This is the second of a 2-part guide on winning strategies to use in Iron, Blood, Snow & Mud (IBSM) by designer Guglielmo Duccoli. In part 1, Guglielmo discussed Axis strategies. Here he looks at those available to the Soviet player. 

Part 2: Soviet player strategies

The first few turns playing as the Soviets in Iron, Blood, Snow & Mud you leave you feeling a bit frustrated: you have very few units, and they will be isolated and unable to counter the German tide advancing eastwards along the entire war front. 

The fact that you only have one Air Support unit will also put you in a difficult position, preventing you from providing the necessary support to your troops. All this recreates the initial situation of the conflict in the summer of 1941, when the Red Army was surprised by the largest attack of all time: 600,000 motorized vehicles and almost 3,000,000 soldiers belonging to the best trained and equipped army in the world. 

Don’t lose heart! If you keep your wits about you and do not panic, this difference between you and the enemy will gradually become more and more significant, giving you the chance to turn the tide of the conflict.  

Here are some key strategy tips to turn the tide of the battle:

1 – Resist or retreat? From turn 1 you must decide whether to use the units that escaped annihilation to hinder the enemy advance, or withdraw them eastwards for future use. This second option is more favorable in the south-central sectors, where the course of the rivers favours the establishment of effective defense lines.

2 – When to counterattack? Answering this question is difficult, but it is certain that one of the keys to the Soviet player’s success lies in judging when to give battle and when to avoid fighting and retreat. One fact must always be considered: unlike the Red Army, the Wehrmacht can never rebuild lost units. So, if you have a good chance of causing permanent damage to the enemy, do not hesitate to give battle!

3 – The use of Partisans. In IBSM, Partisans have no military value, yet their action can be crucial in diverting Axis units from the front line. If the German player underestimates the Partisans, they may be in danger of having their supply lines cut and losing the war. In addition to threatening the German rear, Partisans can also be effectively employed to slow down the Wehrmacht’s advance by creating obstacles in the path of Convoys.   

4 – Placing reinforcements. The Red Army will be able to replace losses and even increase the number of its units in the course of the game. Not only that, new troops can appear where they will be most required. A good strategy is to set up Infantry units in cities that can obstruct the German invasion lines, while concentrating Tank units in more strategic locations where they can form a nuclei of sufficient power to counter-attack the enemy.  

5 – Stalin’s movement. Sometimes the Axis player achieves victory by taking Moscow while Stalin is still there. Do not be caught unprepared! Carefully assess the situation on the ground and, if you think Moscow may fall into enemy hands during the next turns, do not hesitate to try to move Stalin to a city far from the front and easy to defend (you may not succeed on your first attempt). On the other hand, consider that moving Stalin will leave the initiative to the German for the rest of the game, giving the Wehrmacht a considerable advantage.

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