Rule #1 of Axis & Allies: You never finish the game.
Rule #2: You REALLY never finish the game.
Literally, I have played this game about six times over the years and I've never finished it once. I've played the original Avalon Hill version, the original Europe, the anniversary edition, the original Pacific, the new world map, and the combined new Europe & Pacific maps. The game takes forever! Last time we played, we literally were playing a game of Catan on the side because each turn took so long. I love the idea and the complexity, but the game just isn't fun in the long run. I much prefer 1-2 hour games that eventually end.
That all being said, I totally destroyed Russia using Italian forces in the combined Europe-Pacific map. It was amazing. I snuck through the Middle East and just rallied them. Silly Russians.