Prefered style of playing Germany

[terje439]

Just to keep something happening here, I wonder how you guys play Germany in WIF.

What I wonder is, do you attack Russia or Britain, when do you do so, do you attack or even coup Spain to attack Gibraltar, or do you leave Gibraltar to the allies, and do you do as Rommel proposed, and attack Russia from the middle-east?

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: terje439

I wonder how you guys play Germany in WIF.

Invade the U.S.S.R. while they are weak. A "Winter War" in Finland or a protracted war in Romania are an advantage to Germany (prior to invaision of the U.S.S.R.).

A proposed attack on Russia from through the Middle East depends on the strength of Commonwealth deployments in the Mediterranean area.

The Commonwealth navy is too strong for effective invasion of Britain. But if the Commonwealth navy had fuel problems or was repositioned elsewhere...

An attack by Spain against Gibraltar is possible if the Commonwealth fails to garrison it adequately.

Other objectives: Belgium (to flank the Maginot line), Norway (for the steel), Denmark (closes the Baltic Sea and has a large amount of shipping), Holland (this has advantages and disadvantages), and Malta (helps close the Mediterranean Sea).

[Greyshaft]

PLAN "A"
* Commit everything against Poland to crush it quickly.
* Produce minimum ground troops required to kill France... that's quite a guessing game. Build airpower + subs & some fleet to keep UK honest.
* If France falls quick then head for the Med.
* Invade Russia in 1942
* By early 1943 decide whether to go for broke or to switch to defensive war.

PLAN "B"
* to be advised

[Chaplain]

I (almost) always try to decide the issue in the USSR. The French and Polish campaigns are mere preludes, and my main concern is staying on schedule. I want to invade the USSR in '41. If I may be immodest for a moment, I figure my greater ability to process the ratios and attack possibilities has the best chance to be made apparent in the East, where the theater is largest. Out West, the occasional bad luck can really ruin you.

Of course, all this is dependent on the UK player being prudent in his defense. If I see that he isn't, I go for the opportunity to KO Britain. You can usually tell after the first 2-3 turns of builds.

[Mziln]

[:D]"PLAN B" [:D]

* Commit everything against Poland to crush it quickly.
This way Poland dies within 2 turns reguardless of what the Commonwealth does.

* If France falls quick then head for the Med.

[:D] Invade the U.S.S.R. in 1941. [:D]

[terje439]

Have any of you tried following up the conquest of Poland with an imidiate attack on USSR? I did so once, but that was against (to be kind) incompetent allied players, and succeded.

But I admit that when playing anyone that knows the game I usually crush Poland as fast as possible, then proceed to take on Belgium, Holland and France. Then I go for Gibraltar, the Suez and only then do I attack the USSR from all flanks. That usually secure the Caucasus, as well as dividing the USSR forces. This I find espesially useful if I can get Turkey in on Axis side. I have also found that an axis Sweden can send in a force behind Russian lines in the Leningrad area, that too have bee useful.

But more comments please [:)]

[Greyshaft]

ORIGINAL: terje439
Have any of you tried following up the conquest of Poland with an imidiate attack on USSR? I did so once...

I did that once also and I will never do it again... except in beta-testing CWiF. Although I was at war with Russia I still was trying against France and guarding against a CW amphib assault on Hamburg. I got through the Low Countries but couldn't take Paris. I didn't have sufficient ground units to keep a cohesive perimeter once I expanded out of the funnel in Russia so I was stuck with a two front war and no chance of making a breakthrough on either front. When France started laying down new battleship hulls in mid 1940 I figured it was time to resign.

[Neilster]

When playing board WiF, the best strategy apparently depends on the exact version being used (as well as personal preference). Another factor to consider is the set-ups of the Allies. If France looks a little vulnerable, a possibility is a pre-emptive strike in the West. Otherwise, attack Poland and possibly Denmark and the Low Countries before the winter.

The "France first" strategy often catches the French with their pants down and the BEF is still in Blighty. If successful, the panzers can be rolling into Paris before the autumn rains. I've seen the French pack up a Deux-Cheval with wine and mistresses and honk their way to Vichy by the end of October. I've seen a courageous Polish offensive reach the gates of Berlin in a desperate attempt to relieve the pressure on a collapsing front in France (before, in the final, glorious attack to destroy the dregs I had scraped up to defend the capital, my friend rolled a one, wasting the flower of the Polish army).

A quick defeat of France, which often involves the destruction of the BEF, can unlock a number of strategic possibilities. A spring Operation Sealion? A coup or invasion of Spain to threaten Gibraltar? The Balkans, Malta, Suez? Another possibility is to swing the Wehrmacht back east to smash Poland and continue on into a 1940 Barbarossa (Russia being much more vulnerable at this time).

However, I've also seen the panzers grind to a halt in France through bad weather, bad rolls and good defence; and all the while, Polish factories are turning out war materiel and their army grows. [:@]Most of the gurus seem to think that Poland first is the safest path (one of the reasons is that France cannot be attacked on the first impulse of Sep/Oct. The ability to do this may be a good optional rule for CWiF).

Many, many experienced Wiffers think Gibraltar is everything. They love that African and Middle-Eastern sun. Some like to build lots of subs. A showdown with Stalin tempts many. The important thing to remember is that one has the initiative. Hit the Allies hard and keep them off-balance. Good co-ordination with Italy and Japan is also vital to playing the Axis.

I'm certainly no expert but I know one thing. I'm keen to play that AI.

Patience friends, we've been waiting since the mid '90s [;)]. Neilster.

[meyerg]

1) Any Russian player who can't defeat a 39 German attack should only be allowed to play China in any future games

2) The second impulse attack on Belgium (following up against France) is quite effective. If Germany splits its Army 50-50 (with the higher quality units in France); the German's can contain the Polish and form a 'kill group' that can auto eliminate a Polish unit per impulse. The Polish resources can be captured quickly, and one Polish unit a turn will not kill you.
As long as the weather holds and turn continues, the German should make good headway into France. The reinforcements that arrive at the end of turn 1 are significant, so hitting France/UK before they arrive is a good idea. This alone should force UK to have all transports in England (I used to like to bring Aussies and Indians to Euro map as UK on turn1, now one trans on the pacific map seems too many).

3) After France the Axis should concentrate on UK or Russia. Knocking one out = victory. If Russia is the target, UK must still be hammered hard. If UK is allowed to maximize production, the UK/US hammer will far early and hard. Subs are a good way to do this (and if the Kreigsmarin sorties, clears out some escorts, turn ends, raiders + subs kill convoys = UK disaster)

4) Japanese strategy can be coupled to German strategy. When Germans are in England, Japanese units find it easier to take India. When '41 rolls around, the Japanese should take Vlad if the Germans are doing Barbarossa. If Japan angers the US too early and often, Germany usually pays the price.