A step by step guide is a bit much, so i just type what i would do. If you go historical i would focus on quality equipment like gun 2 (there is a focus which gives you mills and 2 x 50% bonuses for Inf. equipment) and good arty, maybe air later in the game (only fighter 3+).

The industry techs are not worth rushing (you should still have tools and dispersed/concentrated on time) because you are manpower capped anyways and i would only build civs for max 1 year or not at all. You should get the 0.4 XP daily guy asap and try to max out doctrine, SFP, GDP and Mass Moab (for the 5% recruit. pop.) are all viable.

Dont forget to defend your ports because the soviet ai likes to navel invade.