For the intrepid Europa fan, the publication of Marita-Merkur finally allows the coverage of the entire eastern front, from the Elbe to the Volga, from the White Sea to the Aegean. Unfortunately, GDW does not seem to be about to detail this area as a whole except through Europa. Accordingly, I have done some initial work, entirely unofficial, in this area. Specifically, I have attempted to link Marita-Merkur with Drang Nach Osten!, in order to explore the possible effects of the Balkan campaign upon the invasion of the Soviet Union.

For the mapboard, set up the DNO maps, the Marita-Merkur maps, and the Case White map of central Germany, Whether maps 1 and 3 or maps 1A and 3A are used is inconsequential.

Inital deployment procedes per MM, deploying the Italians, Greeks, and Jugoslavs as usual. Then, the Germans are deployed anywhere in Germany (1940 borders) and Slovakia. For the Germans, use the initial order of battle given in Unentschieden. To this, add one 5-6 infantry division, one 7-6 infantry division, one 5-8 mountain division, and one 2-8 infantry regiment. Furthermore, deduct all the paratroop units appearing on the Sept. I 1941 turn and add the 7th Parachute Division (10- 6) to the initial set up. At this point, deduct the German units to be deployed in Finland; they are set up when the Finns enter the war. For German air units, use the DN0/UNT Draft Air OOB.

The game begins with the Italians committed to the invasion of Greece, on the Nov I 1940 turn. As in MM, Germany does not start the game as an active participant in the Balkans.

Play proceeds as normal, including rolling for the coup in Jugoslavia and for German intervention. Note: if the Jugoslav coup does not occur, this will mean that Jugoslavia will stay neutral throughout the game, even during the invasion of the USSR.

German units have only a limited movement ability prior to German intervention. Each turn, up to nine regimental equivalents of ground units and two air units may be released for the Balkan campaign. If the parachute division is released, then eleven Ju 52's and two DFS 230's accompany it. Released units may move in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria, but they may not move outside this area (excluding any units sent to Italy per the German assistance rule). They may not attack.

After intervention has occurred, all German units are released. In any case, there may be no more than thirty regimental equivalents of German ground units in Rumania at any time prior to Rumania's entry into the war (Rumania enters the war when the Axis invades the Soviet Union). Furthermore, until Germany invades the USSR, one German division must garrison Ploesti during 1941.

The Germans may intervene, upon the initiative of the Axis player, on the first clear weather turn in Zone D. They must intervene if there are any enemy units on the mainland at the start of the first clear weather turn in Zone D. The Axis player is totally prohibited from invading the USSR until all Allied units are driven from the mainland. The Soviet Union may be invaded on any turn following this.

German units that participate in the Balkan campaign must be given a rest period for refitting. This consists of spending an entire Axis player turn, outside hostile or conquered territory, without moving. This applies equally to both ground and air units. Once the unit is refitted, it may be sent to the Russian front. Units participating in the Balkans or being refitted may be assigned to DNO's reserve requirement. These units may not leave the reserve until they have been refitted.

Immediately prior to the invasion of the USSR, the German player activates his minor allies. The units are deployed as according to the UNT order of battle; those Hungarians and Italians appearing in MM are not used. The Finnish war effort is determined, and the German units allocated to deploy in Finland are set up. Units in excess of what is allowed must be deployed on map 13; they may be placed in reserve.

Once the mainland Balkans been subjugated, the Axis must garrison the area. The Axis player must allocate at least ten regimental equivalents of infantry or mountain units as occupation forces for the Balkans. If Jugoslavia remained neutral, only six regimental equivalents are required. Of course, these occupation forces are not available for the invasion of the Soviet Union.

If Crete is not taken by the Axis, then, following the invasion of the USSR, the British may attempt to raid the Ploesti oil fields. Each time the Germans receive supply counters as reinforcements, one die is rolled, dividing the result by two (round fractions down). This resulting number is the number of supply points deducted from the appearing supply counters. For each German type F air unit stationed in Rumania, Bulgaria, or Greece, subtract one from the die roll. The adjusted die roll may never go below zero.

The DNO portion of the game is played according to the DNO/UNT rules, as modified by the Draft Air OOB. Victory for the entire game is judged according to DNO victory conditions.