It’s all about Getting Italy going. They have a FAT series of National objectives that bolster your income instantly. You HAVE to do this.
That said… Italies first move, is all dependant on what, and how well, the British decide to do.
Try a fighter on the first turn, and focus on the tertiary NO’s, Clear Med, Greece/Gibraltar/ Southern france.
Then finish taking north africa, keep putting pressure on Egypt till it cracks.
As soon as you get Egypt and can hold it for a turn, PAY for the factory there. By this time the Americans should be on you. It’s all about stalling tactics, trying to keep them out of the med/gibraltar, whilst pressing on the Middle east.
As for the Germans… I find just taking the heat, whilst italy grows to economic parity, is what matters. Keep your fleet alive, and in the Baltic if necessary. pressure Leningrad and London simultaneously with that fleet - early in the game. Take Leningrad later.
Built a minor in Romania, and force all your troops south. Make a hard drive for the factory in UKR. Then… sit and wait, unless you get other oppurtunities. Try to goad the russians into attacking you, they’ll lose their edge. Mix in the odd italian unit, to provide you a can-opener oppurtunity for the Russian capital. Build mobile units in Romania, and infantry into Ukraine. Build up… use Berlin and your navy to put a push on Leningrad - FORCE the issue.
Once you have Leningrad, AND Romania/Ukr, that’s 9 units a turn, even if it’s just infantry, that you are pouring onto the russians. Support yourself with some aircraft… keep your planes alive, and the allies guessing. Make them pay for any stupid manuevers. Allow the allies to make a mistake, and break their backs for it.
I find Russia starts to crack once you’ve edged them for about 10 infantry, the trickling units from Leningrad/your navy are what take moscow usually… not your main defensive force (Which will need air defense) in the Ukraine. Regardless, let them attack.
If you get worried… attack into the Middle east anyways. Or if you get restless, or if you think you’re going to lose.
The best way to beat America, is to have your Japanese Ally help you, and if both of your force the allies into a position, where the Americans need to be everywhere at once, you’ve got them over a barrel.
I’m just finishing a 16 hour work shift, as a Superintendent of over 150+ guys on a 72 million dollar project that is behind schedule and poorly consulted/coordinated. So if there are grammatical errors, or otherwise in my comments above. Deal with it.