How the West was Saved: the Russo - Polish War 1920

How the West was Saved: the Russo – Polish War, April - October 1920

Year of publishing: 2020
Designer: Stephen Pole

"How the West was Saved", is a two–player strategic wargame based upon the Russo – Polish War.

The game covers the period from April 1920, when the Poles were poised to attack Kiev, until October 1920 when the War effectively came to an end. One player commands the Polish and Ukrainian armies; the other commands the Russians (and their Lithuanian allies if Lithuania joins the conflict). Generally, each counter denotes a cavalry or infantry division or an artillery train; but, some smaller brigades and regiments are also represented.

Simple rules centre upon Resource Points, reflecting the changing capabilities of each side to wage war at different stages during the conflict. Resource Points can also be affected by extraneous factors determined by die rolls and Random Event Cards. This uncertainty regarding the resources available goes some way towards recreating the chaos and fog of war which beset operational planning, and compounds the challenging logistical problems of conducting war over such a large area. As lines of communication lengthen so, just as happened historically, they become vulnerable and limit strategic options.

This uncertainty continues when it comes to putting plans into action. Players take in turns to place Activation Markers on those units they wish to move. In this way they reveal their intentions (or are they bluffing?): is my opponent trying to thwart my plans or does he intend to unleash an offensive of his own? The tension is increased still further because orders to move may not be received or carried out, sometimes resulting in battles which neither side anticipated or intended.

Combat is resolved by comparing the Combat Factors of each side, as modified by terrain, die roll and, sometimes, by Random Event Cards. Unusually for a strategic game, unit facing is also important. This is because the Russo-Polish War was one of manoeuvre fought over huge distances with relatively small armies. As a consequence, even though both sides were well equipped for defence - possessing artillery, barbed wire and machine guns - a combination of vast open spaces and rudimentary reconnaissance meant that, unlike on the crowded battlefields of WW1, defensive positions could often be outflanked and overrun before reinforcements arrive. So, to reproduce the importance of flanking manoeuvres at the tactical level, the direction that a unit is facing is integral to the combat system.

The rules are simple, but the decisions facing players are not. The key to success is a flexible strategy which allows defense to be transformed quickly into offense and vice versa as the strategic situation unfolds.

So, will Warsaw fall to Russians? Or maybe Russian armies will be crushed at the gates of Smolensk? The fate of Europe is in your hands…

Box contents:
• 16-page Rulebook,
• Set Up Card,
• Two Six-sided Dice (2D6): One Red, One White,
• mounted 48 x 68 cm map showing territories between Warsaw and Smolensk,
• 216 unit counters and game markers, and
• 40 laminated Random Event Cards.

Playing time: 4 – 8 hours.
Game is suitable for 2 players from 12 years old upwards.