Title:  Distance kills Germany 1941
Date: November 29th, 2008
Special Rules:   Tech (but never bought) and NOs
Victor:   Allies by Concession
Game Length:   8 Hours
Bias:   none, 2 x 2 relatively experienced players (but first time playing anniversary) ( I played Germany-Italy)
Description:
This is a little bit further back in my mind, but I’ll try to recap.
Germany: Germany pushed all the way to Russia, capturing Ukraine, East Poland and Baltic, eventually also Karelia. Lost fleet first or second round to UK. Never build new factory near Russia, therefore not able to provide additional infantry to the fighters and tanks. Eventually lost against stacked up pile of russion tanks and enormous infantry. No real backup from italy in russia.
Italy: Went for Afrika, went reasonably well with NOs. Never really helped Germany. Took Brasil and west indies, but lost transport in air-sea battle
Japan: Took East indies, Bornea, Philippines and Hongkong, as well as first russian terratory (NOs). Expanded fleet to match USA’s. Conquered some consecutive lands from russia, but failed to withhold UK from South East Asia. Eventually USA and UK took back (ungarded) Borneo, East Indies, and India (Factory by UK) swepted Asia. Japan never could help Germany/Italy
UK: Built Factory in India. Sank fleet Germany and started attempting several landings in north europe (Norway). Took back Afrika eventually, but most of all took back East INdies, Borneo and South East Asia.
Russia: STacking up infantry and tanks. Simply defensive actions against Germany and Italy. Never really had problems
USA: Expanded fleet. Pushed with transports to indies. Never really got to the game.
**Observations: **
The distance between Berlin and russian battlefield was way to large. Infantry could never make it in time to match the numbers of russia, which had much more units in total. Losing their fleet, Germany was inable to withhold UK from invading europe. Italy could not really help Germany. Because of the strong UK in Asia, Japan never made it to help Germany.

Title:  Miles away 1941
Date: December 27th, 2008
Special Rules:   Tech (but never bought) and NOs
Victor:   Allies win with 13 victory cities
Game Length:   8 Hours
Bias:   none, 2 x 2 relatively experienced players ( By chance, I played Germany-Italy again)
Description:
By chance I played with germany and italy again. Remembering my defeat, I tried to cope with some of the problems faced the first time. But as you will read, again I failed miserably, possibly also because of some unlucky events.
Germany: Germany pushed  to Russia, capturing Ukraine, East Poland and Baltic in first turn. Then stopping, not to make same mistake again. Attacked UK in Africa to make way for Italy. Lost (again) fleet in North-sea by combined Sea/Air against Sea attack by UK. After this, UK had stronghold in NorthSea. Germany bought factory in 2nd turn, putting it in Romania, to be closer to Russia. Captured Karelia, but was recaptured thereafter by Russia. Focussed on Caucasus thereafter, matching numbers with Russia to some extent, but again, failed to deliver infantry here, which was opposite to Russia with > 8 infantry in neighbourhood. Focussed on Fighters, tanks and infantry.  Eventually, when Russia grew stronger, pulled back biggest army, losing most of it on last chance battle in Karrelia after wicht Russian caucasus army could easily attack Romania with 11 tanks.  Lost Norway to USA who pushed europe, (and later put factory in Norway). UK put transports and cruisers in Atlantic, easily invading France several times, even Berlin and Poland, which were easily defeated again (by Italy also) but therefore never could really built up.
Italy: Went for Afrika, but only had 1 tank remaining to conquer Africa… Fleet got stuck on other side of Suez (when UK took back East Jordan), Fleet never could do anything anymore. This time dit help Germany in western europe (at first also in Russia). Italy did a reasonable job this time (also with NOs).
Japan: Took East indies, Bornea, Philippines and Hongkong, as well as first russian terratory (NOs) (same as last game).  Expanded fleet to match USA’s. Conquered some consecutive lands from russia, but failed to defeat the chinese, who took back several lands, therefore interering with NOs of Japan.  Japan took India (with Factory of UK on it). However, Germany failed to put troops between Caucasus and India on this particular turn, which meant Russia could easiliy blitz to India (with only 1 tank remaining for Japan), taking India back. In our opinion, if Japan had held India one turn, It could have helped Germany. Therefore this unfortunat mistake probably switched te balance to Allies totally. Afterwards, India was UK again and started to sweep Asia with 6 tanks. Japan tried to reconquer, but failed. Fleet Japan - USA was eventually won by USA, leaving only one battleship for USA. Did one surprise landing in Alaska, with good result, but was reconquered next turn (costly) by USA.
UK: Built Factory in India. Sank fleet Germany and started attempting several landings in western europe. Bought bombers to help landings, only 2 were shot down. Started with landings in Poland and also Berlin….  Took back Afrika eventually, by crossing Suez. Took back East indies by mistake Axis (leaving destroyer and transport in range). Because of NOs of UK (France) and France itself (6 IPC) UK had an income of > 50 in the end.
Russia: STacking up infantry and tanks. Simply defensive actions against Germany and Italy. Never really had problems. Stackup up mostly in Caucasus. Did lose Moscow one turn, but could easily recover. Took Romania when German army was defeated. Took back India, reconquered lands occupied by Japan.
USA: Expanded fleet. Pushed with transports to northern europe (6 tanks).  Put factory in Norway.Pushed to Finland and Karelia. Did loose significant troops when Japan did surprise landfall in Alaska, but never really got into trouble.
**Observations: **
Again, the distance between Berlin and russian battlefield was way to large. Infantry could never make it in time to match the numbers of russia, which had much more units in total. To cope, I built a factory (2 IPC) in romania, but this was still not sufficient. What to place here? Infantry? Or tanks? I opted for the latter. When the German fleet was gone, UK could easily invade germany anywhere, and Germany got stuck defending. Italy did a good job helping, but when UK’s income rose to extraordinary heights, this was not enough. Important to mention is the one mistake which we think could have been decisive: germany failed to put one troop (which was transported from romania to East Jordan) between Caucasus and just conquered India (Japan). This allowed Russia to take back Allies control over India, leaving South-East asia open to the UK.

I have now played Germany-Italy twice, and I still fail to see the ‘right way’ to play. If Germany’s fleet is gone, it is virtually open for invasion, especially when it is also bullying Russia. Italy may help, but then Africa is merely wasteland. Should Japan push more to Russia? Should Italy’s fleet attack UKs? Probably.

As for Tech: because you have no certainty of what you get, is it still worthwhile to go for them?