Germany VH advice.

[Zardnaar]

Playing my first game as Germany on very hard. More or less the most historical game of HoI I've actually played. I have taken military control of all of the Axis except for Japan. Italy collapsed in north africa and I evacuated most of the surviving divsions.

Launched Barbarossa one day later than the historical date. Overrunning the Balkens took a bit longer than anticipated.

The eastern front. More or less bogged down across most of the front as the Soviets have large amount of divisions facing me. More or less broken through in the east as the Luftwaffe is clearing the way for me. Mopping up in the Caucasus and the alpine troops will be redployed somwhere else. I generally don't attack in winter except where I have overwheming force+planes.

The Hungarians and Romanians have been very useful in this game espicially the Hungarians as they have built 2 HQ units. For the most part the Bulgarians and a few German units are guarding the beaches in France and Spain. Italy and Bulgaria are guarding the Balken/Greek/Italian beaches.

Anyway I'm not to sure what to do. The immediate goal is to force the bitter peace. Japan has Vladivistok, but I have 3 panzer divisions + Romanian and Hungarian Panzer corp advancing that way as well along with some Cavalry+luftwaffe. My summer offensive plans once I have redployed my armor involves a push towards Leningrad with the goal of destroying a large chunk of the Red Army.

Assuming it works the Moscow front + units from the west will advance on Moscow. Right now the Moscow front line is kinda weak with most of my armor located there. I'm trying to switch forces around for the summer offensive. Anyhow after some advice on what do do in the USSR and beyond. Planning on building a battlecruiser fleet but that won't be ready until the end of 43 minimum and I'm not sure how much IC I will have to dedicate to it. I'm a bit behind with naval doctrines and infantry tech. The Kriegsmarine has essentially lost the battle of the Atlantic and the dozen or so active subs are busy hiding in Seville and Gibralter. Not 100% on how to finish of the Soviets or what to do afterwards so any idea would be great.

 

[unmerged(200013)]

Its december 5th 1941 from what i see on screenshots?

First of all, as long as you encircle and wipe out soviets every time you have the option to do so, then there is no rush for BP just now. I am aware that some players can easily get BP in 6 months or so, but slow & steady has won the campaign against USSR for me each time i played. (DAIM & Very hard). It may be a bit tougher without a few armors here and there, to add speed to your encircling, especialy for larger circles.

What concerns me is TC, those damn rebels seem to push you pretty hard, and your current eastern front, you are a bit overextended (note : this is only my opinion, no criticism intended.) It's all fun & games, until SU makes a 60+ division push in multiple provinces.

These two are actualy linked, advancing past Stalingrad is quite pointless if Japans are pushing USSR on the east (they have to catch only one province, which they always manage) and those additional provinces also mess with the TC, giving you nothing in return. Also The river running next to S-grad makes for perfect defensive positions, meaning if you fall back to it, you may lower the amount of troops needed south and focus on the northern side. Build the south front with provinces that are easily defendable (have the fewest amount of neighbour provinces belonging to the enemy) and possibly bomb the russian infrastructures to hell, so you have a lot of time before they even come close.

Your current plan is solid, and should net some heavy losses to SU.

North has a lot of possible encirclement spots, and good infrastructure for the most part (up until Archangielsk) so you'll always have easier time with encirclements up there. Bringing Finland into Axis may be a good idea. Sure they'll get annihilated if you don't aid them, but that means less divisions between you and Leningrad and Moscov! The two of three provinces that matter.

You COULD ofcourse capitalise on your current southern push (or the middle one), and turn them all north to take Moscov, but with the lack of armors and if USSR outnumbers you, you have a high chance of failing. If you decide to do so, bomb the infrastructure of every russian region that they (SU) will use to halt your assault (with 0 inf it will take them months per province movement to get in your way!), but leave the ones you'll use intact! Possibly engage them on the Memel-Kiev front with everything you have, to buy a couple precious days / weeks of advancement.

As for BC fleet. Why not a CL / CA cruizerg? Easier to build, easier to replace the sunk ones. It's also not that tech-dependant. However if RN is still intact, it may be a bit late for naval supremacy, until you get bitter peace that is. Don't forget why 'ze Germans' lost in the first place! Too many fronts, don't do that! Your IC is limited

If you're behind in Inf tech, focus on two-three, and don't bother with the rest.

I must say that it's realy early. I normaly attack SU in 42', mistake on my part i guess, but even then i manage to win with a slow & steady war. Not war of attrition mind you! Noone can outlast SU! But war of encirclements.

I take it that you control Gibraltar?

My 0,02$ (note that my advice was based on my personal experience with Germany, and someone may give you a differend advice, which may turn out to be a better one i play for only a month or so )
Regards

 

[Zardnaar]

The only reason I'm heading towards Sverdlosk is that I'm not sure Japan will retain Vladivistok as the USSR has pushed them back a few provinces. I'm thinking of a BC fleet as I have had the most success on normal with BC over CA, CVs and BBs as Germany.

 

[Pepsi_max]

In VH AI doesnt get as much bonus for MP than IC (AI will be more tended to do MP-waste actions).
USSR will tend to lack manpower more than IC.

Going for Sverdlovsk now is useless, unless you want to cut him from far east (so he will not gain any manpower from there). Depends if you think you can push now fast on moscow/leningrad (18-24 months).


Notice also that hungarian HQ doesnt affect german units.

Mean encirclements/plane fest for now. Building a surface navy before USSR is killed is dangerous.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'm anticipating victory in late 42. 2-3 months from may to capture Moscow/Leningrad, random amount for the BP to fire. The navy will be built post BP as I'll stop expanding the army/airforce as it will be ig enough by then. Build navy and upgrade/build supplies will be the idea.

 

[Zardnaar]

Plan seemed to have worked. Any advice what to do now Stalins sued for peace? Probab;ly blitz throuh Persia, ME and India while I wait for the navy to ebe built.

 

[Pepsi_max]

Yes.

 

[Zardnaar]

First BC have rolled off the production line and I'm having trouble with Sealion/ The RAF can chew my planes apart and my single fleet while decent isn't good enough vs large carrier fleets the Allies have and most of my U-boats are being used as artificial reefs. I have a large amount of nav bombers but its risky sending them anywhere near the British Isles even if I have the Luftwaffe flying around. Managed to sink a few carriers in the Gibralter region using nav bombers and destroyers. Sit back and oick off allied stragglers, and moving my main fleet away from the UK seems to be my best bet at the moment.

Sealion canceled.

The Axis core.

And my naval technology-kinda forgot to research radar oops.

USA has dumped over 30 divisions in a bottleneck in west Africa. Italians slowly crawling through east Africa as the Allies are sending an increasing amount of divisions there as well. Any advice on building fleets would be great. Currently have a single BC SAG of X6 BC, X6 CL, and several smaller CL and DD fleets with a few lvl 3 subs still coming off the production lines.X6 BC are due in July. Vague thinking of mopping up in Africa, and invading the British territotirs in South America so I can invade Brazil and march up through Mexico to have a crack at the USA. Probably grab Diego Garcia and Colombo as well.

Edit damn I think the yanks will dump their entire army into North Africa.