Defending France....options...

[Orm]

Remember the MWIF deviation if Yugoslavia is rolled as Vichy.

Finally all Vichy controlled minor countries France has gained controlled of since the start of the game
immediately become controlled by an Axis major power nominated by the major power that installed Vichy
France. The minor country is conquered if it aligned to France and aligned if it was conquered by France.
If more than one minor country is available to be allocated they may be allocated to different major powers.

[Centuur]

You are right when you say that if the Euroaxis declare Vichy, Yugoslavia has a high chance of getting conquered, so the Euroaxis can decide not to attack them and hope that the die rolls their way.

But that doesn't mean that Germany can ignore the Yugoslavian army, sitting at the border, until Vichy gets declared. The same goes for Italy. Both nations have to divert units to at least guard the border. Those units can't be used for other duties (and the Euroaxis have enough things to do).

There's always the 20% chance that Yugoslavia becomes Free French. Now that's nice: two whole factories producing units for France and no German units in attack position... Not good at all, because that messes up the Axis timetable again, especially when France did hold out until S/O 1941. It's a short front full with mountains which the Yugo's have to defend, since if the USSR doesn't claim Bessarabia, Germany can't align Hungary or Rumania to extend the frontlines...

[rkr1958]

I love this thread! And it's sister thread about defending China too! I'm finding the discussion invaluable. They remind me of the AI threads of yesteryear. Is it possible to sticky these two threads somewhere? Also, I think it would be helpful to see threads like this on all major countries.

[Joseignacio]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Like Steve, I withdraw as many French units I can out of French overseas possessions. The CW can handle the defense of French North Africa.

Not after Vichy. ¿Or can they get earlier and keep the control? I understand they couldn't.

Control of North Africa after Vichy gets declared isn't the point here. The point is to get as many units in France as possible, without giving up Syria and especially Algeria and Morocco to the Axis.

If the CW (who can't put his whole army in France) has units available, why not put those in Algeria and move the French INF out of Syria and North Africa into France?

It makes no difference to the Allies, if Vichy is declared with a French unit in Algeria, or a CW unit there, I believe.

It should be. I mean, France is going to fall always, and fairly soon with a minimally skillful GE player.

So it's good to play France thinking on what will happen afterwards (like interning the CV or not or like trying to save as many cruisers as possible- not BB of course).

I have defended successfully France after the historical date sometimes, only to see how a small italian task ground group takes all the undefended or weak militia defended northern african colonies and their resources, making it really hard afterwards to gain every inch for the Americans/brits.

Ah! Now I remember how it happened. The italians moved through an empty Tunis, to Argelia, beating a weak 2-factor TERR, that I hadn't taken the effort to ship to Continental France. Per the rules:

French territories and minor countries already conquered by the Axis remain conquered by them.

All other French territories and minor countries may be aligned with either Vichy France or Free France.

[Centuur]

True. But I let the CW defend there. No chance of the Axis to conquer Algeria or Morocco (Tunesia isn't that important, I usually let the Italians take it, if they want it) if you got one or two CW corps guarding the area. And when Vichy is declared: behold: they magically strenghten garrison of Malta and Gibraltar.