All by my lonesome I'm playing FITE & SE. Yes, that's right, I'm playing all nine maps and 7,000 counters by myself. Am I crazy? Probably, but I sure have learned about the problems, and difficulties the German Army encountered. How did I do this you might ask? I experienced the same trials and tribulations in my own private war as did the German High Command. All this in my own spare bedroom. You say noway? Ah ... then DO read on!

The Germans had more than one logistics and planning nightmare. Directing the allocations of such critical resources as railroad engineers and supplies proved to be a hugh task. Many times, supplies and men went to places they shouldn't have. Well, I lost two of my railroad engineer units. I had been agonizing over just how I was going to regauge the needed rail lines to support my main dirves into the Soviet Union with just three units. Where were they? One Sunday, while performing the German air phase, I looked under an ME-109 sitting on an airbase somewhat to the rear, and there they were. The answer to my logistical quandry. Too late to help the Panzers on the Southern Front, however.

With so much men and material on the Ost Front, Germany was constantly terrified of the opening of a Second Front against their realm. I too am constantly terrified. Instead of the Western Allies battering my shores, I have to worry about my little boy. He's almost three you see. Just the other day I heard the ominous sound of my little one opening the door of the game room. The west map edge is near the door. I jumped up and ran in there telling him he knew he wasn't supposed to be in there! He ran out smiling big with his mouth closed. My worst fears were realized. I opened his mouth and inside was German 7-6 Infantry division. My son's blitz from the west had devoured precious men and material. The "Second Front" is a daily reality in my war.

Warm, dry weather. What every panzer trooper wishes for! The best time of the year for blitzkreig indeed. Not for me though. Guess what I have to do in the summer since I have a house? I mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and pull the weeds. Only when that is done, or I get some "logistical baby sitting" from grandma, can I press home the offensive. The Axis hated the Russian winter, but I'm ready for the cold so the grass will quit growing.

Lebensraum. The Germans pushed east in search of "living space". We have a four bedroom house. The fourth bedroom is my office, my computer room, and my game room. This room is the smallest of the four. The maps cover a "four by eight" piece of plywood with play aids interspersed all over the place. I also have a desk, computer, printer, and file cabinet in there. I try to run my side- business out of here too. I'm the one that needs some living space!

I'm not into role playing, not a bit. However, one Saturday when it was the Bolshevik's turn, I knew I had to launch a spectacular counterattack against the Fascist invaders to save the Motherland's northern flank. I needed to get into the mood for strategic thinking, Russian style. So, I went out and bought a can of Borscht and ate it for lunch. What did I do then? I planned and executed an armored thrust that broke through the German lines near Pskov. Certainly for a moment I felt like one of the Red Army's finest. And you thought I just liked the Germans, didn't you?

As you can see, I'm taking the war effort seriously. In reality, you really can play FITE/SE by yourself. There is alot to do and know, but it is playable. Even so, it will be a long time until I have a different game on my table. All wars do come to an end, however. So what's next? Grand Europa, when I have enough time and space, of course. Our cars don't really need to be in the garage. do they?