Fallschirmjaeger 2nd Printing

From the Publisher:

Fallschirmjaeger: The Airborne Assault on Fortress Holland May 10 to 14, 1940, simulates the German May, 1940 capture of Rotterdam and The Hague (Den Haag).

In the spring of 1940, the German military machine turned west to convert the Phoney War into a real one. Fresh from his victory in Poland, Hitler planned a blow that would knock France out of the war. Key to this plan was a knife-like attack through the Ardennes to the English Channel which would split the Allied forces moving north to block the expected replay of 1914 and the Maginot Line forces immobile in the south. To add to the trap, the Germans planned the first massive airborne operation of the war. This attack would capture the hinterland of Holland, pave the way for subordinate German Armored thrusts crossing the Maas, and to continue to lure the Allies northward.

Fallschirmjaeger covers this bait. The German player plops down an airborne invasion force with the goal of fighting off all-comers until relieved by advancing ground forces. The Dutch, all but abandoned by their French and British Allies, put up a fight for the record books. The German air bridge held on by its fingernail. While the main German drive was never in doubt, these scattered paratroopers had the fight of their lives against a small nation unwilling to succumb without giving the fight everything.

In the end, the Dutch government had to be evacuated along with the Dutch Gold Reserve, to form a government in exile. They would return after liberation.

The player must do all these things, or smash the German paratroopers before they are rescued by the Panzers, to win. Any German player thinking he'll have an easy time, must be reminded his is not Nazi Germany's main effort and that he must make-do on a shoestring.

Game Scale:
Game Turn: 8 hours
Hex: 0.6 miles / 1 Km
Units: Platoon & Company

Game Contents:

• One 22 x 34" full color map
• Two dual-side printed countersheet (560 1/2" counters)
• One 8-page SCS version 1.8 system rulebook
• One 16-page Fallschirmjaeger specific rulebook
• Two 6-sided dice

Three Scenarios:
5.1 Introductory Scenario: Bridges at Moerdijk & Dordrecht
5.2 Assault on Den Haag
5.3 Air Assault on Fortress Holland

Experience the high-stakes gamble of early WWII vertical envelopment with Fallschirmjaeger: The Airborne Assault on Fortress Holland (2nd Printing) from Multi-Man Publishing. Tailored for dynamic team play or solo command, this flexible wargame supports 1 to 4 players with scenario times spanning 60 to 360 minutes. Chronicling the daring German air assault on the Netherlands in May 1940, it delivers unparalleled tactical tension to larger gaming groups.

Command elite paratroopers dropping behind enemy lines to capture vital bridges, or coordinate the desperate Dutch counterattacks to hold the heart of the country before panzer reinforcements arrive. Utilizing the clean, highly refined SCS operational ruleset, classic hex-and-counter maneuvering, and a tense mobile reinforcement schedule, this second printing updates a legendary title with gorgeous new maps, larger counters, and integrated errata for the ultimate tabletop campaign.

Historical Setting & Thematic Focus

Fallschirmjaeger: The Airborne Assault on Fortress Holland drops players right into the opening salvos of the Blitzkrieg in the West on May 10, 1940. Rather than focusing on the sweeping invasion of France, this game turns the lens on the innovative, high-risk German plan to drop paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger) deep inside the Dutch defensive perimeter.

The historical tension is a desperate race against the clock. The German airborne forces must seize and hold critical bridgeheads, causeways, and airfields around Rotterdam, The Hague, and Moerdijk. Their goal is to prevent the Dutch from blowing the bridges and locking down "Fortress Holland" before the ground forces of the 9th Panzer Division can slice through the border defenses to link up with them.

Standard Combat Series (SCS) Mechanics & Multiplayer Dynamics

As Game No. 8 in the celebrated Standard Combat Series (SCS), the title benefits from a core design philosophy that favors clean, highly playable rules over exhaustive logistical tracking. If you know the basic SCS rules, you can unbox this game and begin playing in minutes.

While traditionally played head-to-head, the scope of the operation allows for an exceptional 1 to 4 player team experience. Players can easily divide responsibilities by geographical fronts—one German player managing the northern drops near The Hague while their partner orchestrates the push through Moerdijk to link up with the panzers. On the defensive side, Dutch players can split the regional counterattacks, forcing close cooperation to secure the perimeter.

The specific operational mechanics in Fallschirmjaeger emphasize mobility and command pressure:

• Airborne Drop & Scatter: The game begins with dramatic, randomized air drops. Wind and anti-aircraft fire can scatter your elite German companies, forcing your command team to patch together ad-hoc combat groups on the fly.
• Exploitation Phase: Units with high mobility or exceptional leadership can exploit holes in the enemy line during a dedicated phase after regular combat, allowing for realistic breakthrough maneuvers.
• Fragile Defenses vs. Armored Rescue: The Dutch forces are numerous but largely static and brittle, relying on canals and built-up areas for protection. They must hold out just long enough to delay the incoming German armor column spearheading from the south.

2nd Printing Upgrades & Components

Multi-Man Publishing’s long-awaited second printing elevates the production values to modern industry standards. The package completely replaces the old, muted maps with a vibrant, beautifully illustrated full-color map sheet that clearly defines defensive terrain like polders, dikes, and urban zones.

The printing includes larger, half-inch counters featuring revised graphic design for quick reading during complex stacks. All previous clarifications, rule updates, and balance errata are seamlessly integrated directly into the playbook, making it an incredibly smooth experience out of the box. Because the system relies on traditional alternating turns with open operational planning, it serves as an excellent cooperative challenge for up to four players, or a highly intuitive and deeply engaging solitaire wargame for a lone commander looking to test both operational perspectives.

BOARDGAMEGENERAL ADVICE

Expert Recommendation

At Boardgamegeneral, we consider the Standard Combat Series a gold standard for operational wargaming, and Fallschirmjaeger (2nd Printing) is an absolute standout entry. With an approachable complexity rating , it is one of the single best "gateway" wargames on the market for players wanting to transition from casual board games into traditional hex-and-counter historical simulation.

The scalability up to 4 players is a massive strength. True multiplayer hex-and-counter games are rare, and Fallschirmjaeger handles it beautifully without needing clunky house rules. The game perfectly captures the panic of an airborne invasion. As the German team, you feel isolated, outnumbered, and desperate for your panzers to arrive. As the Dutch side, you are frantically trying to coordinate counterattacks across different sectors before the iron fist of the German army crushes your defensive lines. It plays fast, keeps everyone constantly engaged, and offers immense tension.

The main caveat is that the initial turn relies heavily on dice rolls for the parachute drops. A string of terrible scatter rolls can leave the German forces wildly out of position from the start, forcing team members to completely rewrite their plans on turn one. If your group dislikes early-game randomness that forces you to drastically alter your strategy, the drop phase can feel punishing—though it is completely accurate to the historical chaos of May 1940.

Verdict: A masterclass in accessible operational design. Whether you are running it as a collaborative team puzzle for 4 players or diving into it solo, the beautiful upgrades in this second printing make it a definitive, must-own addition for any WWII enthusiast's shelf.