Late December, 1944, while the Allies began to pinch off The Bulge, the Soviets - and their new-found Romanian allies - began the assault on the "twin cities" of Buda and Pest, where 79,000 surrounded Axis defenders held on against heavy odds, made more difficult by "high command" orders to defend everywhere and not to consider a breakout effort. With German mobile reserves and stockpiled supplies expended by the Wacht am Rhein, a mixed force of Germans and Hungarians held on with little hope of relief. By mid-February, after the city fell, less than 1000 Axis troops of all kinds made it back to the dwindling safety of German lines.

The Soviets have two full "fronts" worth of troops, plus a corps of their newly gained (and doubtful quality) Romanian troops, while the Axis player commands a hodge-podge of various unit types of widely ranging enthusiasm. City fights are always popular and this game's rules stresses ease of play, but give players lots of options as the battle progresses. Find out, in ATO #31.