@IKE:
Questions on Germany and Russia mechanics while NOT at war:
1. German fleet is in sz112, Russia moved her CR & SS to 113. Can Germany move to 113 and load TT? (Assume yes since not at war)
Yes, as long as Germany didn’t just DW on Russia
2. Can Germany then attack Leningrad with those transports?
No, that would require a DOW on Russia at the beginning of the combat movement phase. Then they can’t move through 113 in a combat move because 113 is hostile.
3. Could Germany instead load in sz112 for Sea Lion and attack Russia elsewhere on land?
Sea Lion?? See answers below.
Just trying to understand if I load TT’s in sz113 in combat phase if I’m allowed to also attack Russia that turn or if I would have to wait until the following turn to do so. I think there’s a rule where Japan can load TT’s in what would be a hostile sea zone, and then declare war after loading in the combat phase. Can Germany do the same?
No difference between Germany and Japan. I think this is your confusion:
You can load transports in combat move in a zone that JUST became hostile because of your DOW, and yes you can attack that power immediately. However, in your example, you started in 112 and the surface warship is in 113. You can’t move into another zone of the power you just declared war on and ignore those units. The exception is only for the zone you started in, if it is occupied by the power you just declared war on.
So, if your German fleet is in 113 and the Russian fleet is in 113, you can declare war on Russia, load up the transports, and go attack Russia or UK or anyone.
However, your German fleet is not in 113, so if you declare war on Russia, any combat move to 113 would require combat with the Russian fleet in 113. You can attack Russia to the North (go up around Scandinavia) because the Russian fleet is not between you and Russia, going that route.