@AxisAndAllies1940:
Having just finished getting badly beaten in a G40 game as Germany/Italy, I feel like there’s something I’m missing/ doing wrong that causes me to often get beaten like this. I went for a Barbarossa with an Italian can-opener of 4 mechs and 2 tanks. I also sent an Afrika Korps of 1 infantry and 1 tank on an Italian transport to protect Libya from the French and capture French North Africa. Meanwhile, Russia had just been leaving 1 infantry in each territory starting on turn 1, while bulking up Ukraine and Leningrad. By turn 6, when I captured Smolensk and the Italians Bryansk, there were 50 Russian infantry, 7 Russian artillery, 3 Russian fighters, 2 British fighters, the French fighter from London, and 4 Russian tanks. I had 15 tanks and 20 infantry, along with 6 tac. bombers. This obviously wasn’t enough to capture Moscow, and so I attempted to build up tanks in Ukraine to make up for this, while also attempting to use the Italian can-opener to take Stalingrad and attack the Middle East. The Russians, meanwhile, were building up tanks, and on turn 9, they beat me out of Smolensk (with 20 infantry and 3 artillery left- they had struck with 10 tanks). That turn, the British landed in Norway and pushed for Leningrad. Finally, on turn 12, the Americans landed 12 infantry, 6 artillery, and 6 tanks in Normandy, and the British threw in 2 fighters to protect it. That same turn, Leningrad fell to the British and Ukraine to the Russians. It seems like there’s a pattern in my Axis play: I can’t get the strength to kill a Moscow stack owing to masses of Russian infantry and Allied fighter support, so I attempt to build up, but just as I do that, the Russians counterattack, using their stack as fodder, and cripple my forces. This usually coincides with a large Anglo-American landing.
Also, Japan was reasonably active: they held the Money Islands, Malaya, French Indochina, Shan State, Yunnan, Philippines, and the valuable Chinese coast. Their navy was also reasonably sized (3 battleships, 3 carriers with a tac and fighter each, 4 cruisers and 6 destroyers, all concentrated in the Philippines). Japan had also landed heavily in Western Australia, and was fighting its way to Sydney. What are Germany/Italy doing wrong?
It seems like there is more to this story, a large portion of starting German units appear unaccounted for. Another thing to consider would be how you move your forces. Sometimes it is better to move them together to prevent counterattack. Other times you can be opportunistic and blitz through some outlying territory.
For your next game as Germany / Italy I would recommend a more methodical approach to your attack. Carefully coordinate strategic bombing raids on early factories with mobile purchases that can quickly reinforce your fronts and overwhelm your opponents. A Russia army comprising primarily of infantry and few mech has trouble responding to aggressive posturing. When a Russian stack in Moscow creates a situation too dangerous to move your army adjacent to, then you should consider leaving territories empty and fighting a battle of attrition. Wear down his units by trading territory each turn and deprive him of economic resources by taking surrounding locations and moving south towards the Middle East. A steady supply of mechanized infantry supports this plan.
You should capture Leningrad the 2nd turn of your Barbarossa campaign. If it is too heavily fortified you can bypass and move your troops through the Ukraine. Prevent it from escaping with your Italians and Moscow will be severely under-defended.
If allied aircraft are harassing you remember to bring your anti-aircraft guns with your army. Those cannons don’t do much sitting in Western Europe. If the allies get a chance to use aircraft in a land battle, you’ve already lost. Your defense should comprise of a gradual build up anywhere from 3 - 12 ipcs a turn starting turn 2 spent solely on defense. This includes submarines, transports, fighters, bombers, infantry, artillery and anything you deem necessary to prevent Italy capitulating as well.