@Frank:
I just played a game where my opponent did a true neutral crush to try and win the game. He went after Australia and the money islands with Japan and went through Turkey with Germany in an attempt to sack India. I was able to stop him before he got the needed victory cities and he conceded but it did get me thinking.
My idea was to try the true neutral crush as Germany next time but remove the going for India gimmick and instead head for Russia as well as boosting my economy. When Germany does a true neutral crush G2 taking out Sweden, Turkey and Spain not only does it boost their IPCS right away but puts them in position to go for 3 five point bonuses fairly quickly.
It will give you some IPC’s but unless you’re a dice-ninja, it will cost you more in units, i think.
If you want to take Sweden + Spain + Turkey you are facing (totally) 20 inf, for a reward of 7 IPC’s (a turn), not counting your losses (you can count for about 8 enemy hits)
Also, how many units can you get to Turkey in turn 2? Beating 8 units sounds not that simple.
Also with Spain you’ll be creating a weak point in your Axis defence, since it is very easy to reach with the USA (and once they get a hold of it, they can put a minor IC there as well).
Another thing, if your Turkey attack fails and Greece is not yet taken, 1 Turk can walk in and activate them.
The Causcus, German in Egypt, and Stalingrad are all double very quickly if the Germans move their Army south into Russia as well as send fast units through Turkey. Also the Germans can get quick access to another 10 IPCs by taking Iraq, Persia, and Northwest Persia.
How do you get to 10 IPC’s? I count only 4, and Persia will be british before you can reach it, so…
Saoudi Arabia is another 2 IPC’s but UK will probably beating you to it as well. Together with Afghanistan that is another 6 allied inf for free. And then there is Angola and mozambique (2 ipc’s, 4 free INF), and probably no Sea-Lion threat, so UK can invest in South Africa. Good luck, Italy ;)
Edit: as for the influence of USA recruiting in South America, i guess it won’t make much difference. Mongolia could become interesting as well…