Strategy for Axis with biggest advantage allies - start 1939

[MisterMax]

I must say that I had to try several times to get a victory with the axis at largest advantage for the allies starting in 1939 (basically toughest level to play on). As you can see in some threats it is very difficult to get on a historical german schedule. But it can be done the first few years.
Off course fog of war and oil consumption are on.
First of all, forget a combined investment at this level. There is no point investing in naval forces with Germany, and it is VERY tricky to try it with Italy either. You need everything for land and air - you simply have no rp to spend if you wanna have any chance at all of not losing the war of attrition in the east.
Basically you have to be very careful at every move you make right from the start. If you are not careful you will have run out of oil as early as late 1941. The key is wise tactical movement. It starts in Poland. If you are lucky (about a 50% chance) you will capture Poland in 2 turns. But a few bad results will give you a 3 turn capture. Make sure you dont drag yourself into fighting isolated infantry and head straight to Warsaw (in the centre of the polish line is the greatest opportunity to make a break). If you capture a capital, NEVER fight remaining troops. You cant afford the extra losses.
Do not move your armored units except by strategic movement or really necessary (apart from attack moves off course) as you need all the oil you can get.
After poland, strategic move 2 armored units near Denmark and move your planes close as well. Always carefully plan your plane movements as to safe on fuel. There are excellenyt spots near Holland where you can strike Denmark and Holland and still defend versus UK bombers. Dont draw your airforce into a war with uk airforces yet. With air, 2 amphibious assaults and your battleships Denmark has about 50% chance to fall in one turn, but it is no problem if it delays by a turn. Take Holland as soon as possible (easy if your forces are back on the Western German border) but only take Belgium when you are ready to attack France at the same time.
Investment tips: Do invest in infantry lab, armour lab, air lab and general lab. You really need the labs as the Soviets will outclass your land troops as early as late 1942! Focus on Dog Fight, and fixed defense (and industry).
Make sure you have an extra armor unit when the real battle (Belgium and France) starts and at least one 40 resource leader (it does pay off, add him to your best armored unit).
When you attack Belgium, sweep your armored units along the coast and make sure you cross the french rivers before all the horde of reinforcements are gathering. You need to have 3-4 units next to Paris. Simply cut off the Belgian forces. The french AI will usually send his armored unit into battle quickly. Cut it off and dont use valuable armored strength to reduce it. Paris is your focus but you need to be careful with your armor. Dont let an armored unit drop to 3 or less. Reinforce it or you will lose it quickly.
Usually I take France around july-august 1940 (Denmark and Holland winter 39) but IF you are a bit lucky you might be able to capture Paris in may 1940.
After that ...it is up to good strategic decisions. I usually build 2 inf each turn and start to build up air (fighter). When italy enters the war, dont use the navy unless you have to.
I usually escort 1 german armor and 3 inf corps to Africa. I move all Italian mechanised back to mainland Europe. Italian inf, 3 german inf and 1 german armor is enough to capture the complete Middle east!!! And you certainly need it. Without the oil fields in Persia and Irak you can forget a good offensive strategy in Russia.
I also move the remaining german inf and 1 armor to Spain (with italian fighter and tac bomber) and take Spain en Portugal. If you attack Madrid quickly and capture Spain, and later Portugal and Gibraltar you have several extra resource points. A few garrisons is all you need to defend it against the AI as it will focus on France.
I never bother with Scandinavia. Wise play can leave Finland in your hands.
Italian mainland forces are quickly moved (attack from the north east and head for Belgrade) into Yougoslavia. Yougoslavia is no match for Italy. (after that, you can move 1 armor and 1 inf - german - into Greece with Italian navy support).
Leave Russia alone at this level!!! It will declare war somewhere between august en december 1941 and you need all the time you can get to build up your infantry forces.
The tri-partite axis actually are better than their historical counterparts it seems. You can even attack with them.
In Russia, try to hold the line and combine your armored forces in the south. It is more easy to get valuable oil fields if you manage to break through but dont be surprised if Russian lines next to your front will be FOUR lines deep with infantry in 1943...
Always keep your main air force (3-4 fighters) near the west coast and try to pick off uk fighters. If you are lucky you can do that by attacking the bombers first and then finish the intercepting fighters off. I usually keep 1-2 armor and 3-4 infantry in reserve to counter attck the pesky invasions that are heading for France (and DO expect invasions of 4-5 units at the same time...it is not always 1 unit landing!). Tri-partite axis forces are a good way to attack these.
Wow ...thats a lot of text ...sorry for that. Curious if anyone reads it all.
Just some tips from a player that always wants to find out how good AI is at the hardest level ...
Regards, Mister Max

[forgorin]

Just read it!  I will be buying this game shortly and was reading up what people have to say about it. Interesting ideas.  Will keep them in mind.

[Ras Tshubai]

I agree with most of your points and wanted to add to some of them:

After poland, strategic move 2 armored units near Denmark and move your planes close as well. Always carefully plan your plane movements as to safe on fuel.

Works as well with infantry instead of armour. I focus my armour on France.

Investment tips: Do invest in infantry lab, armour lab, air lab and general lab

I never invest in general labs as the german rating is already high. Would like to understand the benefit?

After that ...it is up to good strategic decisions. I usually build 2 inf each turn and start to build up air (fighter). When italy enters the war, dont use the navy unless you have to.

I use the italian navy after capture of Suez to bring them to the Atlantic. The italian battleships are great to fight off the pesky destroyers that hunt my subs. In the med, I would use them to clear the british ships but due to the programming the AI is not playing active in the med.

I usually escort 1 german armor and 3 inf corps to Africa. I move all Italian mechanised back to mainland Europe. Italian inf, 3 german inf and 1 german armor is enough to capture the complete Middle east!!! And you certainly need it. Without the oil fields in Persia and Irak you can forget a good offensive strategy in Russia.

I always play this as you describe. Through Iran and Persia to the oil. I don't move the italian forces back (saves oil) but move all italian units to Africa after they enter war. After that I build italian units for use on the east front.

Always keep your main air force (3-4 fighters) near the west coast and try to pick off uk fighters.

I find this eats up a lot of points to repair the air units. I use no air in the west and see not too much damage to my land units by Allied air.