How to deal with communists starting civil war as France?

[Tormodius]

Hello. I try to go for a monarchy with France and everytime before I get to the three choices of focii where you choose which monachy you want, there is a civil war that is really big and takes most divisions and much territory to the communists, so I lose. I havent really tried to win by digging in because I would be so devastated militarily that I think I would be invaded easily in coming years by anyone, so I want to avoid it if possible. Is there a way?

Some things that I have done might have caused it, but I am not sure and I want your comments on this. During the first 3 years I did these things:
1. I chose in an early event not to have them in the government. Causes a stability hit. Maybe go other way around to make them less likely to rebel?
2. I actually ban communism, so their popularity dissapears pretty fast, and non-aligned, a little fascists, and most democratic remains. Does it have any effect?
3. I chose to indirectly help in spanish civil war (not sure who is best to help) and there are some decisions for this that makes stability low. Might be bad for me to do?
4. I did chose a focus that took away the violent politics modifier but civil war still erupted though. I don't know what this modifier do then, so does it even do anything?

Could I avoid it by having high stability and still have high communist popularity? But then, could I make the monarchy at all?
What causes opposing side (the communists) to have much divisions and leaders, and me to retain under half of it, and could it be mitigated so it will be an easier war with them having far less units?
Many questions here. I hope at least a few of them are possible to answer. Thanks anyway

 

[fallgelb22061940]

1. I recommend you to do that focus that gives you stability hit and deals with the commies, so you won't have to reject their influence
2. No effect, but don't do decision and focus, you have to choose between them
3. Don't do this, you don't need it
4. Do that focus
Stability impacts this, if having less than 25% it begins, and monarchy doesn't need nonaligned support

 

[Davy D]

If your stability is above 25 % and communist support below 50% you will not have a civil war.
I guess the focus is the best way to get rid of communist support.
Note that you can also pay 50 pp for communist raids which will net you 2% stability.

Personally I think those Spanish Civil War intervention decisions are just a way to exchange some stability for war support. Don't expect it to change the outcome of the civil war unless you can get some boots on the ground.
Finally consider if it is a top priority for a monarchist France to get rid of communist support/political violence.

 

[Tormodius]

Thanks guys. I tried it again and did what you said. Never dropped stability too much and gradually reduced the communist support. I didnt have a civil war now, thanks to your advices. But I did some other silly things though. Hope to survive still

 

[him_15]

On a side question, how do you raise France land XP quickly? I am having a hard time to build some good division template in time to face Germany invasion.

 

[Casko]

On a side question, how do you raise France land XP quickly? I am having a hard time to build some good division template in time to face Germany invasion.

send attaches to Spanish Civil War, and to China as soon as China goes to war with anything. Also if you can handle it, also lend-lease China if you're able to, as Lend-Leasing your equipment to a country gives you a rather large passive XP Gain if they use your equipment in combat. And the way China tends to run out of Infantry equipment makes China real simple way to get a lot of XP in exchange of guns.

 

[fallgelb22061940]

If fascist, support Nationalist Spain with direct intervention, they will instantly join your faction
If commie, you can help democratic side, but be aware, they can betray ypu
As monarchist, I recommend you to not intervene at any way, only if playing Alfonso, then join Carlists if they spawn.
If democratic, if going for Little Entente, then support Republic, but you have to go for Blum because of Extra stability. If little Entente, they will join your faction, but they will remain in it if they didn't do expand sovjet aid, which they don't do on historical. If going for buy time, it is just not worth it

 

[Tormodius]

At least now I know how to avoid the civil war nuisance yay, but France is harder for me than other nations I played. I usually have historical focus turned off so getting kinda crazy situations. I like it though. But makes game harder because different every time. Like britain going fascist and joining Italy, then both going against me, but also against Germany. I had to ally with Germany, as it was the only ally I could get when Italy chose to invade, they even asked me to join Axis and I said yes, probably because Italy had joined fascist Allies, but eventually Soviet Union gets in the war and if communists then win in Spain then you get them swarming in the pyrinees border with soviet tank units as well. So I figure I can play on still but defensively. I cant conquer anything with France such as I play. Well apart from a small bit of Italy and Belgium but at high cost and very long time. Also chose defensive focus and built forts. It helps. I think playing France all over again maybe, because this latest game seems so bogged down, so I have to rethink the strategy to be more capable of offensive operations too.

 

[Casko]

At least now I know how to avoid the civil war nuisance yay, but France is harder for me than other nations I played. I usually have historical focus turned off so getting kinda crazy situations. I like it though. But makes game harder because different every time. Like britain going fascist and joining Italy, then both going against me, but also against Germany. I had to ally with Germany, as it was the only ally I could get when Italy chose to invade, they even asked me to join Axis and I said yes, probably because Italy had joined fascist Allies, but eventually Soviet Union gets in the war and if communists then win in Spain then you get them swarming in the pyrinees border with soviet tank units as well. So I figure I can play on still but defensively. I cant conquer anything with France such as I play. Well apart from a small bit of Italy and Belgium but at high cost and very long time. Also chose defensive focus and built forts. It helps. I think playing France all over again maybe, because this latest game seems so bogged down, so I have to rethink the strategy to be more capable of offensive operations too.

I'd argue that for current France atleast if going alt-history paths. rather than defensive focus, to simply manually build level 3 forts onto Italian Front if you're unable to ally them as Latin Entente. and depending on how things go in Spain, another 3 onto Pyrenees line. and instead go for Aggressive focus, and the air warfare focus branch, and focus on fighter and CAS production with more defensive infantry. then let the AI bleed itself dry onto your forts and strong mountain defensive positions. and And slowly push with more offensive divisions, while letting the airforce do the heavy lifting for you, as your industry and manpower can't handle mass assaults in the long term.

Similarly, if you're able, taking Belgium and maybe Luxemburg, and turning the Dutch and German borders into a cluster of level 3 or 4 forts, with maybe 1 state AA to safeguard the forts from bombing, does wonders on making defensive ground against Germans, which turns focuses like Extend the Maginot rather uneeded in my opinion.

 

[Tormodius]

On a side question, how do you raise France land XP quickly? I am having a hard time to build some good division template in time to face Germany invasion.

Regardless of the nation I play, I usually choose an army theorist early on with the first 150 pp. That helps a lot. And I set troops to training in peace time. When some war is going on between others, sending liasons to them could help, or even lend lease if you are allowed. I think France can send liasons to Spain, but for sending lend lease you need a focus for Spanish intervention, and do one of those decisions it brings. Now thats kinda risky in two ways. As I originally posted it hit stabilitiy which caused the civil war. Ironically you help with another country's civil war and you get your own to deal with. Thats bad news. And as France you are really low on equipment from the start and have many divisions that needs it. So giving away equipment is then abit of a risky tradeoff. I only do it when I know I have much to spare.