Spain

[bairdlander2]

As Axis do you DOW Spain?

[Flaviusx]

Never.

If you are invading Spain you are probably well on the way to losing the game as the Axis imo. I cannot think of a circumtance where this is a good idea.

It only ever happens if France goes sour (and it should never do so) and the Axis cannot do a 41 Barbarossa and at that point imo it's pretty much game over for the Axis.

If you are doing Sea Lion in lieu of Barbarossa and it works, you'll get Spain as a minor. And that's fine. It's a valid Western strategy. Between Iberia and the UK you can run up the VP count and maybe win on points. Otherwise if you are going east in 41 you aren't going to be invading Spain.

[sveint]

If you quickly take all of France (no negotiated surrender) it just may (very big MAY) be worth it to take Spain in the summer of 1940.

[Flaviusx]

Even the quickest French campaign will put you into late June/early July. You'll then need another turn to knock out Vichy France (including French North Africa, ideally.) And you'll need another turn after that to set up for Spain. You are very unlikely to conquer Spain before mud hits, especially if the UK intervenes. In the meantime you are burning up a lot of oil and having to spend production on replacements and not garrisoning as many troops as you otherwise would.

All of this has a negative impact on Barbarossa prep. It's a step too far. Germany has to confine itself to limited operations post France if it wants to be ready for Barbarossa. If you do Spain, you are likely going to end up with a subpar Barbarossa.

[AlvaroSousa]

If you go for a Med strategy with a 1942 Barb you can invade Spain. 41 Barb no.

[battlevonwar]

Not sure what the patches have done but previously Spain taken cause France failed to defend with everything including the BEF that gave the Axis free reign raiding the heck out of the Atlantic with the Italians and a boost in Production early on... What changed?