Panzer Campaigns Poland ’39 Released!

Hi All,

Wargame Design Studio is pleased to release Panzer Campaigns: Poland ’39. It is fitting that as the world celebrates VE-Day, the 80^th anniversary of the end of the War in Europe, we turn to the campaign that initiated that European conflict.

We are excited to publish this title from Mike Prucha, follow-on to his Panzer Campaigns: Scheldt ‘44 and expansion of the Panzer Campaigns: France ’40 titles. Mike had begun work on Poland ’39 not long after Scheldt ’44 was released in late 2020, and there is definitely five years’ worth of work included. The map began as an expansion of the East Prussia map included in the First World War Campaigns title of the same name and has ended up as the biggest ever published by WDS. Poland is 956,565 hexes, or more than four times bigger than Panzer Campaigns: France ’40 at 212,000 hexes. For further reference, Panzer Campaigns: Moscow '42, which was the previous largest map, is 244,500 hexes.

With the experience of the Mike’s previously released titles, we believe Panzer Campaigns: Poland ’39 is a worthy addition. Here are a few comments from our play testing team:

“Really enjoying this scenario second time round. The Limited Victory locations, large map, all round design really comes through. For the first time in the Panzer Campaign series, I really feel like I'm trying a Blitzkrieg. The armor racing far in advance of anything taking a few knocks along the way, the motorized infantry trying to keep up and the foot plodders bringing up the rear, and dealing with all the tough fortifications the armor has long since bypassed in its grab for the victory locations. Really works well. Whilst the victory values may need adjusting between the A.I and head-to-head games it’s a real treasure of a scenario.”

“Again, I must compliment Mike on the story telling aspect of this campaign the Polish when formed and dug in can fight far better than the Soviets in the 1941-42 games. Their quality is better as is their all-round performance but that's only half the story because as the Polish you will find yourself for the first four days at least, very much trying to build your Armies on the fly. Some units are solid and complete and in very good positions, but your reinforcements must travel for miles and miles to reach their formations. Because this is Blitzkrieg you always feel as the Polish that you are reacting far too slowly to the events as they happen. Trying to consolidate everything is an enjoyable game in itself. Again, I'm making use of every ounce of rail capacity I can lay my hands on, but the units are bombed every move, often two three or even four times on every move causing disruption and chaos. This works well because chaos is probably what it was. When you knock out a German tank you cheer because those beasts dance around your positions or dive in to disrupt your infantry before diving out again, it’s all fun.

Replay value on this Campaign is immense for instance I would say next time I might ignore the limited objectives and make for the supply sources in cities and just hole up, I don't know but it’s an idea. I don't think my army will survive to see the Soviets but it’s going to be a lot more fun trying.”

“Mike has modeled everything in great detail and each scenario tells a part of the story as it happened. Whilst playing a human still provides the most fun, watch the A.I in this one. It’s improved beyond measure. Those used to sitting and watching the A.I beat itself will be in for a shock. Two particular cases in question are the Mokra and Gdynia scenarios. Play either side and no matter your experience you better bring your best game or the A.I will whoop you playing either side. The scripting work on this title is probably the best in the series to date.

Then there is head-to-head. I've been lucky enough to find a very skilled opponent and we have played through a good few of the medium scenarios together and against the A.I. The Border scenario, North and South Scenarios as well as the Bzura scenarios will all make for some of the best PBEM matches you can find.”

Below is the information that is on on the WDS product page.

Overview

With the signing of the Munich Agreement on September 30th, 1938, Neville Chamberlain proudly declared “peace for our time.” Less than a year later, when asked by Mussolini’s foreign minister whether Germany wanted Danzig or the Polish corridor, Joachim von Ribbentrop gave a direct answer: “No, not that anymore. We want war.”

The six years that had passed since Hitler had ascended to power had tested the resolve of Europe. He rebuilt Germany’s army in open defiance of the Versailles Treaty and the Anglo-French did nothing. The occupation of the Rhineland and the annexation of Austria were met with mere protest. At Munich, Chamberlain and Daladier sold out Czechoslovakia in hopes that Hitler’s territorial ambitions might be satiated, and months later the Czechoslovak state collapsed with hardly a shot fired. Memel was next, ceded to Germany by Lithuania shortly after the fall of Czechoslovakia. British efforts to form a grand military alliance in central and southern Europe and to court the Soviet Union as an ally against Germany came to nothing. It was clear that the policies of appeasement and containment had failed. Now Hitler demanded Danzig and the corridor. Attempts at mediation failed. The Polish Republic would not acquiesce to Hitler’s demands and Hitler would not back down. Poland had drawn a line in the sand: Hitler would not acquire Danzig or any piece of Polish territory except by war.

At 04:47 on September 1st, the guns of the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish fortress at Westerplatte. Already the Luftwaffe had bombed Tczew and Wielun and German irregulars had seized mines and industrial targets in Silesia. The invasion was underway, and Europe was plunged into a darkness that would last for nearly six years. Given the numerical and technical superiority of the Wehrmacht and the threat posed by the Red Army in the East, the Battle of Poland was, perhaps, a lost cause. The border defenses could not be held, the Polish army could not match the operational tempo set by Germans, and Poland had no answer to the Luftwaffe’s relentless bombardment of its cities. Nonetheless, the Polish soldier met the invader with utmost courage and tenacity. Polish infantrymen would turn back the armored onslaught at Mlawa and fight to the last round at Tomaszow Lubelski. Cavalrymen would deliver the Germans a bloody nose at Mokra. The air force, though outnumbered by more than 2:1 and technically outmatched, fought a skilled campaign and continued to make its presence felt deep into the battle. At Gdynia, sailors and civilian volunteers aided the army in a heroic nineteen-day defense. And on the Bzura River, the Polish army wiped out an entire German division in the largest Allied ground offensive prior to 1941. Even after defeat, Polish soldiers would continue the war from abroad where they would be known as "The First to Fight.”.

Panzer Campaigns: Poland ’39 covers the complete German and Soviet campaign between September 1 to October 3, 1940, including:

• Fall Weiss, Short: September 1st - 16th, 1939
  
  
• Fall Weiss, Long: September 1st - October 5th, 1939
  
  
• Piotrkow Trybunalski: September 4th, 1939
  
  
• Gydnia: September 8th, 1939
  
  
• Bzura: September 9th, 1939
  
  
• Warszawa: September 9th, 1939
  
  
• Brzesc: September 14th, 1939
  
  
• Lwow: September 12th, 1939
  
  
• Tomaszow Lubelski: September 18th, 1939
  
  
• Warszawa: September 25th, 1939
  
  

There are 77 scenarios in total including the above-mentioned operations. The longest campaign scenario is 348 turns. Smaller scenarios ranging in length from 4 to 158 turns and will provide players with plenty of challenges and battles of variable length and size.

Features

• Game scale is 1 hex = 1 km, 1 turn = 2 hours, with battalion and company size units.
  
  
• 77 Scenarios – covering all sizes and situations, including specialized versions for both head to head play and vs. the computer AI.
  
  
• The master map (956,565 hexes) covers all of Poland, Eastern Germany, Free City of Danzig, East Prussia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Soviet Union, Hungary, and Romania. This is the largest map published to date.
  
  
• The order of battle file covers the Axis and Allied forces that participated in the campaign with other formations added in for hypothetical situations.
  
  
• Order-of-Battle, Parameter Data and Scenario Editors which allow players to customize the game.
  
  
• A Sub-map feature allows the main map to be subdivided into smaller segments for custom scenario creation.
  
  
• Design notes which cover or include the production of the game, campaign notes and sources the design team used to produce this simulation game.
  
  

Panzer Campaigns: Poland ’39 provides multiple play options, including play against the computer AI, Play by E-mail (PBEM), LAN & Internet "live" play, and two-player hot seat.

This title is the first game released with our latest 4.05.2 code. You can read more about what has changed here.

Mike has also shared an After-Action Report of game play, click the image below to read.

And notes on the historical use of armored trains – which are included in game (click below to read).

Several variants have been included for both the campaigns and some of the stock scenarios. For example, the Tomaszow Lubelski scenario has a variant where the Polish units will have a much-reduced chance of surrendering (withdrawal in game terms) due to low supply. In the full-country campaigns, there are both short and long versions at 158 and 348 turn lengths. The difference is the date the Soviets invaded from the East. Further variants model a full Polish mobilization rather than the current partial situation, and also a longer version where the Soviets intervene, not as part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, but as an ally of Poland, counter-balancing the German superiority.

The Designer Notes are available by clicking on the image below.

For those who want to understand more about the campaign we are simulating, here are some additional resources.

This is an excellent 94-minute documentary from Youtube channel WW2TV:

Publicresourceorg has a period newsreel using German footage:

The Armchair Historian provides an animated history of the invasion from the Polish perspective:

And here is some reading material:

“Poland 1939” by Roger Moorhouse.

Moorhouse commentated on the WW2TV linked above. His book goes into greater depth and as he says: “As the opening campaign of the Second World War—which cost some 200,000 lives and contained all the wicked hallmarks of the later conflict—it surely warrants our attention and understanding, rather than being passed over in a couple of paragraphs, or remaining still mired in the mythologies and propaganda battles of the vilest totalitarians of the twentieth century. Most of all, it is a story from which the voices of its primary victims—the Poles themselves—have been excluded for far too long. One hopes that this book might begin the process of restoring them to their own narrative.”

If you have the means to only buy one book on the campaign, this is it…

“Case White: The Invasion of Poland 1939” by Robert Forczyk.

Amazon reviewer: “Undoubtedly, Dr. Forczyk's book is probably the best recent summary of the Poland campaign. As with other books by the same author, this one is also well written with a good mix of sources (especially Polish perspective) and well supported with arguments and maps/tables.

It is, definitely, that sort of book written by a prime authority who holds original and compelling opinions, reinforced by his military expertise. His description of military operations brings an entirely new outlook on this, somehow, neglected portion of the war.”

“The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941” by Roger Moorhouse.

Another Moorhouse book on the events that ushered the ultimate destruction and dismemberment of Poland and helped sow the scene for the cataclysmic battles to come on the Eastern Front.

“Poland Betrayed: The Nazi-Soviet Invasions of 1939” by David G. Williamson.

This is a good introductory title to the overall Polish campaign.

Here are some screenshots from the game:

You can get the game now from Wargame Design Studio on this link: Poland ’39 Product Page.

You can also get more information on the game as well as several free downloads under the ‘Updates and Downloadable Files’ tab located at the bottom of the product page.

In additional news, the WDS Menu program has been updated to support recently released titles. This includes Panzer Campaigns: Poland ’39. You can get the latest version of the menu app here.

We hope you enjoy this latest Panzer Campaigns title, and a big thank you to Mike and all in the team again!