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On 16 December 1944, the "ghost front" of the First US Army in the Ardennes suddenly erupted into furious action as twenty-plus German divisions embarked on what would be Hitler's last grand attack in the west. The ultimate objective was the port of Antwerp, which provided most of the Allied supply for the drive into northern and central Germany. Most Americans had believed the war against Germany would be over by Christmas. Yet Hitler was convinced the war could still be decided in the Riech's favour in the west. The German army destroyed in France was reorganized and re-equipped. A massive surprise counterattack - deceptively code-named "Wacht am Rhein" (Watch on The Rhine) - against the weakly held Ardennes sector of the American front was prepared.

Wacht am Rhine is a grand-tactical simulation of that enormous battle. The more than 2,200 counters in the game represent every formation, at company and battalion levels, which fought in the Ardennes, including US, German, British, French, Canadian and Belgian units. Infantry, armour, anti-tank, reconnaissance, engineer assault gun, howitzer, rocket, parachute, ranger, glider, and headquarters units are all fully represented in the counter-mix. The four map sections are an accurate representation of the Ardennes region. Compiled from the 1944 German staff maps and the 1943-1944 1:50,000 US Army map series, the area portrayed shows all primary and secondary roads, trails and other types of terrain in relation to their suitability for armour and infantry, along with all the towns and villages that proved to be the bastions of the American defence, as well as every creek and river that couldn't be crossed by wheeled vehicles without a bridge.

Players may use single map sections for the six smaller scenarios. There is also a campaign game that utilizes all four map sections and portrays about three weeks of the battle (50 game turns). In that one the Germans race for the Meuse River, the last hurdle before the open tank-country leading to the vital port of Antwerp, in the face of ever increasing concentrations of Allied infantry, armour and air power. Extensive supply, weather and air power rules are included.

This edition of Wacht am Rhein presents extensive modifications to the combat, artillery and supply subsystems of the first edition in order to better depict tactical and operational warfare at this scale. For example, an "exploitation mode" has been added in order to allow mechanized units to take advantage of breakthroughs in the enemy frontline during the combat phase. That exploitation movement is actually interleaved with the opposing player's movement, working to completely recreate the fluid and chaotic situation as it existed during the first week of the fighting. Other changes include the addition of "vantage points," which function like high ground, enabling units to spot more effectively for artillery barrages, as well as "constricted terrain," which accurately represents the channelling of mobility caused by the steep gullies and ravines running throughout the Ardennes.

The orders of battle have also been extensively redone in order to provide an accurate and functional depiction of the armies of both sides. Units are now depicted in the organizations within which they actually fought, not the administrative formations that were, in reality, quickly discarded due to the requirements of combat.

Game Components:

• 4 22"x34" Four Colour Mapsheets
• 2380 Die-Cut Playing Pieces
• One Rule Booklet
• One Scenario Booklet with designer's notes and scenarios
• Assorted Player Aid Charts
• Two Ten-sided Dice
• Storage Bags

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