Brezhnev’s War: NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact in Germany, 1980

Brezhnev’s War: NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact in Germany, 1980 is a Cold War operational wargame from Compass Games covering the first month of a hypothetical conventional Warsaw Pact invasion of West Germany. Set in the period when the conventional balance of forces most favoured the Warsaw Pact, the game presents the nightmare scenario NATO planners feared: a sudden “come as you are” attack across the inner German border.

One player commands the Warsaw Pact forces attempting to smash through West Germany before NATO can fully respond, while the other leads NATO in a desperate defence of the Federal Republic. The map covers the core area of West Germany, with divisions, brigades and key reinforcements fighting over the strategic heart of Cold War Europe.

The system uses a classic move-fight or fight-move structure, supported by special rules for heliborne forces, Spetsnaz, Guards formations, East German and Czechoslovakian reliability, ranged artillery, air power, supply, electronic warfare, paradrops, German territorials and variable Soviet victory objectives. The result is a playable but tense operational game where tempo, objectives and reinforcement timing matter.

With a four-to-six hour playing time and a relatively straightforward system, Brezhnev’s War is a strong choice for players interested in Cold War gone-hot scenarios, NATO defence planning and operational-level conflict in Central Europe.

Contents include: three maps, two 5/8″ countersheets, player aids, one rulebook, dice, and a box with lid.