Germany playbook: overall strategy guide

Feel free to make a contribution for any strategy! Check out Japan as well http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=26960

Disclaimer: G1 DoW is viable and fun. It is just not the most optimal of strategies.

Two variants of G1 DoW on Russia to be posted, then sea lion feigns, and other builds.

G1 DoW on Russia.

Purchase: 3 mech 3 armor.

Combat
1 art 3 inf 4 mech west germany->france
3 armor 2 arty 4 infantry holland belgium -> france
1 tactical fighter germany -> france
2 infantry slovakia hungary -> east poland
3 armor greater southern germany-> east poland
3 armor poland, slovakia, romania-> east poland
2 infantry romania -> bessarabia
1 bomber germany -> bessarabia
3 infantry poland ->baltic states
1 fighter slovakia -> baltic states
1 tactical bomber -> baltic states.
2 subs-> 106
1 sub -> 111
1 bship->111
1 fighter norway -> 111
1 tactical bomber west germany ->111
1 bomber germany ->111
2 subs -> 109
1 fighter holland -> 109
2 fighter 2 tactical -> 109

non combat

tactical bomber france -> southern italy
109 air -> belgium
111 air -> west germany
bessarbia bomber -> germany
1 fighter baltic states -> poland
1 tactical bomber baltic states -> west germany
1 aa gun west germany -> belgium
1 aa gun germany -> west germany
11 inf 3 arty 2 aa gun -> poland
6 inf 2 arty greater southern germany -> slovakia hungary
1 transport 1 cruiser 114 -> 112
2 inf denmark -> norway
3 inf norway -> finland

place 3 mech 3 armor on germany.
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I noticed some people send 2 subs 2 fighter 2 tactical to sz 109 only, I do not like this as it is only 60%~ odds of winning in dice. In low luck it is about the same % as well. I added a fighter to that battle to reflect my views. As the allies, I am playing 1 game not 5000, so going for 40% is a valid move, and a solid defense there can be game changing.
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sz 109 is a battle that can be skipped if the allies put a bid in scotland, sz 109/111, or if you simply just feel like skipping it. You can put a sub in sz 125 to prevent Russia from making that NO, more air for sz 111 and other battles. Also 1 sub vs a cruiser off of gibraltar comes to mind.

Young Grasshopper’s version of a G1 DoW on Russia.

GERMANY

Purchase New Units
1 Strategic Bomber
1 Fighter
1 Destroyer

Combat Movement

SZ#106 - 1 Submarine
SZ#110 - 2 Submarines, 1 Battleship, 2 Fighters, 2 T.Bombers, 1 S.Bomber
SZ#111 - 2 Submarines, 2 Fighters, 1 T.Bomber, 1 S.Bomber
France - 7 Infantry, 4 M.Infantry, 3 Artillery, 3 Tanks
Baltic States - 3 Infantry, 2 Tanks, 1 T.Bomber
Eastern Poland - 2 Infantry. 3 Tanks
Bessarabia - 2 Infantry, 1 Tank, 1 Fighter, 1 T.Bomber

Non-Combat Movement

1 Cruiser, 1 Transport into SZ#113 / 2 Infantry from Germany into Norway
3 Infantry from Norway into Finland
3 Infantry from Germany into W.Germany
6 Infantry, 3 Artillery, 1 AA Gun from Germany into Poland
6 Infantry, 2 Artillery, from S.Germany into Slovakia
1 AA Gun from Germany into Slovakia
1 AA Gun from Germany into W.Germany
3 AA Guns from W.Germany into N.Italy
1 T.Bomber from Poland into Poland
1 T.Bomber from Germany into Poland
1 Fighter from Slovakia into Slovakia
All surviving air units from the Atlantic into W.Germany

Place new units
1 Strategic Bomber into W.Germany
1 Fighter into W. Germany
1 Destroyer into SZ#113

Collect income
$38 income
$5 National objective
$19 Capital gain
= $62

FAQ: G1 attack on Russia

Q: Why didn’t you buy an Aircraft Carrier round one?
A: I don’t need one because my T. Bomber from Germany is attacking in the Eastern front. However, I will be placing 1 Aircraft Carrier and 2 other sea units in the Med on turn three. This is where I prefer to build my navy, because I’m a big believer in supporting Italy.

Q: If you support Italy, why didn’t you place a fighter in S.Italy for maximum scramble?
A: I don’t scramble during Toranto, as Italy I’m losing almost half my navy, I don’t want to lose my air force as well. I use all my German air units in W. Germany to wipe out the british fleet left in SZ#97 in round #2.

Q: You didn’t attack Yugoslavia or walk on Bulgaria, did you leave to much money behind?
A: I have made 3 logistical attacks on Russia killing 7 Infantry, taking 3 territories, and $2, rather than an overkill attack for a total of $3, and 5 neutrals. I choose to leave Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Greece for Italy, to ensure their financial stability in future rounds.

Q: You gave your $5 NO to Russia, are you ok with them in Iraq for another $7 early?
A: My goal is to get Lenningrad as soon as possible, but getting SZ#125 is also a viable option in regards to taking away the Russian NO. I believe that this strategy paired with Cow’s J1 attack on the Pacific Allies, will prevent Russia from helping against Japan. If Russia wants to divert forces away from the front that was just attacked…. I’m OK with that.

Q: Russia will just counter and take all their territories back while wiping out Germany’s tanks… do you really want that?
A: I have tried this strategy 5 times now (record is 7-1-1), and I can honestly say that I was very comfortable with Germany’s position throughout each game (the loss was not Germany’s fault). Even in the games when Germany didn’t get fair dice rolls in round one, their recovery position was still sound. My rational for doing this is… I take away 7 infantry from Russia that are crucial to them, and I force more Russian Infantry to move into range of my next attack. Actually, playing Germany becomes more fun when you see all the battles of attrition between Russia, and Germany instead of a game of turtling.

PS: If you are attempting a J1 attack on the Pacific Allies, a G1 attack on Russia demands attention from the U.S, and prevents Russia from supporting China.

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It should be noted that the allies may full scramble in this situation. Probabilities dictate that the fighters will trade evenly (as in every fighter you scramble should hit on defense and maybe get you extra, they should all get to roll twice, be sure to lose the bship before losing fighters in sz 110 as you may not score hits on all the subs).

Optimal sea lion / feign.

Been debating if normandy or southern france or neither is better for round 1.

Purchase Units - Germans
           Germans buy 1 carrier and 2 transports; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Germans
           1 submarine moved from 117 Sea Zone to 106 Sea Zone
           1 submarine moved from 103 Sea Zone to 106 Sea Zone
           1 submarine moved from 108 Sea Zone to 110 Sea Zone
           1 submarine moved from 118 Sea Zone to 111 Sea Zone
           1 submarine moved from 124 Sea Zone to 111 Sea Zone
           1 battleship moved from 113 Sea Zone to 110 Sea Zone
           1 fighter moved from Holland Belgium to 110 Sea Zone
           1 fighter moved from Norway to 111 Sea Zone
           1 tactical_bomber moved from Germany to 110 Sea Zone
           2 fighters and 2 tactical_bombers moved from Western Germany to 110 Sea Zone
           1 tactical_bomber moved from Western Germany to 111 Sea Zone
           2 bombers moved from Germany to 111 Sea Zone
           2 artilleries and 6 infantry moved from Greater Southern Germany to Yugoslavia
           3 armour moved from Greater Southern Germany to France
           3 armour, 2 artilleries and 4 infantry moved from Holland Belgium to France
           1 artillery, 3 infantry and 1 mech_infantrys moved from Western Germany to France
            3 mech west moved from West Germany to Southern France.
           1 tactical_bomber moved from Poland to Yugoslavia
            1 fighter moved from Hungary to Southern France

ncm

tactical fighter yugoslavia-> Southern Italy.
fighter southern france -> northern italy.
Rest of the air lands west germany, except the one tactical fighter to sz 112 (it has one movement left only).
cruiser transport-> sz 112
shuffle 2 inf from denmark->norway.
1 inf norway->finland.
2 arty germany->west germany
Rest of germany-> poland.
1 inf romania-> bulgaria
2 inf hungary->poland
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This is like the basic sea lion but with some minor adjustments. You are doing Southern france. You power slam Yugoslavia.

You can make 71 income potential (if convoys from the french miss) 9 transports and a dd purchase… potential… you can drop 6 units on to scotland in round 2 then pick up 6 more units and drop. Bringing the total drop count to 6+6+18… 30 units. Plus your air. Italy can bomb an airbase if necessary. Italy can land a fighter onto scotland to scramble to defend transports if necessary as well (against the 1 french fighter).

Even if you make 68 only… that is still 28 units + air drop potential. Southern France is nice because if Naval goes to gibraltar you can blast it.

Soulfein’s basic Germany opener. G2 DoW on Russia oriented. It is tried and true. When I just want to win, this is my opener.

purchase:
2 trans 1 carrier

combat:
2 subs to sz106
2 subs, 1 ftr, 1 tac, 2 bmbrs to sz111
1 sub, 1 bb, 3 ftrs, 3 tacs to sz110
every land unit in range to france (7 infs, 4 mechs, 3 arts, 6 tanks)
6 infs, 2 arts from southern ger, plus 3 tanks, 1 ftr to yugo, retreating to romania after 1st round of combat (getting 4 hits)

noncombat:
landing 1 ftr 1 tac to sz112
yugo ftr plus poland tac to southern ita
landing rest of air to w ger
cru, transport to sz112
2 denmark infs to norway
1 norway inf to finn
1 romania inf to bulg
2 slovakia infs to poland
11 infs 3 arts 3 aa guns from ger to poland
2 aa guns from w ger to ger

so now u r optimally set to see what allies have to offer, and strike where they are weak. u can

a) go barbarossa g2,
b) go sealion
c) go heavy africa

-u ll get france probably only losing infs

-if going for barbarossa, usa / uk wont be able to use normandy factory so u dont have to exchange normandy so no need to have a defensive stack in france late game. if going for sealion u can get normandy 2nd round np at all

-other than going sealion (if the allied response in first round was inadequate) with the help of 3 transports:
a) u can stack baltic in g2 (100%) and grab novgorod in g3 (100%)
b) u can grab morocco and/or gibraltar in g2 (given uk doesnt block sz110 with enough to deny ita can open), getting in range for sending transports to sz98 in g3
c) can do both giving ussr doesnt optimally threatens a baltic attack

-with 2 ger air in southern ita u get to choose to save 1 ita ftr.

-with a strong sealion threat u force uk n usa to purchase n move accordingly.

etc etc

so to sum up, the basic idea is to keep your options open, to get ready to hit any weak spots u can see, n to force your opponents to play without too many options avalaible.

always keep in mind: if u can force your opponent to choose between 2 or more relatively bad moves, u r winning the game without him/her even noticing it.

Side note, you can adjust this opener to include taking southern france, instead of using an air unit on france, use a fighter and 3 mech for southern france, which should win especially in low luck games. This allows you to do med play where as this opener does not. Land tactical on southern Italy after it hits yugoslavia.

All in pacific. The convoy thing.
Round 1 buy Carrier, dd, sub.

Basic Germany opener. Take Yugoslavia instead of strafing it. Just attack France, Yugoslavia, and naval battles.

Round 2, build carriers and leftover money for sub/dd (or transports and do sea lion if uk is not well defended).

Ideally you want italy naval next to gibraltar on round 2, Round 3 German naval moves in, round 3 Italy can destroy any blocking naval so Germany has a clear path.  Convoy away. :)
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Also if you ever find yourself setting up for sea lion and noticing that America is not well defended… skip sea lion, go to gibraltar and invade America (if America is still making 3 units a turn only, he is done). Italy is your can opener.

Medit sea and other economic based Germany strategies.
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A little bit of a Gambler approach (I forgot who did this):
purchase 1 carrier 1 dd and 1 submarine.

combat:
2 subs -> 106
1 battleship 2 fighter 2 tactical 1 bomber -> 111
2 subs -> 91
1 sub, 2 fighter, 2 tactical, 1 bomber -> 109
7 inf 1 mech 3 arty 5 armor 1 tactical (tactical from poland) -> france
3 mech 1 armor -> southern france
6 inf 2 arty from greater southern germany, 1 fig, 3 armor (armor from poland hungary and romania) -> yugoslavia

non combat:
air in 109->holland
air in 111-> carrier/ west germany
2 aa gun from west germany -> holland
move an aa gun from germany-> west germany if necessary
Germany units -> poland
1 inf romania->bulgaria
3 inf norway->finland
cruiser transport -> 112
2 inf denmark->norway
2 hungary inf->poland
1 fighter yugoslavia->Southern Italy
1 tactical fighter france -> west germany
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If UK scrambles 109 you should be able to kill the RAF and walk out with a bomber (in low luck you generally walk out with 2 air units, sometimes 3)…. You may sea lion successfully with a dead RAF in front of you. Scramble most likely to happen in 111, usually you lose 2 air units and the bship, which is fine (or just the bship if no scramble).

With the cruiser out of the picture UK is unlikely to attack sz 97 (Italy’s stuff).

the 110 naval may merge into sz 92 with sz 98 units going there as well (Italy has 50/50 to sink it if no airbase was bought). Attack if you plan on doing sea lion. Do not attack if airbase was bought and 2-3 air can scramble. You can just clear sz 93 of France stuffs, huddle sz 97 or shuffle units to cyprus/syria.
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Pitfalls:

Naval merge must be dealt with on round 2 or 3. Usually this is a viable strategy in a Europe only board as USA stays out of the picture for a longer duration. May be a viable strategy if Japan likes to go to war on round 3 in global.

May end up doing sea lion instead of medit play.

 **The Gambit Play**

In low luck games you can reliably send exactly 6 hits to France. On round 2 you should score 5 hits (sometimes you hit on the 1 or 2 scoring 6 hits and end up taking France). Then you retreat.

A) UK defend it with fighters against Italy, in which case you strafe it again on round 2 with Germany and take it with Italy on round 2.
B) UK lets Italy have it and just proceeds from there.

In a dice game if you attack France and there is just a fighter left, this is an option to consider… If UK does defend it with fighters, you will need a bit of luck to not score too many hits taking France in one blow.... at the same time you do not want the worse scenario which is failing to score enough hits.

That is why it is called a gambit. The income gained from France to Italy is not exactly the greatest thing in the world in scenario A, but it may provide just enough to make something happen with Egypt.

The super serious Egypt play: Do basic G1, instead buy 2 bombers and a sub. G2 buy more bombers. fly air to Alexandria on top of Italy stuff. Then attack Egypt on round 3 with mass bomber and all your air! Clear the way for Italy!

• Wheatbeer (I always read it as Wheatbear) and others strategy.

Less gambling way to get some good medit play.

Do the sea lion opener.

You can do Normandy or Southern France

G2 clear out uk naval with germany (unless Italy did it like a boss).

If the egypt naval went to gibraltar, have italy take algeria, hit it with Italy then retreat, then blast it with Germany.

If an airbase was bought then do one of two things A) have Italy sink french naval with 1 sub 1 dd 2 fighter 1 bomber, land 2 fighters to holland and move an armor there, land bomber in france, then do sea lion on G2. ~ Italy bombs london airbase if it gets repaired B) Forget sea lion, buy some destroyers and carriers. Next turn you take gibraltar. Then you are in business in the med sea. You may as well bomb london since it is empty of air while you are at it.
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The advantage of normandy is that you can buy and place naval there round 2 just like southern france. This is done to swing the baltic fleet over to the med rather than getting a separate fleet.

Didn’t Soulfein write an optimal G1 opening for crushing the UK fleet and threatening Sea Lion?
Buy CV and two transports
Attack 110, 111, France, Southern France, and strafe Yugoslavia

Something like that I thought.

yes he did. I will use that.
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Thank you grasshopper. I will post a screenshot of what that combat would look like visually for people to see.

If I were to buy naval, it would just be a destroyer, plain and simple.

Your G2 buy should go through with sea lion (attack on UK):
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If your G1 buy was 2 transport 1 AC

Your G2 buy will be 1 dd rest transports

If your G1 buy was 1 sub 1 dd 1 carrier

Your G2 buy will be all transports.
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You need 1 destroyer, very important against potential sub buys.

Also it is important that Italy keeps his bomber. Should UK repair his airbase, Italy bombs it. Also position Italy fighters on france if possible (1 or both) for escorting. You really want to make sure the airbase is disabled (which is at 3 damage). So that way you can get all your units on london.

Young grasshopper I am curious about the air buy for g1. what is the deal with that?

I also noticed people have different G1 DOW openers. I am curious what the overall consensus looks like on it.

I edited my first post to reflect my preference to G1 DoW. I added the link to my Japan playbook as well.