What Is Paradox Doing With Germany’s Focus Tree in HoI4????

[Pumpgun-Petrus]

I just finished my first playthrough of the new DLC with Germany, and honestly, I’m furious about the direction Paradox seems to be taking here. I usually stick to the modifiers and focus paths without paying too much attention to the "Inner Circle" mechanics, but even with that surface-level playstyle, the sheer amount of tone-deafness on display is staggering. When I started looking closer—at the portraits, the tooltips, and the mechanics—I couldn’t believe how much of it feels like an attempt to glorify figures and events that should not be glorified.

Let’s start with the little things, like Göring’s tooltip describing him as a "great German pilot" during the Great War. Why? Why does he get this glowing description when 95% of the advisors in the game don’t even get a tooltip at all? Why is this extra level of detail—and the subjective praise—necessary? It’s not just amateurish; it feels deliberate, like someone at Paradox thought, “Hey, let’s make him look cool.” And that’s just one example.

Then there’s the "Gold Reserves" mechanic. Are you kidding me? It’s such a bland, sanitized way to replace the actual historical atrocities committed by the Wehrmacht and SS. It gets even worse when you’re given the option, after the Soviet Union’s capitulation, to send "ethnic German settlers" into the East. The game conveniently forgets to mention why there’s suddenly all this space for new inhabitants. No context, no acknowledgment—just a convenient gameplay mechanic. How do you look at history and decide, “Let’s skip over the horrifying reality and turn it into a ‘feel-good’ empire-builder moment instead”?

And then there’s the Easter egg with Eva Braun. Seriously, what were they thinking? She’s portrayed as this edgy, eyepatch-wearing action movie protagonist, like she’s leading some badass revenge quest instead of, you know, being tied to one of the most evil regimes in history. It’s beyond tasteless—it’s offensive. It’s the clearest example yet of how Paradox is turning Germany into some weird power fantasy where you can just ignore everything that makes playing as them historically uncomfortable.

And that’s really the core problem, isn’t it? The game lets you play as some of the most horrifying regimes in history, but with Germany, there’s no attempt to acknowledge or reflect on that. Stalin gets mechanics that force you to deal with purges. Mussolini has incompetence baked into his path. But Germany? You’re encouraged to be an expansive, warmongering empire—but hey, that’s fine, because you’re just paying off your MEFO bills. There’s no downside, no weight to your actions, just a button that swaps "crimes against humanity" for "Gold Reserves" after every conquest. What the hell, Paradox?

I love HoI4. I love its gameplay, and the DLC mechanics are, on a purely technical level, well-executed. But playing as Germany feels wrong now. It’s not just ignorant—it’s actively trying to make you feel good about playing as one of the most destructive regimes in human history. It’s like Paradox is leaning into the power fantasy, hiding behind the excuse of “it’s just a logistics game with edgy memes,” but this isn’t Warhammer or some alternate universe. It’s history. And if you’re going to dive into that, you don’t get to ignore the uncomfortable parts just because it doesn’t fit your gameplay loop.

Am I the only one losing my mind over this? How do you defend this kind of presentation in a game that’s supposed to have some respect for history? Or is Paradox just catering to the worst parts of their fanbase now?

[Mayer]

Originally posted by HB:

Given you have a limited grasp of German history, economics, cant understand the post you mis read or understood his question or the point he made,, thats going to be a one sided discussion.

I have a better grasp of German history than you.

German Reich statistics are notoriously unreliable due to price controls and censorship. Hjamlar Schacht warned Hitler in 1939 that there was no more capital left in Germany and that shortages of consumer goods were felt every day, they had to start WW2.

Goebbels wrote in his diaries about shortages of food, hence the desperate attempt to acquire food products from Ukraine.

The expropiation of jewish property continued on a massive scale in war time. That was the economic policy of the Reich. The value of seized jewish assets is over 150 billion USD.

[Segert]

Originally posted by Mayer:

Originally posted by Segert:

That is just a modern day conflict between 2 countries. Which has a long history and both sides views are understandable. But has nothing to do with antisemitism. To equate that to historical antisemitism is disgusting. And you shouldn't do that.


Also why do bring up such politics here? It has nothing to do with HOI4. Its just a game.

Disgusting is your ignorance of modern-day antisemitism. Statistics show a explosion of antisemitic crimes in UK, Germany, France, USA, South Africa, etc.

History is doomed to repeat itself, if nothing changes.

Maybe you should try to discuss modern politics in a game forum hmmm? What you think is yours. How i see what the truth is. is mine own. Maybe someone from your country see it this way. and someone from mine differently. People have different perspectives.

My perspective is. Acting like the holocaust and antisemtism like in ww2 is still on going is discusting. As it is watering down the suffering people endured back then.

[HerrBlitz]

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

I just finished my first playthrough of the new DLC with Germany, and honestly, I’m furious about the direction Paradox seems to be taking here. I usually stick to the modifiers and focus paths without paying too much attention to the "Inner Circle" mechanics, but even with that surface-level playstyle, the sheer amount of tone-deafness on display is staggering. When I started looking closer—at the portraits, the tooltips, and the mechanics—I couldn’t believe how much of it feels like an attempt to glorify figures and events that should not be glorified.

Let’s start with the little things, like Göring’s tooltip describing him as a "great German pilot" during the Great War. Why? Why does he get this glowing description when 95% of the advisors in the game don’t even get a tooltip at all? Why is this extra level of detail—and the subjective praise—necessary? It’s not just amateurish; it feels deliberate, like someone at Paradox thought, “Hey, let’s make him look cool.” And that’s just one example.

Then there’s the "Gold Reserves" mechanic. Are you kidding me? It’s such a bland, sanitized way to replace the actual historical atrocities committed by the Wehrmacht and SS. It gets even worse when you’re given the option, after the Soviet Union’s capitulation, to send "ethnic German settlers" into the East. The game conveniently forgets to mention why there’s suddenly all this space for new inhabitants. No context, no acknowledgment—just a convenient gameplay mechanic. How do you look at history and decide, “Let’s skip over the horrifying reality and turn it into a ‘feel-good’ empire-builder moment instead”?

And then there’s the Easter egg with Eva Braun. Seriously, what were they thinking? She’s portrayed as this edgy, eyepatch-wearing action movie protagonist, like she’s leading some badass revenge quest instead of, you know, being tied to one of the most evil regimes in history. It’s beyond tasteless—it’s offensive. It’s the clearest example yet of how Paradox is turning Germany into some weird power fantasy where you can just ignore everything that makes playing as them historically uncomfortable.

And that’s really the core problem, isn’t it? The game lets you play as some of the most horrifying regimes in history, but with Germany, there’s no attempt to acknowledge or reflect on that. Stalin gets mechanics that force you to deal with purges. Mussolini has incompetence baked into his path. But Germany? You’re encouraged to be an expansive, warmongering empire—but hey, that’s fine, because you’re just paying off your MEFO bills. There’s no downside, no weight to your actions, just a button that swaps "crimes against humanity" for "Gold Reserves" after every conquest. What the hell, Paradox?

I love HoI4. I love its gameplay, and the DLC mechanics are, on a purely technical level, well-executed. But playing as Germany feels wrong now. It’s not just ignorant—it’s actively trying to make you feel good about playing as one of the most destructive regimes in human history. It’s like Paradox is leaning into the power fantasy, hiding behind the excuse of “it’s just a logistics game with edgy memes,” but this isn’t Warhammer or some alternate universe. It’s history. And if you’re going to dive into that, you don’t get to ignore the uncomfortable parts just because it doesn’t fit your gameplay loop.

Am I the only one losing my mind over this? How do you defend this kind of presentation in a game that’s supposed to have some respect for history? Or is Paradox just catering to the worst parts of their fanbase now?

What is it like being such a cry baby?

[Benny]

Originally posted by Mayer:

Holocaust denial is literally a crime in my country. You can't have Nazi Germany without referencing antisemitism, that is my point.

It sucks to live in a country without free speech, im sorry for you. Im not going back to Germany again. Have you considered why the jews got kicked out of 109 countries? Germans did not invent anti-semitism, it have been happen since BC.
Los, ruft die Verfassungsschutz an.

[HB]

Originally posted by Mayer:

I have a better grasp of German history than you.

Except your post dont support that claim, they demonstrate what i posted to be accurate.

Originally posted by Mayer:

German Reich stastistics are notoriously unreliable due to price controls and censorship.

You used them, why are they good enough for your purpose and not for others?.

Originally posted by Mayer:

Hjamlar Schacht warned Hitler in 1939 that there was no more capital left in Germany and that shortages of consumer goods were felt every day, they had to start WW2.

Except Nazi state expenditure went up and consumer consumption went down further.

Originally posted by Mayer:

Goebbels wrote in his diaries about shortages of food, hence the desperate attempt to acquire food products from Ukraine.

Thats him referencing 1942/3 and 2 years or poor harvest yields, and why occupied nations got a lower food ration than did the germans whose rations went up aftera a tempoary reduction in spring of 42, Imports from occupied SU went to feed the Germns ( volume of imports was used at Nuremburg to show the intent to starve ) and the Ukrainians starved.

Apparently you continue to demonstrate you dont know any relevant history.

Originally posted by Mayer:

The expropiation of jewish property continued on a massive scale in war time. That was the economic policy of the Reich. The value of seized jewish assets is over 150 billion RM.

Except the Nazis in 38, who drew up what they wanted to take, estimated jewish financial assets at c 5.5 billion, ( and confiscated it all over time) You have replaced what the nazis said the Jews of Germany had and we want want it, with a number value that makes uber wealthy and being exactly what the Nazi propoganda said they were, instead of not being that. Europe wide, the other jews had between 10 and 15 billion in 1940s RM, and the germans got that. You otoh went with a net search and found a modern value of todays RM value.

Tell me again you know what your posting about, it was funny then, and will be funny again.

[Mayer]

The poor harvests were a systemic failure of Nazi economics and the low productivity of the agricultural sector, instead of modernization they went with plunder.

I admit, I just searched for a quick value for a estimate of Jewish assets. It wasn't small, Jewish wealth created a large amount of animosity and envy.

120-150 billion RM is the total value of all seized assets in occupied Europe, contributing to roughly 30% of the German war effort.

Oh, and consumer consumption declined because of excessive spending and inflation. The Reichsbank couldn't keep a stable currency anymore.

[HB]

Originally posted by Mayer:

The poor harvests were a systemic failure of Nazi economics and the low productivity of the agricultural sector, instead of modernization they went with plunder.

Poor harvest yields from weather variations, had nothing to do with Nazi policies, they were a fact of economic life.UK in 42 had more acres under the plough and because of the poor weather had a lower crop yield, nothing to do with Economic policy.

Originally posted by Mayer:

I admit, I just searched for a quick value for a estimate of Jewish assets. It wasn't small, Jewish wealth created a large amount of animosity and envy.

Nazis said they had c20% of the nations wealth, instead of c1% you posted numbers that exceed that, making you worse than a nazi at making up stuff. They complied the list of assets and wealth they intended to profit from, not your decades afterwards list that incl;udes lost intellectual property values etc.

Originally posted by Mayer:

120-150 billion RM is the total value of all seized assets in occupied Europe, contributing to roughly 30% of the German war effort.

You have again mis read and mi understood the net, and contradicted Tooze who you claimed was a solid source and uses 8 billion, quite busy with replacing fact with your fiction you have been.

Except had you the faintest grasp of economics, or a basic ability to count, or any familiarity with german history you would have read that and thought, that cant be correct for jews alone. German spent 39 to 45, 270 billion RM on its mil budgets, https://historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/research-topics/world-war-two/world-war-two-financial-cost so you internet search which you failed to understand and because you knew no better was prepared to believe that all the rest of the plunder was insignificant, (the gold reserves of the reich was higher at wars end than at teh start because it took th gold reserves of the nations it occupied) and it was jewish assets alone, that made up a third, is factual wrong as anyone with a modicum of understanding would have realised upon reading, but not you.

Originally posted by Mayer:

Oh, and consumer consumption declined because of excessive spending and inflation.

Oh?, yes oh indeed, as in oh i have no grasp of economics of German history. Oh as in could not be bothered to read the 2010 article that explains that 150 billion in 2010, was 12 billion in wartime German RM, 12 billion of 270 billion is not not nor ever has been a third of it. Oh as iin i can make up any old nonsense and pretend to know about history.

Consumer consumption went down from the blockade and rationing, ( example civilian fuel in agriculture and leisure went down the drain as it was needed for mil use) that military spending jumped from 30% of income to 75% of income had nothing to do with consumer spending as the nazis could not purchase and import that which it had done pre war for consumers to purchase.

Consumer consumption of plundered art from across europe, certainly went up during the war in Germany, quite how that then made up a third of military spending is less clear.

[Pumpgun-Petrus]

Originally posted by HB:

[...] (snipped to be readable)

Those two people I refeering to received probably 24-hour temporary bans (likely their first) due to their insults, which violated the Community Rules and Guidelines.
How do I know? I reported the posts I referenced, and they’ve since been removed.
And I saw the banned indicator next to their names.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. You must have seen it aswell or you're just acting like it never happened..

That said, I see what you’re doing here—you’re attempting to discredit my point of view from the original post by attacking from a different angle. Specifically, you’re trying to make it seem like I’m making things up, which leads to your conclusion that everything I say must be wrong.

This is a manipulative tactic, and people who aren’t aware of these tricks often fall for it.

Please stop harassing me or others in this thread with your manipulative behavior.

To Everyone:

It’s perfectly fine if you disagree with me—I genuinely appreciate reading everyone’s thoughts on the topic. If you see things differently, that’s okay. I respect that, and I have no hard feelings. I can accept that people hold different opinions

[Segert]

Originally posted by Mayer:

The poor harvests were a systemic failure of Nazi economics and the low productivity of the agricultural sector, instead of modernization they went with plunder.

I admit, I just searched for a quick value for a estimate of Jewish assets. It wasn't small, Jewish wealth created a large amount of animosity and envy.

120-150 billion RM is the total value of all seized assets in occupied Europe, contributing to roughly 30% of the German war effort.

Oh, and consumer consumption declined because of excessive spending and inflation. The Reichsbank couldn't keep a stable currency anymore.

to be frank the poor economics and harvests where the result of the great depression and the war repayment. In addition to years of political unrest during the weimar republic. With socialist, Nationalists, freikorps. Ex army soldiers. Running rampant in the country.

That is why when the nazis came to power. it was already bad. But that wasnt their fault. Great depression and the instability caused it.

[HB]

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

[...] (snipped to be readable)

If you cant use the quote function correctly best not to mis use it.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

Those two people I refeering to received probably 24-hour temporary bans (likely their first) due to their insults, which violated the Community Rules and Guidelines.
How do I know? I reported the posts I referenced, and they’ve since been removed.
And I saw the banned indicator next to their names.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. You must have seen it aswell or you're just acting like it never happened..

It never happened as your described it. You can assume things that you have no way to know, but that does not make what you assume, which is something your prone to do without reasonable cause, to be the case.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

That said, I see what you’re doing here—you’re attempting to discredit my point of view from the original post by attacking from a different angle. Specifically, you’re trying to make it seem like I’m making things up, which leads to your conclusion that everything I say must be wrong.

Not at all, your op i made observations on its historical non factual content, and your unfamiliarity with how HOI treats Gold reserves being plundered, and is not how you mis represent whats in game, you chose to ignore both and pretend history and facts dont matter and refused to engage on the facts.

What you post that is wrong, made up, etc i observe and comment on, its just that so much of what you post is of that ilk.

Instead you want to be a victim and complain about posters emotional state of being instead of accepting there factual content is, and always will be, superior to your made up stuff.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

This is a manipulative tactic, and people who aren’t aware of these tricks often fall for it.

I concede your expertise, in falling into traps of your own invention that only you can see.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

Please stop harassing me or others in this thread with your manipulative behavior.

I harassed non one, as i started out explaining, you have a right to replace actual history with your lies on any forum, and if anyone feels the urge to correct those lies and fabrications you post, well thats just free speech in action.

I did not manipulate you into posting anything, i just responded to what you actually posted, not what i mistakenly assumed, or thought i knew, or because i can read the emotional state of others from post content, unlike you i operate under different behavioural norms.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

I can accept that people hold different opinions

Except you already showed you dont, not only on the post you have had deleted, but on some of those that currently remain, you term them as being "Posts like these speak volumes about the intellectual maturity of the individuals posting them."

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

Let’s start with the little things, like Göring’s tooltip describing him as a "great German pilot" during the Great War. Why?

Because of his ww1 record is why. He was awarded the Blue max, only 76 awarded to Army pilots, only 55 pilots shot down more enemy aircraft that he.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

Then there’s the "Gold Reserves" mechanic. Are you kidding me? It’s such a bland, sanitized way to replace the actual historical atrocities committed by the Wehrmacht and SS.

Gold reserve mechanic has nothing to do with Wehrmacht and SS, it was a national economic policy of the Nazi state to confiscate the gold reserves of those nations in took over, starting with Austrias gold reserve.

[Pumpgun-Petrus]

HB, I accept the fact that in your mind, everything happens as you imagine. Now leave and stop derailing this thread.

[HB]

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

HB, I accept the fact that in your mind, everything happens as you imagine. Now leave and stop derailing this thread.

The reason for the quote function is so readers can observe what was posted and what is being responded to, and what you posted is what i have responded to. Its not only in my mind, its what has happened in reality, and requires zero imagination on my part.

Its not my imagination that you again choose to ignore the factual content of what i posted, and instead prefer to avoid a factual exchange.

We have you for imaginary stuff. You know, like in your imagination Hoi4 is a simulation and not a game operating under different rules and objectives.

I derailed nothing, i corrected your made up mis conceptions on what the facts are in the first place.

Originally posted by Pumpgun-Petrus:

And that’s really the core problem, isn’t it? The game lets you play as some of the most horrifying regimes in history, but with Germany, there’s no attempt to acknowledge or reflect on that. Stalin gets mechanics that force you to deal with purges. Mussolini has incompetence baked into his path. But Germany? You’re encouraged to be an expansive, warmongering empire—but hey, that’s fine, because you’re just paying off your MEFO bills. There’s no downside, no weight to your actions, just a button that swaps "crimes against humanity" for "Gold Reserves" after every conquest. What the hell, Paradox?

Except thats an imaginary description of what you think is happening, its not a reality based perception.

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/developer-diary/developer-diary-german-systems.1710380/

The decision to Seize Gold Reserves is key to managing the ever-increasing CGFF. Once you have capitulated a country (and this is important; the country must have capitulated to you or one of your subjects) you will be able to seize their gold reserves. This will temporarily reduce the CGFF - just as with the Price Controls decisions. The CGFF reduction is based on the number of total factories in the core states of the targeted country you control. Ergo, more developed countries will reduce the CGFF more. These decisions can however only be taken for countries in Europe - so don’t go around thinking you can seize the USA’s gold reserves. There’s one catch though; seizing the gold reserves of a country will increase Resistance and lessen Compliance in the states. I’m also toying with the idea of giving each state a productivity penalty for a short amount of time.


Lastly tell us more about Nuremburg trials and crimes against humanity and the punishment for confiscation of Gold reserves of nations the nazis defeated.

[Brezelbube]

serious question - can u build concentrate camps in this game? I own it but I never played it for longer then 30 mins cause I was blast away from all the options ^^

[Benny]

Originally posted by Brezelbube:

serious question - can u build concentrate camps in this game? I own it but I never played it for longer then 30 mins cause I was blast away from all the options ^^

Of course not.

[HB]

Originally posted by Brezelbube:

serious question - can u build concentrate camps in this game? I own it but I never played it for longer then 30 mins cause I was blast away from all the options ^^

No

HOI has always had a simple policy on those themes.

NOTE: There will not be any gulags or deathcamps (including POW camps) to build in Hearts of Iron, nor will there be the ability to simulate the Holocaust or systematic purges, so I ask you not to discuss these topics as they are not related to this game. Thank You.
NOTE: Strategic bombing in HoI will be abstracted and not allow you to terror bomb civilians specifically. Chemical weapons will also not be included in the game. Any threads that complain about this issue will be closed without discussion