Against the Odds: Toppling the Reich (Annual)

From Against the Odds:

Toppling the Reich is an operational level simulation of the fighting for the Rhine River and Westwall that occurred in 1944 and 1945. Designer John Prados transports his Panzerkrieg game system to the Western Front to examine the major episodes of this clash. Using scenarios, which can also be linked together to form a campaign game, he covers the entire war in France and the Low Countries from early September 1944 to the German surrender in May 1945. Players on both sides will be challenged with conducting offensive operations as well as desperate defenses.

Rules in Toppling the Reich include ones dealing with the various Army and Corps Commanders on both sides, Paratroop drops and airpower, a very clever depiction of ULTRA capabilities (and failures), the planning and timing for German counter-attacks. Toppling the Reich is actually six different games: five scenarios which cover the Western Front from September 1944 to April 1945 and one 36 turn Campaign Game which includes this entire period. The smaller scenarios include:

• Scenario 1: Broad Front or Narrow Thrust? (Market-Garden)
• Scenario 2: See Germany and Die! Closing Up to the Westwall
• Scenario 3: The Roer River and Lorraine
• Scenario 4: Herbstnebel-Nordwind: From the Bulge to Alsace.
• Scenario 5: The Defense of the Rhine

Toppling the Reich and the 2006 ATO Magazine Annual

Maps - One full color 22"x34" mapsheet
Counters - 480 full color 1/2" die-cut pieces
Rules length - 17 pages
Charts and tables - 3 pages
Complexity - Medium
Solitaire suitability - Average
Playing time - Up to 2 to 3 hours for the smaller scenarios, 12 to 15 hours for the full campaign game