In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to get Trotsky to lead the Soviet Union in Hearts of Iron IV.
Note: The game event that brings Trotsky into the game is currently slightly bugged, but we’ll show you how to fix it at the end of the article.
Permanent Revolution Event
Once you start the game, you’ll see the ‘Permanent Revolution’ event eventually appear. This is the event that brings Trotsky into the game. The date it appears may vary, but in this tutorial, it appeared on September 22nd, 1938.
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Civil War and Trotsky as Leader
If you get Trotsky, Stalin will die and be replaced. You’ll also have to fight a little Russia led by Ivan Konev. There may also be a massive civil war. Trotsky’s leader trait is permanent revolutionary, which has its advantages and disadvantages.
Unthinkable Event
If you go for the ‘Unthinkable’ event instead, you’ll still have Stalin as your leader, and you’ll fight against the Trotskyists. The civil war will be called the ‘Second Russian Civil War.’
How to Fix the Trotsky Glitch
First, navigate to the folder where the game is installed. Open the ‘common’ folder and find the ‘events’ folder. You can open this folder with a notepad, but using notepad++ is easier.
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Scroll down through the events until you reach the ‘null purge is completed’ event. This is where you need to make changes. Currently, this event is bugged. To get Trotsky into the game, delete the three files and just keep the line. Save the changes.
Start a new game as the Soviet Union. You’ll still have Stalin, which is normal. To get Trotsky, don’t do the purge focus. You can do all the other normal things with the Soviet Union.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can get Trotsky to lead the Soviet Union in Hearts of Iron IV. Remember not to do the purge focus and to keep the line in the ‘null purge is completed’ event.
With Trotsky as your leader, you’ll have to face a civil war and other challenges, but it can be a rewarding experience.