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Third Reich

DOS - 1996

Year 1996
Platform DOS
Released in United States
Genre Strategy
Theme Board / Party Game, Historical Battle (specific/exact), Licensed Title, Turn-based, World War II
Publisher Avalon Hill Game Company, The
Perspective Top-Down
4.22 / 5 - 9 votes

Description of Third Reich

"A faithful adaptation of the famous boardgame, this version was the best ever done; note that this does not mean it is really good, just that it is the best ever done.

The main problem is that it was perhaps too faithful to its paper antecedents -- and it did not even reflect the newest edition of the paper version. For a novice, this simulation is virtually unplayable; for true believers, it will offer a fix for those lacking human companionship."* [excerpt from M. Evan Brooks' Homepage]

Although Third Reich disappointed many die-hard wargamers when it was first released, the latest patch (1.38, which you can download below) fixes most of the problems to make the game shine like it was meant to be. Definitely a must-have if you are interested in a realistic, complex simulation of WWII conflict-- be sure to apply the patch, though ;)

Review By HOTUD

External links

Captures and Snapshots

Comments and reviews

Bob 2022-03-03 5 points

A great game with buggy software.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Gaining the Strategic victory as the Allies or the Axis is achievable. For the allies, that means conquering Germany quickly. For the Axis, it means taking out three major powers (France, Britain & the Soviets).

SPOILERS AHEAD THERE BE DRAGONS HERE!

Strategic victory Allies - The key here is keeping France in the war. You're outclassed against the Germans so you need to pick your shots. First, invade Luxembourg and Belgium before the Axis, forcing the Germans to attack much tougher forces. Also, be very careful in how you use the French Air Force. Keep them out of reach of the Luftwaffe when possible or use them as a reactive force allowing you to get local air superiority. As the Germans wear themselves out on the western front build up Russia as permitted. If the French are still alive in 1941, then the Anglo Americans don't have to worry about D-Day. And the Soviets can roll in the east 2 years early. Just station enough troops in Africa to protect the canal. Surprisingly, it can be tough in this scenario to knock out Italy as the boot gives you very little room to maneuver.

Strategic victory Axis. A much harder task, but once you figure it out you're golden. In the fall of '39 take out Poland - the extra attack for armored breakthrough and using air superiority to get a 2-1 attack on Warsaw. Meanwhile, have the Italians attack Yugoslavia. You can play it safe and go on the offensive this turn and grab Sarajevo or hope for a good roll and try an attrition. At the end of the turn make sure you have, 1 or 2 Italian tanks sitting in Taranto on the 4 Italian fleets. When the Germans build leave a gaping hole on the swiss border for the French to go through. For Germany, build up for attacks on Denmark, the Nederlands, Belgium and France. Build paratroopers for use in Denmark. A pair of infantry units each and air support will get you Holland & Belgium. A little air, one infantry unit and your paratroopers will take out Denmark.

Winter 1939. Italy declares war on Spain and you land in southern Spain. Also, finish off Yugoslavia. If you've left the southern border open near Switzerland all three French tanks should be in southern Germany, leaving France vulnerable. Attack through Luxembourg with massive air in range. The French air force should come out to play and you can gut it. Then using your breakthrough you can attack a replacement unit with 3 Panzers. The road to Paris is now open.

Spring 1940. Italy declares war on England. Being broke it has to take a Med attrition. Which works out fine because the tank in southern Spain can walk into Gibraltar. The Panzers take Paris. When you build max out German fleets in Kiel and put a tank and an infantry on the ships. Put a replacement unit in Romania to stave off a Russian invasion.

Summer 1940. Operation Sea Lion. Land the Germans in England. Use the paratroopers to seize the southeast corner. Use Italian air for ground support everywhere. Use the Luftwaffe to overwhelm the RAF. Make England spend money it doesn't have. Meanwhile, start sending tanks towards Spain either through France or by using the Italian Navy for transport.

Fall '40 continue to hammer England, with luck you can take London this turn. However, depending upon troop positioning it might take until the winter turn. If you pour armor into Spain you can cut supplies for most Spanish forces. However, make sure you force the Spanish fleet offshore otherwise in some versions there is a bug that kills the game.

Winter 40/Spring 41 - Finish off England. Once they fall, activating Vichy as an ally is easy. Bug alert - the Vichy air force and fleet largely won't work. Set up your minor eastern allies and put air and armor in Bulgaria.

Spring/Summer 41 Declare war on Turkey and seize Istanbul and the crossing to mainland Turkey. Send Italian units through north africa to pick up easy wins in Egypt, Palestine, etc. Send a unit or two west if the Free French have Tunisia, et al. Italy can use the cash. Once England falls -- if you have remembered to have ground troops go through squares in France where the RAF may have retreated after the fall of Paris then the Americans will never move to invade. They just build up forces in the US and do nothing. However, if you forget to liberate these squares they will invade once they declare war.

Fall '41 or Winter -- once Turkey falls, send every armored unit you can find into the Soviet Union through the backdoor. Go as far and as fast as you can. Send paratroopers to take Sevastopol. Do a repeat of the British invasion and declare offensives so you can hammer the Soviet Air Force. Force the Soviets to spend money they don't have. Send some weak Italian infantry units into Persia to cut off Lend lease money from America. And, if you get the chance send an invasion fleet to make surprise attack on Leningrad with Finnish support. As your tanks roll into the Soviet Union from the unguarded back door send some behind the main Soviet forces cutting supplies. Send some towards Moscow on a broad front. At the end of every turn use your strategic moves to add infantry into through the backdoor. Eventually, the Soviets will collapse and offer to surrender.

Game over - Axis uber alles -- strategic victory usually by late '42.

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Download Third Reich

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DOS Version

DownloadRIP Version (v1.38) English version 8 MB DownloadISO Version English version 47 MB ManualEnglish version 8 MB

Game Extras

Various files to help you run Third Reich, apply patches, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.

ManualAlt Version English version 10 MB PatchPatch v1.38 English version 467 KB MapEnglish version 3 MB RefcardEnglish version 362 KB

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