If you are looking for a challenge in Hearts of Iron IV, playing as the Soviet Union can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. You will have to deal with internal politics, external threats, and a vast territory to manage and defend. This Hoi4 Soviet Union guide will help you with some essential tips and strategies to achieve victory as the leader of the communist world.
The first thing you need to do as the Soviet Union is to choose your national focus path. There are two main options: Positive Heroism and Collectivist Propaganda. Both have their pros and cons, but for this guide, we recommend going for Positive Heroism, as it gives you access to better military bonuses, research speed, and a more stable political situation.
Positive Heroism also allows you to get rid of the Great Purge debuff faster, which is a major hindrance for your army in the early game. You should start the purge as soon as possible, preferably in 1938, and choose the options that minimize the loss of generals and political power. You should also try to complete the Lessons of War focus before Germany attacks you, as it removes the purge debuff completely and gives you a 50% research bonus for land doctrine.
As for political power spending, you should prioritize getting the following advisors and laws:
The Soviet Union has a huge potential for industrial expansion, but it also has some drawbacks, such as low infrastructure, high consumer goods, and outdated technology. To overcome these challenges, you should focus on building civilian factories until 1939, then switch to military factories. You should also build infrastructure in your core states behind the Stalin Line, which is a defensive line along the Dnieper river.
You should aim to have at least 200 civilian factories and 230 military factories by June 1941, when Germany is likely to invade you. You should also try to exceed Germany's factory output by 1942, which will give you an edge in production and equipment. You can also use lend-lease from your allies, such as France, Britain, or the United States, to supplement your needs.
For research, you should use research juggling to get ahead of time bonuses on important technologies, such as industry, electronics, construction, and tanks. You should also use your research slots efficiently and prioritize the following fields: