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Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad
2022
Rules assistance for Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 300–480 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad is a board game released in 2022 for 2 players, 300–480 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Patrick Gebhardt and Pepito Sbazzeguti and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
Donnerschlag is a two player game which is playable in one sitting. It is more of a game than a simulation and intended to bring a high player interactivity and replayability to the player's table. The Situation From December 12 to December 23 in 1942, "Unternehmen Wintergewitter" was in progress. This was the code name for a relief attack by Heeresgruppe Don to free the trapped 6th Army in Stalingrad. The Axis formations entered with 50,000 men and 250 tanks, while the strength of the Soviet formations was reported to be about three times that. For the enterprise to have any chance of success, the troops in the encirclement had to break out and meet the advancing Axis troops. The breakout had to be precisely coordinated with the advance of the relief troops and was to commence on the cue “Donnerschlag”. The breakout was never ordered and the troops in Stalingrad were never able to be relieved. This sealed their fate. Players will be recreating this episode, with the Axis side attempting to secretly establish and reach a meeting point, thus effectively freeing the 6th Army, while the Soviet will try to impede such outcome. The Scale A hex represents 4 kms (2.5 miles) of terrain from side to side. Each turn represents a period of 1-2 days. Combat units are mostly Brigades & Regiments for the Soviets and Romanians, Battalions & Abteilungen for the Germans. —description from the designer
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- VUCA Simulations
- MOREPLAN CREATIVE STUDIO
Questions and answers
Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad is 300–480 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad are: Patrick Gebhardt and Pepito Sbazzeguti. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Donnerschlag: Escape from Stalingrad as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.