World at War #94: Kesselring’s War – Decision in Italy 1943–44 is an operational-level, two-player wargame designed by Joseph Miranda that simulates the dramatic campaign for southern Italy from Operation Husky in Sicily through the Anzio landings and the first Battle of Monte Cassino. Spanning from July 1943 to February 1944, this period marked one of the Allies’ best chances to break Axis resistance and knock Italy out of the war — but it was thwarted by the determined defence orchestrated by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring.

• The Campaign in Italy: The game covers the critical months of the Italian campaign — from the Allied invasion of Sicily and the advance up the peninsula to the fierce battles that halted progress south of Rome. Players will relive the struggle for control of the Mediterranean theatre, where strategy, timing, and logistics determined success or failure.
• Operational Command System: Gameplay is structured around an Action Point system that models command and logistical limitations. Players must carefully allocate these points to conduct offensives, redeploy reserves, and sustain combat operations. Every move has strategic weight as both sides contend with terrain, weather, and supply challenges.
• Asymmetric Objectives: The Allied player must capture key objectives in Italy and maintain operational tempo to break German resistance. The German player, leading Kesselring’s forces, must conduct delaying actions, manage withdrawals, and launch opportunistic counterattacks to buy time and inflict losses on the invaders.
• Scale and Scope: Each hex represents approximately 30 kilometres, and each turn covers one month of operations. Ground units represent divisions, independent brigades, and regiments, while air units represent air groups and wings (9–15 squadrons). Naval forces appear as task forces supporting coastal operations and amphibious landings.

Kesselring’s War captures the operational dilemmas of the Italian front — a theatre often overshadowed by the Western and Eastern Fronts but critical to the outcome of the Mediterranean war. It challenges players to balance aggression and endurance while managing scarce resources and unpredictable terrain.

Game Components & Features:

• 1 x 22x34” full-colour map depicting Sicily and southern Italy
• 176 die-cut ⅝-inch counters representing divisions, air groups, and naval task forces
• Rules for logistics, command/control, air and naval operations, and terrain effects
• Playable in one to two sessions for two players
• Focus on operational decision-making and historical accuracy

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Division / Brigade / Regiment
Hex: 30 km
Turn: 1 Month

World at War #94: Kesselring’s War – Decision in Italy 1943–44 delivers a tense and historically grounded simulation of the Allied struggle to breach the German defences of southern Italy. With its elegant balance of logistics, manoeuvre, and attrition, this game places players in the role of theatre commanders shaping the fate of one of World War II’s most gruelling campaigns.

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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