Blocks Series: Early War Card Deck
Blocks Series: Early War Card Deck Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Special Events
Vienna Awards
After the Fall of France in the West and the aggressive Soviet attitude in the East, the Balkan Powers started leaning towards Germany.
Preconditions: France has Fallen and the Soviets have declared at least three Limited Wars.
Effects:
- Transylvania is ceded to Hungary
- The Qadrilater is ceded to Bulgaria.
- Hungary and Romania become Pro-Axis.
- Bulgaria becomes Axis Leaning.
- No more Soviet Limited Wars may be declared.
Polish Partition
Taken between the German Blitzkrieg from north, south and west, and the Soviet juggernaut from the east, the Polish surrendered after four weeks. Poland ceased to exist, as the West was annexed to the Reich, and the East to the Soviet Union.
Precondition: Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact.
Effect: During Sep '39 only the Soviets may enter Eastern Poland declaring the Polish Limited War. The Soviets deploy all the Yellow and Green dotted units within 2 hexes from the Polish border and at Minimum strength. ALL these units must enter Eastern Poland hexes (but no other hexes).
U-Boot Unleashed!
After the Fall of France, German U-Boot squadrons could count on new bases in France to increase their operational range and effectiveness across the Atlantic.
Preconditions: France has Fallen or Germany controls all the French Atlantic ports.
Effects: Axis OSS no longer restricted to the NA Convoy Box. Increase German OSS steps from 1 to 2. Add Italian Da Vinci OSS (1 step) in Bordeaux.
Bessarabia
While the world's attention was held by the Blitzkrieg in France, Stalin issued an ultimatum to Romania to cede Bessarabia and Bucovina. The Romanians had to accept.
Precondition: the Baltic Limited War was over in a previous year quarter.
Effect: the Soviets deploy the orange dotted units and invade Bessarabia and Bucovina. SOVIET UNIFICATION CONPLETED. (Printed as "CONPLETED" on the card; kept as printed. The intended word is "COMPLETED".)
During the first turn of Barbarossa, Axis GU's in Romania are frozen: the only way the Odessa M.D. units may be attacked (and unfrozen) is by AU.
Hungary Joins Axis!
With the flames of war rising in the Balkans, the Hungarian regent Admiral Horty positions the Hungarians on the Axis side.
Preconditions: Vienna Award in play and Yugoslavia or Greece has joined the Allies or has been attacked by Italy or Germany.
Effects: Hungary becomes an Axis Power. However, no Axis units may attack the Soviet Union from Hungarian territory, until there are no Soviet units adjacent to the Hungarian borders (usually in July 1941).
Baltic Limited War
While the world's attention was held by the Blitzkrieg in France, Stalin invaded the three Baltic States. Lithuania, Lettonia and Estonia did not put up any resistance.
Precondition: the Winter War was over in a previous year quarter.
Effect: the Soviets deploy the blue dotted units and invade Lithuania, Lettonia and Estonia.
The Rumanian Limited War may be declared in the next year quarter.
Weserübung
With the British threatening the vital Swedish Iron Ore Route, the Wehrmacht - supported by Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe, launches a surprise action to seize Norway and Denmark.
Preconditions: from April 1940.
Effects: The weather is Clear in both East and West. Germany has the Surprise Bonus. Hitler, Goering and Raeder activated at full strength. 5 Amphibious Invasions and 2 Para Landings available against Denmark or Norway. Ignore Shoals, Hills, Forest, Mountain, Major City. German units (even if not Mountain/Winterized) in Norway do not suffer the Winterization attrition.
Cash & Carry
Due to the escalation of the war in Europe - and strongly supported by Roosevelt - the US changes its Foreign Policy and starts actively supporting the UK.
Precondition: from November 1939.
Effect: the US may sell armaments. UK can buy Red/Blue PP at the price of 3 Yellow each.
Armistice Rejected!
Hitler does not trust Petain's reassurance, as Vichy France could soon become a vulnerable soft underbelly.
Preconditions: the Axis has refused the Armistice.
Effects: France fights on. The new French Capital is London (1 extra abstract YPP French Production). French units, once eliminated, may not be rebuilt. Vichy France/Free France NOT created. Germany starts gathering all French controlled resources, including those in FNA (dieroll of 5 & 6). If the Axis control Corsica, ALL French hexes in Europe and 2 FNA Colonies, Spain joins Axis. HIGH Partisan Activity in occupied France.
Winter War
During the winter of 1939 - 1940, with the main front on hold, the Soviets issued an ultimatum to Finland to cede some territories around Leningrad in the south and around Petsamo in the north. The Finns did not give these up.
Precondition: the Polish Limited war was over in a previous year quarter.
Effect: the Soviets deploy the white dotted units and invade Finland. As soon as the Finnish Limited War is over, in the next year quarter the Soviets may declare the Baltic Limited War.
Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact
The Soviet-Nazi Pact, also called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed in August 1939 between the Soviet Union and Germany. The Pact granted Germany freedom of action in Western Europe, while freeing the Soviets to act in the East.
SECRET PROTOCOL
Germany freely receives 2 YPP's and 1 OIL /turn, starting from October 1939.
The Soviet Union can make NO DOW, except for the Limited Wars, until Mobilization is completed.
Phoney War
After the "Blitzkrieg" shocked the world in the 4-week-long Polish Campaign, the war on the Western Front entered into a strange phase.
Preconditions: Poland attacked.
Effects: in September 1939, the Western Allies must DOW Germany. Germany cannot make any DOW until April 1940. French Production is affected by SABOTAGE.