Italy '43

Italy ’43 is a two-player operational wargame covering the U.S. Fifth Army’s advance from Naples to the Gustav Line between October and December 1943.

Picking up after Salerno ’43, the game follows the Allied push north as German forces conduct a stubborn delaying campaign through rivers, mountains, villages, and prepared defensive lines. What begins as a rapid advance soon becomes a grinding fight for difficult terrain.

Using the same general system as other Mark Simonitch WWII titles such as Salerno ’43 and Normandy ’44, Italy ’43 keeps the rules approachable while focusing on the specific challenges of the Italian campaign. New elements such as defense line construction, mountain units, prepared offensives, and sustained attacks help capture the nature of this difficult front.

This is a good choice for players who enjoy operational WWII games with clear systems, tough terrain decisions, and a campaign where progress is measured in hard-won hexes rather than sweeping breakthroughs.

Contents include: paper map, countersheet, rules booklet, setup and reinforcement cards, scenario cards, player aid cards, and two six-sided dice.