I recently played as Germany with no bids. I just invaded Egypt on G1, then focused my purchases for the “German Lurch.” Due to some fortuitous submarine rolls and the US focus in the pacific, I actually managed to secure all of Africa in about 5 rounds, while Japan invaded the mainland.
But, we still lost due to the enormous US navy in the pacific which threatened to invade japan’s Kwangtung and Manchuria factories, thereby allowing Russia to invade Germany.
:(