Can France defeat Germany and Russia together?

[Omar2000]

Hello guys,
I am still new in HoI4, less than 200 hrs.
Was playing France, followed the little entente path, became faction leader with Britain (and all its dominions), Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia.
Then Hitler wanted the Sudetenland, I wasn't even given a choice to follow the historical path or not. Czechoslovakia refused German ultimatum, then Germany declared war, and France was somehow dragged into that war. Poland joined later when Germany declared war on it.
Having successfully managed to keep the Czechs and the Polish continue fighting until it was 1940, I found Soviets declaring war on Romania, who is part of little entente. So, instead of Germany fighting Russia and the allies together, the allies, or little entente here, are fighting both axis and soviets together.
How can I proceed? Is there any chance of winning that game? Or should I just finish here then start a new game with France?
I am not sure how this can proceed, but I don't think I can defeat both Germany and the Soviets together.
How can this succeed?
Thanks

 

[fallgelb22061940]

Everything is possible if you have skill
Since you are new in this game, I recommend you to try fascist Frans, as Latin Entente, it is a bit challenging, but I think you are not ready to play democratic France. Also, you should try Commie France, they are also fun to play, and pretty safe I must say, since you will not be in civil war if stability drops too low. They are fun nation to play, but are in a tricky position at start. Also, if you do little Entente, then you shall demand demilitarized Rheinland.

 

[El_Ploplo]

To win as Little Entente, you have to win the war ASAP. Since the war begins in 1938, it is perfectly doable to finish it before 1940.
In theory, it is not very hard to crush the germans, they have to fight on all fronts, as France, concentrate on the western front, the first push is quite easy but crossing the Rhine is harder. Your allies should be ok without your help. In my game Lithuania refuses to cede Memel which helps a little bit.
Be careful of Italy, they will eventually join the war. Don't try to cross the alps, you will take too much casualties. You can leave some men to protect Italians border in Yugoslavia since your allies won't defend their borders.
When Poland join the war, Germany will be overwhelmed and overstreched and you should eventually win.
If URSS join the war, you are fucked. Abandon Romania to their fate and try to consolidate your force in France waiting for the Allies and the USA to eventually join the war.

 

[Leinad965]

Hello guys,
I am still new in HoI4, less than 200 hrs.
Was playing France, followed the little entente path, became faction leader with Britain (and all its dominions), Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia.
Then Hitler wanted the Sudetenland, I wasn't even given a choice to follow the historical path or not. Czechoslovakia refused German ultimatum, then Germany declared war, and France was somehow dragged into that war. Poland joined later when Germany declared war on it.
Having successfully managed to keep the Czechs and the Polish continue fighting until it was 1940, I found Soviets declaring war on Romania, who is part of little entente. So, instead of Germany fighting Russia and the allies together, the allies, or little entente here, are fighting both axis and soviets together.
How can I proceed? Is there any chance of winning that game? Or should I just finish here then start a new game with France?
I am not sure how this can proceed, but I don't think I can defeat both Germany and the Soviets together.
How can this succeed?
Thanks

Little entente with UK is very powerfull and Soviets still have lot of maluses in 1940, so I think it is doable.

 

[parkerg12]

France absolutely can! and actually has a lot of advantages over Germany / Soviet union. France can make use of her Navy, Colonies and Allies to launch attacks on nearly any Soviet Coast line. She also has a lot of advantages in regards to a rare Resources. I think the Key is taking out Germany while Holding against the Soviets. I'd focus on air-power to support a breakthrough across and through the lowlands. once you make that break through and seize the rhine Germany will suffer a massive loss in industry and wont ever be able to Recover. Now if you can not break through- Bunker up and wait till the exhaust themselves...

 

[squid_hills]

Hold out long enough and Japan will declare on Russia. They have to finish their conquest of China first, but even fascist Japan goes after the Soviets eventually. That could relieve some of the pressure on you.

Of course, fascist Japan also demands Indochina from France before they attack the USSR, so you will probably find yourself fighting them, too.

Maybe start a new game?

 

[Lamartine]

Related: If I wanted to play democratic France to take out Germany then the USSR, what's a good strategy for doing so?
- Should I fight Germany over the Rhineland, Czecheslovakia or Poland?
- Should I get Romania in the Little Entente and fight the USSR over Bessarabia? Or justify war goal manually?

 

[eastcoastceojam]

Related: If I wanted to play democratic France to take out Germany then the USSR, what's a good strategy for doing so?
- Should I fight Germany over the Rhineland, Czecheslovakia or Poland?
- Should I get Romania in the Little Entente and fight the USSR over Bessarabia? Or justify war goal manually?

Going down the Popular Front branch to get to the Little Entente formed is a great option for Democratic France. If you move down these focuses ASAP, you should be able to invite the Czechs, Poles, UK, and Romania to your faction, and also remove Disjointed Government, before Germany demands Sudetenland.

If you have the historical focuses on, the Czechs will always refuse the Germans when they are in faction, giving you a free early war against Germany. Italy will usually join within a few weeks, so make sure and leave some troops on your southern borders. I've tried refusing Rhineland at the very beginning of the game, but I think the hit you take to PP and stability just isn't worth it.

 

[blue_yonder]

^^ agree on the entente, but I prefer the laissez faire route to get everyone onboard. I use all 3 industry tech bonuses on concentrated industry to get '39 level in '37. "Leave some troops on your southern border" sounds a bit laconic to me and raised a smile - it's utter carnage in the alps, and I once had the whole 24-army there as skull-and-crossbones vets. Apart from a small detachment in central europe to help out as-and-where, I go all-out after italy via corsica and libya.

I can't answer the OP's question though, as I always want to start over and do things better circa 1941..