Overview

D-Day is a two-player operational/strategic wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1961, designed by Charles S. Roberts. It simulates the Western Front of World War II from the Normandy Invasion through the crossing of the Rhine (June-September 1944). D-Day holds a unique place in wargaming history as the first board wargame to feature both a hexagonal grid map and cardboard counters – two innovations that became standard in the genre. The game was revised and republished in 1962, 1965, 1971, 1977, and 1991.

Components

• 1 hex map depicting France, Belgium, and western Germany
• Die-cut cardboard unit counters (Allied and German forces)
• Combat results table
• Dice
• Rules booklet

Setup

1. Lay out the hex map.
2. The German player sets up their unit counters first, placing them in defensive positions across France and western Europe.
3. The Allied player then plans their invasion. The invasion site is not predetermined – it can be anywhere from southern France to the North Sea coast.
4. Place the turn marker on turn 1.
5. Determine starting conditions per the chosen scenario.

Turn Structure

Each game turn represents a period of the 1944 campaign:

1. Allied Player Turn: Movement phase, then combat phase.
2. German Player Turn: Movement phase, then combat phase.
3. Administrative Phase: Advance the turn marker, check supply and reinforcements.

Actions

Movement

• Units move through hexes, spending movement points based on terrain.
• Rivers, mountains, and cities affect movement costs and combat.
• The Allied player must manage the logistics of invasion and supply.

Combat

• Adjacent opposing units may attack.
• Combat odds are calculated by comparing total attack strength to total defense strength.
• Dice are rolled on the combat results table (CRT) to determine outcomes: defender eliminated, attacker eliminated, exchange, retreat, or no effect.

Invasion

• The Allied player launches an amphibious invasion at a location of their choosing.
• The success of the invasion depends on the strength of forces committed and the German defenses at the landing site.
• Subsequent turns involve expanding the beachhead and breaking out.

Supply

• Units must trace a supply line back to a friendly supply source to remain in supply.
• Out-of-supply units fight and move at reduced effectiveness.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Victory is determined by territorial control at the end of the game. The Allied player must capture key objectives (cities, ports, river crossings) to win. The German player wins by preventing the Allies from achieving their objectives within the time limit.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Fog of War: The German player sets up without knowing where the Allies will invade, creating tension and requiring flexible defense.
• Multiple Editions: Rules vary between the six published editions. Later editions refined combat tables and added optional rules.
• Amphibious Invasion: The invasion mechanic is central – choosing where to land is the most critical decision in the game.
• Historical Significance: As the first hex-and-counter wargame, D-Day established conventions used by hundreds of subsequent wargames.
• Intermediate Complexity: Rated Intermediate 1 on Avalon Hill’s complexity scale; suitable for 2 players aged 12+.

Player Reference

Turn: Allied Move & Combat → German Move & Combat → Administrative

Allied Goal: Invade France, capture objectives, advance to the Rhine

German Goal: Contain the invasion, hold key terrain

Combat: Odds ratio + dice roll on CRT

Key Decision: Where to launch the amphibious invasion