German Openings

`F Kie`	`A Ber`	`A Mun`	Games	Opening Name
`-Hol`	`-Kie`	`-Ruh`	96	Player's Guide, Opening 1a, Blitzkreig Opening, Hol Variation
`-Den`	`-Kie`	`-Ruh`	74	Player's Guide, Opening 2a, Blitzkreig Opening, Den Variation, Anschluss, FALL=Jutland Gambit?
`-Hol`	`-Kie`	`-Bur`	29	Player's Guide, Opening 1b, Holland Opening, Burgundy Variation Burgundy Attack, Holland Variation
`-Den`	`-Kie`	`HOLD`	23	Anschluss, Variant
`-Den`	`-Kie`	`-Bur`	19	Burgundy Attack, Denmark Variation, Anschluss Opening, Burgundy Variant
`-Hol`	`-Kie`	`-Tyr`	9	Northern Tier Alliance Opening, Holland Opening, Tyrolian Variant
`-Hol`	`-Mun`	`-Ruh`	5	Unnamed
`-Den`	`-Kie`	`-Sil`	5	Player's Guide, Opening 2b, Anschluss Opening,Silesia Variant
`-Den`	`-Sil`	`-Ruh`	5	Frederich Opening, Anschluss, Silesian
`-HEL`	`-Kie`	`-Ruh`	4	Unnamed
`-Den`	`-Pru`	`-Sil`	4	Barbarossa Opening, Danish Variant, Anschluss, Prussian Opening
`-Hol`	`HOLD`	`-Ruh`	3	Unnamed
`-Hol`	`HOLD`	`HOLD`	3	Unnamed
`-Den`	`-Mun`	`-Ruh`	3	Anschluss Opening, Ruhr Variant
`-Den`	`-Kie`	`-Tyr`	2	Northern Tier Alliance Opening, Anschluss Opening, Tyrolean Variant
`-BAL`	`-Kie`	`-Bur`	2	Unnamed
`-Den`	`-Mun`	`-Bur`	2	Anschluss
`-Hol`	`-Kie`	`-Boh`	2	Holland Opening
`-Den`	`HOLD`	`-Ruh`	1	Anschluss
`-Hol`	`-Kie`	`-Sil`	1	Holland Opening, Silesian Variant
`-Den`	`-Kie`	`-Boh`	1	Anschluss Opening, Bohemian Variant
`-BAL`	`-Kie`	`-Ruh`	1	Baltic Opening
`-Hol`	`HOLD`	`-Bur`	1	Unnamed
`-Den`	`HOLD`	`-Kie`	1	Anschluss
`HOLD`	`-Sil`	`S Ber-Sil`	1	Silesian Opening
`-Den`	`-Sil`	`-Bur`	1	Anschluss, Silesian Opening
`-Den`	`-Sil`	`-Boh`	1	Player's Guide, Opening 3b, Anschluss, Silesian Opening
`-Den`	`-Sil`	`HOLD`	1	Anschluss
`-Hol`	`-Sil`	`-Tyr`	1	Silesian Opening
`-HEL`	`-Kie`	`HOLD`	1	Unnamed
`-BAL`	`-Kie`	`HOLD`	1	Unnamed
`-Hol`	`-Pru`	`-Sil`	1	Prussian Opening
`-HEL`	`-Pru`	`-Ruh`	1	Player's Guide, Opening 3a, Barbarossa, Prussian Opening
`-BAL`	`-Sil`	`-Pru`	0	Barbarossa Proper, Silesian Opening

Excerpts from Diplomacy A-Z

ANSCHLUSS

Richard Sharp's strategic notion that Germany should, in the early game, strive to keep Austria strong to reduce both powers vulnerability as central (and surrounded) powers. Although they take their name from the annexation of Austria by Nazi-Germany in March 1938, Anschluss alliances are generally regarded as essentially pro-Austrian, with Germany using diplomatic leverage to discourage other powers -- in particularly Russia (with the threat of standing him out of Sweden in 1901) -- from attacking his ally. Tactically it entails F Kie-Den and A Mun H or standoff in Bur or Tyr, or even entering Tyr, and Italy is told that this unit will aid Austria if Italy attacks. The advantage for Germany is that it is statistically provable that Germany is far less likely to win if Austria is eliminated early in the game. All Anschluss openings involve the move F Kie-Den. There are five variants:

Bohemian Variant (A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Boh);
Burgundy Variant (A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Bur);
Ruhr Variant (A Ber-Mun, A Mun-Ruhr);
Silesia Variant (A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Sil);
Tyrolean Variant (A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Tyr).

The Anschluss is the idea behind a Fred C. Davis, Jr. variant designed in the late 1960's (before Richard Sharp devised his strategic notion of the Anschluss): "GERMANY VS. REST OF THE WORLD." The basic idea is that the best way to encourage Austria and Germany to ally is if the same player plays both countries. Hence this, six-player, game contains a "super-nation."

BALTIC OPENING

A German attack starting in Scandinavia rather than in the Polish corridor: F Kie-BAL-Swe, A Ber-Kie-Den, A Mun-Ruh-Hol/Bel. If Sweden is taken, BAL can be retaken via F Swe S Kie-BAL, followed by F BAL C Den-Lvn! If not, F BAL S Den-Swe, plus, new armies enter Polish corridor. Requires solid knowledge of English, French (and Italian) intentions.

BARBAROSSA

A Mun-Sil, F Kie-Den, A Ber-Pru is Germany's most aggressive opening towards the east. Note that both Hol and Bel are ignored, virtually asking for A Yor-Hol. Named by Richard Sharp. There are two variations: the Danish variant (F Kie-Den) and the Barbarossa Proper (F Kie-BAL). See also Baltic Opening.

BLITZKRIEG OPENING

No annotation.

DENMARK (OR DANISH) VARIATION: F Kie-Den, A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Ruh is the most popular opening of any country. It guarantees two neutrals against any offense, and gives Germany leverage in Swe and Bel, and usually will offend no-one. If no-one has moved adjacent to him, he will have great F01 flexibility, and all home centres open for builds.
HOLLAND (OR DUTCH) VARIATION: F Kie-Hol, A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Ruh. The second most popular German opening. Compared to the Den form, this trades German influence in Scandinavia for a stronger hand in Belgium, plus a slightly stronger defensive position.

BURGUNDY ATTACK

No annotation.

DENMARK VARIATION: A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Bur, F Kie-Den is Germany's 4th most common opening. Unless a standoff in Bur occurs, this bespeaks an aggressive German player almost certainly allied with England. A standoff is more ambiguous, but may be Germany's attempt to head off a France-England-Russian blitz.
HOLLAND VARIATION: A Ber-Kie, A Mun-Bur, F Kie-Hol is Germany's third most common opening, and a standoff in Bur may well be arranged. This is Germany's most westerly oriented opening, and its success is usually dependent on who, if anyone, has entered the English Channel.

FREDERICH OPENING

John Mark's name for A Mun-Ruh, A Ber-Sil. France should be pleased and more inclined to move against E, and A Sil can guard Mun against A Bur-Mun just as well as A Kie can. It also gives protection against A War-Sil.

HOLLAND OPENING

Richard Sharp's name for any German opening using F Kie-Hol and A Ber-Kie. There are three named variations: the Burgundy, the Silesian and the Tyrolian. There are no prizes for guessing what the differences are.

JUTLAND GAMBIT

Birsan's opening for Germany which delays the choice of first victim until S02: F Den-SKA, A Kie-Den, A Ruh-Hol. Note that Germany writes off Bel entirely, but is a little less vulnerable to a double cross in the north.

NORTHERN TIER ALLIANCE OPENING

Based on an EFG alliance, this has England convoying to Den, with A Mar-Pie and A Mun-Tyr for an immediate southern attack. Subsequently, England builds a minimum of fleets, France builds mostly F Mar. (Richard Hucknall in FOE #57)

PRUSSIAN OPENING

Richard Sharp's name for any unnamed German opening which uses the move A Ber-Pru.

SILESIAN OPENING

Richard Sharp's name for any otherwise unnamed German opening using the move A Ber-Sil.

Excerpts from the Player's Guide

OPENING 1

No annotation.

OPENING 1a: [A Ber-Kie; A Mun-Ruh; F Kie-Hol]: This is the basic opening where England is an ally, Russia is neutral, and France is the objective. Even so, nothing has yet been done to antagonize France directly. A Ruh can go to Bel with F Hol's support or defend Munich if the French move to Burgundy. In the latter event, F Hol-Bel still denies the center to France. F Hol could also support an English unit into Belgium.
OPENING 1b: [A Ber-Kie; A Mun-Bur; F Kie-Hol]: This is almost the same as 1a (where Munich moves to Ruhr). It shows the role of A Mun as Germany's "swing" unit. It sets the tone and direction of Germany's opening. England is an ally, Russia is neutral, and France is the objective. The attack on Burgundy is a direct assault on France. It may stand off an unsupported French move to Burgundy. If Germany's attack succeeds, the blow to French defenses is serious."

OPENING 2

No annotation.

OPENING 2a: [A Ber-Kie; A Mun-Ruh; F Kie-Den]: This is the basic opening where France is an ally, Russia is neutral or suspect, and England is the objective. F Den can deny Sweden to Russia. Germany also has a lock on Holland (A Kie-Hol, A Ruh S A Kie-Hol). He can also defend Berlin and still take Holland so long as England does not stop him.
OPENING 2b: [A Ber-Kie; A Mun-Sil; F Kie-Den]: This again shows A Mun's role as "swing" unit. The order alerts Russia to an attack but put him in some difficulty. Germany can still change attack (A Sil-Gal) in the Fall. A common alternative, A Mun-Kie, A Ber-Pru is much weaker. A Russian attack (A War-Sil, A Mos-War) will put Germany at a disadvantage. There is also no way to change tack save retreat (A Pru-Ber).

OPENING 3

The Fall 1901 flanking orders to Livonia (in Opening 3a) or Galicia (in Opening 3b) are risky and daring. They are also terribly potent and therefore worth the risk.

OPENING 3a: [A Ber-Pru; A Mun-Ruh; F Kie-Hel]: These orders may be employed where Germany is allied with England and France. They give up the Low Countries, but put force where it's needed: in the East. The army in Prussia threatens not only Warsaw, but Livonia as well.
OPENING 3b: [A Ber-Sil; A Mun-Boh; F Kie-Den]: Again, Munich is the "swing." Here Germany goes after Russia AND Austria, or Austria alone. Both armies threaten Galicia as well as two supply centers. Against Austria alone, A Boh-Vie, A Sil-Gal will hurt.

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