Siam and attacking French Indo-China

[Imhotep]

I'm thinking of playing a Siam game and joining the Axis. I'm wondering about the timing of entry into war. My first aim will be to capture French Indo-China.

According to Wikipedia:

The defeat of France in Battle of France was the catalyst for Thai leadership to begin an attack on French Indochina. This began with smaller conflicts in 1940 and resulted in the Franco-Thai War in 1941 [against Vichy France].

If I were to wait until after France had capitulated and had become Vichy France, I'd probably end up fighting against the Axis faction in the game, right?

So I'd have to capture French Indo-China before France capitulates to the Germans?

[Azrael]

Originally posted by Imhotep:

I'm thinking of playing a Siam game and joining the Axis. I'm wondering about the timing of entry into war. My first aim will be to capture French Indo-China.

According to Wikipedia:

The defeat of France in Battle of France was the catalyst for Thai leadership to begin an attack on French Indochina. This began with smaller conflicts in 1940 and resulted in the Franco-Thai War in 1941 [against Vichy France].

If I were to wait until after France had capitulated and had become Vichy France, I'd probably end up fighting against the Axis faction in the game, right?

So I'd have to capture French Indo-China before France capitulates to the Germans?

Sounds about right and not that hard to do, since the French will be concentrating their forces in Europe.

[Imhotep]

Originally posted by Azrael:

Sounds about right and not that hard to do, since the French will be concentrating their forces in Europe.

Except that France will be in the Allies, and Siam has borders with British Raj And British Malaya.

What if I were to follow history and declare war on Vichy France in 1941? Would that mean definite war with Germany? Vichy France doesn't join the Axis until later on, so it would not necessarily be war with Axis, but it might be war with Germany, as Vichy France are their puppet.

If it didn't trigger war with Germany, maybe joining the Axis would cancel the war with Vichy France?

[Megarboh]

You should find a mod that covers Siam in ww2

[Imhotep]

Originally posted by Megarboh:

You should find a mod that covers Siam in ww2

It could do with a focus tree.

I attacked Vichy Indo-China and the Axis declared war on me in return. I'm in Japan's Asian Cooperation faction. Japan have offered to join the war against the Axis, but I've declined. I then conquered Indo-China. There's a six-month wait after the start of a war before peace can happen, so I've got to wait it out and see if I can end the war with the Axis.

[Azrael]

Originally posted by Imhotep:

Originally posted by Azrael:

Sounds about right and not that hard to do, since the French will be concentrating their forces in Europe.

Except that France will be in the Allies, and Siam has borders with British Raj And British Malaya.

What if I were to follow history and declare war on Vichy France in 1941? Would that mean definite war with Germany? Vichy France doesn't join the Axis until later on, so it would not necessarily be war with Axis, but it might be war with Germany, as Vichy France are their puppet.

If it didn't trigger war with Germany, maybe joining the Axis would cancel the war with Vichy France?

Well but on the other hand, British Malaya might try to come after you, but if you overrun Siam towards the Victory Points and hold your line against them, they should be no problem, it would even help the Allies in Africa, if British Malaya and the British Raj are occupied with you.

If you declare on a Vichy Owned French Indochina, you'd be at war with the Axis, true and it would probably be even easier, since they can't really get their troops to you, they lack the ships and naval and air control to do so.