The armies of Germany

The German army is one of the most iconic factions in Bolt Action. From elite infantry and devastating machine guns to powerful tanks like the Tiger, discover how the Wehrmacht plays on the tabletop and what makes it such a versatile force.

Near Sedan, May 10, 1940

Maurice and the members of his squad were entrenched at the edge of a forest near the town of Sedan. Before them, to the north, stretched a grassy plain made up of fields where, at this time of year, the crops were already quite high. The weather was beautiful and warm. Communications with headquarters were difficult; the telephone system kept cutting out, and the information coming from the front further north was complex to understand.

In a small ditch, the squad had placed crates of ammunition for their Berthier rifles. Enough to hold out through a siege, they all told themselves. For many, it was their first time at the front. The men were nervous. It was difficult to concentrate in this strange beginning of the war. The Germans seemed to be moving very fast, despite reports that the bulk of their army was dependent on horse-drawn wagons.

Bernard, with his binoculars, whistled the signal that the Germans were visible in the distance. Maurice took his rifle and searched for a target. For the moment, about two kilometers to the northwest, Maurice could distinguish a column of dust on a path coming out of the forest. The sergeant took the telephone to inform the artillery of the German positions. The telephone was not working.

“Come on boys, in position!”

Everyone got into position to wait for the Germans.

The French artillery guns finally roared to life. Another squad had likely been able to warn the guys in the rear of the Germans’ arrival.

The German Army: A Multifaceted Force

In Bolt Action, the German army offers several options. All of them are very interesting. They allow you to cover the longest period of the war, as well as several types of theaters of operations and seasons.

The Bolt Action army books provide formations for various stages of the war. As in all the army books, they are divided into three main periods: the beginning, the middle, and the end of the war.

Each period offers specific types of troops and equipment. This will allow you to adapt to several types of scenarios, create various types of theaters of operation, and ultimately give you great versatility in your choices for German armies.

The possibilities are immense in terms of modeling, army types, and scenarios:

• The early war, featuring the breakthrough at Sedan and the attack on Dunkirk.
• The mid-war, with operations on the Russian front or the war in North Africa, which offers a true change of scenery.
• The late war, marked by the Normandy landings and the desperate defense of Berlin, offers varied theaters of operations perfect for creating captivating narrative scenarios.

The German army book is therefore a vital addition. It replaces the core rulebook regarding army composition by providing an update. This new book also introduces new special rules for this nation, as well as numerous vehicles, tanks, and types of artillery from various periods of the war. There are also new squad compositions that invite players to create narrative-driven scenarios.

German National Special Rules

Hitler’s Buzzsaw

Hitler’s Buzzsaw, which grants +1 shot to all machine guns, including those mounted on vehicles. This additional die ensures a slight advantage in terms of the lethality of German troops.

The Blitzkrieg Rule

The Blitzkrieg rule allows officers to take an extra die when they activate troops around them. This option allows for better fire initiative and a stronger activation shock. This is a second interesting advantage. It works in synergy with the “Intelligence” special rule for officers. This special rule allows a player to draw a die of their color at the start of a new turn, guaranteeing the Germans an activation shock in addition to fire initiative.

It is clear that competitive players will certainly know how to exploit these two advantages. Reversing a situation or gaining the upper hand at the right moment in the battle becomes possible with these options.

Panzer Ace

Panzer Ace maximizes a tank’s weapon against vehicles. This advantage is interesting; as a Russian player, I have suffered from it many times. This tends to make the “Panzer Ace” “THE TARGET” to take down.

Defending the Fatherland

Defending the Fatherland is linked to various unit options. It allows for several choices that make it possible to mix qualities within a single Waffen-SS squad or to provide specific equipment to specific troops. As a German player, I feel these options are more suited to a narrative scenario than a competitive one, and I find the initiative to be interesting.

New Features Compared to the Rulebook

The German army book offers, in the “Headquarters” section, a medic but also a chaplain. This unit allows you to boost the morale of your troops and reduce Pin markers for any unit within 6 inches of a chaplain. This provides an additional micro-management option for your units in combat.

The Infantry section offers numerous options. Notably, it includes the 5th Column. these are Nazi sympathizers who take up arms during the invasion of their own country. They infiltrate the defensive setup to strike from within. This type of squad is ideal for small 500-point skirmish scenarios. It is fast-paced and offers a real narrative experience.

You also have the possibility to create French militiamen. One could imagine small point-limit games to portray battles in the French Maquis.

Alarm units can also be included in infiltration scenarios—for example, a British Red Beret squad inside a German base. With the Luftwaffe Field Division Squad, you can even create the defense personnel of airbases. These options, which might seem anecdotal to a competitive player, take on their full meaning when approaching the narrative aspect of Bolt Action. It is always pleasant to have options for creating immersive narrative scenarios.

Artillery

The German army has a fine artillery offering. Traditionally, you find various anti-tank guns, such as the famous 75 mm PaK 40 included in the Starter Army SS. But there are also more specific options, like the Flak.

These pieces of equipment have a dual purpose. Their anti-aircraft capability is obvious, but a gun like the 20 mm Flakvierling 38, with its four light autocannons, can worry enemy vehicles while providing solid fire support. Meanwhile, the 50 mm PaK 38 remains a versatile choice throughout the war. This medium anti-tank gun is ideal for piercing enemy armor and creating unexpected holes in your opponents’ tanks.

So, you have far more possibilities than with just the basic book’s offerings. This will allow the more competitive among you to find the perfect formula to optimize a tournament list.

Vehicles

Lovers of German armored vehicles from the Second World War will likely be pleased with the vehicle section of the book. A description provides the main information about the vehicles, historical anecdotes, the number of units built, and their common theaters of operation. From my point of view, I would have appreciated even more details on each vehicle, but I keep in mind that this is a game. It is clear that often, internet research allows you to find much more information and period photos of these vehicles or, when preserved, color photos in museums. This enables players, as well as painters, collectors, and modelers, to create credible models of our favorite tanks.

Panzers

Many types of Panzer are offered, from various periods of the war. For internal game balance reasons, avoid deploying late-war Panzers that were built and available at the start of the war. This would be a delicious treat for your opponents equipped with heavy or super-heavy anti-tank guns.

Other vehicles

Warlord Games did not limit itself to just German tanks, troop transports, reconnaissance vehicles, trucks, light tanks, and those less known to the general public.

For example, the SDKFZ 251 Stuka Zu Fuss, with its rocket baskets, the answer to the Russian Katyusha.
The command vehicle, SDKFZ 223, with its distinctive antenna. An interesting option when you want only one armored vehicle in your mechanized platoon.

There is the Kübelwagen, for German players who want to explore the Libyan desert as an operational theater. The reconnaissance vehicle, capable of quickly transporting a headquarters from one end of the combat zone to the other. You will take some time to explore all the possibilities that German vehicles offer you as a player.
The small inserts also sometimes give you ideas for little historical scenarios.

Acquiring a German army

A few months ago, I bought Rattenkrieg, the German veterans who are ideal troops for early and mid-war. But also, as troops for the defense of Berlin, when they were equipped with the remnants of German military surplus.

If I compare with the older SS sprues, I found that the engraving has made a big leap forward in the fineness of the sculpts, especially the faces.

As always, Warlord Games sprues are very generous in possible options. Special weapons, flamethrowers, anti-tank rifles are available as standard in plastic. You will also have the possibility to create LMGs in a prone position. A small novelty: on each sprue, there is a brick wall, enough to create small ruins, light cover, or decorate bases with scenic elements. I think it’s a good idea, and I have used these possibilities on various occasions.

But it’s not just this kit that is remarkable; if you want original winter uniforms, the Fallschirmjäger in winter gear are made for you. The theme will be the cold, notably during the Battle of the Ardennes. The sprues released in 2024 also offer many possible options.

A scenario to test the German army: Dawn Raid

This scenario is ideal for testing Bolt Action with a limited number of miniatures. As I recommend in the article “How to Start Bolt Action?”

The context & elements of the scenario

An alarm unit is standing guard around a broken-down tank located near a dilapidated building. The night seems calm until around 1 a.m., several C-47s drop paratroopers into the area. The English troops have gathered into a small elite unit. Their scout, Major Tom, has spotted the small group of Germans stationed around the vehicle. Equipped with demolition charges, these shock troops see an ideal opportunity to destroy the tank behind enemy lines.

Meanwhile, the Germans experienced a peak of tension during the night, but with calm restored, some have gone back to sleep. The accumulated fatigue is heavy. Although a few explosions can be heard in the distance, everything seems peaceful in their sector. The radio remains silent. Only one of the two squads is truly alert, while the other has fallen asleep again in the rubble of the house.

A night combat context. June 6, 1944, was a moonless night. You will find all the details concerning night combat rules in the Bolt Action V3 rulebook.

For this scenario, you will need:

German side (Total: 168 points):

• 1 regular officer (Lieutenant) with three rifle-armed assistants for 70 points.
• 2 inexperienced alarm units composed of a non-commissioned officer (NCO) with a rifle and 6 riflemen for 42 points each.

Option:

Each alarm unit may have a dog. When the squad activates, the player can choose one of these options:

• Send the dog to search for nearby enemies. On a 3+ on 1D6, the dog moves straight toward the nearest enemy unit (ignoring obstacles except intact buildings).
• On a failure, the dog goes in a random direction (roll a direction die and use the indicator arrow).
• If the dog comes within 3″ of an enemy unit, it barks and the alarm is raised.
• The dog is wounded on a 3+ in close combat or when shot at.
• The dog moves 1d6 + 3″ per turn in “search” mode. But on an “attack on its master’s order” when not in formation with its alarm squad, it moves 1d6 + 6″ toward its target.
• In close combat, the dog has one attack die and the special rule Tough Fighters.

British side (Total: 168 points):

1 regular officer (Lieutenant) for 30 points.

2 veteran special forces units equipped with submachine guns (SMG), each composed of a non-commissioned officer and 2 men for 69 points each.

Option:

Each alarm unit that has a dog adds one fighter to the special forces squad.

The scenario takes place on the morning of June 6, 1944. Combat zone is a 90 x 90 cm square. The Germans are deployed in the center, near a main building. Around this area are woods and fields. The fight takes place at night, and only the central zone is illuminated.

German Deployment

The Germans will deploy first, with the HQ and the alarm unit up to 8 inches from the objective.

British Deployment

The SAS can deploy up to 6 inches from any edge of the combat zone. Subsequently, they can deploy in concealment.

Objectives

German Objectives (Total: 9 points):

• 3 victory points: Keep the tank intact until the end of the 5th turn.
• 2 victory points: Eliminate a special forces squad.
• 4 victory points: Capture an enemy squad (if they fail a morale test after losing one of their members).

British Objectives (Total: 9 points):

• 1 victory point: Infiltrate within 6 inches of the objective without triggering the alarm.
• The alarm is triggered by:
  • A dog barking,
  • The first gunshot,
  • As soon as any SAS member is visible to the alarm units or the officer squad.

• 7 victory points: Destroy the objective. You must approach within 3 inches of the tank, then succeed in activating the demolition charge on a roll of 4+. Both special forces squads have these charges, but not the officer.

• 1 victory point: Capture the German officer for interrogation.

Game notes: To simulate the sleeping squad, it is deployed inside the building, and the order die is immediately added to the bag when the alarm is given, i.e., when enemy troops are spotted.

A 6-inch zone is “illuminated” around the objective. The alarm unit illuminates 6 inches around itself to spot enemies. Beyond that, the pitch darkness makes any detection impossible.

The SAS are subject to the same night combat rules as the German troops.

Terrain proposal

Looking for an army builder ?

You can create and design army lists with the official Warlord Games application. One of its great added values is that, for a few euros per month, you have access to the entirety of all armies on your computer to prepare your lists.

Does this type of application make the army book obsolete? I would say yes for purely competitive players. However, if you are like me a narrative player, the books remain very good sources of inspiration to create immersive scenarios and have fun with Bolt Action. Finally, a book never breaks down and never runs out of power.