@Arthur:
Art built on G2 reach Belarus on G5. By that time the Russians have an extra full turn to reinforce the front and you might not be able to push back the defenses if they had been sufficient to hold the previous turn. G4 vs G5 is a huge difference in benefit. Depending on the Russian’s decision on the Siberian forces, they might be back in Moscow by G7 and G8. A single round of delay will allow 6-20 additional defenders in the Capitol. Add in a further 3 or 4 allied fighters landing in Moscow and the slight delay will turn a good chance of dominating victory into an unreasonable risk. Each game is different but this scenario happens quite frequently.
For clarity:
If the Russian far east infantry head straight home, 6 INF arrive on R6 and 12 INF + 2 AA on R7.
INF/ART built on G2 in Berlin can reach Moscow by G7 - a turn ahead of the bulk of the far east units.
Germany is incredibly powerful offensively, between it’s armor and it’s air, but somewhat weaker on defense. My experience with Barbarossa is that it is, oddly, primarily a defensive struggle for Germany. Germany must figure out how to push forward continuously and apply pressure in several directions without opening itself up to Russian counter attacks that delay it or destroy vulnerable armor while it’s airforce is landed elsewhere and it’s forces are split.
Plenty of attack power can be achieved for Moscow (with a 10 inf G1 buy):
For a G6 attack: G2-3 armor/mec purchases
For a G7 attack: G2 10xART build in Berlin followed by armor/mec purchases on G3-4.
In the turns leading up to Moscow, however, the extra infantry are more helpful than artillery in making Russian counter attacks unattractive or exchanged in Germany’s favor.