Faction

A faction is a coalition of nation states that are allied to each other.

Rules

A country may only create a new faction if the respective country rule is enabled. At the start of the game the three existing faction leaders Germany, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, along with the United States, have this rule. Other nations gain the capability to form their own factions through their national focus trees. Joining a faction is again limited by country rules. Depending on ideology and national spirits, countries need various amounts of world tension before they can join or ask someone to join a faction.

Faction members share military access with one another and see accurate intelligence in the diplomacy screen of their allies.

Factions rules can amend some country rules such as the ability to justify war goals on other countries of the same ideology or which actions are allowed in peace conferences.

Faction members can choose to leave a faction, but this causes a significant relations modifier faction traitor (-75 relations). A faction member cannot leave while fighting a war on the side of other members. The faction leader may kick another country out even while at war or disband the faction altogether if it contains no other members than themselves and their subjects. If the faction leader ceases to exist, the largest remaining member takes over.

If a country fights alongside major allies, it will only surrender once all of the majors in the faction have capitulated. For instance if Poland joined the Allies, it will not surrender before the United Kingdom and France capitulate, and will instead continue on as a government-in-exile.

Faction leader

A faction leader in HOI4 is the leader of a faction. The default faction leaders in-game are the United Kingdom leading the Allies, German Reich leading the Axis and the Soviet Union leading the Comintern. They are usually joined by Japan leading the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, and China leading the Chinese United Front.

If the faction leader ceases to exist, the largest remaining member takes over.

Diplomatic Actions

The faction leader may kick another country out even while at war or disband the faction altogether if it contains no other members than themselves and their subjects.

Assuming Leadership

To be able to take over leadership in the faction they are in, a country must:

Have more than twice the deployed manpower of the faction leader (subjects count, but at varying strength depending on autonomy)
Have more than 150% of the factories of the faction leader
Be in every war the faction leader is currently in
Not having capitulated already

After paying 200 Political Power, the country can become faction leader, with all the benefits it entails.

Allies

The Allies are the main democratic faction, led by the United Kingdom.

Members
1936	1939	Possible members
United Kingdom Dominion of Canada British Raj Australia New Zealand South Africa British Malaya	United Kingdom Dominion of Canada British Raj Australia New Zealand South Africa British Malaya France	Poland Belgium Netherlands Dutch East Indies Luxembourg Republican Spain Denmark Norway United States Philippines

Axis

The Axis are the main fascist faction, led by Germany.

Start date members
1936	1939	Possible members
Germany	Germany Slovakia Italy	Kingdom of Hungary Romania Vichy France Bulgaria Nationalist Spain

Comintern

The Third Communist International, abbreviated as the Comintern, is the main communist faction, led by the Soviet Union.

Start date members
1936	1939	Possible Members
Soviet Union Tannu Tuva Mongolia	Soviet Union Tannu Tuva Mongolia	Sinkiang Republican Spain

Chinese United Front

The Chinese United Front is a smaller faction that may be formed by Nationalist China in order to unite the Chinese against the Japanese invaders. Note that it does not exist in the 1936 start date. The United Front will be formed by China, which will annex the Warlords states (except Sinkiang) and People's Republic of China will annex Shanxi. With Waking the Tiger, the Chinese United front can be formed by China with the focus 'United Front' and the Warlord cliques ( Shanxi, Xibei San Ma, Yunnan, Guangxi Clique Sinkiang) and Communist China all then will join. Without the DLC, the faction is formed via events.

Start date members (Without Waking the Tiger)
1936	1939
–	China Communist China

Start date members (With Waking the Tiger)
1936	1939	Possible Members
–	China Communist China Xibei San Ma Yunnan Guangxi Clique Sinkiang	Shanxi

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (formerly known as Daitoa Kyoeiken) is a faction formed by Japan by doing the focus of the same name. It's formed with the objective of creating a Pan-Asian bloc led by Japan.

Starting members

Start date members)
1936	1939	Possible members
–	Japan Manchukuo Mengkukuo	Siam Italy

Other possible factions

All countries (except the British Raj with Together for Victory) can acquire the ability to create factions through their national focus tree. In general, these have no default name, with the player choosing a name when inviting the first member. Several specific factions, inspired by counterfactual history, do have pre-set names, however, and are listed below.

Novus Imperium Romanum

The Novus Imperium Romanum (a mistranslation of 'New Roman Empire') is a faction that may be formed by Italy after taking the national focus 'Italy First'.

Possible members

The Berlin-Moscow Axis

Can be created by the German Reich after the National Focus 'Alliance with the USSR', this alliance will be comprised of Germany and the Soviet Union.

Possible members

Anti-Soviet Pact

If the Soviet Union attacks a signatory of the Anti-Soviet Pact, Germany can create a faction of the same name.

Possible members

Little Entente

The Little Entente is a faction that can be formed by France with the 'Strengthen the Little Entente' National Focus. When this faction is formed, France won't join the Allies. Based on the pre-WW2 alliance with the objective of preventing Hungary rearming and/or a Habsburg restoration in Austria.

Possible members

Stresa Front

If France chooses the focus 'Ratify the Stresa Front', they can form the alliance with Italy and potentially the United Kingdom.

Possible members

Międzymorze

Active with Poland's unique focus tree available through the free DLC with the 'The Between the Seas Concept' focus. It will be formed by Poland and can be expanded to include the Baltic states. The faction has bases on the historical idea of the Intermarium, in Polish Międzymorze, a plan created by politician Józef Piłsudski in which the Eastern European countries that broke free from Russian control would create a federation between the Baltic and Black seas. In the game, however, the Międzymorze is only a military alliance.

Possible members

Factions added in Together for Victory

Northern Sovereignty Coalition

If the Dominion of Canada chooses to become independent from the United Kingdom and become fascist it can either join the Axis or support fascism in Mexico and create this faction with the focus 'Skewer the Eagle'. Doing this can give a favorable outcome in a war with the United States.

Possible members

Unitary Canada (automatic)
Mexican Junta

North-American Alliance

If the Dominion of Canada remains democratic but becomes independent and leaves the Allies, it can form this faction with the focus of the same name and invite the United States.

Possible members

The South-West Pacific Initiative

An independent, democratic Australia can form this faction with the focus of the same name and invite the United States.

Possible members

Western Pacific Sphere

An independent, fascist Australia can form this faction with the focus 'A Deal With Japan' and invite Japan (if not in a faction).

Possible members

Daitoa Kyoeiken

An independent, fascist New Zealand can form this faction with the focus 'Befriend Japan' and invite Japan (if not in a faction).

Possible members

African People's Union

An independent, communist South Africa can form this faction with the focus 'Union of the African People'. It has no default members and will have only South Africa at the game start, however, they can conquer colonies from Portugal, Belgium and the United Kingdom to create puppets or free faction members.

Possible members

Factions added in Death or Dishonor

Balkan Defence League

If Yugoslavia chooses to disunite, they can form this alliance with their former territories with the focus 'Yugoslav Defence League'.

Possible members

Serbia (automatic)
Montenegro (automatic)
Kosovo (automatic)
Macedonia (automatic)
Slovenia (automatic)
Kingdom of Croatia (automatic)
Bosnia (automatic)
Dalmatia
Herzegovina
Vojvodina
Principality of Transylvania

Pan-Slavic Worker's Congress

If Yugoslavia becomes communist, it can invite fellow Slavic neighbors into this faction with the focus of the same name.

Possible members

Greater Balkan Worker’s Congress

Communist Yugoslavia can turn the Pan-Slavic Worker’s Congress into this with the focus 'Pan-Balkan Initiative' and invite all Balkan countries.

Possible members

Union of Communist Soviets

If the Kingdom of Hungary takes the focus 'The Revolutionary Council', they will form this faction.

Possible members

Kingdom of Hungary (automatic)

Czech Entente

An independent, democratic Czechoslovakia can form this faction with the focus 'An Entente of Our Own' and invite Romania, Yugoslavia, and Kingdom of Hungary.

Pact of Rome

An independent, fascist Kingdom of Hungary can invite Austria and Italy into this faction with the focus 'Alliance with Italy'. However, it is important to note that Italy will still be able to form its own faction.

Possible members

Cordon Sanitaire

When Romania chooses the focus of the same name, this faction will form, with Poland and Czechoslovakia being invited.

Possible members

Balkan Entente

If Romania doesn't accept the Hungarian Rearmament they can create the Balkan Entente with Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

Possible members

Balkan Pact

The Kingdom of Hungary can create this faction by taking the focus of the same name and later invite Romania.

Possible members

Kingdom of Hungary (automatic)
Romania

House Bernadotte

If Hungary takes the focus 'Elect a Democratic King' and becomes democratic, they or Sweden will get the option to form a faction if the other one is at war.

Possible members

Kingdom of Hungary (automatic)
Sweden (automatic)

Bucharest Accords

Romania can create this faction after taking the focus 'Align Hungary' if they refuse submission.

Possible members

Romania (automatic)
Kingdom of Hungary

Factions added in Waking the Tiger

Central European Alliance

If the German Reich chooses to oppose Hitler and reestablish democratic elections, it will eventually create the Central European Alliance with the focus of the same name in opposition to the Soviets and eventually offer membership to a number of non-fascist, non-communist countries across Europe.

Anti-Communist Bloc

If the German Reich opts to overthrow Hitler and restore the Kaiserreich, but does not form the Central Powers or leaves the Allies, they can take the focus 'Tackle the Communist Threat' to create this faction.

Possible members

German Reich (automatic)

Central Powers

If the German Reich chooses to oppose Hitler and reestablish the German monarchy, then it can form this faction with the focus of the same name, invite Bulgaria, attempt to restore Austria-Hungary and reestablish monarchy in Italy. If Turkey goes down the democratic path of its focus tree then restores the Ottoman Empire, Germany has not formed this faction and the Kingdom of Hungary has formed Austria-Hungary, then the Ottoman Empire will form this faction and invite Austria-Hungary.

Asian Communist Solidarity

Can be created by Japan with the focus of the same name.

Possible members

Japan (automatic)
Communist China

Mutual Assistance Bloc

If Communist China decides to complete the focus 'Marxism With Chinese Characteristics',they will create this faction. Potential members are any communist nation in China, like Sinkiang.

Possible members

Communist China (automatic)
Sinkiang

Government of National Defense

If Communist China takes the focus 'Government of National Defense', they can form this faction with main China.

Possible members

Communist China (automatic)
China

The New International

If after Japan completes the focus 'Join Comintern' the Soviet Union is not in a faction or not communist, Japan will form this faction.

Possible members

Japan (automatic)
Soviet Union

The Old Alliance

If after Japan completes the focus 'Rekindle the Old Alliance' the United Kingdom is not in a faction or not democratic, Japan will form this faction and invite the United Kingdom.

Possible members

The People's Front

If the Soviet Union decides to support a warlord, and Communist China doesn't accept defeat and they are separated by another country (typically Xibei San Ma), that country may support Communist China and form this faction.

Possible members

West Pacific Treaty Organization

If Japan takes the focus of the same name, they will form this faction.

Possible members

Japan (automatic)
Korea

Factions added in Man the Guns

Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance

If the United States takes the focus 'Hemisphere Defense', they will form this faction and automatically invite all Latin American nations of its ideology into it. Note that the nations invited will differ depending on what ideology the US is at the time it completes the focus.

The faction itself is likely based on the real life Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, a treaty which was signed after World War 2. Unlike the real life treaty, which merely invited countries based on their locations, the in-game faction will only invite Latin American countries of the same ideology as the US, meaning that Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic will not be invited if a Democratic US was to form the faction, despite having signed the treaty in the first year (although should a Fascist or Communist US be the one to form the faction, the countries belonging to those ideologies would be invited instead).

Possible members

Anglo-Italian Pact

If the United Kingdom becomes fascist, they can invite Italy to this faction with the focus 'Secure the Italian Alliance' if the United Kingdom isn’t already in an alliance.

Possible members

United Kingdom (automatic)
British Malaya (automatic)
Italy (automatic)

British Communist Alternative

If the United Kingdom becomes communist but doesn't align with the Soviet Union, they can form this faction with the focus of the same name.

Possible members

United Kingdom (automatic)
British Malaya (automatic)

Commonwealth of Nations

Canada automatically creates and invites Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa to this faction if the United Kingdom becomes Fascist, Communist or Non-aligned.

Possible members

Canada (automatic)
Australia (automatic)
New Zealand (automatic)
South Africa (automatic)

The Coalition

Canada can create this faction if the United States becomes fascist and threatens British Columbia. It will invite friendly countries, especially those that are at war with the United States.

Possible members

Canada (automatic)

Coalition of Free Commonwealth States

If the United Kingdom decides to decolonize but is at war alongside its former colonies against a common enemy, then one of its colonies (priority given to Canada) may create this faction and possibly invite former colonies to it.

Possible members

Canada (automatic)
Australia (automatic)
British Raj (automatic)
South Africa (automatic)
New Zealand (automatic)

Hispanic Alliance

If Mexico becomes fascist under the Gold Shirts, it can invite Latin American countries to this faction with the focus under the same name.

Possible members

Bolivarian Alliance

If Mexico becomes communist, it can invite Latin American countries to this faction with the focus of the same name.

Possible members

4th International

If Mexico becomes communist and take the focus 'Smash the Bureaucrats', they can form this faction.

Possible members

Community of Nations

If Mexico becomes democratic and decides to take the focus of the same name, they can form this faction with the United Kingdom if the United Kingdom is not already in a faction.

Possible members

Mexico (automatic)
United Kingdom (automatic)
Dominion of Canada (automatic)
South Africa (automatic)
British Raj (automatic)
British Malaya (automatic)
Australia (automatic)
New Zealand (automatic)

Benelux

If the Netherlands chooses to become democratic but doesn't align with Britain, it can form this alliance with the focus 'Form the Benelux' and invite Belgium and Luxembourg to this faction.

Possible members

European Union

If the Netherlands chooses to become democratic but doesn't align with Britain, it can form this faction with the focus 'Foundations for a European Union' and invite all democratic nations in Europe to this faction.

Possible members

Factions added in La Résistance

Latin Entente

France can form this alliance with the focus of the same name if they go fascist.

Possible members

Confédération du Rhin

France under Napoleon VI can form an alliance with the German states with the focus 'Disunite Germany'

Possible members

Legitimist Alliance

France, after restoring the legitimate heir to the throne, can create this alliance with Carlist Spain if he is also king of them.

Possible members

France (Automatic)
Carlist Spain (Automatic)
Yugoslavia

Anti-Fascist Bloc

Orleanist France can form this alliance with the focus 'No Further Humiliations'

Possible members

Anti-Fascist Coalition

Communist France can form this alliance with the focus of the same name if there is no Democratic or Communist faction in the world, inviting every democratic or communist country bordering them if they are not in factions.

Possible members

Paris Accords

Communist France can form this alliance with the focus 'Loyalty to the Cause' and then can spread the revolution around them

Possible members

Latin Bloc

Nationalist Spain can form this alliance with the focus of the same name and invite all Latin countries.

Possible members

International Bureau of Revolutionary Socialist Unity

Anti-Stalinist Spain can form this faction with the focus 'Unify the London Bureau'

Possible members

Spain (Automatic)
Paraguay

Popular Front Bloc

Portugal under communism can for this alliance with the focus under the same name, inviting every communist county in Europe to the faction.

Possible members

Portugal (Automatic)

Royal Iberian Alliance

Portugal after completing the focus of the same name and Carlist Spain agreeing, you can form this alliance.

Possible members

Portugal (Automatic)
Carlist Spain (Automatic)

Factions added in Battle for the Bosporus

Corfu Cooperative

A communist Greece can form this faction by completing the focus 'Ally Tito', triggering a civil war in Yugoslavia.

Possible members

Kingdom of Greece (automatic)
Yugoslavia (automatic)

Argos Alliance

Monarchist Greece will form this alliance with Austria-Hungary if the German Reich hasn't restore the Kaiserreich.

Possible members

Balkan Federation of Socialist Republics

Communist Bulgaria can form this alliance with the focus with the same name as a precursor to the United Balkan Federation.

Possible members

Bulgaria (automatic)
Yugoslavia

League of Balkan Confederacies

Democratic Bulgaria can form this alliance with the focus 'A Balkan Confederation' as a precursor to the United Balkan Federation.

Possible members

Greater Bulgarian Federation

Bulgaria can form this alliance with the focus 'The Fate of the Balkans'.

Possible members

Bulgaria (automatic)

Saadabad Concordat

The Ottoman Empire can form this alliance with the focus 'Expand the Saadabad Pact'.

Possible members

Anti-Bolshevik Accord

Turkey can form this alliance through the focus 'The Anti-Bolshevik Mediterranean Bloc'. Republican Spain joins if not in the Comintern already.

Possible members

Turkey (automatic)
Spain

Covenant of the Mediterranean

Turkey can form this alliance with the focus 'The Mediterranean Entente'.

Possible members

Balkan Entente

Turkey can form this alliance with the focus 'Reform the Balkan Pact'.

Possible members

Generic faction names

The following names are used by AI countries when creating ad-hoc factions and have no particular historical background:

Democratic

The <continent> Association
The <continent> Entente
The <faction leader> Concordat
The <faction leader> Union
<continent> Coalition
<continent> Federation

Communist

The <faction leader> Compact
<continent> Syndicate
The <continent> Combine
The <continent> Pact
The <faction leader> Bloc

Fascist

Brotherhood of <continent>
<continent> Group
The <continent> League
The <continent> Confederacy
<continent> Confederation

Non-aligned

<continent> Defense League
The <faction leader> Congress
The <continent> Alliance
Confederate <continent> Nations
The <faction leader> Coalition

Mechanics

Politics

Ideology • Faction • National focus • Ideas • Government • Puppet • Diplomacy • World tension • Civil war • Occupation • Intelligence agency

Production

Trade • Production • Construction • Equipment • Fuel

Research and technology

Research • Infantry technology • Support Companies technology • Armor technology • Artillery technology • Land doctrine • Naval technology • Naval doctrine • Air technology • Air doctrine • Engineering technology • Industry technology

Military and warfare

Warfare • Land units • Land warfare • Division designer • Army planner • Command group • Commander • Battle plan • Combat tactics • Ship • Naval warfare • Aircraft • Air warfare • Experience • Attrition and accidents • Logistics • Manpower • Nuclear bomb

Map	Map • Province • Terrain • Weather • State

Events

Search

Faction

Rules

Faction leader

Diplomatic Actions

Assuming Leadership

Allies

Axis

Comintern

Chinese United Front

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Other possible factions

Novus Imperium Romanum

The Berlin-Moscow Axis

Anti-Soviet Pact

Little Entente

Stresa Front

Międzymorze

Factions added in Together for Victory

Northern Sovereignty Coalition

North-American Alliance

The South-West Pacific Initiative

Western Pacific Sphere

Daitoa Kyoeiken

African People's Union

Factions added in Death or Dishonor

Balkan Defence League

Pan-Slavic Worker's Congress

Greater Balkan Worker’s Congress

Union of Communist Soviets

Czech Entente

Pact of Rome

Cordon Sanitaire

Balkan Entente

Balkan Pact

House Bernadotte

Bucharest Accords

Factions added in Waking the Tiger

Central European Alliance

Anti-Communist Bloc

Central Powers

Asian Communist Solidarity

Mutual Assistance Bloc

Government of National Defense

The New International

The Old Alliance

The People's Front

West Pacific Treaty Organization

Factions added in Man the Guns

Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance

Anglo-Italian Pact

British Communist Alternative

Commonwealth of Nations

The Coalition

Coalition of Free Commonwealth States

Hispanic Alliance

Bolivarian Alliance

4th International

Community of Nations

Benelux

European Union

Factions added in La Résistance

Latin Entente

Confédération du Rhin

Legitimist Alliance

Anti-Fascist Bloc

Anti-Fascist Coalition

Paris Accords

Latin Bloc

International Bureau of Revolutionary Socialist Unity

Popular Front Bloc

Royal Iberian Alliance

Factions added in Battle for the Bosporus

Corfu Cooperative

Argos Alliance

Balkan Federation of Socialist Republics

League of Balkan Confederacies

Greater Bulgarian Federation

Saadabad Concordat

Anti-Bolshevik Accord