Building a Nation
I let a day pass so the computer can get the sliders and trade information all updated then paused it again to fix my sliders and begin production. To begin with I can put about 35-36 IC towards production. Immediately began with fully building up airbases at Metz and Lille to hopefully one day support a mighty bomber force (if I can hold the provs of course). Four infantry divisions and an artillery brigade are also put into production. That’s it, easy to spend 35 IC. My plan for production is to get enough infantry divisions finished to fill out my armies. I also want enough artillery brigades to give one to each of my starting infantry divisions.
My infantry divisions will be 3 inf, 1 art. I originally wanted 2 inf, 1 art to have more divisions to shuffle around the front. However, once looking at the military leaders I simply don’t think I would have enough leaders for every division.
In a move that may cause problems I will be leaving basic training in place instead of going to specialized training. I hate to do this especially when my manpower is precious and I need the most out of units. I’m choosing speed over the experience. My army needs to be in place before the Germans attack. Hoping this move will help France’s low IC. The French Army will have to gain experience the hard way.
While the game is running more effort was put into refining the OOB (mainly for something to do if I’m honest, but it will be less work later). I’d like to have four armies by the time the shooting starts. Two armies to hold the Belgium border (or as much as Belgium as they can), one army to hold the Maginot Line, and one army to hold the border with Italy. They will have varying strengths the two armies along Belgium being the strongest.
Trade isn’t high on my list. I let the AI make me offers. The UK and US should be able to provide whatever I need. I’ve accepted deals from the US and Australia to help stabilize my resources.
On January 25th I had some extra IC freed up so I put another artillery brigade into production. At this time I switched my internal spies to the long task of raising national unity. Sent my spies into Germany once ten spies get in they will be put on the mission to raise threat.
March 3rd IC is freed up from reinforcements and I put an artillery brigade into production. All military units are now in mainland France and I’m currently folding them into Army Group A commands.
On April 20th, 4 infantry divisions and an artillery brigade finished and I put the same amount back into production. Consumer goods demand is starting a slow decline so as this happens I will funnel the extra IC into supplies until I get enough to start an artillery brigade.
August 6th a group of four infantry and one artillery brigade is finished and the same is again added to the production list. I am now official out of military leaders. The Maginot Line might have to be gutted of leadership during the war to get more leaders to fighting divisions.
On the research end of things the infantry techs were the first to finish. I’ve added the mountain warfare equipment, arctic warfare equipment, the two anti-tank upgrades, the two anti-air upgrades, 2 armored cars and all the remaining 1918 land doctrine tech to the research queue. In short whatever is left besides naval techs that is still at 1936 or below. I usually will research techs from the current year I’m in. The exceptions will be the techs I feel are important. Agricultural and education will always get the highest priority especially in this game with France.
Here is how the army is currently deployed:
4th Army is deployed across the Maginot Line. Two divisions per province and I’m banking on that to hold. Two divisions are in reserve but I will most likely redeploy them elsewhere.
3rd Army is deployed above the 4th Army and will hold down the Belgium frontier and either hold the line or rush into Belgium to help them.
5th Army will move to the Italian boarder and garrison it. It won’t be nearly as strong as the other armies. It has all of mountain and special brigades and will have 2-3 corps when all is said and done. I have it where it is now to benefit from the logistics wizard.
1st Armored Army is a powerful force as you can clearly see from the blue tanks around it. Well that’s the plan anyway. It does have some light and medium tanks but it mostly cavalry right now. I need this to be an elite fighting unit by 1939. It will have a lot on its plate. It will need to blunt the German blitzkrieg and spearhead my own attack. If that fails it will be my mobile reserve and rush to whatever front it is needed at.
Well August 6, 1936 is as good a place as any to take a break. National unity is at 53% still a long way off from what I need. To end things up here is what currently is in production.
That said, I think you are making a (serious) mistake due to the massive use of only artillery to support the infantry. In this version of the game this is a very risky bet due to poor performance of anti-tank infantry weapons. IMO against Germany a much less risky composition for the divisions would be 2 INF+1ART+1AT or 3INF+1AT. If the industrial capacity permits, the ideal composition to defeat Germany quickly would be: 1 LARM+1INF+1ART+1AT. My spearheads divisions would be 1 (H) ARM, 1 MOT, 1SPART and 1 TD (if SPART is impossible I would replace it with another ARM or MOT). To take maximum advantage of victories 2-3 divisions of 1LARM+1(or 2) MOT are very handy. I hope I am not misunderstood; I am only trying to help. 
