Opération Rösselsprung 1944

"Operation Rösselsprung" is an anti-partisan operation launched by German forces against the Yugoslav resistance between May 25 and June 3, 1944. This combined operation between the air and ground forces aims to seize - dead or alive - the chief of the resistance Josip Broz known as "Tito", whose hiding place was located in the village of Drvar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The operational plan, which mobilizes 20,000 soldiers, is the responsibility of the XV Mountain Corps as well as the air forces. The first phase of the raid is led by airborne troops (paratroopers and gliders), the SS-fallschirmjäger battalion 500, a sort of disciplinary battalion. The second phase notably involved the 7th SS Prinz Eugen division, the Brandenburg regiment and its Chetnik subordinates, several reconnaissance Kampfgruppe as well as Croatian forces.

"Operation Rösselsprung 1944" is a solitaire tactical wargame appearing in the French Vae Victis magazine #151 (special game edition). The game is edited under ziplock and contains an A3-size map depicting Drvar (in Bosnia-Herzegovinia) and surroundings, 108 counters (25 counters representing the SS-fallschirmjäger bataillion 500 –- and 54 counters for the communist partisans). The rules are included in a separate 16 pages A5-sized booklet.

The systems uses the improved rules of the "Bruneval 1942" (VaeVictis #104) and "Commando 4 in action: Dieppe 1942" (VaeVictis #131) to simulate the airborne phase of the operation.

This game system developed for the "Raids" series is only playable in solo ; very easy to learn and fun to play ! The "Artificial intelligence" automatically manages Yugoslav actions while the player is in charge of German actions.

The map is point-to-point, one to several hundred meters apart. A game turn is equivalent to 2 hours during the day and 5 hours at night, the scenario begins at 6:00 am on May 25, 1944 and ends at 12:00 am on May 26, that is 12 game turns. One counter represents a full strenght, 35 to 40 German paratroopers, a company of 20 to 100 Yugoslav partisans, an officer, two anti-aircraft machine guns, or two Italian tanks L3-35.

Would you be smart enough to capture Tito, maximize the prizes and minimize your losses ? It’s up to you Captain !