Turtling with Germany

[paperhero]

It sounds kind of crazy, but has anyone tried turtling with Germany starting in 1936? What I mean by turtling with Germany is this: Avoiding going into Poland and starting World War II, and instead take out smaller countries that don't trigger war with England, such as Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden?

I am somewhat new to this game, and I know England will declare war with me if I go into Poland, but not if I just attack the Netherlands. I was wondering how many other countries I can get away attacking without triggering war with England? Of course I try to stay friendly with Russia, at least until I take out England.

My second part of turtling with Germany is say build maybe 50 civilian factories before starting to build military factories. My overall goal is to take over the entire world as quickly as possible. I believe anyone with careful play can win as Germany, so my quest is to do it the most efficient and quickest way possible.

 

[vermicious knid]

You can do a fair bit without sparking war with the Allies. You'll have to be very careful managing tension, and the Munich conference is going to go very poorly if you've already declared a war.

The first problem is that Japan will eventually spike the tension high enough that you are locked out of any more "free" wars. The second problem is that if you are on historical the Allies and Soviets are going to come for you eventually...and if you wait too long the US will be along for the ride.

 

[paperhero]

I am on A-historical, so hopefully Russia will stay out of it.

 

[jacekgk]

Here is pretty cool video, how to make fascist world without attacking everyone:

It is old, but most of these things could be used even in 2022.

If I wanna do it, probably I would make these steps:

- delay focuses, which increase world tension - like Rhineland (remember, that You can bypass this, if You are in war), Anchluss, etc;

- use justification for minor countries. On historical, when I'm playing not as Germany, I can ignite two wars, before Allies start giving guarantees. If You make world tension low for sometimes, maybe You could make 3, even 4 wars;

- You can cheese Netherlands a little bit (this could be a last target) - You can justify on Dutch East Indies, pause immediately, when justification is over, and declare war on Netherlands. Even if DEI are guaranteed, Allies don't join into the war, because You technically declare war on master But remember to pause in this same hour, when justification is over.

After quick early wars I propably would rush down this path ("Anschluss", stuffs in Czechoslovakia, "Demand Memel"), and make things, which on historical focuses on german AI never does - like "Fate of Yugoslavia", "Fate of Greece". But remember that You need find the way to remove guarantees for these countries - if I'm not mistaken, there is some modifier, which makes, that if they have guarantees (from Romania f.ex), they will never accept Your generous offer.

In the meantime I would use spies to turn Hungary and Romania fascist as quickly as it is possible. If they join in Your faction, You can use focus "Integrate war economics" to turn them into Your puppets.

And last advice: it could be easier to make it on historical on. In nonhistorical mode You can get totally chaos: mess in Balkans, mess in Allies, very possible mess in USSR, which for new player could be confusing. Trust me - I have 2,2k hours in the game and nonhistorical is still to unpredictible for my taste, because I like to realize strategy, which I have from the start of the game.And You want to make very specific things, for which You need well-thought-out strategy.

 

[paperhero]

It is somewhat strange that you said to go historical to keep Russia out of the war early because the reason I went non-historical in the first place was to avoid a war early war with Russia. Since it was Germany that attacked Russia that started the war historically maybe going historical will work?

I like your idea of justifying a way on the Dutch East Indies and then declaring war on the Netherlands.

As for turning Hungary and Romania fascist, I will have a lot of civilian factories, and be able to quickly build up military factories in those countries, so I would rather control them directly.

If I am to get 2 free countries before the allies start giving guarantees they would be: first Sweden, because of it's chromium and industry then the Netherlands for it's oil and industry. After that I am not sure. Do I really need to be afraid of England and it's allies declaring a war on me? What can they do other than sink my convoys, I don't think they will invade me. How well do I need to guard my coastline at this point? After taking out Sweden and the Netherlands, should I sit and turtle, building civilian factories up until I have built about 40-50 of them, or start building military factories? If the Russia invades Poland do I invade to?

 

[jacekgk]

It is somewhat strange that you said to go historical to keep Russia out of the war early because the reason I went non-historical in the first place was to avoid a war early war with Russia.

You can play on historical focuses on, but in options choose nonhistorical behaviour for soviets AI. This makes soviets weak significally.

As for turning Hungary and Romania fascist, I will have a lot of civilian factories, and be able to quickly build up military factories in those countries, so I would rather control them directly.

You can integrate them later via autonomy system. Romania and Hungary are very good allies.

If I am to get 2 free countries before the allies start giving guarantees they would be: first Sweden, because of it's chromium and industry then the Netherlands for it's oil and industry.

This is good choice. I recommend You:
- Sweden first - this should generate a lot of world tension, but You should do it before for example Japan will coming for China;
- Denmark - thanks that You will be controling danish belt and cut off all the Baltic Sea;
- Netherlands - probably by the trick with DEI.
You can use double justification trick as well:

so maybe (but - just maybe) You could have time for one more country.

Do I really need to be afraid of England and it's allies declaring a war on me?

Truelly - I don't think so. There is a few good guides, how to invade UK via Wilhemshaven trick. One of them:

But I always do it with some differences:
- I give my troops order in a few tiles (on ports and near them) - AI is better now with protecting ports;
- I give my naval forces another order: "support naval invasion".
Sometimes it is working even with 10 crappy submarines
On the start, Allies are very passive, but You don't want to let USA joining the faction and let Italy doing italian stuffs in Africa and Apennine Peninsula

If the Russia invades Poland do I invade to?

USSR will coming for Poland in 1939/40. In my games, when I delayed WWII as mutch as I could, Poland joined Allies itself and attacked me - so Your choice.

 

[paperhero]

What do you mean by: "stuffs in Czechoslovakia"?
Where are there spy's in the game?

 

[jacekgk]

"stuffs in Czechoslovakia"

I mean: "Demand Sudetenland" and "Fate of Czechoslovakia". These both focuses give You very good land as freebie, but increase world tension encridible, so if You are interesting early wars as Germany without involve Allies, You need delay these focuses.

Where are there spy's in the game?

Sorry, I forgot to ask about DLC's You have. For espionage You need La Ressistance. If You haven't it, I think You can boost ideologies via PP's, but I don't remember this mechanic very well.