Armored Knights: Guderian Crosses the Desna 1941

Armored Knights: Guderian Crosses the Desna 1941 is a WWII wargame covering the German attack across the Desna River during the opening moves toward the encirclement of Kiev.

The game focuses on the moment when elements of Guderian’s panzer forces turned south and attempted to seize a key bridge over the Desna. A rapid coup de main failed, forcing the Germans into a more deliberate attack the following day. The result is a compact but challenging operational situation with plenty of pressure on both sides.

Units are mainly battalions for infantry, armor, and artillery, while supporting arms such as reconnaissance, anti-tank, anti-aircraft, engineers, and military intelligence are represented at company level. These support units are central to the system, helping multiply combat effectiveness when used properly.

This is described as an excellent introduction to the Armored Knights system: smaller than some entries, but still very much a combined-arms puzzle. A good choice for players who want a focused Eastern Front battle with armor, river-crossing pressure, and a manageable footprint by Grognard standards.

Contents include: four 11 x 17 inch color map sheets, one double-sided countersheet with 216 half-inch counters, rulebook, three scenario setup charts, nine player aid cards, two ten-sided dice, and one six-sided die.