Conquering Europe: Strategies For Austria In Hearts Of Iron 4

Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy game set during World War II, allowing players to rewrite history as any country. Austria is a challenging nation to play as it is destined to be absorbed into Germany in the 1938 Anschluss. Refusing to submit means fighting an unwinnable war. However, there are strategies to delay or avoid this fate. One option is to go fascist, annex Hungary, and join the Axis. Another is to focus on the industry branch of the focus tree, getting as many military factories as possible, then focusing on the political branch, and joining a major faction when the Germans invade. Alternatively, players can try to hold off the Germans by building forts and mountain infantry, although this is difficult.

Focus on the industry branch of the focus tree, getting as many military factories as possible

To win as Austria in Hearts of Iron IV, it is imperative to focus on the industry branch of the focus tree to get as many military factories as possible. This involves making strategic decisions to boost construction and gain access to more building slots. Here is a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

Firstly, it is important to recognize that Austria starts the game with a small economy and limited resources. To counter this, players should appoint Julius Raab as a political advisor, granting bonuses to civilian factory, infrastructure, and refinery construction speeds. Additionally, players should prioritize increasing their number of building slots, especially in Upper Austria and Tyrol, which have three additional slots each.

Next, players should focus on developing their industrial production. This can be achieved through the national focus tree by selecting the "Industrial Effort" branch, which builds civilian and military factories, improves infrastructure, and grants extra research slots. It is crucial to invest in industrial production to strengthen Austria's position before the Germans attempt to annex the country around 1937-1938.

Another strategy to increase military factories is to form an alliance with or annex Hungary. However, players should be cautious as Hungary may have more resources, making it a challenging opponent. Alternatively, players can choose to go down the fascist path, join the Axis, and ask Germany to annex them. This will grant access to German industries, which can be used to build armaments.

Furthermore, players should focus on producing a large number of weaker infantry divisions instead of striving for ideal stats. This strategy can make the AI hesitant to attack and buy time for Austria to strengthen its position. Additionally, fortifying mountain provinces and holding defensive lines in the mountains can be an effective tactic when the Germans invade.

Lastly, players should also focus on the political branch of the focus tree. Going down the democratic or communist path is ideal as it allows Austria to join a major faction, such as the Allies or Comintern, for support against Germany. Joining a faction can speed up Austria's victory over Germany and establish dominance in Central Europe.

Join a major faction when the Germans invade

Joining a major faction when the Germans invade is a good strategy to win as Austria in Hearts of Iron IV. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

Prepare for the German Invasion:

Austria has a small window of time, until around 1937-1938, to prepare for the German invasion. Here's what you should focus on during this period:

• Focus on the industry branch: Prioritize getting as many military factories as possible. This will help you build up your military strength before the Germans attack.
• Strengthen your political position: After focusing on the industry branch, shift your attention to the political branch of the focus tree.
• Consider your ideological path: Going democratic or communist is ideal if you want to join a major faction when the Germans invade. This will increase your chances of being accepted into one of the major factions, such as the Allies or Comintern. Remaining fascist can get you more manpower, but it may be more challenging to find allies.

Build your Military Strategy:

While you build up your industry and political position, it's crucial to start planning your military strategy:

• Create weaker infantry divisions: Instead of trying to create ideal, strong divisions, focus on creating a larger number of weaker infantry divisions. This approach can make the AI more hesitant to attack your lines.
• Utilize your mountainous terrain: Austria's mountainous terrain provides excellent defensive bonuses. When the Germans attack, focus on holding your defensive line in the mountains.
• Save your game: If you're not playing iron man mode, consider saving your game before the Germans initiate the Anschluss. This way, if the Germans break through your mountain defenses, you can reload and try a different strategy.

Joining a Major Faction:

When the Germans invade, it's time to execute your plan to join a major faction:

• Join the Allies or Comintern: Joining one of these major factions can speed up your victory over the Germans. The Allies, led by the United Kingdom, are the main democratic faction, while the Comintern, led by the Soviet Union, is the primary communist faction.
• Consider your timing: Joining a major faction as soon as possible can be beneficial. However, keep in mind that the major factions may not have formed yet, or they might not be willing to accept you right away. You may need to wait and build relationships with the faction leaders.
• Strengthen your position: Once you join a major faction, continue to build up your military and industrial strength. This will make you a more valuable ally and increase your chances of survival against the Germans.

Remember, the key to winning as Austria is to prepare as much as possible before the German invasion, choose the right ideological path, and join a major faction that can provide you with the support you need to defeat the Germans.

Create many weak infantry divisions

Creating many weak infantry divisions is a strategy that can be employed in Hearts of Iron IV to deter enemy attacks. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to effectively utilize this strategy when playing as Austria:

Understanding the Strategy

• The idea behind creating many weak infantry divisions is to make your country appear stronger and more formidable to potential enemies. Having a larger number of divisions, even if they are individually weaker, can make the AI more hesitant to attack your lines.
• This strategy can buy you valuable time to prepare and strengthen your position before the Germans initiate the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria).

Building Weak Infantry Divisions

• Focus on quantity over quality when creating these divisions. Instead of trying to maximize the stats of each division, aim for a larger number of divisions with decent, but not necessarily ideal, stats.
• You can adjust the composition of your divisions in the division template designer. Consider reducing the number of battalions per division to create more divisions with the available manpower and equipment.
• Keep in mind that weak infantry divisions are not meant to be your primary fighting force. Their main purpose is to act as a deterrent and delay the enemy while your stronger units prepare for battle.

Defensive Strategies

• Given Austria's mountainous terrain, consider positioning your weaker infantry divisions in mountainous regions, as they can take advantage of the defensive bonuses provided by the terrain.
• When the Germans attack, focus on holding out in the mountains and delaying their advance. Utilize the terrain to your advantage and make it difficult for them to break through your defensive lines.
• If possible, join a major faction, such as the Allies or Comintern, as this can further deter the Germans and speed up their eventual defeat.

Strengthening Your Position

• Prioritize the industry branch of the focus tree to acquire as many military factories as possible. This will help you build and equip your divisions more efficiently.
• Focus on developing your political branch as well. Going democratic or communist can be advantageous, as it may allow you to join a major faction when the Germans invade.
• Strengthen your alliances and try to ally with countries like Italy or Japan, if possible. However, keep in mind that allying with Japan may be less rewarding in terms of resources and support.

Remember that the key to this strategy is to create a large number of divisions to deter enemy attacks and buy yourself time. Utilize Austria's mountainous terrain to your advantage and focus on strengthening your industry and political branches. By combining these strategies, you can effectively utilize weak infantry divisions to stall the Germans and ultimately establish dominance in Central Europe.

Hold out in the mountains

Holding out in the mountains is a key strategy when playing as Austria in Hearts of Iron IV. The country is predominantly mountainous, which provides good defensive bonuses. When Germany invades, you will want to hold out in the mountains for as long as possible.

To prepare for the German invasion, you should focus on the industry branch of the focus tree, getting as many military factories as possible. Fortify your infantry divisions with artillery and support battalions. You should also have a lot of weaker infantry divisions, as this tends to make the AI hesitant to attack your lines.

It is also important to have a strong air force to counter enemy CAS (Close Air Support). Use your fighters to intercept and slowly whittle down the enemy's bombers.

When the Germans attack, make your defensive line in the mountains and wait for the German AI to overwhelm itself. Joining the Allies or Comintern will speed this process up. Once you have defeated the Germans, your army should be big enough to establish dominance in Central Europe.

Save before the Germans press for Anschluss

Playing as Austria in Hearts of Iron IV is extremely difficult. Germany is on your border and will attempt to annex you. You only have until around 1937-1938 to prepare. Here are some tips to help you save before the Germans press for Anschluss:

• Focus on the industry branch of the focus tree to get as many military factories as possible.
• Focus on the political branch and go democratic or communist so you can join a major faction when the Germans invade.
• If you decide to remain fascist, ally with Italy or Japan for support.
• Make a lot of weaker infantry divisions instead of trying to get ideal stats. This tends to make the AI hesitant to attack your lines.
• When the Germans attack, hold out in the mountains.
• Joining the Allies or Comintern will speed up your victory.
• If you defeat the Germans, your army should be big enough to establish dominance in Central Europe.

Frequently asked questions