The Different European Powers during WWII

 MAJOR POWER - AXIS

The AXIS has a facist (communist in Civ2) government. Their initial territory consists of Germany, Austria, Czech, the city of Ploesti in Romania and the Polish city of Poznan. They start the game militarily superior in both quality and quantity to all others. The Axis cannot negotiate with the Allies or the Soviets.

Units (other than their tanks) which are unique to the Axis are tank destroyers, whirlwind flakpanzer, U-boats and panzer grenadiers(ignores city walls).

Their starting wonders are Guderian's Academy, the Max Planck Institute and Gestapo. At a later stage, they can build the wonder Snorchel. Usually they will be the first to build the Youth Movement wonder.

Advantages:    

Axis armour remains superior to the Allies till the very end.

            The Axis can build U-boats and torpedoes.

The Axis start with a ground attack aircraft, the Ju-87 which can be quite devastating.

Good government for battle mobilisation.

Disadvantages: 

Weak in heavy bomber development.

Surrounded by enemies and potential enemies on all sides.

Weak navy other than their submarine fleet.

 

 MAJOR POWER - ALLIES

The ALLIES have a democratic (republic in Civ2) government and their empire consists of the US, Britain and Canada plus most of the Middle-East including Egypt and Gibraltar. They start the game quite unmobilised though their airforce is adequate. They cannot negotiate with the Axis.

Units (other than their tanks) which are unique to the Allies are Sub Hunters, Escourt Carriers and the Superfortress bomber.

Their starting wonders are After Great Depression, British Reslove, the Industrial Revolution and Democratic Ideals. At a later stage, they can build the wonder Atlantic Charter.

Advantages:    

Massive naval superiorty at the beginning.

The Allies will get very rich eventually.

The US part of the Allies is relatively isolated and safe from attack. Eventually, the manufacturing might of the US will allow them to build more than half the wonders.

There is no adjoining territory with the Soviets so the Allies are very unlikely to face a second major enemy.

They get heavy bombers early and maintain the bomber advantage till the end. 

Disadvantages: 

Inferior tanks to the Axis. No tank destroyer designs.

The Allies are very dispersed and corruption and waste (simulating the era before the US joins the war in earnest) at the begining is a limiting factor.

Units sent to fight cause unhappiness easily and take up a lot of production for support. Allies need a high luxury rate and their units cannot garrison cities to increase happiness.

Cannot declare war against the Minor Allies, Neutrals and Independents.

 

 MAJOR POWER - SOVIETS

The SOVIETS have a communist(fundamentalist in Civ2) government and its territory is concentrated entirely on the land mass in the East. They start the game completely unmobilised for war and their airforce is pityful. Like the Allies, they cannot negotiate with the Axis.

Units (other than their tanks) which are unique to the Soviets are tank destroyers and Soviet Infantry(free support unit).

Their starting wonder is Massive Population. At a later stage, they can build the Scientist Internment wonder.

Advantages:    

Fast population growth and massive industrial power eventually.

A lot of free support and a civilian population that is always content (well actually afraid to be discontent).

Protected on three sides naturally and lots of land to give up to buy time for war preparations.

Free Baltic states for them to swallow up.

Disadvantages: 

Slow research rate and their good tanks come late. They will need to get generic advances from others in other to keep the Axis at bay for the first 50 turns.

No heavy bombers, jets and an inferior fighter at the start.

Very poor naval position.

 

 MINOR POWERS

Minor Axis consists of  ITALY (and Libya), Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

Minor Allies consist of  FRANCE (and Algeria, Tunisia), Poland and Greece.

Neutrals consists of Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Albania, Ireland, the Baltic states and  YUGOSLAVIA.

Independents consist of  SPAIN, Turkey and Switzerland and Sweeden.

(BOLD letters indicate where the capital is)