Take a look at the league section, check out any of my games as the Axis in the early turns, and you’ll see the variations on the theme. I’m not pretending I do anything special - it’s just what I do, and it’s effective against almost any counter.
But in general, the composition is all the starting forces, and Italy has taken E Poland on I3. Germany then has the choice to attack in the north (Karelia/Vyborg) and across the front (Baltic States/Bessrabia/mech infantry into anything lightly defended in either Novgorod/Belarus/W Ukraine); or to stack in E Poland with everything including aircraft and not declare war and collect some extra wheat from their Russain friends :-)
On turns G2, 3, and 4 I’ve been adding a little fleet and a little air, but mostly bulking up for a long slugfest with Russia… which means purchases I’ve laid out here many times… 6 - 8 infantry, a little artillery, a little mech, and a little armor. But mostly infantry! They’re your best friend in a long battle of attrition, and the strategy fails without them. Basically, you’re beating Russia at what they do best - build and deploy lots of cheap infantry - the difference being, you as Germany have more teeth. Way more teeth :evil:
I suppose, shooting from the hip and without looking at the board, I’d have around 30 - 36 infantry; 9 artillery or so; 6 - 10 mech; 10 - 12 armor, + starting air minus taranto/UK naval clubbings + the one aircraft per turn I’ve been buying.
A HUGE key to my slugfest strategy with Russia is the role played by Italy… and I mean huge. It’s just critical, period. The crux of it is wisdom I finally gained after many many games. I always viewed Italy in the past as a separate, third nation. I no longer do. I see it as an extension of Germany, and nothing more. And nothing less! I know this might sound like ok, whatever, but I’m telling you, it’s anything but. It was a huge revelation for me. All of my choices now spring from this one critical core philosophy. They are part of the same dance against Russia. Again, there’s no way to go into unit by unit detail… every game is different, but the philosophy remains. If you take the time to check out my Axis league games, you can see it happen right in front of you.