storm over europe 1939

[JCEE]

can someone please let me know whats the trick to beating the axis ive tried the historical path but cant win as the allies .ive played the mission to a point were im sick of trying.

[Marquis de Sade]

Hi Jay,

I'm no expert (yet) but I was able to beat the Axis in my first offline game so I just report what I did. I did not use the historical way (not 100%) but it was pretty close. I lost Leningrad, Moscow and Stalingrad and fought back all the way to Germany but then the western allies took Berlin first.

First of all: don't start the invasion too early. If you are not well prepared the Axis will throw you back into the ocean and then it will take at least another year to preare. And for me most import was to build everything that can fly! Strategic bombers are most important. Then medium bombers, then the rest. Southern England had not a single free HEX to place a unit. Two US HQs for the air force, two UK HQs for the RAF and many many units with as good equipment as possible.

That way you can soften up any defending units. Concenctrate on a small area when you invade. If there is AA fire use a strategic bomber first until the two "intercepts" of the AA gun is over. Then let the strategic bombers do their job. Take Brest and maybe one near port and make sure you have supply and a HQ to support the troops. As soon as that is done your troops will land (coming in transports) and the bombers keep away the incoming Wehrmacht.

One last thing... I wouldn't recommend to start the invasion in August or September. As soon as the summer is over rain may prevent the bombers from attacking. That might be the biggest problem to set up a strong defence in France. Better start in May or April and use the long summer to make sure you can stay.

What I made different... I did not land my US troops in the northwest of Africa. I popped up with a part of my fleet and some amphibious transports near Suez und took Egypt instead. But that was because I lost Egypt, Iraq and Iran to the Axis and I thought it might be a good idea to take back the countries to get some more income via convoys.

Hope that helps...

Your friendly Marquis

[JCEE]

very nuch appreciated thnku

[Jeff]

I tend to let the AI control the west or the AI controls USSR. One or the other. It allows me to focus on my theater of war and provides a nice challenge as the AI may not do what I want it to do.

[General Idea]

Hi Jay,

I prefer to control all of the Allies especially the Soviets. They are the key to defeating the Axis as they have the room for manouevre and can make an orderly withdrawl to better defensive positions when necessary which is something that no other nation has the ability to be able to do. Maybe restrict the Axis by not allowing the area around Warsaw to be exchanged for the sphere of influence with Lithuania and not occupying the Baltic states, thereby narrowing the front available to the Axis that will not declare war on Lithuania as they still fall under their sphere of influence. Besides, the resource gain is of little benefit for the Baltic States as the Soviets and only allows for a wider front.

Priority should be given to the defensive fortifications along the major part of the dnepr ahead of Odessa and around Kiev and Smolensk. These specific areas are a thorn in the side of the Axis as they advance and continuously butt their heads against them if you are defending correctly. Your deployed units when invasion happens should be covered by at least garrisons along your immediate border to Axis Poland to force the Axis to waste actions on them and thereby allowing the mechanical infantry and light tanks to get back to safer positions (they are really important to hang onto for later on in the game). Don't be afraid to sacrifice your standard infantry in towns or forrest where the entrenchment values are highest outside of your major cities so as to delay the Axis advance as long as possible. Your lost units in battle are cheaper than new units to produce and should always be your first choice replacements accordingly.

Research for Infantry weapons level 1 is essential for Soviet survival before invasion occurs. Infantry warfare, Armoured warfare and Command and control also priority afterwards for extra abilities and morale (airforce can wait for the moment). Build up your troop reserve slowly and only use them for surrounding the enemy troops or for cutting off the Axis supply lines and thereby reducing their effectiveness in battle. Bide your time with attrition combat throughout 1941 and 42 and build up your reserves and advanced technology and only then when the situation is in your favour unleash them onto your enemy as a massed force of arms. The Soviet Juggernaut usually is ready to steamroll over the Axis in mid 1943 and when you at least have infantry weapons level 2. Don't over extend yourself.

For the British it is a priority case of advancing anti-submarine warfare and redeploying the BEF to Egypt before the fall of France or near after and to wait for the Afrika Korps to arrive for their eventual destruction and capture of Libya in 1941/42. You can redeploy them to Greece for a war of attrition and the inevitable breakout that will occur later on as the Axis redirect to save Romania and Bulgaria from Soviet advance. Diplomacy should be a priority for Spain, Turkey and Syria as they are mediterranean nations that could threaten to cut off troop supplies to Egypt. Fighters and bombers for the defence of Britain, whilst hunting down the submarine menace and any surface fleets brave enough to venture into the Atlantic with your superiority in numbers and aircraft carriers. The initial Italian fleet can be challenged in the Adriatic Sea with the help of the french fleet before their capitulation and you can literally demolish the Italian fleet as a menace which will also drain them of resources if they wish to replace those losses which will take a very long time. The invasion of France should always be coordinated with USA and only after the submarine menace and coastal defenses have been reduced or eliminated.

USA is effective once they have the man power. Priority should be given to Spain, Saudi Arabia and Sweden for diplomacy.

I hope this is of some further help to you in your struggle to win against the Axis.

[iZhuge]

what to do in order to win with allies in the 1939 campaign:

Phase 1 until June 1940:
- Russian front: the very first thing you buy is a additional pioneer squad (one you will get automatically). yeah you heard correctly: a pioneer squad! that one will save your ass and make a huge difference in the war to come! fortify areas around leningrad and create fortified positions in a defensive line from the smolensk, down to mogiljow, gomel, tschernihiw. this will force the german juggernaut to advance through the prypjat-marches and severely hamper the supply ability and combat effectiveness. this was my main defensive line until spring 1943 when then I was finally strong enough to unleash my tanks in a massive counter offensive. Research focus should be on infantry weapons, infantry warfare, industrial production. only bother with tank research if you have the bucks, cause you wont be able to mount any decisive tank engagements until late 1942 and those bucks are just better spend on infantry.

- France: take the entire french fleet, redeploy them to the mediterranian, unite it with the existing british fleet already in the mediterranian and cripple the italian fleet. sacrifice the french ships (since france will capitulate no matter what) and save your british ones in order to take out as many italian BBs as possible. I managed to defend France until end of August 1940 with a deep defense set up by pioneers. Germans will go straight for Paris, so just pack your units before Paris in two defensive lines. They will chew through eventually but make that as hard as possible.

- Britain: there are a few options how to play Britain. I choose to build up my tactical bomber fleet and air force to prevent a landing in England. Research focus was on advanced aircraft, better range of aircraft, infantry weapons, tank warfare. the british expeditionary force should hold the northern flank of the french and be close to a port, so they can retreat in time when france is on the verge of defeat.

- American: american gets a 30% boost if researching industrial technology (germans & russians get 15%, UK 10%). so i would research that as well as infantry and aircraft.

Phase 2 1940-1941:
-Russian front: keep the work up with pioneers fortifying, research infantry

-Britain: if you manage to capture Tobruk before Rommel arrives it's favourable, if not, stay in egypt and lure them in. their supply lines are hampered by Malta and destroy them when they attacked your position, are low on supplys and already weakened. research Command & Control as well as tank warfare, infantry weapons. If u manage to destroy tank unit of Rommel, there will be a script and he will be reinforced by another German general, Theodor Schörner. That's gonna be a pain in the ass, since there is another german tank unit and elite infantry u have to deal with. But if you manage to destroy that tank unit as well and deal enough losses to the Germans, they will pull back entirely and leave africa to you without a fight.

- American: Aircraft research and build

Phase 3: 1941-42
-Russian front: struggle for survival really. german push is mainly north, souther front is made up by romanian units which advance slowly. good delaying points in the north are Riga, Daugavpils, Talinn. But i always pulled back when there the initial tank onslaught is caught up by infantry and more than 4 enemy units around (so you will loose the position in the next round anyway). get the units out of the position and man your main defensive line in smolensk. the light tanks, which cant do ♥♥♥♥ in open fields are rathter good in fortified positions where they can hold their own. btw: reinforce odessa with units: that can hold up the southern front very long since germans only deploy weaker units down there.

-British: keep on the pressure in north africa, with another commander and air force if you need to.

-American: US can specialize on aircraft as well. max out tactical bomber units and aircraft range research. you will need that for the upcoming invasion

Phase 4: 1943-44
I invaded France in 1943, started a counteroffensive in the east simulaneously and won the game in the autum of 1944. crucial for success is allied economic superiority and the holding of the defensive line in the east. while my defensive line hold, i concentrated all my tank divisions and punched south east.. from brjansk to kiev and then all the way to the german border..l until i reached königsberg and pocketed around 25 german divisions in russia itself, who were still fighting my defensive line. British and american long range aircraft and air superiority cleared france easily of any german aircraft sent from the eastern front to reinforce it, lifting pressure from russia. diplomacy on sweden stopped it from sending mpps to germany.

What i didnt do: I didnt do any strategic bombing. mainly because i didnt want to research bombers and spend money on it only for 2 bomber units to profit from it. my naval warfare was also quite limited and played defensive.

[iZhuge]

another thing: i managed to pull finland to the side of the allies! that relieved leningrad from a 2 front attack.

[General Idea]

Of course there is the strategy guide within the game that is good in explanation, but as you can see there is also different potential for how to win as the Allies. Personally, I have only ever played as the Allies and the Storm Over Europe 39 campaign or the Barbarossa campaign having almost 500 hours of gameplay accrued as a tester. I am still no expert and definitely recommend trying different tactics until you do manage to succeed. Zhuge has some good further tips to have fun with.