Origins 2012

[Mark]

Finally getting around to posting some of the Pictures from a fantastic game at Origins in Columbus Ohio from earlier this Summer. . .we had an epic game with several new players joining for a day or two.

Here are some pics - more to come!

Overall picture of the game at start - following by the battle for France in Spring 1940.  Guderian and the German 1st Army swept through French defenses in Chmpaigne on their way to Paris. . .

[Mark]

The British pushed into Libya and reinforced Crete by Spring 1941.  The Germans laucnhed an early (Spring Barbarossa) and advanced all the way to the gates of Stalingrad by the end of Autumn 1941.  By Autumn, Axis pressure in the Med had managed to take Crete and push the 8th Army back to Alexandria. . .

[Mark]

By Spring of 1942, the British had launched a brief counterattack to drive the Germans back from the gates of Cairo.  The Russian Winter had given the Soviets some respite in the South and enables them to re-establish a front.  However, in Northern Russia, the Germans were threatening both Leningrad  - and Moscow with Manstein's powerful Panzer Army South of the capital.

[Mark]

By Summer 42, the Germans had taken the Crimea which had been cut off and isolated in the Spring.  However, Soviet resistance had stiffened considerably East of the Don.  By Spring 1943 in the West, the Allies landed in North Africa and got lucky with a Vichy French collapse roll.  It appears German days in North Africa are numbered - but we will see.  We also had our first player casualty as Mike had to be wheeled out of the game room on day 2.  Gaming at Origins can be tough. . .

[Mark]

In the Spring of 1943 all is quiet on the Western Front as the Germans begin to invest in that Atlantic Wall.  The Axis leadership watches on as they plan the defense of Fortress Europa. . .

[Mark]

In Autumn 1943, the Allies launched their long awaited invasion of France - at the Pas-de-Calais!  The Germans had decided to only lightly defend this area of the coastline (which John will not do again) and we went in full force!  By Winter, Belgium was liberated.

In the East, The Soviets had pushed over the Don and liberated Kharkov by Winter 1943 and the Allied bombing campaign was beginning to take a toll on German production. . .