More Third Reich Variants
By Steve Cabral
November 2012

Today we bring still more variants for Third Reich. To see the first batch of variants, click here.

Manpower Shortages

As the war dragged on, some of the major powers found it increasingly difficult to replace losses. Use the rules below to reflect this:

Britain

Starting in the Production Segment of the Spring 1942 turn, add one BRP to the production cost of all British (not Commonwealth) ground units. This increases to two BRPs starting in the Production Segment of the Spring 1944 turn. Commonwealth and non-ground units are not affected.

U.S.

Starting in the Production Segment of the Spring 1945 turn, add one BRP to the production cost for all U.S. INF units.

Germany

Starting in Winter 1943, if Germany’s BRP stockpile is at a negative number in any Winter turn End Segment, then Germany cannot repair any reduced-strength ground units (15.3) on the Spring and Summer turns of the following year. So for example, if her stockpile is at -1 BRP or less in the Winter 1944 End Segment, she cannot repair any reduced-strength ground units on the Spring and Summer 1945 turns. She may repair reduced-strength ground units normally on the subsequent Fall and Winter turns if desired and if she has the BRPs available.

Soviet Union

Starting in the Production Segment of the turn that marks the third anniversary of the Soviet Union’s first declaration of war on any Major Power, the Waves of Humanity rule no longer applies (15.15). So for example, if Germany attacks the Soviet Union in Summer 1941 and if the Soviet Union was not at war with any Major Power before then, the Waves of Humanity rule no longer applies starting in the Summer 1944 Production Segment.

France and Italy

No manpower shortages.

The Plot to Assassinate Hitler

A number of attempts were made to kill Hitler during World War II, starting with a bomb planted by a civilian in November 1939. Later a number of generals made their own attempts, and this grew over time into a widespread conspiracy. Heinrich Himmler also became a target of these attempts as his power grew after 1941. All of these attempts either failed or were aborted, the latter in part because the plotters (all staff officers) realized that they had no troops at their command to back them up if they took power. To deal with this problem, some of the plotters recruited the head of the Replacement Army into the conspiracy. He siphoned off large numbers of troops, with their numbers reaching 600,000 by 1944. The German summer collapse on the Eastern and Western Fronts in 1944 occurred in part because the front line units were starved of these replacements. They were the source of the manpower the Nazis mustered for the three winter ’44-’45 offensives. Amazingly, the source of this manpower was only uncovered recently.

In order to inject this long-term conspiracy against Hitler and Himmler into Third Reich, use the variant rules below:

Assassination Attempts

Put the Hitler Killed chit in the political cup in the Production Segment of the Winter 1939 turn. Each time it is drawn, the player drawing it rolls one die. On a result of 6, Hitler is killed; on ay other result there is no effect and the chit goes back in the cup. If Hitler is killed follow the normal instructions for the Hitler Killed chit in the Political Chit Explanations. Also, if Hitler is killed in 1939 or 1940, then discard the Führer Directive and/or Beneath Contempt chits if drawn on later turns and draw another. If Hitler is killed in 1941 or later, then discard the Führer Directive chit if drawn on a later turn and draw another.

If the first attempt to assassinate Hitler fails (due to a 6 not being rolled), then if the chit is drawn a second time the German player instantly loses 20 BRPs from his stockpile if the assassination attempt fails again. This can cause the German stockpile to drop to zero or below (14.14). The same thing happens if the chit is drawn a third time and the assassination fails. If the chit is drawn a fourth time, Hitler is killed on a roll of 5 or 6, and the chit is removed from play permanently whether or not he is killed (the conspiracy ends). If Hitler is killed on the third or fourth attempt, immediately restore to the German stockpile any BRPs which were lost in previous failed attempts (keep track of these for this purpose).

If using the Nazi War Machine variant rules from Daily Content, use these additional rules as well:

Assassination Aftermath

If Hitler is killed in 1939 or 1940, no SS or Air Force units are added to force pool in 1941 or later. Do not implement the Required Builds, Removals or Suicide is Painless rules from the Nazi War Machine variant. The In the Navy rule is implemented normally.

If Hitler is killed in 1941 or later, the player rolling for Hitler’s assassination must roll another die to determine the fate of Himmler. Consult the table below for the results:

Order Third Reich now and finish off the Nazis.