HOI3 TFH: How to set up the Netherlands for beginners(+)

[Gormytorysh]

Regiment of bycicles of the Netherlands (yes, we actually had multiple regiments of these)​

To be honest playing the Netherlands is not really for players that start their first HoI3 game ever. Though I hope someone will actually try it and if not, this could be your 2nd, 3rd and so on game. If you want to survive as the Netherlands, the best way is to join the Axis for a couple of reasons. Joining them will make sure you will not have to worry Japan taking the Dutch East Indies (I’ve had a game where Australia did something but nothing that could not be handled). Also you will survive the war for at least the first few years, and if you play good enough, you will win the war even. So…. Let’s go!

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE FIRST STEPS: Diplomacy


There are a few challenges when playing the Netherlands. First and foremost you lack a decent amount of Manpower and MP gain per month! Second, your industry is underdevelloped and last but not least, your technology is barely WW1 worthy. There is one thing you do have, which is resources. Still, no need to panic though, we will get there and this is one way to do it:


In the Diplomacy screen there are a 2 or 3 things to do. First fire the “Prepare for war” event, second align yourself to the Axis faction. The third thing is optional which is to set trade to automated or not. I usually do as I find the impact very little in trying to get to the Axis corner faster and it always keeps my resources stocks up/ in the greens.

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE FIRST STEPS: Production


In the Production screen, let’s set up some things we can build and eventough it may take a while to be finished, let’s set it up anyay and build 3 infantry brigades as reserves. Next to that, build 6 artillery brigade and 5 AT brigade, also as reserves. Suggest to adjust the sliders as shown below and only keep the production slider unlocked. Move the 2 light cruisers to the bottom as they are far less needed at this point.

3 infantry divisions in queue​

Sliders adjusted and the building queue in place​

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE FIRST STEPS: Technology


In the Technology tab, there are 2 things needed: spies and diplomacy points! Suggest to set the sliders as below, though feel free to set them otherwise. At this point I do not assign any points to officers or tech. That will change soon enough.

Tech sliders set​

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE FIRST STEPS: Politics and Intelligence


The Political tab does not need any changes at this point, you do not have other ministers that will help you to achieve your goals sooner. The only law you can change (but lack the money at this point) is change unit training to specialist. I usually do not change this till I am at war. It is basically up to your own likings. Doing so will take longer for units to build so I suggest to keep it this way, but if you really want to have more experienced recruits, be my guest.

So let’s go towards the Intelligence tab where I set the domestic spies as shown below and assign spies to Germany and the UK as below as well. This is mainly to get better laws as soon as possible. You may leave out the UK, though in my experience you can change your laws slightly slower.

Spies are assigned​

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE FIRST STEPS: One more thing to do


Last step, before we unpause, is to get all units (except the Theatre HQ) from the Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands. Move the right infantry unit to Soerabaya and the left two units to Batavia, move the planes to the Netherlands (Rebase). Once they get there (after you unpause of course) ship the unit from Soerabaya to Batavia (select rebase not transport!) and do not forget to select the other ships in Soerabaya. When all units are in Batavia, embark them and ship them to the Netherlands.

​

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE FIRST MOVES


As the Netherlands you will not have that much to do compared to any major power. Simply because you lack…. Just about everything. Having said that, when you have enough money, buy 10 landing ships from the UK and get them as cheap as possible (what can I say…. I’m Dutch, I want everything as cheap as possible ).

Order Landing Ships​

When the UK accepts your offer move the LS’ between the land units and the 2 cruisers. You will not need them this year or the next so once you run out of MP to build more infantry (that will happen, guarenteed), you will be building these and they will be finished in time before you invade the UK (really? Yes really ).

They will not be build anytime soon, but we’ll get there​

Once you have enough spies in Germany and UK and a little surplus, adjust your sliders so you will get some badly needed research done. I suggest both industry techs, research and agriculture techs for the time being. Keep some points on Espionage as you will need some more in reserve, especially in the beginning.

Current research​

When you have about 20 spies in reserve, lower the Espionage slider and put in an extra point in research and select Sea lane defence. You will need the escorts to go with your convoys to support you future invasion of the UK. But we’ll get to that later. First we need the tech to actually build them.

Sliders adjusted again​

 

[Gormytorysh]

LAW CHANGES


Now that your spies build up a decent network in the UK and in Germany the first effects will become visible and you’ll be able to fire some new laws. These law changes will come relatively fast one after another (especially if speed is set to max) so keep an eye on the icon on the top left corner.

After the last laws changed, I set some effort of the spies in tech espionage, both UK and Germany, hoping to retrieve some tech. If not, it is ok, I see it as a bonus mission.

 

[Gormytorysh]

UNITS FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE


Once your 3 infantry, 6 artillery and 5 AT brigades are ready, put one into each of the infantry divisions that moved from the Dutch East Indies. Attach on AT brigade to any of the divisions and divide them among the corps so that each corps contains a division with and AT. Put the artillery brigades in the remaining divisions.

Now you still have some MP left and build some more divisions with INF x3 and ART x1. Suggest to build them as reserves and move them to the top.

Now that you have some more units in place, reduce the espionage slider and increase the officers slider. Lets get some more officers in because we will fail at the current level (under 70%).

 

[Gormytorysh]

1937 – FUTURE PREPARATIONS AND PLANNING AHEAD


In order to not loose every naval battle right away, lets research Fleet Auxiliary Carrier Doctrine to give our light cruisers some organization.

In May, elections are held. If you are lucky, you get some great ministers that provide +10% IC and Leadership increase. In this case, I was not that lucky so I got stuck with these guys.

Once your landing ships are done and you still lack MP, it is time to build Convoys and Escorts. Usually I do a few parallel and many series.

Convoys and Escorts baby!​

 

[Gormytorysh]

1938 – JOINING THE AXIS


In February 1938 you are almost there to join the Axis faction. Though it still may take a while as neutrality drops at 0.02/ 0.03 per day.

When the industry research and education (2nd time) is (pretty much) up to date, it is time to equip your infantry with better things. Set the research on all 4 of them.

Just for the fun of it, move the troops to the Belgium border, your first victim.

Finally in September Germany asks to join. You will loose the neutrality, but with Japan and Italy already in there, you do get the Pact of Steel (I think Japan is actually not really needed for it, but ok).

You’re in the Axis now​

 

[Gormytorysh]

1939 – WAR


As the rest of the world is doing thing historically (you are actually the only a-historical nation), you know Germany will start to invade Poland this year. So we have a few more things to do. (I did get some interceptors earlier, but that is not really nescessary. It is for when I invade the US, but we’ll not get to that in this tutorial…. It is to explain why there is an INT in the production screen. The heavy cruisers however are for this tutorial!) First of all, get some heavy cruisers into production, 4 or 5 should be enough for now and move them to the top.

You still lack MP but in July mobilize your armies. At this point there are not enough men to fill the ranks, but every man added to your armies could make a difference.

The Netherlands is mobilizing!​

September 1st, 1939, Germany DOW’s Poland. Luckily you are not sucked in right away and both France and the UK focus their attention towards Germany. Give the French army some time to reinforce the border between them and Germany and the DOW on Belgium (set Acquire Territory – Belgium). After that, go to France and set Acquire Territory – Northern France. This could be noted as an exploit, but you are actually going to fight for it so it is well deserved.

DOW on Belgium​

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE PLAN


Belgium can be tricky, especially with the rivers running through it and your lack of engineers, also the French present are not helping. Not to worry, here is the plan. Get your units, except the one in Maastricht to attack adjacent Belgium provinces. Most of the time Antwerp is the only one taking a little longer. Encircle Bruxelles and try to avoid attacking over rivers as much as possible. Sometimes, when fighting a loosing battle, it may be wise to make a tactical retreat and attack again. Don’t count too much on help from Germany, they are too busy fighting the French. If all goes well, you can defeat Belgium in about a month. When they give up, don’t worry about the troops, they are harmless.

Belgium defeated​

After Belgium, or even during the battle in Belgium, continue into France and try to approach Paris from the west while holding a defencive line roughly from Paris to Luxembourg as shwon below.

You may want to use some reserve spies to reduce national unity in France to get them down faster. But that is up to you. Most of the time when Paris is taken, it will not take that much time for the French to surrender.

France is now part of the Netherlands​

 

[Gormytorysh]

THE LAST BIT – THE UK


For the last bit, how to invade the UK, I will just give some pointers. Most of the time Cornwall is a great place to invade and do that from Brest. Get your troops ready along the French coast and make sure there is one corps in Haarlem for British invasions in the Netherlands.

Land your troops next to Plymouth and when you are there, attack Plymouth for the harbour and badly needed supplies (see, that’s why we have so many escorts and convoys). Move all of you ships to the same spot in different groups (destroyer-landing ships-transports/ light cruisers-heavy cruisers/ submarines). You will probably loose quite some ships, but that’s why we have more transports/landing ships than needed.


Take it from here…. Good luck!

Dutch landings in Cornwall​

Open this if you get stuck in the UK

Spoiler

Ok, so you really want to know how to defeat the UK? It is easier than Belgium and France, just need to act swiftly. Once you capture a harbour, move all corps except one to that harbour and start taking that corner of England. After that move east and get a line between Bristol to the north east, to King’s Lyn. Meanwhile move the rest to the east, encircle London and keep you defencive line up. Take out the remaining forces and only when all the land is captured, move to Wales and to the north. It should not be that hard.

The UK defeated​

Once you defeated the UK, you have enough MP, IC and just about enough leadership, though this could be better, to do whatever you want!

 

[Gormytorysh]

Eeeh, I just realized I did not get the save games in. Will put them in later (when I am at home again).

 

[Gormytorysh]

As promised, here are the save files, enjoy (I hope )

Start of the game including all first steps: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013746/Netherlands_Tutorial_Start.rar
January 1st, 1937: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013740/Netherlands_Tutorial_1937.rar
January 1st, 1938: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013741/Netherlands_Tutorial_1938.rar
January 1st, 1939: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013742/Netherlands_Tutorial_1939.rar
War on Belgium (right before DOW-ing): http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013747/Netherlands_Tutorial_war_on_Belgium.rar
January 1st, 1940: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013743/Netherlands_Tutorial_1940.rar
Invading the UK: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013745/Netherlands_Tutorial_Invading_UK.rar

After defeating the UK: http://www.gamefront.com/files/25013744/Netherlands_Tutorial_Allies_Beaten.rar

One last thing worth mentioning. I did give the Netherlands some more generals otherwise you will end up having none once you start to get a bit of an army. I copied some generals from Belgium and renamed them.