Operation Lorraine-Alsace 1944: the alternate Battle of the Bulge by Ty Bomba
Featured in Issue 110 of World at War magazine by Decision Games, Operation Lorraine-Alsace 1944 is an operational what-if wargame designed by Ty Bomba. As the third volume in the Alternative Battles of the Bulge series, this title explores a major strategic hypothetical from late 1944: what if the German high command had launched its armored counteroffensive against the US 3rd and 7th Armies in Lorraine and Alsace instead of the Ardennes? Players command mechanized formations to determine control along the Rhine approaches. The title features:
- A rigorously documented alternate history scenario grounded in real-world late 1944 German operational planning.
- Precise operational scale where each hex represents five miles (eight kilometers) and each game turn equals one full day.
- The complete historical magazine packed with research articles on the 1942 Battle of Kalach, Edson's Ridge on Guadalcanal, and Nijmegen during Operation Market Garden.
Operation Lorraine-Alsace 1944: armored spearheads and US defensive lines
The operational flow reflects the intensity of armored clashes across winter terrain:
- The opening counteroffensive shock: German panzer divisions must strike quickly during the initial eight days to rupture Allied lines before reserves deploy.
- Resilient American defense: US Army units leverage devastating divisional artillery and tactical mobility to stall German wedges and seal off penetrations.
- Weather and terrain restrictions: Navigating the Vosges mountain passes, securing river bridges, and handling winter flight limitations demand careful logistics.
Operation Lorraine-Alsace 1944: victory conditions and front stabilization
The German goal centers on wrecking Allied formations to forestall their 1945 offensive:
- Allied division attrition: The German player earns victory points by encircling, isolating, and destroying advanced American frontline divisions.
- Territorial restoration: Re-establishing a solid defensive barrier along the Vosges and pushing Allied forces back past the Moselle secures victory. World at War 110 is an essential acquisition for enthusiasts of rigorous military counterfactuals and wargamers seeking a dynamic World War II operational simulation.
