Defending Fortress America

Last month, on The Electoral Map, Patrick Ottenhoff reflected on the recent meetings between United States President Barack Obama and the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Things are so chummy they had burgers and are tweeting to each other. However things have not always been so warm between the two nations. During the Cold War, fears of a Soviet invasion fueled anti-communist rhetoric, and patriotic films about defending America from invasion (see Red Dawn). Maps like this invasion plan from a Yugoslavian newspaper didn't help things any, I'm sure:



This map immediately reminded me of a board game I played a year or so ago. Fortress America was published in 1986 by Milton Bradley as part of their Gamemaster series (which also included Axis & Allies)



Fortress America depicts a near-future time when the United States is the last defender in a world fallen to the Communist horde. The Chinese attack from the west, Soviets attack from the East and Nicaraguans from the south! Can the Americans hold out until the Star Wars Strategic Defense system can be activated?

It was actually a pretty good war game, that pits one player as the Americans, against one to three other players as the invaders. The game is long out of print and is today a collector's item.

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