Very good commander, shock troops with recon make for Very effective, early game commander. late game the KV-8 comes in handy supporting your T-34/76's and SU-85's to handle infantry quickly. The incendiary barrage/propaganda comes in handy in late game to get troops off of your capture points.
Has trouble in late game versus heavy, or very heavy tanks. In early and mid game try to keep enemy occupied with your shock troops and At guns. in mid game/late game try to go eather 5x T-34/76's or 3x SU-85s to deal with heavy armor.