"Anyone doing skirmish games that take place in the Balkans?" Topic

I am currently reading a general history of the Balkans when it struck me that the mountains of the area, say Greece, would be great for bandit raid scenarios, capturing European antiquities collectors/scientific expeditions, shoot-outs with government forces, maybe throw in some Turkish Bashis, just because, and whatever else you can think of for the 1870s to the early 1900s. While not Victorian Colonial, the scenarios are certainly evocative of the period. Anyone gaming this area of the world?

Usually between Graustark and Ruhritania

As you say, there are some interesting possibilities.
Various parts of Greece, like the Mani, sometimes felt they were independent of the government in Athens. There were bands of robbers, who once kidnapped English tourists and held them for ransom. Various national groups were intermixed throughout the Balkans, ruled by the Turks, who were happy to set one group against another.
A few real wars with field armies supported by irregulars, who sometimes operated behind enemy lines.

I'm afraid that, while I've thought about the issue, I haven't actually set up a game.

Grelber

The par excellence multi-player skirmish campaign is the Macedonia Struggle 1905-1908, but for moral reasons it is not my cup of team (essentially the various groups were engaged in ethnic cleansing and assassination). You have Ottoman Gendarmes and paramilitaries, versus Bulgarian supported IMRO paramilitaries, versus Greek supported Makedonomachs, versus Albanian tribes versus Serbia paramilitaries etc.Tenuous alliances, spies, assassinations, village sieges, all of it is there.

Penelope Delta's book "The Secrets of the Swamp" is a pro-greek/anti-bulgarian story set in the Yiannitsa (Yenice) area. There are also narratives and books from the point of view of the other factions.

In Greece a nice skirmish scenario could be the Iouniana 1863 Events. This includes urban fighting, greek regulars, firemen, bandits and civilians. I have written an article for the Foreign Correspondent which should come out in one of the next four issues which is detailed translation of a detailed greek article on it, together with extra info.

Another scenario (Greek wise) is the Great Cretan Revolt of 1866-1869. Greek Cretans and Greek volunteers vs. Muslims Cretans, Ottoman and Egyptian Regulars. If you are up for a what if, you can have Garibladini and even US Marines (the Greek Cretans asked fr the protection of the US). ANoteh revolt with the presence of Greek regulars happens in 1895.

Herzegovina 1878-1879 is another potential. Muslims vs or allied to Serb irregulars vs. Austro-Hungarians

If you want muslim vs. muslim violence, the Albanians were in rebellion against the government in 1878-1880s and then again in 1908-1912. You can also fight Ottoman government vs. Arab nomads or Kurdish nomads.

You can also have "pulp" games involving Armenian revolutionaries/terrorists vs. Gendarmes with bank runs. However considering the massacres by the Hamidian regime and what follows in 1915 it might not be of good taste for some.

KTravlos: Thanks for your insight; I was hoping you would chime in. I am kind of leaning towards the Pulp aspect because, if I was so inclined, I could throw some Russian infantry or a Royal Navy landing party into the mix. It just seems to be a region and an era ripe for skirmish and Pulp gaming.

There is Turkish TV series called Filinta.Its not particularly good being one of the president's prefered style of series but it is set in a semi-fantasy 19th century Istnabul (called Kostantiniyya back then, i.e Constantinople) . The hero is a gendarme and he faces ninjas (sufi warrior monks or whatever), Armenians, dastardly Greeks, tough guys etc.

Ustura Kemal, set in 1918-1919 Istanbul also has pulp elements. It is marginally better than Filinta.

But again the best background is the Macedonian Struggle, as it permits you to use almost all possible factions.

There is a Slavic Macedonian movie which is kinda like a western set in the era link
it might give you ideas.

I have Old Glory Cossacks and Albanian and Balkan irregular infantry for skirmish gaming the Ottoman frontier, but a couple of centuries earlier.

Other than changing the firearms, they probably look just about the same.

Tiger Miniatures has a very good 28mm range for the Balkan Wars 1912-1913 that can cover the period up to 1900.

Yes, I have been eye-balling them for years. I sent you a PM.

It's a good few decades before the time you're referring to, but you're inspiring me to imagine a Pulp Alley league led by Lord Byron. I wonder if there are any minis that would work for him.

Keeping in mind he was in The Greek War of Indepebdence, you could usd the officer wesring hrlmet from Steve Barber Miniatures from his GWI range

A German friend of mine is planning a skirmish campaign based on the 'Balkan' Kara Ben Nemsi books by Karl May.
I know he's still gathering figures for it (28mm).
Would it be interesting to know what he has so far?

Sure.