has a reputation for being tough and well-motivated. and particularly adept at mountain and guerrilla warfare.

Aim : To gain more local political power.

Allies : Greece, Rumania, and Serbia

Armed Forces :
1 Small Army 25,000 men

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATRIX CARDS PER MOVE = 5

BULGARIA

Background : Bulgaria is an independent kingdom which was lormedy part of the Turkish Empire. As a result of the First Balkan War (1912) Bulgaria has become the predominant country in the Balkans, but this is resented by Greece, Montenegro, Rumania, and Serbia, and relations between Bulgaria and these countries have become very strained. The Bulgarian Army well trained and battle-hardened.

Aims :
1) To retain all the territorial gains made as a result of the First Balkan War.
2) To remain the most important Balkan country.

Allies: None.

Armed Forces:
1 Large Army 100,000 men
1 Medium Army 50,000 men
1 Small Army 25,000 men
Total 175,000 men

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATRIX CARDS PER MOVE = 20

TURKEY

Background : Although nominally ruled by the Sultan, the Turkish Government is in the hands of a small group of ultranationalist Army Officers who resent the defeat suffered by their country in the First Balkan War (1912). The Turkish Army is reasonably well trained and battlehardened, but it remains ill-equipped.

Aims:
1) To regain as much power and territory as possible in the Balkans.
2) To remain in control of Constantinople and the entrance to the Black Sea at all cost

Allies: None.

Armed Forces
1 Large Army 100,000 men
1 Medium Army 50,000 men
Total 150,000 men

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATRIX CARDS PER MOVE = 20

RUMANIA

Background : Rumania is an independent kingdom which was formerly part of the Turkish Empire. Rumania did not take part in the First Balkan War (1912), and the fact that Bulgaria has now become the predominant country in the Balkans is much resented, and relations between the two countries have become very strained. The Rumanian Army is well trained and equipped.

Aim : To reduce Bulgarian influence in the Balkans, and to replace it as the most important country in the region.

Allies : Greece, Montenegro. and Serbia.

Armed Forces:
1 Large Army 100,000 men
1 Medium Army 50,000 me
Total 150,000 men

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATRIX CARDS PER MOVE = 20

The Balkan League Matrix Game Rules for the First and Second Balkan Wars (1912-13)

Back to Experimental Games Group # 17 Table of Contents
Back to Experimental Games Group List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1991 by Chris Engle
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com