Disable the auto-updater in the settings of the launcher and try again.
If that doesn't work, try to create a shorcut of RelicCoH.exe and add some parameters:
-dev means mode to run mods.
-nomovies means skip the movies played when starting the application.
-mod which mod are you playing.
-novsync vertical sync disabled.
-notriplebuffer Triple buffer disabled.
You need at least the first three. And the shorcut should be something like:
"C:\Program Files\THQ\Company of Heroes\RelicCOH.exe" -dev -mod Eastern_Front -nomovies
If you want to add some other parameter besides these three feel free to do it.
Mors Indecepta
Might controls everything, and without strength you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself...