Defense of Karelia

[TheStenGun]

I recently played a game against a friend who threw every russian unit except for 3 Inf into Karelia on the first turn. My germans attacked,  killed everything in karelia(including the russian airforce) and took russia on the second turn. (i also got lucky with a unnoticed trasport and took england on turn 3). This got me thinking, can russia ever defend karelia agaist a determined german attack? is it simply better for russia to look for a good counter-attack or did my buddy do somthing wrong that i am not seeing? i would love to hear some theories...

[Field Marshal]

Depends on his purchases, where he put them, and whether or not he attacked in turn 1.  To lose Russia on turn 2 tells us he had poor purchasing and placement both turns.  You must have tidal-waved him...

[Yanny]

German Attack on Karelia early = Axis death. Why? The Allied fleets survive, the Germans take a wacking, and little can be put into Africa.

[TheStenGun]

It was completely straight up, 3rd edition A&A with no Russian first attack. I did not need my airforce and used it to kill all ships in the Atlantic. I was still trasporting 2 inf a turn to africa, and also managed to kill the troops in egypt. He did purchase badly however, he bought all tanks with russia, and built a pacific navy to kill japan.  I guess that was it, he just was doing everything that he should not. Brutal. Taking england was icing on the cake.

[greensleeves]

get 19 infantry in Karelia along with 2 fighters, 1 infantry in Caucasus and 3 tanks into russia. Good defence and your tanks can take out some german armor on turn 2 if they ever attack Karelia and if they dont you can use the armor to counterattack China.