German Victory -Assured vs AI (1943)

[Heinz Guderian]

Im fairly new to WaW and am in the process of getting to know the game. My 1st few learning curve games were a bit of a mess (for me), but now I am getting not bad vs the AI. Right now I am playing with Comp managed production (ya i know[8|]), However after a few weeks here is-my strategy for Axis victory by 1943.

France -the low countries, denmark-on the 1st turn.

One this is done-move the armored corps to Attack and conquer both spain and gibralter(this is the key move for Germany).

While the western ops are in progress-Move a small force of art(1)\infanty and one Aircraft (all youll need) for operations in the balkans. Once Spain and Gibralter are secured and garrisoned, and the armored corps moved out of Spain, You are ready to begin the attack on Yugoslavia at this point. While this is going on, question is-where does the bulk of the german army go to-build up for Barbarossa? , Well not yet. The bulk of the armored force along with a few arty and some infanty-few aircraft-get redeployed to southern italy for operations in North Africa. By this time the Italian navy should have swept the Med clear of allied ships and with Gibralter under axis control-the allies dont move ship in to contest the area. The WA builds up forces in Epypt, but are fairly easy to defeat as its mostly mililta with a few odds and sods. Once WA is driven from Suez-I leave a few mililtas or maybe even a armor unit there to secure the middle east. (the armor can be used to threated Russia latter and drawn off forces) or you can simply take the Middle east with a few milita-optional. Once this is done-the Indian ocean can be raided with no resistance from the WA-and once this is done-its also very easy for a single infranty for a milita or 2 to conquer the entire African Continent (chessy perhaps-but the WA seldom contests this move in anything other than a token way.)

So once NA is secure-then its time to begin to deploy for Barbarossa. While this is all going on-what does the WA AI do. Not a whole lot-it stages air raids where possible-but its most threatening move is-they land in force in Moroco. Once they set up in force-they tend to air raid a lot in spain and Gibralter which can do a lot of damage-eventually -they break out and move across NA, with Southern Eruope\NA all but stripped to deal with Russia-there seldom much to oppose there advance. There are 2 ways to deal with this-one ignore them and go for an allout attack on Russia-or contenst there certain attack from this quarter by garrisoning Moroco right after Gibralter is taken-it draws off forces-but it tends to keep the WA out of the entire area for a long time. The breathing room this give is worth the forces sent there. Natuarally of course-the Italian Navy can be used to raid the South Atlantic\Indian Ocean at every opportunity-from its newly captured bases. In the north-as in history-the German navy is pretty much confined to port-but once in a while you may get a chance to engage the WA in a few shoot and scoot battles.

Anyhow-back to russia. With the only real signifigant garrison being needed in South Western Europe\NW Africa-the Bulk of the Army should be in position to attack Russia-The bulk of your aircraft will be here-keep virtually all your fighthers and flak in the west as the WA pounds them badly there. Sometimes if the the timetable is off-Russia declares war before your in place to attack as your forces basically will be arrviveng piecemeal even as Russia decaleres war. Not much to be done for this. Once the War in the east begins-its just a case of outmanuerving the russians but attacking whereever there weak while preserveing your own forces-esp the armor. Bascially I hold large force to keep them busy in the south(they basically dont attack and neither do I)-while driveing towards moscow in the north. By 1943 you should be in Moscow-with all of the Middle east-Africa! All of Europe from Gibralter to Poland under your control. By this time-victory should be yours!

Axis Decisive Victory with 4000+ to 1700 or so.


What I have gleaned form all this is, if you play WaW germany the way the real germany handled its overall strategic moves in WW2, the end result will be the same-Eventual defeat. This is a certainty regardless of whatever tactical sucess you enjoy in the field. Essentially 'Fortress Eruope has become a fact-and not just a catch phrase-Spainish are fellow Fascists-? well sorry-there in the path to Gibralter. Secureing Gibralter and NW africa is the key to keeping the WA away from the soft underbelly. North Africa is a sideshow? Again-no, your either totally commited to driveing gthe allies from the region-or you give them a backdoor to raid and invade. Take them out and the all they can do is fortfy Britain and harrass you with air raids. With the games original version-i noticed the AI would reinforce Gibralter only to lose a large force down there that could not hold against the massed german force I massed there. However this would leave Scotland virtually defenceless and open to Sea-Lion. With britain occupied........... With ver 1.4-Britian no longer commits more than a aircraft or so, and Sea-lion really is no longer an option [8|]. But its enought to confine there efforts to above mentioned air raids and such while attentions can turn east.



At this point im going to begin to learn the subtleties of supply and research to fine tune my understanding of the logistical aspects of the game. The AI research and production is poor-but once I learn enought to manage it properly myself-Im sure it will add that much more depth to the WaW experince

Tanks a lot...[:D]

[JanSorensen]

Once you find the AI too easy (you will eventually) you should play vs. other people - it is where the real game is. You can also play on the "Impossible" setting. On that I can barely win as the Allies and havent won yet as the Axis.

As for your description - sure, thats one way. You could also conquer the UK and the US by mid 42 vs the AI - or outright conquer Russia with or without taking Gibraltar. There are plenty of options - many of which are already described on this forum.