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Prelude

Jan Sorenson and I have completed one match previously. In this game the German u-boats managed to decimate the Allied fleet, & German land forces reduced the Soviet Union to 0 production. All of Europe & the Middle East was still held when the game ended in Fall 46'.

On the other hand, the nation of Japan was paralysed from Fall 42 onwards after a dashing Allied attack which cut off the Nippon fleet & destroyed it piecemeal. Transports were the 1st to go, reducing Japanese production to pitiful amounts. Notable in the Pacific were the Allied u-boats, against which the Japanese were helpless. Allied soldiers took the Japanese mainland & forced surrender.

The game ended with a battle for the Middle East, & the overall outcome was a decisive Axis victory.

Jan & I have agreed to rematch, & will write accompanying AAR. I am nervous. I wonder whether I can produce enough tricks, whilst executing my base strategy effectively enough, to counter Jan's learning from our last game.

Axis, Spring/Summer 1940

An abbreviated post to reflect a fairly standard opening gambit. Some notables are:

- Yugoslavia only taken on the 2nd turn, but without any German losses
- Spain not taken on the 2nd turn, Panzers remain on the border
- German transport destroyed in the Eastern-Med, followed by an Allied heavy fleet destroyed in reply

- Chinese coastal resouce province taken on first turn
- All Chinese military forces moved onto border with Japan, attack believed imminant

From this point on, I shall document & provide my usual screenies.

Allied Victory, Summer 1940

In an audacious & unprecedented (for me) attack, Jan took E.Prussia which had been left with just 1 infantry defender. I am in no position to retake E.Prussia & as a result the Soviet Union would unlock. Furthermore with my armour all lagering in France I cannot even prevent the fall of Rumania & Czeckoslovakia to the opportunistic Russkis this season.

In short, I have utterly lost. This was a well executed, knock-out blow. I surrender, and Jan graciously accepts this.

I've only ever seen such a tactic used once before, on Italy, which I always garrison robustly. On that occasion, as with this one, there can only be one conclusion drawn. Initially this put me in two minds about the real value of these early gambits. After all you win the game before even really beginning to play it. However they teach the German player that they must secure their vulnerable areas. If they foolishly leave them open to temptation, then punishment shall ensue.