1918, subtitled "Operation Michel: March 21–30, Germany's Last Chance in the West", is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1970 that simulates Operation Michael, the final German offensive on the Western Front in which they tried to win the war or at least force peace talks before American soldiers started to arrive on the Western Front in force. The game was well received by critics, but did not sell well.
Background
The United States declared war on Germany in 1917, and it was obvious that overwhelming numbers of American soldiers would be arriving in Europe by the latter part of 1918, swinging the defensive stalemate on the Western Front in favor of the Allies. The German High Command knew they had a limited amount of time to somehow force the Allies to come to the negotiating table seeking peace on Germany's terms. The withdrawal of Russia from the war in late 1917 gave Germany this opportunity, as large numbers of German soldiers were transferred from Russia to the Western Front, where they were secretly trained in new infiltration tactics using Stoßtruppen (stormtroopers). Germany unexpectedly launched Operation Michael in March 1918, a major offensive that sought to drive a wedge between the British and French forces. In only seven days, German forces tore a large hole in the Allied lines and advanced 65 km (40 mi), coming within 75 km (45 mi) of Paris. Unless the Allies were able to blunt this attack, it would be a sudden end to the war.
Description
1918 is a two-player wargame in which one player controls the German attacking forces, and the other player controls Allied defenders. The Germans begin with an overwhelming advantage mainly driven by a limited number of Stoßtruppen units; as they advance, supplying the offensive units becomes difficult. The Allied player must give ground and play for time, waiting for an opportunity to resist the offensive.
Components
The original "Test Series" game was packaged in a plain manila envelope and included: 23" x 29" paper hex grid map scaled at 2.8 km (1.8 mi) per hex a sheet of 255 paper counters (to be cut apart by the players) a typewritten rule sheet The second edition of the game featured professionally printed components and die-cut counters, was packaged in a "flatpack" box, and included a small six-sided die.
Gameplay
Turns
1918 uses an "I Go, You Go" alternating system of turns. The German player starts each turn with three phases: Movement Combat Second Movement The Allied player then has the same phases. This complete one full game turn, which represents one day of game time. Each game lasted ten turns.
Zones of control
Zones of control (ZoC) do not force adjacent units to fight, but a unit cannot move from the ZoC of one enemy unit to the ZoC of another enemy unit. There are two exceptions to this rule: a German Stoßtruppen can move one hex from one enemy ZoC directly to another enemy ZoC, simulating German "infiltration" techniques. (Since there are two movement phases, it is possible for a Stoßtruppen unit to move from one ZoC to a second on the first movement phases, and then move from the second to a third ZoC on the Second Movement phase.) Leapfrog Withdrawal: A unit in an enemy ZoC can jump onto an adjacent friendly unit in an enemy ZoC as long as the second unit has not moved in the current Movement phase. As reviewer Charles B. Turner noted, "This is especially useful to the Allied player because [they] will need it repeatedly to save [their] units that have been surrounded by German infiltration.".
Stacking
Only two units may be stacked. Both units can attack, but only one of the units can defend, and only that defending unit is subject to combat results.
Terrain
Difficult terrain (requiring double the cost in movement) is marked on the map, a gray area directly west of the German start line and covering most of the Allied trenches and rear areas. This represents the area deliberately devastated by the Germans as they retreated back to the Hindenburg Line in 1917. Ironically, the German devastation severally impedes their planned offensive.