Combat Infantry: WestFront 1944–45

Combat Infantry: WestFront 1944–45 is a fast-playing World War II tactical block wargame from Columbia Games, covering German and American squad-level combat in Western Europe.

Players command infantry battalions built around rifle companies, platoons, squads, leaders and supporting weapons. German and American forces each bring rifle squads, machine guns, mortars and tanks, while leadership and unit integrity play an important role. Squads belong to platoons, platoons belong to companies, and keeping formations organized is part of effective command.

The game uses Columbia’s wooden block system to create fog of war without heavy rules overhead. Enemy strength and identity are not always clear, making positioning, scouting, cover and timing central to play. The rules are compact, but the game still aims to capture the uncertainty and pressure of squad-level combat.

Scenarios cover actions from the American invasion of Normandy through to the Battle of the Bulge, with geomorphic maps showing Western Front terrain such as beaches and bocage.

Contents include: German and American battalion blocks, four geomorphic maps, six historical scenario cards, four generic scenarios and a 12-page rulebook.