Question on restoring Austria-Hungary

[him_15]

Hi all, I am wondering playing as Austria-Hungary, is it even possible to not conceding Sudetenland to Germany AND not fighting them? Maybe turning fascist and joining Axis after claiming CzechSlovakia? But would there be enough time to get this done? And even If It can be done would Germany still kick me out of faction? Thank you!

 

[Blizzard Six]

You can get a non-aggression pact with Germany without joining the Axis. Boost relations and use your spies on diplomacy mission. This works in non-historical mode, not sure if they accept a NAP in historical.

Beware though, they will probably break the NAP as soon as they're able. Happened to me in my current AH campaign!

You can also join the Axis, but make sure you take Yugoslavia before you do. Otherwise, when you invade Yugoslavia the Independent State of Croatia will form and take some of the provinces you need for the achievement.

If you're in the Axis I don't think Germany would kick you from it. You only need 30% fascism in order to join, so you can stay Non-Aligned if you want.

 

[Novis Blackburn]

Yes. I would recommend getting the Fascist Demagogue with your second 150 Political Power (after the Silent Workhorse) to allow for enough time to switch ideology. Join the Axis whenever you switch. If you stay non-aligned, you'll need World Tension to be at 40% (might be less with one of Austria-Hungary's National Spirits) to join the Axis, so it's a safer bet to switch ideologies.

You can deny the Germans the Sudetenland, and all they will get is a wargoal on you that they can't do anything about. They won't kick you from the faction unless you have less then 30% fascist support (correct me if I'm wrong).

If you don't join the Axis and rely on a Non-Aggression Pact, the Germans will cancel it as soon as they can and come after you with their wargoal.

On Historical Focuses, you should have plenty of time to get this done. On Ahistorical and Random (via Custom Settings), it's a tossup, really.

Regarding Yugoslavia: Croatia only rebels if Germany is in the war if I remember correctly. I am not sure if it will if you don't call in the Germans while in the Axis faction.

 

[eastcoastceojam]

I saw a pretty smart way in the below YouTube video to get Germany to let you join the Axis as a non-aligned Austria-Hungary.

One of the possible outcomes of the "Claim Transylvania" focus is where Romania refuses to give you land, and you can approach Germany to mediate. If you started improving relations with Germany 45 days prior to this event, and get a favorable RNG result, both Austria-Hungary and Germany will declare war on Romania together in Feb 1938. Once that happens, Germany will let you join the Axis, and Germany will be blocked from the focuses that let them demand Sudetenland.

Unfortunately, given the French guarantee on Romania in the current version of the game, this will start WWII 18 months early. But, given that all the majors are less prepared, it gives Austria-Hungary a good chance of beating the Allies before Barbarossa. You can then switch sides to the Comintern after a while, and then grab the lands you need from the Axis in the resulting peace deal.

The part of the video that shows the Romania early war RNG event is at 18:20: