SGS Avalanche

SGS Avalanche is a turn-based strategy game covering the Italian campaign of World War II, from the Allied landing in Sicily on July 10, 1943, to the surrender of German Army Group C in Italy on May 2, 1945. You command regimental-sized forces across turns representing one week, with more than 1,200 unit counters. Play as the Axis or the Allies, making decisions across a campaign shaped by military operations, political events and the possibility of Italy’s surrender.

The campaign

The scenarios cover different periods and battles from July 1943 to May 1945. Short scenarios focus on Cassino, Operation Husky in Sicily, the Anzio and Salerno landings, and the liberation of French Corsica. Medium campaigns cover the fight for the Winter Line from fall 1943 to winter 1944, the Race for Rome in spring 1944, and the final offensive along the Gothic Line in April 1945.

The 96-turn Grand Campaign follows the conflict from the Husky landings to the fall of Milano in 1945. It offers many possible turns of events and difficult decisions.

Command the Axis

As the Axis commander in chief, represented mostly by German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, your goal is to delay the Allied advance and hold Italian territory for as long as possible. You command German forces sent by Berlin, alongside the Royal Italian Army at first and later forces from the Italian Social Republic. Delaying the Allies keeps the liberation mark low: you win if its count drops below zero, and lose if it reaches 100. The Italian surrender can make the task harder.

The Axis has few high-quality troops, mostly German, and little air superiority for much of the campaign. Bad weather, difficult terrain and occasional reinforcements help you retreat while defending key lines. Brief periods of numerical, tactical or qualitative advantage can help establish a stronghold, but Allied superiority in the air or on land may eventually overwhelm it. Time favors the Axis, while responsiveness is its main weapon.

Command the Allies

As the Allied commander, first under British General Harold Alexander and then American General Mark Clark, you lead American, British, French and other Allied forces, including Italian co-belligerents and resistance forces. You must take Sicily and advance north through the mainland as quickly as possible. Capturing territory earlier, especially Rome, improves your chances of victory.

The Allies need to seize strategic points early and threaten Rome, while preparing for Italy’s surrender, German resistance and difficult fighting along the way. Fighting entrenched defenders in rough terrain can exhaust your units, so you must watch your supply lines and take key places such as Messina, Naples and Rome. The Allies are stronger, but their forces are varied and Italy is not the high command’s top priority; rapid, striking results can change that. Time also works against the Allied player.

Terrain and events

Fall, winter and spring bring heavy rain and sharply reduced movement. The campaign’s rugged hills and mountains can make the fighting resemble the positional warfare of the Great War rather than the desert campaign.

Events and cards create replayable diplomatic, military, political and economic situations. The Axis can, though it is difficult, keep Italy on its side. The Allies can choose alternative invasion plans or secure greater attention and support from the higher command. Your choices can take the campaign in a different direction from the historical one.