What If The Soviets Built A Maginot Line?! Hearts of Iron IV

[@AlextheRambler]

*Sorry for no early access on this one, I'm a bit behind after being sick from Gamescom*

[@leondreamer9392]

Papa Nurgle bless

[@krasnamerah1926]

Get well soon, my dude.

[@explodingwolfgaming8024]

Rip, get well soon!

[@BalenCM]

2:00 funny how he called the line "Molotov line". Something tells me he didn't know that exact defense line existed and was also called Molotov line

[@barney10240]

Where is it? Some info please?

[@warthoggoulags1679]

@@barney10240 searched on google

[@MeLoNarXo]

@@barney10240 it was a layer of fortification in he newly aquired eastern polish terrritory en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_Line

[@Команданте]

​@@barney10240Where is focus in the game...

[@da_hias305]

​@@Командантеat 5:51

[@sirtitanic7882]

The Soviets copying France’s homework:

[@mohamadalakhras9750]

Even Russian flag 😂

[@antorseax9492]

​@@mohamadalakhras9750 Based on the Dutch

[@Sander_van_de_Reep]

@@mohamadalakhras9750Russia didn’t copy the French flag, they copied the Dutch one

[@Sporegenitelo]

There's an incredible amount of French loan words in the Russian language. The Russian fascination with France is centuries old

[@jaykilbourne1110]

That explains the nonsense revolution@@Sporegenitelo

[@markjones952]

I'm a little concerned about Rambler. It seems like he gets sick A LOT. We need the ramblerman to brighten our days. Protect him at all costs!

[@AlextheRambler]

Twice this year, both from travelling. Other than that I'm ok!

[@ivanristic5512]

​@@AlextheRamblerwhere have you traveled to?

[@zedtheexplorer5206]

@@ivanristic5512 your mums house LMAO

[@BRIDKIE]

BRAUN PUT THE RAT ON THE SCREEN

[@Tekura_]

​@@zedtheexplorer5206😐😑just.. grow up..

[@The0Stroy]

They did. It's called Molotov Line. I know because I live near it and was with field trip to those pillboxes.

[@The0Stroy]

There is actually funny story about them. They are made from reinforced concrete. Germans was unable to crack them with artillery and preffered (suprise) to go around. After war Polish army tried to remove one of those with explosives. They put half to of TNT inside and detonated. Only cracked celling. So what was suprise one day in scrap yard when some scrap collectors bring them armored steel window take out from one of those strong points. Hell knows how they managed to do that...

[@alexzero3736]

​@@The0Stroyactually you don't need to crack it, just use gas or flames... Also Germans did go around Brest fortress, but most of Molotov/ Stalin line were systems of masked dots controlling roads. Front was just too wide to block everything.

[@RicharDD1127]

If I want to play a defensive Soviets, I basically do this, I build a massive fort wall all along the northern side of the Daugava river, big level 10s on Vitebsk to bridge the gap between the Daugava and Dnieper, and then forts all along the eastern side of the Dnieper, helps if you get the fort building bonuses from some focuses

[@alp_mez8598]

Don't forget to destroy railways on ur way

[@RicharDD1127]

@@alp_mez8598Oh yeah of course, forgot to mention that, I usually do that, I also usually build big level 10 forts around Kiev to control that areas supply and factories

[@simonnachreiner8380]

The Trad Stalin line Vs the Virgin Molotov line. Personally I prefer the Stalin line. You have more Area to Scorch earth and the Area around the Dnieper is more likely to experience the glory of _MUD_ Downside is the Germans take more damage from sheer attrition instead of combat so you get less army exp.

[@tonyravioli1982]

Yeah if you use the MP line. I don't know what its called Stalin line? I think. Its basically impossible to penetrate into the soviet union... definitely for the AI, hard, nearly impossible in MP if you know what you are doing.

[@Racard]

alex, something you might want to know about the USSR in hoi, mikhail Tukhacevsky always dies unless you go for the civil war. Semyon Timoshenko and kliment voroshilov are also the only ones that dont die cuz of the purge but you can promote other generals / field marshal do make them get into the high command

[@ericfuchs123]

I like the little Charmander in the corner there, he looks like he’s taking on German lines sometimes.

[@whitehawk4099]

The French did have tanks on the maginot line, it is simply that they were not independent units and acted with infantry. This made it so they did not have as much mobility and were not as concentrated as with the German doctrine.

[@simonnachreiner8380]

This is what people fail to comprehend. Pound for pound France was actually superior to Germany in sheer numbers. However French Doctrine was so ridged by the time high command could settle on a plan the lines of communication had already been cut leaving the army without direction. Compared to the German commanders who had full authority to act independently and commanders could get away with literal insubordination as long as things turned out for the better.

[@itsdramahere]

I thought Alex and Bittersteel were friends, then i realized that Bittersteel only saves Alex's games.

[@maverick4761]

11:32 he took the "no step back" dlc very serious

[@SharpshOOterkil0961]

Fun fact about the lil tank joke is that the French had more tanks than German at the outbreak of ww2 yet still got fucked due to poor management of said tanks as well as their other forces

[@Lancelot683]

Soviets build molotov line Germany completes focus around the finland

[@samwill7259]

"What the @#$% is he doing" is my reaction to most of your videos, Alex. It's why I subscribed.

[@jordangaskell534]

Just became a Mini Rambler. I've been watching your Hoi4 videos for years now and am well overdue doing this. Love the videos Alex hope you see this :) I've learnt so much of the game from you.

[@AlextheRambler]

Welcome aboard! and thank you, I appreciate it :)

[@ZYKLES.mp4]

Ussr:france can i copy your homework France:sure just change it up a little bit

[@Vaelosh466]

I did basically the same thing to get No Step Back and We Don't Really Like Statistics, but I used heavy flame tank support companies as I recall.

[@Daniel_876]

lmfao I play the Soviets quite often and this is pretty much my strategy but you are definitely my favourite hoi4 KZbinr for the specific fact that you aren't AMAZING but your skill level is akin to the rest of us long time hoi4 players. you make one mistake and everything comes crashing down and that's so relatable. I'm tired of seeing things go so PERFECTLY for these other KZbinrs. I just like to see a guy who absolutely loves this game play some runs where shit goes so bad and obviously it didn't happen this run but you pretty much represent my skill level and 90% of other hoi4 players skill levels and that's what matters

[@xanthespace5141]

Seeing Alex purging Malinovsky for accusing Tukhachevsky was painful

[@alexzero3736]

Why? Tuchachevsky is better general overall.

[@xanthespace5141]

@@alexzero3736 Because he gets purged later in Stalin's path anyway

[@Cranky_Nurse]

8:13 "Why would they even try and go through there, we don't need to worry about that" - Some French general in 1940

[@jogube]

It's nice to see "Commander Rambler" leading per telecom on the push to Berlin!

[@realmastersilver1849]

man, this was a good stream and video to watch, although I'm surprised Grand Premiere Alexander, that you didn't include the "send the save game to Dankus for him to fix" after everyone was saying it's jover due to the breakthrough in the north.

[@johnwigfield8270]

I take it you didn't enjoy the hike across to the other end of Frankurt airport to pick up your baggage either

[@AlextheRambler]

Oh I just brought hand luggage, cba with all that!

[@The-rc9cm]

They did irl*, but then they annexed most of eastern Europe so they started dismantling it to move it west, in the middle of moving it. Germany invaded, meaning they didn't have 1 good defensive line, but 2 crappy ones. *It was called the 'Stalin line' and was nowhere near as *artificially* strong, as the Maginot was able to be much shorter. The Dnieper and Daugava were the 2 main strong points with a gap near Vitebsk. (P.s be kind, I am not a historian and being kind should just be the norm!)

[@salamantics]

Thanks for the info :)

[@tonyravioli1982]

I read 15:05 as "Mussolini is dead" then you said "He is dead" I had to recheck, because I didn't think Mussolini could die like that.

[@uydurukbirisim]

You dont actually need this. You can add some artillery and anti-air and build just one or two level fort. And you can actually hold the line. Holding line is easy and you can produce good tanks in 1942-1943 and breaktrough some important states and pocket axis division. But when you do that, allies immidiately launch a massive d-day and get more of germany. Not fair :(

[@glauberglousger6643]

As a defensive player, I’ve already done that, and more, along with the game also already having it as a focus... Although fighting R56 buffed Soviets and Comintern as France is fun, especially when they have Germany occupied

[@dyn9726]

17:35 truly one of the alex cooming moment

[@ooo_Kim_Chi_ooo]

I made a Maginot as Poland and it was awesome.

[@Crunchifyable2]

I find awesome that your AI opponent broke through and made a gap at Sulwalki, the Sulwalki gap.

[@nercksrule]

18:57 You gotta love how the AI don't bother to take all of the provinces in Germany, so the Reich still exists after the war has ended.

[@nivbarshem2674]

When I do the right opposition, I always build a level 7 fort line on the German / Hungarian border and invaded Romania and didn't call them in. All the things you need to hold are: a good air force (do the air fucus tree [ignore the armour research]) and 240 decent infantry divisions.

[@ahappypikachu9753]

Alex! The Soviets! Being French?!? Oh you’re having a giraffe with this one…

[@Calvin-x9u]

Dude I came on and the video was 50 seconds old and I'm gonna end up raving about it for the next 5 days

[@JoeBidenIcecream]

Soon Alex's hairline will be like Poland at the end of 39. Gone

[@noneofyourbusiness8253]

Nobody: Alex: attack me harder Germany

[@ChrismHoward223]

Keep posting! We love it

[@beernacle6625]

as a video for youtube it's interesting but if we turn to history, it becomes clear that the Soviet Union did not need such actions based on the difference in economic development and technical equipment, in which Germany was clearly superior to the Soviet Union, the strategy was chosen for the so-called tactical retreat, retreat with counterattacks to delay the offensive Frunze wrote about such tactics in the 20s based on the fact that the blitzkrieg tactics were based on the idea of a quick breakthrough and encirclement of the main enemy forces on the border, the Soviet Union built a multi-echelon defense so that the breakthrough of one line would not endanger the viability of the entire army local supply points were also created, which were meant to supply the encircled divisions, so this was also calculated in other words, having such a huge territory, it is not necessary to fight with an opponent technically superior to you for every piece of land, you can beat him strategically as Mao Zedong said (or maybe not even he, but the quote is very indicative for this case): "keep men, lose land; land can be taken again. keep land, lose men; land and men are both lost"

[@mrhype1616]

“They said my Soviet Union was weak”😂😂😂💀

[@shredder5749]

Tried playing the soviets but I got killed by Japan 😅 I have less than 100 hours and while the game is fun it is very hard and is much easier to watch

[@tevarinvagabond1192]

It basically takes 300 hours to start feeling comfortable with the game, don't worry you'll get there 😜

[@shredder5749]

@@tevarinvagabond1192 Germany is super easy, everyone else is quite difficult Portugal was a fun play through

[@darkalleyhoboii8264]

This was my first game. I built Max level forts and AA on the polish border and when Germany invaded they just stopped at my wall of forts and didn’t do anything so I had to wait for Romania to flip to communism (which they did for some reason) to attack the Germans

[@R3GARnator]

There is no way they'd go, around the maginot!

[@pohroma2228]

Challenge idea: As Soviet Union, back your forces behind Urals, and fight germans from there

[@RandooGaming]

19:39 lol nice

[@keithstark1]

The truest line in the whole vid “Some of you may die, but I don’t care”

[@samiryakhni3871]

Anyone else need to sit through the 2 minute long Tiktok add that was just on repeat for some reason? My best guess they accidentally put it on repeat and just sent it out without knowing

[@shaygilcreest1098]

It goes well only if you also have good units to actually hold the forts.

[@Archphoenix1]

We could make " what if canada was a real country" with Banff as capitol. the most non historic playthrough

[@SirSpiderPig]

Frankfurt airport really is something

[@HenryGK]

That's a man who needs some matte foundation.

[@HermitagePrepper]

Molotov line sounds good

[@alexembsen3680]

It’s clearly “The Iron Curtain”

[@thedeaforc]

Enjoy this one. Keep care of your health.

[@_Error303]

hes about to bust 17:35

[@nateghast6456]

Poland is Krakow again! :D History rhymes!

[@callmehansfilms]

"The Zhukov Line."

[@regnarrocker6162]

What if Alex's hair built a Maginot Line? (I'm sorry)

[@valeriomignani1352]

Very good question

[@dahmerbomber6667]

The Soviet Union had 37 million personnel in WWII…..get recruiting!

[@Klemeq]

You asked if I like your inf div. I do not. Drop the recon support company. Drop the AT battalion. Drop the AA battalion. If you only keep those in support and not in battalion your production needs will go way down and you can field many more divs. Having ~1200 def is a waste unless your enemy comes anywhere near close to getting that much in attacking power.

[@fireiron369]

As someone who has recently played Czechoslovakia let me explain how they broke his Maginot The German AI likes to swarm forts even if they are outnumbered especially against Russia so they just keep hitting the same tile over and over again which eventually chips away at the Org of the divisions on the forts. Even if it’s only like 2 soft attack that eventually builds up until they overcome the fort defenders

[@Ktotokroto]

So basically every soviet player ever

[@IDOLA149]

Agreed on Frankfurt Airport. How did they mess it up so bad

[@Adrian-jx6ll]

as a german i must say the City is worse

[@MajinObama]

Exactly I thought it was the Opposite! The Airport is very serviceable, maybe not the connection to the trains I guess, but the city has a bad reputation!

[@thecalmclone2813]

i always do this playing the soviets lol, i build lvl 10 forts behind a river line and the germans cant do anything

[@bradleymalcolm7025]

I've never clicked on a video so fast (I'm being serious

[@valeriomignani1352]

Me too

[@warthoggoulags1679]

actually not protecting against romania and hungary wouldn't be realistic because they aren't neutral but it's funnier

[@marshall8782]

WHY WERE YOU GOING GRAND BATTLE PLAN??!?!?!?! YOU'RE THE SOVIETS!!!!!!!

[@AlextheRambler]

ROLEPLAYING

[@marshall8782]

@@AlextheRambler YOU'RE RPING THE WRONG WAY!!!!! HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO DO THAT!!!!

[@Stalinsmustache]

I use the 120 medium tank division for the soviets.

[@wadestclair249]

um the germans went around the maginot line through the ardennes forest

[@sahilhossain8204]

Ah yes the great wall of Soviética

[@hoi4_guides]

i dont know anything, but some music would be nice in the backround ya know?

[@AlextheRambler]

There should be some?

[@hoi4_guides]

would be nice mate, just a proposition...@@AlextheRambler

[@mohammodlateef4928]

Around the Bosphorus we go (through Turkey)

[@marauder7209]

You should copy the French, and build forts on the borders with the neighbouring countries, cause what if the germans try and push through them? But you don't need a lot of AT and tanktraps by Hungary, no one will manage to get a tank through there, right? Rig...wait.

[@commanderstorm8874]

Did you do the focuses that modify the red army and remove your debuffs that can only be done at war with a major

[@elporrovegano]

From Cracow Republic to Kattowitz Republic.

[@sahilhossain8204]

Lore of What If The Soviets Built A Maginot Line?! Hearts of Iron IV momentum 100

[@211q1]

I mean they more resources trying to get the defence to germany for the defense

[@keck4022]

17:54 hell no

[@lordvonschwaannnnnnnnnnnnn8209]

Morning Guys

[@Swedish_ants]

Can you please make another video where you play as Sweden?

[@AlextheRambler]

With the new DLC yes

[@Swedish_ants]

@@AlextheRambler ok

[@TheArklyte]

I can already feel the upcoming "REEEE, Stalin/Molotov's line already existed irl" comments that have no idea how they're comparing apples to oranges and how useless those mostly paper uncompleted lines were. Because despite what soviet believes are, falsified paper report doesn't retroactively bring the results to reality. More on how the biggest land based military in the world had taken such a massive L in 1940-1941 at 23:00 in any history book 😅

[@Gooberman-yv1fp]

Axis had the numbers advantage early war but uhh sure

[@TheArklyte]

@@Gooberman-yv1fp july 2023 profile with no activity. Yep, comrade, they did... if you manipulate the data to teleport all their forces to soviet border and somehow equip them to attack. And that's without mentioning 5 times number superiority soviets had in modern fighters, likewise 5+ times number superiority in tanks and so on. Will you also mention that the goal of Winter War was to secure Leningrad and that Finnish Democratic Republic didn't exist? Or what else is on the menu today, huh?

[@scotty101ire]

This is how i played ages ago invaded from the baltics and created a pocket of 2 ,7 million axis troops it was delightful 9 Stalingrad's from just east of Berlin to the Bulgarian coast

[@umlowiec]

looks like the germans need to go around trough romania

[@MuhaamadAreeb]

That Japan though

[@gwizdek9]

You should game in that cool ass leather chair you got in the back instead 💯

[@bob-qb9gw]

alex if you want to absolytly bully the ai out of air your figther should have as many hevy mgs as posible best engline and one armor plate

[@Archphoenix1]

just saying, i have seen this before. ISP has done this,without the console. However,he was a coward and played on historical ai

[@AlextheRambler]

He did? I don't keep track of what every channel does. I hope this is different enough to be entertaining!

[@texasrepublic6573]

I forgot he was balding

[@yasinunsal5035]

Not only Frankfurt airport but the entirty of Frankfurt sucks i have been there a couple of times

[@valterdomingues]

Alex playing the Soviets! Socialism has been achieved!

[@RandooGaming]

why is the video sped up?

[@ZAJosh69]

Nice to see you back. Feedback - was losing interest in the channel for a bit. As viewer its important to know that you are 100% invested in the content. Seems from this video you are back to your Rambler self. I hope you good bud!

[@Sakumo23]

I think u should rushed the purges so you get thé least loses

[@김주원-s5v]

Actually there is korean hoi4 youtuber whose main content is hoi4 multi-player When he saw soviet player making maginot line he said 'What a useless thing to do. Line will crumble whenever manstein attack with panzer division' And line breaked right away. It works on single but seems doesn't work on multi

[@Lizard-Bait]

Golly you're rusty! Looking good though!

[@honk813]

Bald rambler can’t hurt you he doesn’t exist Bald rambler: >:)

[@nikolarajic9730]

I am loosing brain cells just by watching you play USSR you made sooooooo many mistakes in the early game it hurts my brain.... (at one point my brain was like "did this man ever play ussr after no step back...) I tought you were supouse to be good at ussr gameplay...

[@alfredorotondo]

14s ago First time that KZbin send a notification fast

[@dprogamer123]

great war thank only

[@Zachomq]

Stalin line