World at War #91: Taierzhuang – China’s Stalingrad 1938 presents two complete grand tactical wargames in one issue, recreating two major early 20th-century battles that shaped the course of Asian military history. Both titles — Stalin’s First Victory (1929) and The Battle of Taierzhuang (1938) — use related systems with distinct rule sets for ease of play, offering accessible and engaging simulations of historical warfare across two very different conflicts.

• Two Complete Games in One: This issue features both the Sino-Soviet War of 1929 and one of the earliest major Chinese victories of the Second Sino-Japanese War, giving players a chance to explore two pivotal yet rarely represented campaigns in a single package.
• Stalin’s First Victory (1929): Covers the brief but decisive five-day campaign between the Soviet Union and China during the Sino-Soviet War. Each hex represents 1.25 miles (2 km) and each turn one day of operations. Players command battalions, companies, and regiments as they manoeuvre along the Amur River and the Chinese Eastern Railway in this fast-paced, low-complexity engagement.
• The Battle of Taierzhuang (1938): Focuses on the fierce fighting that marked the first major Chinese victory over Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Known as “China’s Stalingrad,” this battle saw Chinese forces halt Japan’s advance into central China through determination and urban defence. Each hex represents 0.25 miles (0.4 km), and each turn spans two days of brutal close-quarters combat between Japanese battalions and tank companies against Chinese regiments.
• Accessible Grand Tactical System: Both games employ a low-complexity system with separate rulesets tailored to each conflict, making them ideal for newcomers and seasoned wargamers seeking streamlined yet historically faithful gameplay.

Players can experience two very different kinds of warfare — a short, mechanised border clash in the far north and a grinding urban struggle in the heart of China — each testing their ability to balance aggression, timing, and tactical control under asymmetric conditions.

Game Components & Features:

• 1 x 22x34” double-sided full-colour map featuring both battlefields
• 48 die-cut ⅝-inch counters for Stalin’s First Victory
• 128 die-cut ⅝-inch counters for The Battle of Taierzhuang
• Two complete rulebooks with tailored systems for each battle
• Low-complexity, grand tactical wargame design
• Playable in one session per battle

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Battalion / Regiment
Hex: 1.25 miles (Stalin’s First Victory) / 0.25 miles (Taierzhuang)
Turn: 1 day (Stalin’s First Victory) / 2 days (Taierzhuang)

World at War #91: Taierzhuang – China’s Stalingrad 1938 offers two rich and contrasting historical experiences in one issue — from the icy railways of Manchuria to the burning streets of Taierzhuang. Both games highlight the evolution of warfare in Asia between the interwar years and the outbreak of full-scale conflict in the late 1930s.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s trusted destination for wargames, strategy titles, and historical simulations for over 50 years. Price-match guarantee and fast shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

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