14. Minor Allies
Focus: This section covers the rules specific to the various states that supported either German or the Soviet Union during the war.
Key Points:
- Movement Restrictions
- Surrender Rules
Several nations fought with Germany or the Soviet Union during WWII. In June 1941, Italy, Rumania, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Finland are considered Axis allied nations. Many units from these nations may be used by the Axis player but others will only enter later as reinforcements or are fixed in place for a number of turns.
14.1 Game Settings and National Morale of Axis-Allies Nations
If the national morale for the Axis side is set above 100, this will only impact on the German forces and the National Morale of all the Axis-Allied nations will be unchanged. If the national morale for the Axis side is set below 100, then this will affect all the Axis nations (including Germany).
14.2 Movement Restrictions on Axis-Allied Nations
Unless the Germans capture Leningrad, Finnish units are limited to the Finland Theatre Box. If Leningrad falls, an event may occur to allow the German player to move some Finnish units to the main map. These units can then be moved freely on the map with no further constraints.
Movement of Southern Axis Allies (Romanian/Hungarian/Italian/Slovakian) north of a stair step roughly from Warsaw to Kursk to Saratov to Chkalov is prevented.
This gives a broad idea how these restrictions affect Axis Allied forces in the Ukraine. They cannot enter the heavily shaded regions at the top of the screen.
Note these restrictions do not apply in hexes that were German controlled on 22 June 1941.
Romanian units cannot move into Hungary as long as they are Axis-Allied but can do so once the country has surrendered to the Soviets.
In addition, Romanian units cannot stack with Hungarian units in any hex. Nor can Slovakian and Hungarian units stack together.
Axis Allied air units may only be assigned to AOGs of the same nationality but their AOGs may be set to also report to German formations.
14.3. Surrender of Axis-Allied Nations
All the Axis-Allied nations may surrender as either the Western Allies or the Soviets make gains. Different rules and conditions apply in each case. Most of this progress will be determined by the various events set within the game.
When an Axis-Allied country surrenders, any airbase will have its nationality changed to German if the hex remains under Axis control.
14.3.1 Italy
Italy will usually surrender at some stage in the Autumn of 1943 depending on the progress of the Western Allies. Since most remaining Italian units will be withdrawn from Russia in late Spring 1943 it is unlikely this will have a direct impact on game play.
The Axis player can delay Italian surrender by committing extra units to the Italy or North African Theatre Boxes.
14.3.2 Findland
In WiTE2 most of the struggle between Finland, the German troops committed to the Arctic and the Soviets will take place in the off map Arctic Theatre Box and Soviet Northern Theatre Box.
If the German player captures Leningrad, they may have the option to transfer some Finnish units from the Finland Theatre Box to the map.
Finland will surrender, and change sides, when the Soviet 1944 Offensive event occurs and if the Soviets own Leningrad. Both sides can reinforce the relevant Theatre
Boxes in an attempt to hasten or delay Finnish surrender. Note this Finnish surrender will see the Victory Points for Helsinki (and any appropriate time bonus) added to the Soviet total (29.1.2).
14.3.3 Rumania
There is a 50% chance that Rumania will surrender at any date after 1 January 1942 if one of a number of Rumanian cities or towns are Soviet controlled. With the exception of much of the North-eastern “bulge” to the east of Hungary, this area includes most of Rumania.
The image above is a rough indication of the location of the more likely surrender triggers. Others exist to the south and east of the displayed area.
Rumania also automatically surrenders if Bucharest is Soviet controlled.
Upon Rumanian surrender, all Rumanian units will automatically be disbanded.
Soviet Rumanian 1 and 4 Army units will arrive as reinforcements one turn after surrender.
All Rumanian nationality hexes not occupied by a non- Rumanian Axis will also change to Soviet control.
Hexes may then revert to Axis control using the standard rules for determining hex control (7.4.3).
Rail hexes that were previously Axis controlled will be converted to Soviet control with no damage.
14.3.4 Hungary
While historically Hungary did surrender, the Hungarian army continued to fight alongside the rest of the Axis. Thus in WiTE2, Hungary is treated as remaining an Axis power until the end of the game.
14.3.5 Slovakia
There is a 50% chance that Slovakia will surrender at any date after 1 January 1942 in a turn if the Soviets occupy one of the towns or cities in Slovakia or the towns of Nowy Sacz, Liska and Jaslo (see figure 14-3 below).
All Slovakian territory, unless occupied by an Axis unit, will become Soviet controlled. As with Romania, hexes may then revert to Axis control using the standard rules for determining hex control (7.4.3).
Rail lines in hexes that become Soviet controlled will be damaged.
14.3.6 Bulgaria
In WiTE2 Bulgarian forces are treated as part of the Balkans Theatre Box. The country will surrender to the Soviet Union 14 days after the event ‘Rumania Surrenders’ has occurred.
14.4 Soviet Allied Forces
The surrender of Romania and the capture of sufficient Polish territory will result in the creation of Soviet Romanian and Polish armies. One turn after Rumania surrenders, the Soviet 1st and 4th Romanian Army will appear as reinforcements in Romania.
The Soviet capture of Bialystok or Brest Litovsk will result in the arrival of the Soviet 2nd Polish Army headquarters unit and attached units 26 turns later.
In addition, the Soviets will receive a Czech Rifle Corps and the Soviet Polish 1st Army through the normal reinforcement process.
Since there is no separate Rumanian, Czech or Polish production and manpower for the Soviet side, all Soviet Rumanian, Czech and Polish units will utilize Soviet production and manpower for replacements. When Rumania surrenders all Rumanian equipment and TOE will automatically convert to Soviet (SU) nationality.