[Noob] How do I defeat France as Germany?

[Dragonquack]

This is my first germany run and I have eaten Western Poland and Benelux, and am attacking from Belgium, but I keep losing the attack and can’t advance. I feel kinda dumb because the AI blazes to Paris in a week. How do I beat France?

I am using mostly light tanks with motorized infantry and SPG divisions, and foot infantry to hold the line, I also have a few medium tank with tank destroyer divisions, all 20 width. I don’t have air superiority because France and Britain’s combined air force is against me.

Here is the game file

 

[walt526]

What are your Panzer templates? How many divisions are you attacking with?

Regardless, I wouldn't build Medium TD in SP. You just don't need them and there's a significant opportunity cost to producing them.

 

[Dragonquack]

What are your Panzer templates? How many divisions are you attacking with?

Regardless, I wouldn't build Medium TD in SP. You just don't need them and there's a significant opportunity cost to producing them.

I attached the save game, you can see my current state

I think the main thing I’m missing here is air superiority, right?

 

[pdstanbridge]

It can be daunting as a beginner.

The thing with France is Paris. Capture Paris and it's basically game over for the French. This can be done is a matter of days. Simply keep the Allies busy, and use your fast divisions (motorized, Light armour) to blitzkrieg. Tske the ports in the north (also prevents allied reinforcements) and then divert south to Paris. I've done it in about 5 days from defeating Belgium with some luck. But the bottom line is speed. As fast as you can. It is too easy to bog down in Belgium.

FWIW, at this stage you don't need air superiority either. It is all about the blitzkrieg.

 

[AP Erebus]

So I'm looking into your save and the biggest thing that jumps out is fuel!

You have 0 fuel, which is going to make you panzer's completely useless (as well as your motorized + airforce)

There are some other minor things, but that's clearly the biggest. You have a significantly better army that france, so I'd start by fixing your fuel issue.

Some of the others are:

1. Massive equipment shortages (especially panzers + motorized). I consolidated a few divisions so you have less divisions, but more full strength divisions
2. Air-force was a bit hit and miss. inconsistent wing sizes (as well as understrength wings). Also, I'd stop them flying while you attacking, then "turn them on" when you attack.

As other have said, I personally don't bother with making medium tanks until after france has fallen, but as you've got them, use them!

I concentrated their on a single province (from 2 directions), which immediately got me 80+ on the attack. I then just smashed through the gap to Paris. The 2 losing attacks either side are the infantry div's pinning those divisions in place to create a gap

After breaking the front line, it took ~4 days to capitulate them

I also used a field marshal front line for the infantry, and consolidated the panzers + motorized into 3 different armies (in red).

I didn't go too far into looking at div templates or research, I was just seeing if you could easily crack the french front-line (and you can)

Most of it is pretty good! Definitely not terrible, maybe just a bit dispersed. Always consolidate your panzer forces and punch holes using them (and make encirclements)