The 1940 Campaigns in Europe

Or, No Blitzkrieg please, we're Belgian!

In 1940, after the initial spluttering of the long fuse set at Munich, Europe erupted into real war! Denmark and Norway were invaded by the Germans (as had Poland been in 1939), and Finland was attacked by the Soviet Union. Then the Germans turned West...

This is a wargaming-based site, aiming to give some ideas & pointers for gamers who want something other than the beastly Hun to collect, paint, convert and love! Competition gamers and those who are Humourously Challenged will probably find little of interest here.

    Reasons to game a 1940 German Army:
  1. They won!
  2. Grey is your favourite colour
  3. You like Oompah Music and lederhosen
  4. Ermm...
  5. ...that's it

    Reasons to game a 1940 French Army:
  1. Their wine doesn't include antifreeze
  2. Their food is so much better
  3. French is a much nicer language than German
  4. If thing go badly, you just shrug your shoulders and say "c'est la guerre!"
  5. Everyone expects them to lose!
  6. Their tank camouflage patterns are very nice
  7. They do everything with Gallic style

If that has convinced you, try Nowfel Leulliot's excellent site (can't recommend it highly enough!).

    Reasons to game a 1940 Belgian Army:
  1. They have their own little AFVs
  2. They speak French or Flemish (Dutch dialect), which are both better than German
  3. They make really nice cakes & chocolate (and some good beer, as well)
  4. They make very nice chips ("fries" for the Yanks)

    Reasons to game a 1940 Dutch Army:
  1. The Dutch are really nice people, on the whole!
  2. They tried very hard to be neutral
  3. Their army was really pre-WW1 in many ways...
  4. Most people don't even seem to realise that the Dutch fought in WW2!
  5. The Dutch armed forces surrendered in May 1940, but the nation never did
  6. They had lots of bicycles, and no real tanks

If that has inspired you, then try the Dutch 1940 page

    Reasons for gaming the BEF:
  1. They gave the British that traditional brave defeat to start WW2
  2. They actually fought rather well, on the whole
  3. Lots of dodgy tanks, plus some Matildas!

    Reasons to game a 1940 Greek Army:
  1. They beat the Italians, then invaded Italian-held Albania!
  2. Their equipment was a mixture of just about everyone else's
  3. Lots of fighting in mountains

If that has inspired you, then try the Greek 1940 page

    Reasons to game a 1940 Italian Army:
  1. A more stylish (ie less effective) Axis choice!
  2. You can fight the Greeks & Brits in Greece/Albania, or the French in the Alps
  3. Their tanks are "sardine cans"
  4. Actually, Italian troops were usually as brave as anyone else

    Reasons to game a 1940 Norwegian Army:
  1. Ski-troops & lots of "silly-sounding" names
  2. Wonderful scenery
  3. Their equipment was mainly 19th Century!

For more information, try the Norway 1940 page

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