Profile of InfiniteDakka

I do agree soviets have a strong advantage vs OKW early to midgame, but I actually think soviet t2 is harder to fight than sov t1.

Maxim spam is hard to counter because OKW have no cost effective units to fight off maxim spam. This is because the infantry support gun for its cost (420) simply cannot keep up with the number of maxims soviets can put out. One support gun can't handle 2-4 6-man mg teams in an engagement. Volksgrens are exactly what the maxim counters, and their grenades are too expensive for their effect. Kubels simply die to the maxim's dmg, it doesnt matter if they flank and get a suppression. Sturmpios have no utility (no smoke, no grenades) to assault maxims, so maxims in structures or covering each other are very hard to fight.
So t1 OKW don't have tools to deal with spammed maxims, and the t2 ISG is too expensive and slow to take out high numbers of the 6 man maxim squad. How about t3 armor? Well, the flak ht does crazy dmg, but it's extremely vulnerable when the soviet field gun arrives due to its setup and teardown time, so it's not a reliable or scaling option. Pumas are okay for flanking i guess, but they certainly take a while to get out. The best counter - the walking stuka - a 100 fuel purchase, can't come until you've likely lost most of the map.

To summarize, I think OKW have a very hard time vs sov t2 earlygame because they just don't have any cost effective units and NO SMOKE until early midgame.

Some helpful tips:

Don't ever buy kubels vs soviets. T0, T1 and T2 sovs have easy counters to them.

Have at least 2 sturmpios early for better flexibility vs all soviet tiers. 2 sturms can actually do very good damage against a charging scout car, and if you expect scout car spam you should definitely get a raketenwerfer (hold fire until the cars show up to avoid being spotted and flanked). Sturms also have a chance to flank maxims before soviets fortify a position with 3 or 4 of them.

Make sure you use the puma's superior range and mobility against t34s. Like the US's tank destroyers, you have to kite and outrange with the puma. Dont forget smoke if things turn bad!

If you can survive to midgame, obviously falls or obers are powerful units that can go toe to toe with any soviet unit. 2 upgraded obers can shoot maxim gunners before they can fire back, basically countering their own counter.

Panzerfusiliers can spot units from far away. Use this to avoid picking fights you won't win, pick off isolated units, or hit them with indirect fire.

I do think OKW have a very strong lategame, so they aren't without hope. But earlygame is rough. I guess i just cant stop whining about maxims haha.