Germany playbook: overall strategy guide

Just catching up on this Blog. My sons and I have played 1940 2ndEd now about 10x. Our experience so far leads me to agree with Cow, if Germany adopts singularly focused KRF strategy with DOW G1, you can be in Moscow G5/6.

Not to say that Axis cannot win a long game, but the most straightforward path to victory IMO is Moscow 1st. Pacific is so well balanced & logistically challenging, it is very difficult for either side to gain a sustainable advantage unless one player gets a few low luck ‘goocher rolls’ - goocher = no hits on 4+ dice :-)

Cheers!

@Cow:

It just seems like an easier battle to do. Plus I do not care if about the cruisers and battleships. I am rushing toward moscow.

UK can have that naval, I am attacking Russia round 5 or round 6.

You know what Italy is going to do? Guard Europe. Bomb Russia maybe. Just take care of Europe so Germany can take Russia round 5 or 6. I3 is when you send the one industrial bomber and have fun.

It is just a one way war machine. Who cares about boats and oceans anyway?

If germany does not get naval kills, then he will have a hard time taking out egypt/london since italy will be contained very quickly.  Them you will have UK sending units up through caucuses and planes to moscow faster.

Also, turn 2 Iraq, yummy for russia.

If it’s a G3, when should the Germans reach Moscow? Should they pass everything up north to Novogrod, or also send an army to the south?

Hey Cow, after your G1 essentially do you keep buying mech/tank for a couple turns?  Does your stack from East poland go straight to Moscow (assuming no counter can be had)?  Or do you take Leningrad or Ukraine depending on your route?

That wasn’t a great answer… :-D  So you buy all Mech/Arm with Germany until Moscow is taken? (for the most part?) and don’t deviate from the straight line course to Moscow?

Just started my first 1v1 of global.  My plan was to feint the sealion and do a G2 declaration on Russia.  I followed Cow’s guide and purchased 1 carrier 1 destroyer 1 submarine.  unfortunately my strafe of Yugoslavia was too successful and I took it instead of weaking it for italy.  The naval battles went very well, only two subs lost and a tipped battleship.  Besides France I also took Southern France.  Went ahead nd took bulgaria to get the free infantry since yugo backfired.

here’s my question: will I be able to declare war on Russia on Germany’s second turn or is that impossible now?  I think too much of my equipment is out of place to do it.  Unless russia leaves 1 inf blockers on the line allowing me to take the edge territories.

With the navy doing so well should I sealion?  If UK buys navy near Canada I am sure I can nail the island.

I’m scared that I can’t do a J1 DOW now that Germany is off schedule.  Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

@Cow:

T2 Iraq may be yummy, but when you are being hit on G5-6 you aren’t exactly banking on it for long.

I think G1 is fun. It is not a normal thing for me to do outside of “dice in my hands global takes too long to play games.”

3 turns of bank min., not counting the 125 bonus.  With UK support, moscow really will be a hard nut to crack.

@bongaroo:

Just started my first 1v1 of global.  My plan was to feint the sealion and do a G2 declaration on Russia.  I followed Cow’s guide and purchased 1 carrier 1 destroyer 1 submarine.  unfortunately my strafe of Yugoslavia was too successful and I took it instead of weaking it for italy.  The naval battles went very well, only two subs lost and a tipped battleship.  Besides France I also took Southern France.  Went ahead nd took bulgaria to get the free infantry since yugo backfired.

here’s my question: will I be able to declare war on Russia on Germany’s second turn or is that impossible now?  I think too much of my equipment is out of place to do it.  Unless russia leaves 1 inf blockers on the line allowing me to take the edge territories.

With the navy doing so well should I sealion?  If UK buys navy near Canada I am sure I can nail the island.

I’m scared that I can’t do a J1 DOW now that Germany is off schedule.   Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

It is up to you if you want to J1 or not.  I would only sealion if UK built light UK1 and you get a good strat bomb in the airfield and the factory.

@Cow:

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.

~

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).

Cow,

The last entry in bold text is not from my original post. If you wish to modify my entries, please state which comments are yours when you edit it, or simply make a new post with your own comments.

Thank you.

Here is the situation after my turn 2 with Russia. Im assuming he will start the attack on G/ taking the Baltic States. Note that the German has 7 infantry in Findland. What should i do to defend?

yeah i forgot…

@bongaroo:

Just started my first 1v1 of global.  My plan was to feint the sealion and do a G2 declaration on Russia.  I followed Cow’s guide and purchased 1 carrier 1 destroyer 1 submarine.  unfortunately my strafe of Yugoslavia was too successful and I took it instead of weaking it for italy.  The naval battles went very well, only two subs lost and a tipped battleship.  Besides France I also took Southern France.  Went ahead nd took bulgaria to get the free infantry since yugo backfired.

here’s my question: will I be able to declare war on Russia on Germany’s second turn or is that impossible now?  I think too much of my equipment is out of place to do it.  Unless russia leaves 1 inf blockers on the line allowing me to take the edge territories.

With the navy doing so well should I sealion?  If UK buys navy near Canada I am sure I can nail the island.

I’m scared that I can’t do a J1 DOW now that Germany is off schedule.   Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Anyone else have an opinion?  I’m struggling to decide how to play out Japan and also how to procede with G2 and G3

First game between both new players?  You can’t really go wrong by being aggressive with a J1 DOW and attacking everywhere.

@bongaroo:

@bongaroo:

Just started my first 1v1 of global.  My plan was to feint the sealion and do a G2 declaration on Russia.  I followed Cow’s guide and purchased 1 carrier 1 destroyer 1 submarine.  unfortunately my strafe of Yugoslavia was too successful and I took it instead of weaking it for italy.  The naval battles went very well, only two subs lost and a tipped battleship.  Besides France I also took Southern France.  Went ahead nd took bulgaria to get the free infantry since yugo backfired.

here’s my question: will I be able to declare war on Russia on Germany’s second turn or is that impossible now?  I think too much of my equipment is out of place to do it.  Unless russia leaves 1 inf blockers on the line allowing me to take the edge territories.

With the navy doing so well should I sealion?  If UK buys navy near Canada I am sure I can nail the island.

I’m scared that I can’t do a J1 DOW now that Germany is off schedule.   Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Anyone else have an opinion?  I’m struggling to decide how to play out Japan and also how to procede with G2 and G3

What to do is entirely dependent on what the Allies, especially UK, did.  Did Russia make any mistakes and leave any openings inviting a G2 declaration?  What were UK’s buys and moves?  The best plan is going to be an adaption to the Allied moves.

J1 or J2…it’s not like J1 is that much better than J2, if it is at all.  Whichever you are comfortable with.  J1 can still be combined with Sea Lion, especially if UK thinks Sea Lion isn’t happening and doesn’t buy all inf or 6 inf fig (as it should).  You can assess what to do G2 after seeing USA1 and UK1.

One of the reasons J1 can be good with Sea Lion (provided Sea Lion is appropriate or more appropriate than Barbarossa) is the USA will likely spend alot of money in the Atlantic if UK falls, which can lead to a Pacific win.

haven’t taken J1 yet, trying to learn if declaring would mess up G2 or not.  Is knocking Calcutta out any easier with a J1 DOW?  If not perhaps J2 would be safer for me to pursue.  Thanks for tge analysis zhukov!