This guide for new players will show you how to defeat France as Germany in Hearts of Iron 4. Upon starting a new game up, research two infantry units and one heavy tank (with the other three heavy tanks as substitutes).

Alternatively, you can use a slot machine to generate a special unit. For example, you can get a German LMG squad and a German scout unit if you put in 200 tokens. The LMG unit has two advantages, one is that you can cancel any friendly infantry unit that is within 10″ of the unit, and the other is that the LMG can fire an extra shot at the French infantry.

In order to win a battle against France, you have to score three or more points with a German unit or a French unit and the third bonus unit must be a heavy tank. A German heavy tank unit has three advantages, the first is that you can cancel any friendly infantry unit that is within 10″ of the unit, and the second is that the German heavy tank has three extra shots at the French infantry.

With the German LMG squad, you will have the Maginot Line by 1937, and the German heavy tank will have at least four extra shots at the French infantry. With the German scout, you will have the Maginot Line by 1938, and the German heavy tank will have at least two extra shots at the French infantry.

If you have enough tokens for a third heavy tank, you can get the German Ausf. D heavy tank, which has the same advantages as Heavy Tank, except with an additional 10 HP.

To start a game, you have to build some precision units for infantry and tanks. The two best precision units are the 75 mm Tank Assault Gun and the Graf Zeppelin. To train the 75 mm Tank Assault Gun, we need to get three guns and four drills. On your barracks, there is a coin that will generate a 75 mm Tank Assault Gun. You can train the Graf Zeppelin by spending 100 XP to put in 120 tokens for the Graf Zeppelin. This way, you can get a basic three points for training the Graf Zeppelin.

Important Unit Reminders

The problem is that if you try to train Heavy Tanks like a BF 109, you can't train Heavy Tank weapons with the same precision units. For example, in Panzer IV Ausf. C you can train its 75 mm Tank but not it's treads.

Starting the Battle

The ideal starting location for Germany should be the coast of France. The earlier you start, the quicker you can break out of the country and take Paris before the Allies cut you off and force you to surrender.

To break out of a coastal city, you should ideally use a pistol squad followed by two squads of infantry and a flamethrower squad. Since Germany has a mechanic to target those powered by mustard gas, these units will need to hit German planes attacking the city and will subsequently reach the troop transports that are returning to Germany.

If the German command is executing the maneuvers properly, the fire units will assault in columns and cut down the Allied fighter and bomber attacks. If you have the firepower, it will kill the commander of the Allied troop carrier.

Inevitably, the British will deploy a police attack squad or two against your initial assault to prevent the easy breakaway of the German Army units. Keep in mind that if they turn up, the German will be under the British overlordship as enemy.

Another tactic that can bring you victory over the British Army is to move the infantry squads a bit away from the piers and then attack from the rear, facing uphill.

Finishing the French
It is better to build an engineer group or a SPAD squadron in Paris and the allied forces will have a tough time with them at the earlier stages of the battle. After those are done, send the engineer into the railroads building near the railroad crossing to detonate the tracks. At the end of the day, you will have all the fuel for your tanks and infantry. Then come back to destroy all the chock defenses with your Graf Zeppelin. If the British retaliate or if the USSR is really having an immense internal war, you can all recruit tanks with maximimum density between France and Belgium.

Benelux and Vichy France
Go for option for Germany in Nordfriesland, in which you can quickly raise four infantry to soften up the Allied defenders, and since Nordfriesland lacks any anti-aircraft weapons, strike early, destroy them before the Canadians begin raining bombs on you.

In Nord-Ostfriesland, then build a few hussars in the first French division to find out how you can maneuver against them, as the Germans do not have advanced night vision. If you have five flamethrower units in Paris, you could deploy the hero HK 117 Rattlehound. Look for some shortages in advance so that you don't end up using ammunition too fast.

In Ijmuiden, build an engineering unit and use them for the factory to attract the RPG defenses. Once the factory has no support around, build reinforcements for the German units in disguise in the factories that the infantry sergeant passes to the reserve infantry group.

Conclusion
In contrast with V1 and the Soviet ASh, the use of hollow cannons with HMG doesn't give the modern shooter anything different to brag about. I feel that their low fire accuracy rather forces the gamer to skillfully exploit their strength.

In any case, if the attackers have the timing right, they could push on the row leading to the city and occupy it quickly.
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