Fire in the Steppe 
First Axis: Slovakia at War, 1939-1945
| AP Series | Panzer Grenadier |
|---|---|
| Designers | Bennighof, McNair |
| Game Type | Expansion |
| Format | Book |
| Release Date | 2008-06 |
| Availability | Out of Print |
| Scenarios | 30 |
| Counters | 88 |
| Counter Type | Die-cut |
| Maps | 0 |
| Overall Rating, 119 votes |
|---|
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3.28
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| Expansion Rank: 78 of 114 |
| Popularity: Ownership & Activity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Owned by 21% | Played by 9% | AAR'd by 9% | Medaled by 1% |
| Rank | 24th of 163 | 30th of 152 | 26th of 150 | 85th of 92 |
| Expansion Game Requirements & Playability | |
|---|---|
| 30/30 | First Axis |
| 28/30 | Road to Berlin |
| 22/30 | Eastern Front |
| 8/30 | Sinister Forces |
| 2/30 | Battle of the Bulge |
| 1/30 | Airborne - IE |
| 1/30 | Edelweiss: Expanded |
| 1/30 | Fronte Russo |
| 1/30 | White Eagles |
| Total | |
|---|---|
| Side 1 | 49 |
| Draw | 13 |
| Side 2 | 63 |
|
In March 1939, the small nation of Slovakia declared its independence from Czechoslovakia and immediately became a satellite of Nazi Germany. Slovak troops became the first Axis forces to fight alongside the Germans, joining in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. They also marched into the Soviet Union in 1941. After five years as the most minor of allies, the Slovaks turned against the fascists and fought with the victorious allies in the last year of the war. First Axis is a supplement for the Panzer Grenadier series adding the Slovak army to the game series. There are 30 new scenarios, or game situations, covering fighting ranging from the 1939 border war with Hungary and invasion of Poland through fighting in the Soviet Union and finally the Slovak National Uprising of 1944. There are 88 new die-cut and mounted playing pieces representing Slovak tanks, troops and leaders. Re-implemented in Slovakia's War. |
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| Scenario | Plays | AARs | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01. Confused Alarms | 18 | 7 | 3.3 |
| 02. Clash by Night | 14 | 7 | 3.1 |
| 03. Ignorant Armies | 17 | 8 | 3.5 |
| 04. Struggle and Flight | 8 | 3 | 3.8 |
| 05. On a Darkling Plain | 9 | 5 | 4.1 |
| 06. Slavik Brotherhood | 7 | 2 | 4.1 |
| 07. First Battle | 2 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 08. Mopping up | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 09. Slovakia's Battle: Phase One | 3 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 10. Slovakia's Battle: Phase Two | 3 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 11. Holding the River | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 12. Christmas Day | 2 | 3 | 2.7 |
| 13. Collective Farm | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 14. High Water Mark | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 15. Crimean Gateway | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 16. Isthmus Guard | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 17. Capturing Lojev | 5 | 3 | 2.2 |
| 18. Defending Lojev | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 19. Korbela's Tank | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 20. End Game in Italy | 8 | 6 | 3.1 |
| 21. Fighting French | 3 | 2 | 2.7 |
| 22. Fighting Slovaks | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 23. Depot Guard | 3 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 24. Fighting Germans | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 25. Slovak Revival | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 26. Slovak Surprise | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 27. Retreat from Turiec | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 28. Raksa Valley | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 29. Brown Battalions | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 30. Uniformed Criminals | 3 | 2 | 2.7 |
| Heer |
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| Schutzstaffel |
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| Army |
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| Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale |
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| Regio Esercito |
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| Wojska Lądowe |
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| Slovenská Armáda |
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| Army (RKKA) |
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| Guards |
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| NKVD |
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| AFV Rules Pertaining to this Game's Order of Battle |
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| 19 Errata Items | |
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Scenario 1 - The sides are reversed in the historical commentary. (Grognard Gunny
on 2023 Jul 02)
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| Scen 5 |
Germany is not actually involved in the scenario, but German counters are required for the Hungarian side. (plloyd1010
on 2013 Mar 11)
|
| Scen 22 |
Loan the Slovaks 3 Soviet wagons, as all their wagons are used for the Prava trucks (reverse side). (campsawyer
on 2010 Sep 02)
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Two 105mms (ID#s 1204, 1205) have "16-31" fire values in black (direct fire), when they should be in white (indirect fire). (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010
on 2015 Jul 31)
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All SS PzIVH tanks should have a movement of 8. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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Liberation 1944's Tiger movement and armor ratings are backwards. They should be Armor 7 and Movement 5. (petermc
on 2014 Feb 14)
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The movement allowance on the counters in Airborne is misprinted. It should be "3." (rerathbun
on 2012 Jan 30)
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All SS 75mm IG guns are direct fire weapons (black), not indirect (white). (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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The reduced direct fire value of the SS HMG is 5-5 in Beyond Normandy and Road to Berlin. (plloyd1010
on 2015 Jul 31)
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The Units in Beyond Normandy were misprinted with a movement factor of 5. The movement factor should be 8. (rerathbun
on 2012 Mar 21)
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Liberation 1944's counters are mislabeled 'PzIVF2.' The counter's ratings are correct (Armor 5, Move 8, DF 11-6, AT 6-8). (rerathbun
on 2014 Feb 14)
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The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4. (plloyd1010
on 2015 Jul 31)
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Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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Strongpoints are single step units and can be eliminated with X results like any other single step unit. (rerathbun
on 2014 Apr 08)
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Strongpoints are affected by the terrain in their hex just like any other unit.
Even though they can't move, they can attack using Assault Combat if an enemy unit moves into their hex.
They may not dig in or benefit from entrenchments.
(rerathbun
on 2014 Apr 21)
|
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These units should have a Direct Fire rating of 2-3, just like the RKKA and NKVD counterparts. (danradz
on 2011 May 04)
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Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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| Nations at War - Scenario Appearance Percentages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Slovak Republic |
100%
|
Slovak Republic |
| Soviet Union |
47%
|
Soviet Union |
| Germany |
43%
|
Germany |
| Hungary |
17%
|
Hungary |
| Poland |
3%
|
Poland |
| Italy |
3%
|
Italy |
| Battle Types - Scenario Appearance Percentages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Urban Assault |
60%
|
Urban Assault |
| Rural Assault |
27%
|
Rural Assault |
| Road Control |
23%
|
Road Control |
| Exit the Battle Area |
17%
|
Exit the Battle Area |
| Hill Control |
13%
|
Hill Control |
| Inflict Enemy Casualties |
13%
|
Inflict Enemy Casualties |
| Surprise Attack |
7%
|
Surprise Attack |
| Bridge Control |
7%
|
Bridge Control |
| River Crossing |
7%
|
River Crossing |
| Meeting Engagement |
3%
|
Meeting Engagement |
| Rear Guard |
3%
|
Rear Guard |
| Conditions - Scenario Appearance Percentages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Off-board Artillery |
73%
|
Off-board Artillery |
| Randomly-drawn Aircraft |
57%
|
Randomly-drawn Aircraft |
| Terrain Mods |
23%
|
Terrain Mods |
| Reinforcements |
17%
|
Reinforcements |
| Hidden Units |
13%
|
Hidden Units |
| Entrenchments |
7%
|
Entrenchments |
| Minefields |
3%
|
Minefields |