The Weimar Republic

Germany stands on the brink of collapse... Which faction will shape its future?

January 19, 1919. The Great War is over, the Kaiser has abdicated, and Germany is entering one of the most turbulent periods in its history. Military defeat, economic crisis, social unrest and ideological confrontation threaten the survival of a young democracy whose future remains deeply uncertain.

The Weimar Republic is a historical Card Driven Game depicting the struggle for political power in Germany between 1919 and 1933. Four factions with radically different objectives and methods compete to determine the fate of the Weimar Republic.

Players take control of:

• The Democratic Coalition, fighting to preserve and strengthen Germany's fragile democracy;
• The Communist Party of Germany (KPD), pursuing revolutionary political change;
• The National Socialists (NSDAP), seeking to exploit political and social instability;
• The Radical Conservatives, representing reactionary and nationalist forces on the far right.

A MERCILESS STRUGGLE FOR POWER

The game covers fifteen crucial years of German history, from 1919 to 1933, with two rounds per year and a progression through three distinct historical eras, each featuring its own Event card deck.

Throughout the game, players compete to expand their influence across Germany's regions and major cities while exploiting the unique abilities of their respective factions.

Typical actions reflect the extraordinary instability of the period:

• political agitation and propaganda;
• reforms;
• recruitment and deployment of fighting forces;
• strikes;
• uprisings;
• assassinations;
• coups;
• regional and national elections.

Elections occur at specific moments during the timeline and can dramatically alter the political balance, reshaping control over Germany's regions and cities.

ASYMMETRIC FACTIONS AND TEMPORARY ALLIANCES

Each faction features its own mechanics, abilities and paths to victory. However, players' interests may occasionally overlap.

The political struggle is therefore not simply a straightforward confrontation. Players may exploit an opponent's actions, form temporary alliances, or abandon former partners when political circumstances change.

Gameplay is fast-paced, with initiative constantly shifting between factions. A seemingly stable political situation can suddenly collapse following an economic crisis, election or major historical event.

A DECISIVE PATH TO VICTORY

In The Weimar Republic, there is no traditional final Victory Point calculation.

Each faction pursues its own objectives, with victory generally achieved immediately through a Sudden Death victory condition. This approach creates constant tension throughout the game, as every decision may contribute to permanently changing the fate of the Republic.

The game also allows players to explore fascinating historical alternatives:

What if democracy had successfully stabilized Germany?
What if a Communist revolution had succeeded?
What if the Radical Conservatives had seized power before Hitler?
What if history had taken an entirely different path?

A FLEXIBLE GAME FOR 1 TO 4 PLAYERS

Each faction can be controlled either by a human player or by an automated Bot system, allowing virtually any combination of human and automated opponents.

The game includes several scenarios ranging from approximately 3 to 8 hours, as well as a tutorial scenario designed to introduce new players to the game's core mechanisms in around 90 minutes.

The Weimar Republic combines asymmetric political conflict, historical simulation and dynamic Card Driven mechanics in an ambitious exploration of one of the most decisive periods in twentieth-century European history.

HIGHLIGHTS

• An ambitious political simulation covering Germany from 1919 to 1933.
• A dynamic and highly asymmetric Card Driven Game system.
• Four competing factions with distinct strategies and objectives.
• Propaganda, elections, revolutions, coups and political confrontation.
• Three historical eras with dedicated Event card decks.
• Temporary alliances and constant interaction between factions.
• Sudden Death victory conditions creating permanent tension.
• Strong historical and alternative-history what if? possibilities.
• Fully playable from 1 to 4 players thanks to automated Bots.
• A tutorial scenario playable in approximately 90 minutes.
• Full scenarios lasting up to 8 hours.

BOX CONTENTS

• 1 mounted 22" x 34" mapboard
• 4 Player Mats
• 165 cards
• 150 yellow, red, brown and black Influence Cubes
• 3 black Conservative Clique Squares
• 8 white pawns and 4 coloured pawns
• 1 sheet of full-colour counters
• 4 six-sided dice
• 4 Player Aids
• 1 Reference Sheet
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Playbook

SPECIFICATIONS

Publisher: GMT Games
Designer: Gunnar Holmbäck
Developers: Jason Carr & Bruce Mansfield
Graphic Art: Terry Leeds
Game Type: Wargame / Political Strategy Game / Card Driven Game
Theme: The Weimar Republic – Interwar Germany
Historical Period: 1919–1933
Players: 1–4
Playing Time: 90–480 minutes
Age: 14+
Language: English