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Henry Wu

Second Lieutenant
8 Badges
Aug 6, 2009
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I am playing Germany in 1936 scenario and the time in save is Apr 1940
I annexed Austria and Czech by event and conquered Poland, France, Denmark, Yugoslavia missioned ended in Mar 40. Half of Royal Navy is damaged because of air raid and majority of army forces are on Soviet borders
Nat. Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia are all in Axis.
Is it a wise idea to bring Italy and Japan to the Axis?

Situation now:
Italy - conquered south Yugoslavia and Greece by their forces only, currently war with Romania
Japan - I have tried to bring Japan into Axis, Nat China was defeated and some lands were ceded to Japan and Germany for peace. But Japan declared war on USA on June 1940, which makes powerful US navy can attack tyhe soft belly (Spain) easily...

I think it's good to bring Italy into alliance and excluded Japan to avoid direct conflict with USA. Is it a good idea?
 
Japan in the axis really only makes sense if you want an easier BP fighting the SU. The problem I've found with them, is the instant you ally with them, darn near the next thing you know, the US is in the war. Going to happen 99% of the time anyways, but Japan picks some really cruddy times to make that happen. Also, Japan really never does a good job against the US fleet, so it's not even helping you on that front.

Italy, in my opinion is a personal choice thing. I really like keeping Italy neutral. It covers your flank in the med nicely as the Allies won't DOW a neutral, and Italy doesn't DOW them. That leaves you free to pick your battles nicely. Also, Italy makes a nice opponent when you've done BP, you've conquered the middle east and India, and you're waiting for your fleet to build before taking on the US. All this said, Italy can be a decent ally, but I've had too many bad experiences with loose cannon allies screwing up my timing (like the Romanians kicking off Barbarossa 2 months too early right in the mud season).
 
Since Japan is already at war with the US, do not ally with them. However I would also leave italy to their own misadventures until the Soviets are dealt with. The fatal distraction in our timeline for the Nazi's was dealing with Italy's failure to run the African front - I assure you the game makes just as bad a job of it, so until you are ready to deal with Africa/Middle East/India, (ie post Soviet) let Mussolini do his own thing.
 
I personally like having Italy in ASAP. Their help is useful in controlling Suez and Africa in general. Besides, if I can help them out with military control early on, the UK doesn't stand much of a chance in Egypt. I like to invite Japan when I'm about to do Barbarossa. They make the whole operation quicker (they always manage to take Vladivostok, much better than having to push to Sverdlovsk) and can start cleaning up in India as well, possibly taking over a good chunk of it, but at least forcing the Allies to commit forces there. Of course, only if they have subdued Nationalist China - if they're still fighting with them, then allying with Japan is out of the question.

It is eventually a good idea to take in Japan anyways, since using their military is the only reasonable way to annex the UK (and France if you want), due to the VPs in Guadalcanal, Fiji, etc.
 
Because of the poor naval doctrine of Germany, it's hard to build up the CTF with the aid of Raeder only... Germany relies on the blueprints of Japan naval doctrine... With Japan's aid, Germany can build a modern fleet quicker and easier, but since Japan will soon fighting with the US, and SU is not yet dealt... better leave them alone...

Italy, for me.... I am quite shock they can take Greece and half of Yugoslavia... If I didn't DOW on Yugo during their mission, they must take all outlet to Meditteranean Sea... but their poor tech team and technology hesitate me so much...
 
If Nat.Spain is on your side (Axis) so Italy will make a good Ally. Get Vichy France in the Axis too. Then you will be able to take Gilbratar and defence Casablanca (where the US will always use at the beachhead in Africa).

Send help to the Italian to defeat Romania so they will help you in Barbarossa. Also send a decent Africa Korp to help mister Mussolini and he'll be find (Without Gilbratar the Allied will ra ther weak). When you and your allies took Suez Canal you will have the access to go to Persia and Turk (annex or Ally with them) to open the new front to Baku. You will also have the access to quickly send troops to Crimea via Black sea.

About Japan. Leave them alone since they won't help much
 
If Nat.Spain is on your side (Axis) so Italy will make a good Ally. Get Vichy France in the Axis too. Then you will be able to take Gilbratar and defence Casablanca (where the US will always use at the beachhead in Africa).

Send help to the Italian to defeat Romania so they will help you in Barbarossa. Also send a decent Africa Korp to help mister Mussolini and he'll be find (Without Gilbratar the Allied will ra ther weak). When you and your allies took Suez Canal you will have the access to go to Persia and Turk (annex or Ally with them) to open the new front to Baku. You will also have the access to quickly send troops to Crimea via Black sea.

About Japan. Leave them alone since they won't help much

In my experience in DD and Arma, Italy never really has a problem taking the entire Balkan region by itself. Once, I actually saw them create their own Balkan alliance with Romania and Bulgaria (they ate Yugoslavia and Greece). That said, I've also never seen them DOW the allies if I as Germany don't bring them into the Axis. Thus, you can take a huge chunk of the med out of play until you are willing to fight there. Granted, then it makes the Egypt fight a little harder (coming from occupied Russia through Iraq) but not that much.

I guess it all depends on your style of play. I like to shut each theater down in turn before moving to next. It can be done with skillful use of neutral nations guarding your flanks and manipulating the Allied desire to never invade neutral nations without an event. What's even better, is when the Americans get the torch event, Darlan's choice, gives the remaining Algerian and Tunisian Vichy provinces to Italy, who is neutral (in my style), thereby negating the whole point of Torch as the Americans are sealed in, especially if you have Gibralter (through alliance with Spain, or conquest on your own).
 
Get Vichy France in the Axis too. Then you will be able to take Gilbratar and defence Casablanca (where the US will always use at the beachhead in Africa).

I would disagree; Vichy is IMO a bit of a liability. With them comes a vast expanse of poor infrastructure desert, and with more beaches to defend (i.e. more beaches for the US to land upon). They don't have impressive IC, in fact, the most they have going for them is a decent navy, but that's still not enough to fight the US. Actually, what I tend to do is slightly gamey: get Nat Spain in the alliance and make sure they take most of the Vichy provinces before forcing the Vichy event to fire. Spain isn't forced to give back the provinces, therefore I get a stronger Nat Spain with most of the Vichy IC.

Send help to the Italian to defeat Romania so they will help you in Barbarossa.

Romania is supposed to be an ally, along with Bulgaria. Why waste forces subduing them when you can just have them in the fold?

About Japan. Leave them alone since they won't help much

Well, as I said above, they help in Barbarossa, they help in annexing some of the major Allied powers, they draw the attention of US while never really being at danger themselves, and they bring a few puppet nations along for the ride if that's not enough. It is an option to leave Japan alone, but I say, they're one of the best allies you can have.
 
Well, as I said above, they help in Barbarossa, they help in annexing some of the major Allied powers, they draw the attention of US while never really being at danger themselves, and they bring a few puppet nations along for the ride if that's not enough. It is an option to leave Japan alone, but I say, they're one of the best allies you can have.

Meh, for me Japan isn't worth the effort. I always hold off getting BP so that I can release all the SU asian puppets, so a fast BP with Japan isn't worth much to me. That said, if the US is already in the war, then Japan is a machts nichts for me. Sure, you can annex the UK, but if all they have left is Bora Bora or something like that, who cares? Let them sit in the Pacific and eat coconuts with their 1-2 IC that isn't even enough to keep their army in supply much less build anything.

Also, I've found a three way war with the Japanese and US to be a lot of fun, especially in the late game where nothing else is left.

Really, this is all personal preference, hopefully this discussion has opened the OP to some of the possibilities that are out there.
 
Oh... That's really a funny save...
Gibratar is taken by Nap Spain... haha...
I refuse the offer of alliance from Italy twice. They are able to conquer Greece and half of Yugoslavia. Italian also landed on Middle East...
Romanis finally join the Axis and provide 40 division on the South front against SU.
I am not sure Bulgaria will join Axis, but I have +200 relation with them
As Germany, wow... I planned to land on Crypus and captured Juresalum and Suez before Italian reach there... then invasion to SU should start...
 
@ecnan02 I prefer to play a bit historically and Italy can provide some support again SU if they have the border with them

I would disagree; Vichy is IMO a bit of a liability. With them comes a vast expanse of poor infrastructure desert, and with more beaches to defend (i.e. more beaches for the US to land upon). They don't have impressive IC, in fact, the most they have going for them is a decent navy, but that's still not enough to fight the US. Actually, what I tend to do is slightly gamey: get Nat Spain in the alliance and make sure they take most of the Vichy provinces before forcing the Vichy event to fire. Spain isn't forced to give back the provinces, therefore I get a stronger Nat Spain with most of the Vichy IC.

Ah i'm agree with your way too. Vichy France will be a most worthless Axis power. Of course it's far better if Germany can help Nat Spain or Italy (Italy can take and hold Algiers,Oran and Casablanca) take some provide before Vichy event to fire.

In the last I want to get Casablanca (and East Africa beach) and Gilbratar as soon as possible

Romania is supposed to be an ally, along with Bulgaria. Why waste forces subduing them when you can just have them in the fold?

Yes but Italy is at war with them here!! So it's better to help Italy.

Well, as I said above, they help in Barbarossa, they help in annexing some of the major Allied powers, they draw the attention of US while never really being at danger themselves, and they bring a few puppet nations along for the ride if that's not enough. It is an option to leave Japan alone, but I say, they're one of the best allies you can have.

Nah i don't want to share SU with the Japanese :D. I also don't want to mess with USA at least untill i get BP with SU
 
Bring Italy into the war if UK don't have any troops in North Africa or Italy has huge amounts on troops in North Africa. Too many times I've seen the Italian AI get kicked completely out of Africa, but evne worse is when UK makes a landing in Italy >_>

Don't bring Japan in because they will be at war with SU and can get steamrolled. At the very least it makes Barbarossa less interesting because SU has too many troops guarding the Manchuria border.