For some reason beyond me, I have never considered this strategy for the Axis. I have always thought that you needed Moscow for Germany to truly have Victory, but after playing a game, I realized that you don’t!
I think we can agree that against a determined G3 sea-lion, London will fall. So why don’t people ALWAYS do sea-lion, and then just stake Stalin/Lenningrad!? You never even need to go to Moscow! With London down, Egypt will be fairly easy to control. That’s your 8 victory cities right there.
PS. I am a noob, so if this strategy has been used several times my apologies, it just seems that in every forum people are hell-bent on taking Moscow. If Russia Turtles, take the two cities, and if they don’t…they lose!
PPS. A more detailed strategy I guess would be attack Russia on G2 in Baltic States and East Poland. If Russia turtles in Novgorod, link up to big armies in Belarus. If Russia continues to turtle in Novgorad, just move to Smolenks or Bryanks and be in striking distance of Moscow (in case the Russian player forgets to build up there along) with you southern army moving through south Ukraine.