Southern France for Germany

[koba]

I tried this and it’s working out for me. I’ve used it to get the Afrika corps into Egypt and beyond. It’s a nice to have the option to be able to send Germans to Africa independent of the Italians. I also agree with being able to support the defence of the Med.

[Jennifer]

I truely enjoy giving Germany the NO in S. France.  And I do not compensate Italy for their loss.  The very idea of being able to put German ships into the Med to reinforce the Italians makes me feel giddy.

Anyway, lately, I have been giving all of Europe to Germany, let Italy take the south.  With the new NOs, Italy has no purpose being in Europe anyway, they fair much better down south in North Africa.

[Fishmoto37]

@FieldMarshalGames:

@Gargantua:

What did you end up actually building out of that factory?

seems like a waste of time to me… :S  Don’t get me wrong, I agree it can’t really hurt you, but I fail to see how it really helps you.

I built two German subs, so it was an alternative launch point for U-boats other than Normandy Coast.

I also built a transport so I could move 2 INF to Africa, it helped the Italians and eventually got me my NO for unit in Egypt.

If the Med had heated up early, I could have done alot more also.  More OPTIONS are open to Germany in the Med with this move.

I agree with your reasons for Germany taking the free IC in S. France. It not only gives Germany access to N. Africa but they can send reinforcements to Gibraltar after Italy takes it. Closing off the Med. for the axis es muy importante!

[Jennifer]

And, as a corollary, they can have an easier time sending a man to Egypt for the NO.

[Piet Hein]

From my limited AAG40 experience i can say this much: I think it’s not a bad idea in itself to have a G. IC on the Med for emergency purposes but I think the sole focus in turns 1-6 should be Russia. Germany should be spending at least 40 IPC a turn on the Russian front by churning out tanks and mechs in Romania and Ukraine and take Moscow asap or it will ultimately be locked in on all 3 sides of the board. So “hobbies” like building a G. fleet in the Med, trying to get exotic NO’s and preparing Sealion may look good when you are still your own boss in Europe, but are keeping you from where you really need to be acting - Russia

[Razor]

@FieldMarshalGames:

But now with the minor IC I allowed Germany to take Southern France on the Second turn.

I agree this is an excellent move, but why wait ? Now you start with 4 Mech in Western Germany and 2 Tanks in Southern Germany that may reach Southern France through Italy. Togheter with a lot of aircrafts, you may now hit the two French units in Southern France with insane mighty force in Turn 1. Then you place 3 subs there in Turn 2.

[knp7765]

I tend to agree with Piet Hein.  While having an IC on the Med would be nice for giving Germany some extra options, Germany really shouldn’t be spending money on stuff to put in the Med or Africa when they really need to be pouring units into Russia, or maybe a Sealion if the opportunity presents itself.  In our games, once Barbarossa commences, almost all of Germany’s money is funneled into that effort with a little to buy infantry to defend the Western European territories and maybe a sub or two to harass British convoys.

[Fishmoto37]

@knp7765:

I tend to agree with Piet Hein.  While having an IC on the Med would be nice for giving Germany some extra options, Germany really shouldn’t be spending money on stuff to put in the Med or Africa when they really need to be pouring units into Russia, or maybe a Sealion if the opportunity presents itself.  In our games, once Barbarossa commences, almost all of Germany’s money is funneled into that effort with a little to buy infantry to defend the Western European territories and maybe a sub or two to harass British convoys.

I normally leave some offensive units in western Europe to counter attack Normandy landings. Plus infantry for fodder to protect my more expensive units. The part I like most about the German alpha+2 setup is the extra infantry. They are a great asset for Barbarossa.

[Jennifer]

I doubt I would split my forces up that much.  Why take S. France on Round 1?  I’d rather be decisive in SZ 110, SZ 111, SZ 112, Paris and Yugoslavia on Germany 1.

[Fishmoto37]

@Cmdr:

I doubt I would split my forces up that much.  Why take S. France on Round 1?  I’d rather be decisive in SZ 110, SZ 111, SZ 112, Paris and Yugoslavia on Germany 1.

No need to take S. France on G1. It will still be there on G2 and can be taken with units left from the Normandy and paris battles.

[knp7765]

If Germany doesn’t take S. France on G1, wouldn’t Italy take it on I1?  That’s what usually happens in my games.  What else would Italy do with 2 inf, 2 art and 1 arm that they start out with on N. Italy?

[Jennifer]

If you are controlling Italy and Germany, it would really be up to you if you want Italy to take it.

In my opinion, however, I feel it is best to leave it French for a round and let Germany take it with whatever it has left in Paris since it gives them an Industrial right in the Med.  However, there is a strong argument that the IC is not necessary and one can, and should, be built in Yugoslavia for reinforcements to the SouthEast European Front and to put ships in the water directly into the Italian fleet in SZ 95.

[knp7765]

@Cmdr:

If you are controlling Italy and Germany, it would really be up to you if you want Italy to take it.

In my opinion, however, I feel it is best to leave it French for a round and let Germany take it with whatever it has left in Paris since it gives them an Industrial right in the Med.  However, there is a strong argument that the IC is not necessary and one can, and should, be built in Yugoslavia for reinforcements to the SouthEast European Front and to put ships in the water directly into the Italian fleet in SZ 95.

Yeah, in this case, saving S. France for Germany would basically be saving them the 12 IPCs for building an IC in Yugoslavia.  Depending on how the game/war is going, Germany could really need those 12 IPCs.
Except for putting a couple of fighters in S. Italy on G1 to help protect the Italian fleet, I usually leave the Med and Africa to the Italians.  Usually Germany is too busy with England and preparing for Barbarossa.

[Peck]

I took all of France in one turn as Germany once and it was good, turn two could ship all my tanks and mech back to West Germany for SeaLion;however the next game I tried it again and had an epic fail……  The gains you make by taking all of France on one go does not compare to the epic fail you will recieve if you dont win the important ones first, ie FRANCE, normandy.

[Fishmoto37]

@Peck:

I took all of France in one turn as Germany once and it was good, turn two could ship all my tanks and mech back to West Germany for SeaLion;however the next game I tried it again and had an epic fail……  The gains you make by taking all of France on one go does not compare to the epic fail you will recieve if you dont win the important ones first, ie FRANCE, normandy.

Exactly, first things first. Germany must take out the cruiser in 91 and the U.K. fighter in Normandy and then protect the Italian navy on the NCM. I still think that protecting the Italian navy and clearing the Med. of the U.K. navy has priority over sinking U.K. ships in the Atlantic.

[Jennifer]

I disagree, the SZ 91 cruiser may or may not be sunk, the Destroyer/Transport in SZ 109 is a better target, IMHO.  The fighter in Normandy can stay or go, I’d rather have 12 IPC of units extra after taking France than cost England a 10 IPC fighter it can’t use against me.

[Fishmoto37]

@Cmdr:

I disagree, the SZ 91 cruiser may or may not be sunk, the Destroyer/Transport in SZ 109 is a better target, IMHO.  The fighter in Normandy can stay or go, I’d rather have 12 IPC of units extra after taking France than cost England a 10 IPC fighter it can’t use against me.

Yes, the ships in 109 are a possible target but the fighter in Normandy has to go as it can be used against the Italian navy on U.K.1.

[Piet Hein]

How? Landing on Malta counts as a move right?

[knp7765]

It could land on the British carrier.

[Jennifer]

It can, but with 1 Italian Fighter, 2 Germany Aircraft (Presumably fighters since they defend better) it’s still not a great move for England.