
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,779
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Baltic Gap: Summer 1944
- 2 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2009

1996
Rules assistance for Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster is a board game released in 1996 for 1–2 players, 180–900 minutes per game, and ages 15 and up. It was designed by Dean Essig and Masahiro Yamazaki and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
"Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster", covers the Soviet counteroffensive and the German operations to hold the pincers apart and (if that fails) to relieve the Stalingrad pocket. Soviet play requires the use of a ponderous and fragile weapon of great size (the Red Army of 1942). German play requires sabre-like use of mobile reserves in hit and run attacks. History: (from the back of the box:) The German Wehrmacht stands at the pinnacle of its last season of blitzkrieg. Embattled German troops hold most of the city of Stalingrad but the flanks are covered with less dependable Axis allied units. Opposing these flanks are the shock troops of the 1942 Soviet winter counteroffensive. They are poised to encircle Stalingrad and turn the tide of the war. The Game: 2nd Edition Stalingrad Pocket: This is the second edition of Stalingrad Pocket, winner of the 1992 CSR Award for Best World War 2 wargame. It includes a reworked map and Order of Battle (utilizing Enemy at the Gates, the 1994 CSR Best Workd War 2 wargame award winner). It also applies the series rules version 1.6 used in its sister games Yom Kippur and Ardennes. 'Stalingrad Pocket 2nd Edition adds the following features to make play even more interesting: Reserves Determined Attacks and Defenses Air Power Artillery Barrage attacks Limited use of "dead unit count" victory conditions. Features : Easy to learn and use game system. Dynamic and Fluid situation Balance of Military and Political Victory Conditions required to win Fast and Furious Action Player Skill is highly rewarded Three Major Scenarios Game Scale: Game Turn: 2 Days Hex: 3.4 miles / 5.5 Km Units: Battalion to Division Game Inventory: One 22 x 34" full color map Two dual-side printed countersheets (560 1/2" counters) One 8-page SCS system rulebook One 16-page Stalingrad Pocket II specific rulebook Two 6-sided dice Solitaire Playability: High Complexity Level: Low Players: 1 or more Playing Time: 3-15 hours
Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster supports 1–2 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster is 180–900 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 Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster for ages 15 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.
Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster are: Dean Essig and Masahiro Yamazaki. 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 Stalingrad Pocket: 2nd Edition – The Wehrmacht's Greatest Disaster 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.