Intro
For those of you who want to know when and what you can buy with Commendation Points, what goodies can be found in hidden caches, and some other special units and events that pop up, I decided to take it upon myself to find and note these things down and share them with you all, along with some commentary on them. I’ve also added in some brief notes regarding which missions have Bonus Objectives, as well as a running tally of the total Commendations you could have earned vs spent. I will not be going into detail about these Bonus Objectives or how to complete them, as that’s a bit outside the scope of this guide.
Please note that:
A) Any commentary on the various units and other rewards are simply my personal opinion. Feel free to bring up your own experiences and opinions on these things, cause I very well could have missed something.
B) I haven’t played much with Retrograde, so most of my opinions assume you are playing without it. Similarly, I love me some Trophies of War, so I had to actively make sure I compared units more to the standard German units and not my arsenal of captured equipment.
Anyway, let’s get on with what you’re all here for:
Axis Operations: Spanish Civil War
Seville
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map. And they both give 1 Commendation each.
Total: Earned 2/Spent 0
Cache
The first mission of the Spanish Civil War is the location of our first hidden cache. If you can manage to run a ship loaded with one of your Spanish army of Africa units east, you can have them land at Gibraltar, where they find a set of 19 203mm M1931 artillery.
The 203mm is the biggest, baddest artillery piece you’ll find during the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately, you can only acquire it here and in the only other cache you can find during this Campaign, so keep it safe or you’ll quickly lose it.
Anyequera
Events
I doubt I anyone doesn’t know that capturing the Airfield at 13,15 spawns a trio of Ju52 bombers, so I’ll just cut to the commentary.
The Ju52s are pretty much mandatory to pull off one of the Bonus Objectives on this map, but after that their only real use is the fact that they are the only Strategic Bombers you’ll have available for a while, especially if you’re running Retrograde.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 4/Spent 0
Cache
Remember that other cache of the Spanish Civil War I mentioned? If you send a unit up along the top of the map to a Village at coordinates 20,4 you’ll find said cache. This one contains another 10 203mm M1931s, as well as 10 122mm M10/30 artillery pieces as well.
The 122mm is another good artillery unit compared to your current German guns. However, the only way you’ll be able to get replacements if it takes damage is to capture more from the Republicans.
Merida
Events
And now we arrive at our first chance to spend those commendations you’ve been racking up (You have been completing those Bonus Objectives right?)! At the start of the mission, you have the opportunity to spend 3 Commendations for some captured equipment: 35 Trubia tanks and 35 UNL-35 recon units.
The Trubia is a nifty little tank that is superior to your Panzer IAs. However, pretty much every other tank you’ll encounter or buy during the Civil War are better, even the Panzer IBs. Still a useful unit during the early game, especially with Retrograde.
The UNL is in a similar boat, in that it’s better than your German recon units, but not as good as the enemy AACs and BAs. On the other hand, you don’t get better German recon units besides the starting one, so the UNL can remain useful the entire campaign.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 6/Spent 3
Toledo
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 8/Spent 3
Early Madrid
Events
At the start of this mission, if you spend a mere 2 Commendations, then on turn 2 you get one of, in my opinion, the best Commendation Rewards in both the Spanish Civil War and 1939 Campaigns: the Verdeja 2 tank Gift Unit.
Frankly, the Verdeja 2 is the bastard love child of the mobility of a BT-5 and the firepower of a T-26. Hands down the best tank in this Campaign, and remains competitive against the various German, French, Polish, and Russian tanks you run into throughout 1939. I expect it to continue to serve well though the defeat of France, although I’m less certain of it’s chances against the T-34s and KV-1s that are bound to show up once we get to Russia…
Objectives
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 8/Spent 5
Corunna
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Escorting the prisoners to safety earns 2 Commendations, while capturing all Victory Points earns 1.
Total: Earned 11/Spent 5
Malaga/Bilbao
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 12/Spent 5
Brunete
Events
The start of this mission brings another opportunity to buy some captured enemy equipment. The 3 Commendations you spend this time earn you some better rewards that the last stash you bought, giving you 25 T-26 tanks and 25 I-16 fighters.
The T-26 is one of the best tanks the Republicans have alongside the BT-5, and now you can have your own to replace your lackluster Panzers. It’s even historically accurate, considering the Nationalists prized them enough that they put out a bounty to be rewarded to anyone who managed to capture a T-26 in working condition.
The I-16s are more of mixed bag. The are better that you initial biplane Fighters, but unless you are playing Retrograde you should have HE 112s by now, which are roughly on par at minimum and don’t have limited numbers.
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 13/Spent 8
Zaragoza/Gijon
Events
Regardless of which path you took, at the start of either of these mission you are given a choice: Pay 50% of your current amount of Prestige and receive 12 Commendations, or don’t. Honestly, I have a hard time coming up with a reason not to invest in these Prestige sinks, especially this one considering a certain high cost Commendation Reward coming up.
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 26/Spent 8
Teruel
Event
An opportunity for another Gift Unit arrives at the start of the mission. 3 Commendations nets you a Panzer 2A on Turn 2.
The Panzer IIA is kinda lackluster compared to the other Gift Unit you get during this campaign, but it’s cheap and better than your Panzer Is. If you are playing the Trophies of War game and have a few T-26s and/or Bt-5s though, you can probably skip this one.
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map, and it grants 2 Commendations
Total: Earned 28/Spent 11
Ebro
Events
At the start of this infamous mission, we arrive at the primary argument for taking that Prestige Sink back in Zaragoza or Gijon. For a whopping 10 Commendations, you get your first Super Hero: Adolf Galland.
Galland provides a significant boost to whichever Fighter or Tactical Bomber he is assigned to. +2 to Initiative and +2 Air Attack make give him an edge against enemy aircraft, while Aiming Assistance and Leadership provide support for nearby units. And of course, as a Legendary Hero he generates Prestige for you just by existing. As much as I love the Verdeja, if you are only going to aquire 1 Commendation Reward during the Spanish Civil War, it should probably be this guy.
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 29/Spent 21
Catalonia
Objectives
While there are technically no Bonus Objectives, fulfilling the Main Objective of destroying 10 Convoys does earn you 1 Commendation.
Total: Earned 30/Spent 21
Madrid 39
Events
To wrap up the Spanish Civil War, the start of this mission gives you the opportunity to resupply your stock of captured equipment you may have acquired through previous Commendation rewards. For 3 Commendations you get 30 T-26s. 30 Trubias, 30 UNL-35s, and 30 I-16s.
Objectives
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Final Total: Earned 30/Spent 24
Axis Operations: 1939
Czechoslovakia
Events
Starting things off, we have several things happening this mission.
Firstly, at the start you receive 5 Commendations for free. All you have to do is make sure you don’t fully kill any enemies, or you lose all 5.
Secondly, if you are NOT importing a Core Force from the Spanish Civil War, you start this Campaign with 6 Heroes, 5 of which are random. The 6th is a guy named Siegfried von Bonde.
Von Bonde is an interesting Hero. He’s better than the standard Heroes you get every mission, but not quite as good as the ones you can buy with Commendations like Galland. His Artillery Support and AT Support abilities allow you to turn any Unit into a makeshift Anti-Tank, although how good it performs depends on which unit you assign him to.
Finally, on turn 2, regardless of whether you imported a Core Force or not, you receive a Gift Unit in the form of Spanish volunteers, the Azul-Infantrie.
Your Spanish friends are a fine addition to your army. Their defensive stats are matched only by your Grenadiers, while their more average offensive stats are boosted by the Rapid Fire 1.5x trait they possess. They also have nifty hats.
Sarreguemines
Events
You remember those 5 Commendations you get at the start of this Campaign? I hope you didn’t lose them, because at the start of this mission you get the option to spend 5 Commendations for a new Super Hero: Albert Kerscher.
Kerscher is a Tank/Anti Tank specialist, and his +3 Initiative, Tank Killer, and Aggressive Counterattack make him a terror to enemy tanks. He’s also Famous, so more Prestige just for exisiting. If you happen to have von Bonde, pairing the them together is a potent combo.
Objectives:
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map, deploying 3 Minefields gives 1 Commendation, and all 6 Minefields gives an additional 2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 9/Spent 5.
Cache
At a flag placed in some rough terrain at 27,20 you’ll find the first cache of 1939: 5 Char B1 tanks.
The Char B1 is one of the 2 tanks competing for the title of best French Tank (We’ll get to it’s competitor later.). Even your new Panzer 38(t)s only beat this titan in speed. The Char B boasts high defensive stats, although it’s speed isn’t the greatest. However, unless you are playing the capture game, with only 5 Char Bs you can’t field any of these lumbering behemoths…yet.
Warndt
Objectives:
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map, raiding St Avold gives 2 Commendations
Total: Earned 12/Spent 5.
Cache
In the part of the city of St. Avold closest to the river, you’ll find another cache: another set of 5 Char B1s! Now you can actually field a unit of them!
Orenthal
Objectives:
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map, raiding Orenthal gives 2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 15/Spent 5.
Cache
If you lay siege Orenthal and manage to claim the Airfield, you’ll be rewarded with 7 more Char B1s (Noticing a pattern yet?).
Forbach
Objectives:
There are 3 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 18/Spent 5.
Cache
I hope you like the Char B1, because by taking Forbach itself you receive another 5 (For better or worse, this is the last one.).
Saarbrucken
Events
We get 2 Events this mission. At the start, you get the option to spend 6 Commendations for a familiar face from Panzer Corps 1: Oleh Dir.
Dir is an Infantry Hero, providing a very useful +2 Movement boost to the often slower Infantry. He also gives +2 Initiative and Precision Weapon, pakcing a stronger punch. And of course, like the other Super Heroes, he’s a Famous guy.
For another 6 Commendations on Turn 2, you can purchase a a stash of 35 Somua S35 parts, 10 of which show up on the map as an extra Unit on Turn 3. (The way the event reads and the similarity with the Verdeja and Panzer IIA Events in SCW made me think that this was a Gift Unit, but actually is just a Captured Unit stockpile.)
The Somua S35 is the Char B1s competitor for best French tank I mentioned earlier. While it has less defense than the Char B1, it’s still a flat upgrade in pretty much every way to your Panzer 38(t)s.
Objectives:
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 20/Spent 17.
Bzura
Objectives:
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 22/Spent 17.
Cache
We have 2 caches to plunder on this map at the villages at 33,36 and 40,32, both of which contain 7 7TPdws and 7 SP wz. 29s each.
Both the 7TPdw and the SP wz. 29s main selling point compared to your German counterparts is their Rapid Fire 1.5x trait. This somewhat makes up the difference for their weaker stats, but with these caches being the only place to get them (outside of captures), they probably aren’t worth it. Which is a shame considering these are the the last caches of 1939.
Modlin/Lvov
Events
Whichever route you pick, at the start of the mission you receive a new Gift Unit for free, and Armored Train.
The Armored Train is an artillery unit with great mobility, but heavily limited by the fact that it can only move via rail. It’s free though, so just make sure to check the map before deploying it.
Brest/Wlodawa
Events
Time for the 1939 Prestige Sink. At the start of either mission you can pay 75% of your prestige for 14 Commendations. Much like with the Prestige Sink during the Spanish Civil War, you can expect a reason for this massive amount of resources soon.
Objectives:
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 36/Spent 17.
Warsaw
Events
I told you it would be soon. At the start of the mission, you are given the opportunity to spend 8 commendations to investigate rumors of a Russian prototype plane. If you spend these Commendations, you will get a report that they found only garbage (18 PZL P.11c and 19 I-15 fighters as well as 17 PZL P.37B Los bombers) EVERY TIME. The important thing is that if you do spend those points, when turn 5 rolls around you are given the choice to spend 4 more Commendations to continue the search. If you spend that, then on Turn 9 you’ll receive a report informing you of success, and you receive a Gift Unit of an Il-2 Sturmovik.
The P.11cs, I-15s, and P.37Bs are all inferior to your German planes, even with Retrograde. The are, indeed, garbage.
The Il-2, on the other hand, is a different story. People like me who enjoy the Bf110s versatility will love this plane, which is as good in a dogfight as the Bf110 while having bombing capabilities only slightly worse that your Ju87s. Even if you don’t bother ever using it to fight another plane, it’s still basically a Ju87 that isn;t as much of a sitting duck. You pretty much have to take the Prestige Sink if you want this though. 12 Commendations is a very hefty price tag if you just try to save your Commendations from missions, and runs the risk of missing out on other important rewards, namely Kerscher and Dir.
Objectives:
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 36/Spent 33.
Raate
Objectives:
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map, and it gives 2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 38/Spent 33.
Taipale
Objectives:
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map, and it gives 2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 40/Spent 33.
Denmark
Events
We’re ending 1939 with a bang. If you pay 5 Commendations at the start of this mission, you receive 35 KV-2s.
The KV-2 is just a monster of a tank at this point, and unfortunately has the Slot requirements to prove it. It’s a shame you only get it for one scenario of 1939, even moreso considering Denmark really doesn’t have much of anything that can really compete with it.
Objectives:
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: Earned 40/Spent 38.
Axis Operations: 1940
Fornebu
Events
Let’s start off with what you get when you start 1940 without importing a Core from 1939: 9 Heroes both new and old. Alongside some random Heroes, you get Adolf Galland from the SCW, Siegfried von Bonde from starting 1939 without a Core, and you also get 2 new special Heroes: Reinhardt Herzog and Ludwig Mittermeier.
Herzog possessed First Strike and Phased Movement, making him a good choice to put on your front line Tanks and Infantry with Phased Movement opening up maneuverability options while First Strike give them an edge in combat.
Mittermeier is an interesting Hero; possessing both Evasive and Liberator, he fits in with any Ground Unit you don’t want getting too shot up while also giving bonuses for taking Flags with the unit.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map. Protecting the landed planes earns 3 Commendations.
Total: 4 Earned/0 Spent.
Cache
If you manage to destroy the fortress that’s harrassing the Blucher and take the Supply Hex it is positioned on, you recivie a stockpile of 30 Wurfrahmen 40.
The Wurframen 40 is a powerful self-propelled rocket artillery. much better than the Sturmpanzer I which is currently your only other choice for self-propelled artillery. It is slot heavy like all good artillery with a cost of 5 Slots, and capturing that island is a major challenge, but the reward is definitely worth it.
Totally not Czechoslovakia
Events
It is here on turn 5 that you can spend 3 Commendations to support women in auxiliary roles, granting the special Hero Elsa Kloss.
Kloss is an Artillery Hero, and provides any Artillery assigned +3 Ammo and +1 Range. Despite not giving any special Traits, this is still a potent buff, as many of the more powerful Artillery have very limited stocks of ammunition, and extra range is always useful for an Artillery.
Objectives
There are 0 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 4 Earned/3 Spent.
Valkenburg/Eben Emael
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 6 Earned/3 Spent.
Cache
On the Netherlands branch, in Valkenburg Raid, capturing the De Kooy Naval Airbase earns you 30 Fokker D.XXI.
The Fokker D.XXI is a poor reward compared to the last Cache, as it is a vastly inferior Fighter compared to the German Fighters you should have available at this time.
Grebbeberg/Hannut
Events
Our next Commendation Reward costs 4, and is a Neubaufahrzeug Gift Unit, deployed immediately.
The Neubaufahrzeug is an interesting addition. Slower and slightly less armored than the Panzer III and IVs, it’s Rapid Fire 1.5x combined with superior Attacks stats to aforementioned Tanks makes this a a powerful, if slightly more fragile, asset to your army.
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on Grebbeberg, which rewards 3 Commendations.
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on Hannut, of which destroy 20 French Units earns 2.
Total: 9 Earned/7 Spent.
Cache
On the Belgium branch, in Hannut, on a Flagged hill at coordinates 2,18, you’ll find a cache of 10 Char B1s.
Sedan
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 10 Earned/7 Spent.
Cache
A Village near the southeast corner at coordinates 30,48 contains 5 Char B1s.
A central Airfield at coordinates 17,25 yields 30 Breguet 693 Tactical Bombers.
Unfortunately, the Breguet continues the trend of captured aircraft being inferior to your German ones. It does have a decent amount of extra range compared to your 87s, so there is at least a use for it if you wish.
And finally, the town of Dinant just across the river at the north end of the map contains a treasure trove of 25 AMC 35s, 15 Hotchkiss H35s, and 15 Panhard 178s.
AMC 35s are almost identical to your 38(t)s, with 1 extra point of Hard Attack, and are decently competitive against the early Panzer III and IVs.
The H35s main strength is it’s high defense, however your 38(t)s, IIIs, and IVs all have as good or better defense, along with significantly more attack power. easily the least valuable of the equipment here.
The Panhard is a potent Recon unit, with stronger stats at the cost of not having Rapid Fire 1.5x like most of your German Recons.
Arras
Events
Time for this chapter’s Prestige Sink. Half your Prestige can be traded for 7 Commendation Points. Interestingly, declining this Prestige Sink causes a number of enemy Colonial Infantry to spawn.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 19 Earned/7 Spent.
Cache
The town of Vimy north of Arras contains 15 Matilda Is and 10 Matilda IIs.
The Matilda I is plagued with a dismal 3 Movement but otherwise its stats and Rapid Fire 1.5x are roughly on par with your 38(t)s.
The Matilda II is a straight upgrade to it’s counterpart in most categories even with the loss of Rapid Fire 1.5x, allowing it to be competitive against your IIIs and IVs, however it retains that unfortunate 3 Movement.
Lillie
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 20 Earned/7 Spent.
Cache
The Airfield at Kortrijk near the northeast corner of the map has a stash of 35 D.520 Fighters.
The D.520 is a much more welcome addition to your air force than previous aircraft caches, as it’s essentially identical to your Bf 109Es but with extra range.
Dunkirk
Events
We got 7 Commendations at Arras, and now for 7 Commendations we can recruit a new special Hero: Heinrich Bar.
Bar is a Fighter Hero that grants a devastating combo of Double Attack and a +1 Bonus to Air Attack. He is also Famous, so enjoy the extra Prestige.
Objectives
There are 4 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 24 Earned/14 Spent.
Abbeville
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objective on this map. which grants 2 Commendations.
Total: 26 Earned/14 Spent.
Neufchateau
Events
This reward works a bit differently than most. instead of using your regular Commendation, you instead have to use ‘Special’ Commendation earned through this map’s Special (Not Bonus) Objectives of destroying the Char 2C and capturing Neufchateau. The special reward for this endeavor? The Char 2C itself, as captured stock totaling at 35.
On one hand, the Char 2C has 3 Movement, which is bad. On the other hand, the Tank makes up for it by being a mobile fortress, with a massive 21 Ground Defense and Firepower on par with any of the other Tanks available at this time. Overall an extremely powerful, if slow, asset to your forces.
Objectives
Instead of Bonus Objectives, this map gives Special Objectives, which upon completing give you Special Commendation Points used exclusively for this map’s Commendation Reward.
Total: 26 Earned/14 Spent.
Jersey
Cache
Taking the Lovasz Residence on the north end of the island causes the discvery of 9 Spitfire Mk.IIs (So close!) and 25 Hurricane Mk.IIC.
While the Spitfire is overall superior to your Bf 109Es, the Bf 109Fs you get in Dover it’s a trade of 1 Initiative for 1 Air Defense. Still useful, especially if Retrograde or the new Collector Challenge are active.
Like the Spitfire, the Hurricane is better than the 109Es, but only on par with the 109Fs. The Hurricane does have an interesting quirk in that it has 4 Hard Attack, quadruple any of the other Fighters available and only 1 less than the Bf 110D, giving it some interesting ground attack possibilities.
Dover
Events
Interestingly, Dover presents not a Prestige Sink, but the first Prestige Reset. You can have your Current Prestige be set to 8500, and gain 9 Commendation Points
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map.
Total: 37 Earned/14 Spent.
Brighton
Events
We finally get the chance to field some Spitfires, as in exchange for 6 Commendations you can buy 31 Spitfire Mk.IIs.
If the Blucher survived Fornebu, it arrives on Turn 1 to assist your naval forces.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map. Raiding Royal Tunbridge Wells gives 2 Commendation.
Total: 40 Earned/20 Spent.
1940 Part 2
Epsom
Events
We can spend 8 Commendations here for more British equipment, this time 35 Matilda IIs.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map, raiding London gives 2 Commendations.
Total: 43 Earned/28 Spent.
Cache
If you can get a unit to the northwest corner and take control of the Great West Aerodrome provides you with, of all things, a single unit of Meteor Mk.III jet Fighters.
What can I say? It’s a late war Jet Fighter in 1940, the only reason it isn’t overpowered beyond belief is the fact that you only get a single one.
Portsmouth
Events
We can spend 9 Commendations here for one final batch of mixed British equipment: 9 Matilda IIs, 11 Spitfire Mk.IIs, 7 Hurricane Mk.IICs, and a new acquisition of 29 Beaufighter Mk.IFs.
The Beaufighter is Fighter-Bomber like your Bf 110s, and it is much better at it. An complete overall upgrade if you like using Fighter-Bombers.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map. Sinking the Royal Navy earns 2.
Total: 46 Earned/37 Spent.
Pindus
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map.
Total: 48 Earned/37 Spent.
Valona
Events
Our final Commendation Reward is the option to spend 4 Commendations to ‘borrow’ some Italian Prototypes: giving you 35 L6/40 Lf Tanks and 35 20/70 Quadruplo self-propelled AA guns.
It’s difficult to compare the L6/40 Lf to your German machines, as we do not yet have access to any German flamethrower Tanks. It’s stats are good, and it fills a niche we currently lack unless you captured some OT-133s in the past, so definitely a useful aquisition.
The 20/70 is better armored and better at fighting against ground based enemies compared to your SdKfz mounted AA guns, making it an excellent option for mobile AA.
Objectives
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Final Total: 48 Earned/41 Spent.
Axis Operations: 1941 East
AO 1941 East
Zagreb
Events
Starting off with the non-import campagn starting linup we have the nerfed Adolf Galland, Siegfried von Bonde, Reinhardt Herzog, and Ludwig Mittermeier all returning from the 1940 start, alongside Esla Kloss from a 1940 Commendation Reward. Joining the roster of Hero aces are 5 newcomers: Volkhardt Kautz, Markus von Reuenthal, Wolfgang Schneider, Friedrich von Kraken, and Helmut Kielb. Also, fun fact, while comparing the lineup to the 1940 one, I noticed that most, if not all the new 2 Trait Heroes were single Trait heroes in 1940 (and presumably 1939). Nice to see some people getting promoted for their hard work. 
Volkhardt Kautz was already an devastating Hero with the coveted Rapid Fire x2, but with Readiness any Unit he is assigned to becomes becomes even more dangerous for enemies to attack.
Markus von Reuenthal gains Low Profile, granting a survivability boost alongside his previous Scavenger Trait, making him a pretty great Hero for a dedicated capture unit, or if you aren’t bothering with captures he now actually holds some value.
Wolfgang Schneider becomes a powerhouse for high Slot towed guns and Infantry as he gains Fast Deployment to combo with his previous Zero Slot trait.
Friedrich von Kraken is released to become a champion of the Overstrength Mechanic by adding Consolidator to his Reduced Slots. The Unit he starts in also starts with 5 points of Overstrength already to make full use of his new skills.
Helmut Kielb combines Prudent and Double Support, an interesting combo with useful applications for frontline AT guns and possibly Fighters.
In other news, you receive a batch of 30 38M Toldi I tanks from your Hungarian friends on Turn 2.
The Toldi has the unfortunate circumstance of having identical stats to your Panzer IICs that have unlimited replacements, leaving it uses limited to primarily flavor purposes or for runs using Collector. On the other hand, it’s free so you can’t complain too much.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map. Searching for the Prince gives 2 Commendations while Wagner Surviving gives 1 (We’ll be seeing a lot of Wagner running around needing protection throughout the campaign so be prepared. Really wish he was in something a bit more armored like a Panzer or something though 😕 …)
Total: Earned 3/Spent 0
Yugoslavia
Objectives
Only 1 Bonus Objectives on this map an it gives 2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 5/Spent 0
Also, Fritz Klingenberg Hero when Kerensky? 😆
Thessaloniki
Objectives
2 Bonus Objectives for 2 Commendations each.
Total: Earned 9/Spent 0
Thermopylae
Events
Our first Commendation Reward is 19 Bf 109Z Prototypes which you can buy for 4 Commendations at the Scenario start.
If you like the Bf 110s Fighter/Bomber capabilities, the 109Z is a straight upgrade, albeit at the cost of costing an extra Deployment Slot in comparison.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map, each giving 1 Commendation.
Total: Earned 11/Spent 4
Cache
We also have out first Cache in the out of the way town of Kouvela, guarded by a 30 Strength unit of Australian Infantry. The prize being 29 Cruiser Mk.II CS Assault Guns.
These Assault Guns are cheaper and faster than the StuGs you currently have for Assault Guns, but have less Soft Attack and Ground Defense in exchange.
Operation Mercury
Events
At the start we have another opportunity for a Prototype aircraft purchase, this time 19 He 111Zs for 5 Commendations.
Much like the 109Z vs 110 comparison, the 111Z has better overall stats than any of your regular Strategic Bombers at this time, but costs an additional Deployment Slot. Personally, I’m not a fan of Strategic Bombers in general, and with certain other rewards approaching this is probably my first pick to skip.
Also, be warned, despite saying that you will get landing craft to transport tanks and other ground units eventually, you are in fact stuck only with Air Transports for this mission even if you sink the Royal Navy. Keep that in mind when deploying and make sure you have plenty of parachutes.
Meanwhile, on Turn 18 you are presented an important choice. You can choose to trade Adolf Galland for 100 Bf 109Gs. While the 109Gs are a flat upgrade that you are getting roughly a year early with plenty of stock, I’m personally not sold on it being worth losing an elite Hero like Galland. Definitely not if I bought him in SCW, although with the nerfed version you get at the start of 1940 and 41 I might be a bit more tempted. Of course, there is always the chance of this decision having further rewards and impacts in future Campaigns, so my opinion may change.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map, capturing VPs gives 2 and destroying aircraft gives 1 Commendation.
Total: Earned 14/Spent 9
Cache
In the middle of Crete on an airfield at 32,31 you’ll find a cache full of 19 Spitfire Mk IIs, 19 Beaufighter Mk.IF, and 29 Stirling Mk.Is.
The Stirling is the only new reward compared to previous Campaigns, and its a bit of a disappointment. Much like the He 111Z it costs an extra Deployment Slot compared to your German Bombers, but unlike the 111Z it’s stats are much weaker, making that extra Slot much more crippling to the Stirling’s usefulness.
Totally Not Poland
Events
Oh boy, oh boy, for a Training Mission there is a lot to cover here.
First, at the start you are given the opportunity to buy 19 Sturer Emil Prototypes for 3 Commendations. They also mention another Tank Destroyer offer which is presented on Turn 2, again paying 3 Commendations but this time for a 10.5cm K Gepanzerte (Sfl.), AKA the Dicker Max, Gift Unit that spawns on Turn 3. IMPORTANT NOTE! You can in fact purchase both of these Commendation Rewards if you have enough Commendations. However, the way that this Campaign is set up, if you bought both the 109Z and He 111Z then even if you met every Bonus Objective you will only have 5 Commendations and thus can only afford 1 of these. So plan accordingly on which Reward you are more comfortable with passing on.
The Sturer Emil is a powerful Tank Destroyer that blows your current Panzerjagers out of the water.
The 10.5cm Gepanzerte isn’t quite as powerful as the Sturer Emil, but is still superior to the Panzerjager and has unlimited reinforcements compared to the Emil However it is stuck at only 5 Strength, although if you aren’t playing with No Overstrength this is easily rectified, as with only a base Slot cost of 2, Overstrengthing it to 10 only makes it worth 4 Slots (or 6 if you use a Consolidator Hero or a mere 3 if you use von Kraken who feels like he was designed for this role. 😆 ).
Next on the agenda, if you picked up that Meteor Cache near London Willy Messerschmitt turns up on Turn 5 asking for it, and you can choose to give it to him on Turn 6. No reward for doing this at this time save for an unusable set of 5 Me 262s, but considering the only other option is to destroy the Meteor you might as well accept. (Something tells me this indicates an Me 262 or Meteor Gift Unit/Prototypes given to us a fair bit earlier than expected.)
And finally, we finally get the chance to recruit Hans Rudel on Turn 7, and he doesn’t even cost a thing! He arrives on Turn 8 if you accept.
Rudel is a Tactical Bomber Hero with Legendary as well as your choice of Traits from the following 3 pairs: Double Attack or Double Move, Aggressive Counterattack or Lightning Attack, and Ignores Entrenchment or Tank Killer. Pretty much all of these are amazing Traits for Tactical Bombers, and guarantee Rudel will be a tremendous force multiplier for any Bomber he’s assigned to.
Objectives
Total: Earned 14/Spent 12 (or 11 or 10 depending on if you skipped the 109Z or 111Z Rewards to get both of the Tank Destroyers)
1941 East Part 2
Raseinai
Events
Upon arrival we have a Prestige Sink that for once doesn’t give Commendations but equipment. Your Axis allies in Italy and Hungary offer to sell you some tanks for 50% of your Prestige, giving 35 M14/41, 35 L6/40 Lf, and 35 Toldi Is.
Like the Cache on Crete the M14 is the only new piece of equipment here, and stat wise it’s closer in parity to the Pz38(t) than your PzIII and IVs.
Regardless of the Prestige Sink, Hungary, Romania, and Spain decide to give you some additional equipment for free on Turn 7. 35 R1 tanks, 35 Ca.135 Bombers, and probably the best of all the support sent this Scenarios; a Gift Unit of Azur Infantry, bringing your total to 2 of these units if you have been importing your Core since 1939.
The R1s are essentially PzIBs that cost an extra 10 Prestige and run into the same issues as the Toldis in that why use them if you have Panzer Is with unlimited reinforcements?
The Ca/135s are a fair bit more, being a relatively fair trade off of range and armor at the cost of firepower compared to your Ju 87s.
Objectives
There are 3 Bonus Objectives on this map, and you get to Commendations for destroying aircraft and holding Vilinus while holding Baisogaia only gives 1.
Total: Earned 19/Spent 12
Stalin Line/Minsk 1941
Events
At the start of each Scenario you get a free Armored Train. Free stuff is always nice.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on each map, and they all give +2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 23/Spent 12
Tallinn/Smolensk 1941
Events
An offer at the start is made to spend 4 Commendations for a batch of Russian aircraft: 24 LaGG-3, 31 Petlyakov Pe-2, and 19 Petlyakov Pe-8.
The LaGG-3 if an overall weaker plane that your Bf 109s, but it costs 1 less Deployment Slot which gives it some potential use.
The Petlyakove Pe-2 stats fall into a middle ground between your Ju 87s and the Ca.135s range vs firepower stats.
The Petlyakove Pe-8 on the other hand is like the Stirlings, weaker than your German Strategic Bombers yet costing an extra Deployment Slot.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives at Tallinn and 3 at Smolensk, Wagner’s survival in either and sinking ships at Tallinn give +2 each, while at Smolensk capturing Bialystok and Grodno give +1 each.
Total: Earned 27/Spent 16
Approaching Leningrad/Yelnya Offensive
Events
For 5 Commendations you have another chance to buy or restock the Bf 109Zs with a batch of 26.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on each map, each giving +2 Commendations.
Total: Earned 31/Spent 21
Gomel
Objectives
1 Objective for Wagner’s survival gives 1 Commendation. (Well, that was a damn lie… 😡 )
Total: Earned 32/Spent 21
Lokhvista
Events
On Turn 3 you can spend 5 Commendations to buy or restock 23 HE 111Zs. This and the 109Z Reward at Leningrad/Yelnya are another good reason why you can skip one of the Rewards near the start of this Campaign for both Tank Destroyers.
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on each map, each capturing VPs give +2 and destroying HQ unit give +3.
Total: Earned 37/Spent 26
Kiev 1941
Events
On Turn 20 you get the chance to salvage 19 KV-1/40, 18 BM-13 Katyuashas, 29 MiG-3s, and 26 Petlyakov Pe-2s from the battlefield.
The KV-1 outclasses your Pz III and IVs in most aspects, and you also want a good stockpile for reasons that will become relevant later…
The Katyuasha serves as a weaker but cheaper alternative to the Wurfrahmen 40.
The MiG-3s unfortunately are like the LaGG-3 and inferior to your 109s.
Objectives
The one Objective of capturing Kiev gives +5 Commendations.
Total: Earned 37/Spent 26
Bryansk
Events
For 8 Commendations you get to recruit another elite Hero: Helmet Wirnsberger.
Wirnsberger is an Infantry Hero with +3 Initiative, +1 Speed, Low Profile to increase survivability, and Ignores ZOC. Sounds like a great choice for a Commando unit to me.
Objectives
For defeating the 13th and 50th Armies you get 2 Commendations each.
Total: Earned 41/Spent 34
Mozhisk Line
Events
Another 50% Prestige Sink for allied equipment, another 35 38M Toldi Is, 35 M14/41s, and 35 L6/40 Lfs.
Objectives
The Bonus here earns 3 Commendations.
Total: Earned 44/Spent 34
Battle of Moscow
Events
If you can fight your way to Raid the Kremlin you manage to acquire documents in the form of a single captured SU-100Y that I can only assume will become relevant in 1942 or future Campaigns like how the Meteor from 1940 did earlier this Campaign.
Klin
Events
Out last Commendation Reward is a chance to grab another batch of Russian equipment for 5 Commendations: 19 ZIS-30, 18 BM-13 Katyushas, 29 MiG-3s, and 26 Petiyakov Pe-2s.
The ZIS-30 outclasses your store bought Panzerjagers, although if you have the Sturer Emil and/or 10.5cm Gepanzerte it’s not quite as impactful, but still useful especially with the other loot.
Finally, on Turn 20 we have a special Event if you manage to fulfil the Challenge Objective. By giving the convoy 100 of your stockpiled Kv-1/40s (NOT KV-1/41s, those don’t count!) to take back to Germany you receive a promise of a future reward in later Campaigns in the form of a single Jagdtiger Prototype.
Final Objectives
Total: Earned 44/Spent 39
This is all about Panzer Corps 2 Ultimate Guide for All – Collectible Items – Caches – Commendations – Campaign Mode in 2021; I hope you enjoy reading the Guide! If you feel like we should add more information or we forget/mistake, please let us know via commenting below, and thanks! See you soon!
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