1-212770 Saarelainen, Tapio THE WHITE SNIPER: Simo Hayha Finnish soldier Simo Hayha (1905 - 2002) is the most famous sniper in the world. During the Winter War fought between Russia and Finland in 1939 - 1940 he had 542 confirmed kills with iron sights, a record that still stands today. He has been a role model for snipers all over the world and paved the way for them by demonstrating their significance on the battlefield.

Simo Hayha was a man of action who spoke very little, but he was hugely respected by his men and his superiors and given many difficult missions, including taking out specific targets. Able to move silently and swiftly through the landscape, melting into the snowbound surroundings in his white camouflage fatigues, his aim was deadly and his quarry rarely escaped.

The Russians learned of his reputation as a marksman and tried several times to kill him by indirect fire. He was promoted from corporal to second lieutenant and he was awarded the Cross of Kollaa. For sniping, Simo Hayha only ever used his own m/28-30 rifle. Eventually his luck ran out and Simo received a serious head wound on March 6 1940, though he subsequently recovered. 1 vol, 192 pgs 2016 US, CASEMATE
NEW-dj, available late November 2016 ......$33.00 with a discount of 15%

1-914157 various VAE VICTIS # 157: Nachod et Skalitz 1866 Boardgames
Great Crisis of Frederick II
This War without an Ennemy
Soisson
Deadly Nothern Lights
Iron Curtain (N. Sevaux)
Samourai Battles
1866
300
Bayonets & Tomahaws

Scenarios
Advanced Squad Leader
Memory 44
DBA

Figurines
Rise of the Raj troisi?me partie
The Baron's War
Gettysburg
Campagne moderne

Nachod et Skalitz 1866
End of June 1866. After several months of mounting tensions, war has broken out between Austria and Prussia for preeminent control in Germany. Prussia plans for its troops to cross the Carpathians and penetrate Bohemia by 4 different passages with the objective of confronting the principal Austrian Army in a decisive Napoleonic battle. The outlet of one of these passages was here, near the towns of Nachod and Skalitz. The Prussian V Corps was in position to take control of it and allow the VI Corps to follow it before converging with the other Prussian corps on the centre of the Austrian presence. General Steinmetz is appointed commander of the Prussian 1st Army in 1870 and will have to confront the Austrian troops sent by General Benedek.
As a new unit of the series 'Battles in the era of Napoleon III', Nachod-Skalitz is the first game of a series that will cover the principal clashes of the campaign in Bohemia of 1866, concluding with the battle of Sadowa. Players will have the option of playing the battles one after another in a campaign mode, resulting perhaps in a very different situation by the time they arrive at the decisive battle of 3 July 1866.
Using the series 'The Great Battles of Napoleon III' (VaeVictis # 55, # 73 and 138), the system is simple and dynamic with an accent on the engagement of the troops against deadly defensive fire.
Scenarios by Arnold Giraud-Moser on a system by Luc Olivier.

Scale :

Game turn : one hour
Counters : regiments and battalions
Map : one hex. = 750 m
Complexity : 5/10
Solo playability : 7/10
Duration : 2 to 4 hours depending on the scenario 1 vol, 84 pgs 2021 FRANCE, CERIGO EDITIONS
NEW-pb, available late September 2021 ......$28.00 rct

1-914158 various VAE VICTIS # 158: Talvisota, the Winter War 1939-1940 Articles include:

Boardgames: Next War Vietnam (GMT); Brief Border Wars (DG); Great Crisis of Frederick II (VUCA); Caesar (GMT); Hood strikes North (MMP); Atlantic Chase (GMT); C&C Samurai Battles (GMT)

Scenarios: Advanced Squad Leader; Memory 44; Guiscard 2; Gettysburg 2e partie

Figurines: Campagne pour le Mali : Operation Serval, scenario + CR

Other: Lasalle : partie commentee; Battletech; L'affaire d'un dejeuner : version Indes

Hobby: Que chosir : jeux 3e GM; Le wargame en Italie; Verdun 1916 : Compte rendu

Art of War and Wargame : Talvisota - The Winter War 1939-1940 (Rules also in English)

In 1939, faced with Nazi Germany's expansionist politics, Stalin demands of Finland some strategic territories necessary for the defense of Leningrad. Helsinki refuses and on 30 November, with no prior declaration of war, the Red Army attacks the Finnish territory with five armies and 28 divisions. The strength ratio is crushingly in the Soviets' favour with 400,000 troops, 1500 tanks and a modern aviation against 265,000 Finnish soldiers and 20 tanks.

To everyone's surprise, the overwhelming numerical and materiel superiority of the Russians is broken by the fierce resistance and the bravery of the Finnish forces. Despite a front extending from the Arctic to the isthmus of Karelia, and the offensives of mostly 3 against 1, the lack of preparation and coordination of Stalin's forces, the extreme climactic conditions and the Finnish belligerence jostle all predictions and overturn military logic. With Mannerheim's troops employing Molotov cocktails, surprise infiltrations, and an optimal exploitation of the terrain to resist the Russian giant until March. But the lack of armament and international support, the limited numbers of troops, and a Soviet surge irreversibly compel the little Nordic outlier to sign an accord on 12 March 1940.

Based on a system favouring the fog of war and the uncertainties of military preparations, Talvisota places both players in a situation requiring them to choose their strategies after careful reflection. Maintaining one's war morale is important, but the decisive results are mainly achieved by considering the potential actions of the other side.

In the solo play mode, the player controls Finland's destiny against the Soviet steamroller with the same intensity of play. 1 vol, 84 pgs 2021 FRANCE, CERIGO EDITIONS
NEW-pb ......$28.00 rct