Good article. I've often wondered about pre-WWII German games. Did they have wargames then? I know there were shortages that would have curtailed production into the war, but were there Nazi boardgames produced?
About your question "Wouldn't you have been scared if Germans had been obsessed with wargames after the war, like the Japanese?" since Japan is just as peace-loving as Germany these days, maybe more-so, they have Peace Museums in Japan, I guess my answer is "No."
I agree that these limits--together with Germans' famous ingenuity, disicpline and enjoyment of leisure time--have strengthened Germany's board game designs.
An architecture professor I once had said that limits are not walls, but rather windows to something better.
by Jeff Allers @24.04.2006, 08:32
Poor Grognads, writing the above must have killed you. It isn't the same when your COMMENTS aren't in italics or colors, "is" it?
The article was interesting, and as a casual wargamer, I enjoyed hearing the German perspective. I think Euro-influences have been a positive on the wargames industry, and I'm keen to see where the next generation of wargames will take us.
by jmw23 @24.04.2006, 07:35
When I was stationed over in Germany from 1979 to 1980, there was a controversy concerning a "Wargame" with the name of "Wurzburg". In that, then you could conceivably "Nuke" the environs of the aforementioned 'City' during "gameplay", and because of this little 'aspect', then it was BANNED by the "Burghermeister" of said place. Most of us considered this as being too extreme of a reaction for the "Nationals", since it wasn't advocating 'doing' just such an action. Of course, we "US soldiers" weren't held to this by any manner, but in the interests of "solidarity", then we didn't flout upon the matter as there were still plenty of other "games" that held our interests. We were constantly reminded that WE were to act and behave in a manner that didn't bring shame or dishonor upon ourselves or our country, although many disregarded their "responsiblities" for such, and not JUST the "lower enlisted personnel" either. If anyone recalls during this 'time' that I was stationed over there, then they'd remember that WE-(the USA) almost went to WAR with "Iran" over the "hostages" that they had taken during their overthrow of the "Shah". WIthin our own 'Unit', then we had a "Soldier" that was "Islamic" and he caught HELL from many due to his devotion regarding "Khomeini". The 'funny thing' about him, was that those of US who knew him could "give him grief" about this, but woe to anyone NOT from our 'Unit' who tried to, as we'd still stick UP for this 'guy', no matter what! There were plenty of times that HE would get "threats" from others about his "beliefs" and the ongoing 'situation', while just about ALL of us who were very acquainted with him, wouldn't stand for any nonsense concerning that. He was truly the "odd duck", although he was very intelligent and could converse in at least 4 languages, of which we were happy when HE was around to help translate. It was during one of our "Field Maneuvers" that I had made his acquaintance, where we were the "guests" of a German National who was a "farmer". Our 'Comrade' sat there and translated for us with this fellow, as he told about his exploits as a "Wehrmacht Soldaten" on the "Russian Front" during WW-2. It was an excellent opportunity to hear about that for myself, since I'd been a "grognard" for a few years and to actually meet up with someone that had participated within that 'Campaign' was quite the "treat" then. He spoke to us about how much better it was that WE were 'there', instead of the "Russians" and that made the encounter ALL the more worthwhile for myself as a result of this. I sure do miss being over there and especially for the "Volksmarches" that I used to participate in. Oh yeah, and I really liked them "Bumper Cars" that the "Fests" would usually have as an attraction, along with the other "good stuff" associated with those. Good times...