I would also refer you to this question that was almost identical to yours, and Krieghund’s official answer:
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=32092.msg1198391#msg1198391
@Brain:
if i want to play with my grandparents i HAVE to be the axis…they refuse to play if they have to be japan or germany
My grandparents actually fought against the Germans
I set up the board one time for my Grandpa who was based on Tuvalu Island in the Solomons; he took one look at it, smiled, and shook his head. “WWII was no boardgame, son.”