Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Steel Division 2
Recap of 2020
Hello commander!
That’s right, welcome to a bit of a surprise! We wanted to look at all the good things that came out of Eugen’s workshop in 2020, and we realized we need a separate, dedicated DevBlog post to really do this justice.
Much like we did last year, we are going to highlight all the DLCs and bigger expansions we released for Steel Division 2 in 2020. No small feat in an otherwise challenging year for all, so let’s celebrate it together!
Our regular blog post schedule continues as usual, so expect a new Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics Versus article this Thursday.
In February, we released our first free DLC of the year: Reinforcement Pack #6. This DLC introduced the Auto Deployment mechanic, which greatly sped up deployment not only in our Army General campaigns but also during Skirmish matches.
What came before was just an appetizer. In March, we released the History Expansion: Steel Division 2: The Fate of Finland. This was the second of the three paid expansions we promised to deliver within one year of Steel Division 2’s launch.
Steel Division 2: The Fate of Finland features:
6 new Divisions, including unique Finnish formations. As the Axis, play with Panssaridivisioona, the Ryhmä Raappana, and the 122. Infanterie-Division. As the Allies receive access to the 126-y L. Gornostrelkovy Korpus, the Podv. Gruppa Vyborg, and the 358-ya Strelkovy Div.
1 new massive Army General campaign - Tali-Ihantala - as well as two new Historical Battles, The Last Battle and Fate of a Nation.
A host of new units, such as the BT-42 assault gun, the multi-turreted T-28 tank, the Finnish T-26E, the fast BT-7 and the state-of-the-art ISU-122S. Take to the skies with warplanes such as the Polikarpov I-153 biplane, the lend-lease P-40 Kittyhawk, the Italian-made Fiat G.50 or the Finnish-designed VL Myrsky.
2 new Aces: Eino “Illu” Juutilainen and his Me-109 G-2/R1 fighter, and Alexander Bilyukin with his lend-lease P-39N Aircobra.
We also released another free DLC in March: Reinforcement Pack #7. This DLC brought you the new Rules of Engagement mechanic, allowing you to fine tune the default behavior of units when executing certain types of orders.
April to June
In April, we brought you the Reinforcement Pack #8 re-introducing an often-requested points-based game mode from Steel Division: Normandy 44: Destruction.
Not only that, but we also rolled out several improvements to the Army General mode, including a new way to display a pawn’s strength, new unit pawn labels, and an improved Autoresolve panel.
A whole bunch of good stuff came in June, with our commemoration of the invasion of Normandy on June 6th including a brand-new DLC for Steel Division 2, Tribute to D-Day, featuring 6 original divisions from Steel Division: Normandy 44.
This DLC brings:
6 new divisions, including the Polish 1 Dywizja Pancerna, the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, and the 6th British Airborne. For the Germans, you’ll get the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division, the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”, and the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen”.
A comeback of fan-favorite units such as the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer, Cromwell and Tetrarch tanks, “Beute” Firefly tank, Fallschirmjäger, U.S. Rangers, and more.
You’d think the summer would be quiet. Guess again! In August, we released the third and final of our originally announced History Expansions: Steel Division: Black Sunday.
Steel Division 2: Black Sunday features:
Experience the Jassy-Kichinev offensive into Axis Romania during World War 2 with 2 brand-new Army General strategic campaigns, each focussing on one of the massive pincers of this Soviet assault in August 1944.
6 new divisions, including the Romanian 1 Blindata “România Mare”, the 5 Cavalerie Motorizatâ, and the Division 4 Munte. As the Allies, play with the 7-y Mekh. Korpus, the 3-ya VDV Div. or the Morsk. Gruppa Bakhtina.
Over 150 new units, such as the TACAM T-60, the Resita AC 75mm AT gun, Vanatorul de Care R-35 tank destroyer, Italian license-built JRS-79B bombers and IAR-80M fighters, off-map MLRS rocket BKA riverboats, repurposed SU-76i tank destroyers, and T-80s tanks.
2 new Aces: the Romanian tank buster Lazar Munteanu and Konstantin Dmitrievich Denisov.
Update how your units look with over 15 new Camouflage Skins, from official French early war patterns for the R-35 or the Moscow 1942 air defense markings for a Spitfire Mk VB fighter.
We were not done yet! Moving towards the tail-end of 2020, we started to launch the first of our new Nemesis DLC. These smaller expansions feature a pair of new divisions, with new units, as voted on by you, the community. Each Nemesis DLC is the result of three voting rounds, with only the most popular DLC option to be released.
The first Nemesis DLC was decided on by us, and launched in October for free. Nemesis #1: Sandomierz Bridgehead featured the German 16. Panzerdivision and the Soviet 97-ya Gv. Strelk. Div. It also brings the new Königstiger (H) and Razveddozor unit, as well as 1 new Ace, Aleksander P. Oskin and 1 alternative Camouflage Skin for the 1 Königstiger (H).
And in November it was time for our first player-voted Nemesis DLC, Nemesis #2: Lvov Offensive. This mini expansion brought the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the 10. Gv. Tank. Korpus, as well as 1 new Ace, Helmut Bruck. This Nemesis DLC and also features a variety of new units including Bef.Tiger (P), Elefant, Panzer V/IV, T-5 Pantera, Flakpanzer T-34(r), among others.
What happens next?
We are still mighty busy with lots of new things. 2021 is promising to blow 2020 out of the water - that’s for sure! What are we working on?
1 massive new Army General campaign set in the Baltics during Operation Doppelkopf, allowing you to take command of either the attacking Axis 3. Panzerarmee or the defending Allied 1st Baltic Front.
8 new Divisions, playable solo, coop, or in multiplayer, including 6 which took part during Doppelkopf and 2 divisions from Army Group North’s theater of operations.
120+ new units, including a variety of new models such as Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) recon tank, Ar 196 A-3 floatplane, Soviet MT-13 160mm super-heavy mortar and the BS-3 100mm heavy AT gun.
1 gigantic new 10v10 map, the largest map ever to be included in Steel Division 2.
2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.
Don’t forget: Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is coming your way. The launch of this Nemesis DLC is on January 28th!
Until Thursday!
We are back again this Thursday with a regular post. Let us know what you think. If you want to reach out to us, do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.
See you on the battlefield, commander!
Burning Baltics Expansion - Armored Versus #1
Back in action, commander!
As promised in the last week’s reveal of Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics, we’ll be taking an in-depth look today into the first pair of new divisions to be featured in our new History Expansion.
We’ll follow the same Versus format as we did with Steel Division 2: Black Sunday. Each new division is paired and divided into several categories: Armored, Mechanized, Infantry, and Special.
This week, we’ll be highlighting awesome tank power with the two new Armored battlegroups: Panzerverband Strachwitz for the Axis and 19-y Tank Corpus for the Allies.
Historical Context
A quick recap of the strategic situation of Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics. By July 1944, the Soviets have reached the Gulf of Riga, cutting off Army Group North (in the Baltics) from Army Group Center (Latvia and Lithuania, and further south). Recognizing the critical need to reestablish a link, the Germans immediately organize a counter-attack: Operation Doppelkopf. This offensive will turn out to be the last major victory for Nazi-Germany on the Eastern Front.
Panzerverband Strachwitz
Panzerverband Strachwitz was an ad hoc armored formation made up of two existing Panzer Brigades, brought together right before the start of the counter-offensive. Commanded by the colorful Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz, also known as the (equally cool) Der Panzergraf (“The Panzer Count”), a large variety of tanks can be found in this battlegroup.
During Operation Doppelkopf, Panzerverband Strachwitz proved instrumental in the offensive’s success. It broke through the Soviet lines, outmaneuvering and forcing the surrender of a much larger enemy force at Tukums, capturing useful military stores, and reaching Riga with Der Panzergraf leading from the front every step of the way. The heavy cruiser “Prinz Eugen” provided timely fire support from the nearby Gulf of Riga, devastating Red Army positions with accurate naval artillery bombardments.
Panzerverband Strachwitz’s main features
A very offensive battlegroup, Panzerverband Strachwitz contains a unique mix of units and vehicles, including a varied selection of tanks, from obsolete training variants to brand-new Panther A and G tanks, as well as captured Soviet T-34/85. There is more on offer: from truck-borne Panzergrenadier troops to armored scout cars and half-tracks, SS units, Latvian artillery, and the awesome fire support of the “Prinz Eugen.”
The battlegroup features a very strong armored core, made up from Panzer-Brigade 101, and SS-Panzer-Brigade Groß. This means the player can command a large variety of different tanks, such as Panzer III, Luchs, StuG, Panzer IV, and several Tiger E.
Infantry can also be found in various flavors, including normal Grenadier or Panzergrenadier variety, transported by truck or half-track.
Heavy reconnaissance units, including the new Erkundung unit. A heavy recon pioneer squad it deploys together with the new SdKfz. 251/1 Ausf. D.
To reflect the shiny new toys brought by Panzer-Brigade 101, we’ve further modeled the SdKfz. 251 Ausf. D half-track, detailing the variety of sub-variants in a more accurate way.
This includes the new SdKfz. 251/1 Ausf. D Erkundung recon variant, a new SdKfz. 251/9 Ausf. D full fire support variant, carrying more ammo than its original counterpart, including HEAT rounds, and a new SdKfz. 251/7 Ausf. D. This last version is both an AA and 20mm AT transport vehicle, being able to carry an Infantry Leader squad.
A huge booty of Soviet war materiel was captured during the offensive, including tanks. This allows Panzerverband Strachwitz to have access to several Beute T-34/85 from Phase B onwards.
Off-map artillery is provided by the Prinz Eugen, which can deploy its Ar 196 A-3 (a brand-new model) floatplane for accurate fire missions using its 203mm naval guns.
Good air support is also available to this battlegroup, thanks to a strong detachment of Panzervogel Stuka (Ju-87 with 2x37mm AT guns) and bombers. A new bomber is also featured: the Do 217E-4, a new variant of the Do 217.
Great on the attack, Panzerverband Strachwitz features a variety of tanks, cheap slots, good tank-busting air support, and powerful off-map naval artillery. It’s not as strong on the defensive, with restricted AT and AA slots and choices, as well as only an average mix of ground artillery units.
19-y Tank Corpus
Formed in the dying days of 1942, the 19-y Tank Corpus (19th Tank Corps) fought on the Bryansk Front, and in the combat that followed for many hard months, was almost wiped out. The formation kept fighting, taking part in the counter-offensives at Kursk. Attached to the 4th Ukrainian Front, it took part in the Dniepr Offensive, then the follow-up Operation Melitopol which brought the Red Army back to Crimea. Heavily reinforced with assault guns and flamethrower tanks (some retained until the end of the war), the corps distinguished itself well by liberating Sevastopol.
Once again brought under the reserve of the Soviet High Command (Stavka), the 19-y Tank Corpus was refitted entirely with T-34/85 by June 1944. While not taking part in the opening battles of Operation Bagration, it was used to exploit the breakthrough at Vitebsk, fighting its way through Lithuania and Latvia, right up to the Gulf of Riga.
Worn-out and depleted of supporting infantry, the 19-y Tank Corpus was the only immediately available armored reserve formation in the area. As such, it managed to counter the German attacking spearheads. Reinforced with various artillery troops and other armored units, the corps bought valuable time for the 5th Tank Army to be rushed to the front. Surviving the offensive, the 19-y Tank Corpus remained in the Baltics, fighting to reduce the Courland Pocket until the end of the war.
19-y Tank Corpus’ main features
Being held in reserve, the 19-y Tank Corpus is an armored battlegroup, equipped with T-34/85, focused on defensive operations with a broader choice of artillery and AA units. It does feature more restricted numbers of tanks and infantry.
A classic Soviet tank corps, this battlegroup features a host of T-34/85. Due to its reserve status, the 19-y Tank Corpus has access to only a limited amount of TANK and INF slots and cards.
The formation can call on a detachment of heavy tanks for additional armor support, which comes in the form of the KV-85.
In support, OT-34 flamethrower tanks can be found, as well as a few heavy SU-152.
The 19-y Tank Corpus can call on plentiful of AA and Artillery units, including heavy AA guns, Katyusha launchers, 152mm guns and even 203mm howitzers.
Air support is typical for similar Allied battlegroups, but features a new unit, the lend-lease American B-25J-30, a heavily modified bomber doubling as a close support plane, armed with seven forward-facing .50 cal machine guns.
It might lack the armored punch normally seen with comparable battlegroups, but the 19-y Tank Corpus makes up for this by being more than flexible on the defensive, thanks to its support, AA, and artillery units.
What can you expect from Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics?
In case you missed our reveal last week: Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics will feature:
1 massive new Army General campaign set in the Baltics during Operation Doppelkopf, allowing you to take command of either the attacking Axis 3. Panzerarmee or the defending Allied 1st Baltic Front.
8 new Divisions, playable solo, coop, or in multiplayer, including 6 which took part during Doppelkopf and 2 divisions from Army Group North’s theater of operations.
120+ new units, including a variety of new models such as Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) recon tank, Ar 196 A-3 floatplane, Soviet MT-13 160mm super-heavy mortar and the BS-3 100mm heavy AT gun.
1 gigantic new 10v10 map.
2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.
Until next week!
Don’t forget: Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is coming your way. The launch of this Nemesis DLC is on January 28th!
Without any further ado: the next History Expansion for Steel Division 2 will be Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics!
We shared the key art for Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics in last week’s post, and some of you correctly surmised that we would bring the action to the north and feature the hard-fought (and pretty much last) major, successful German counter-offensive on the Eastern Front.
What can you expect from our next expansion featuring Operation Doppelkopf?
Keep reading to find out more!
Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics
Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics takes place in, you might have guessed it, the Baltics. To be exact: our new History Expansion features Nazi-Germany’s last big counter-attack, Operation Doppelkopf, which kicked off in August 1944, in the region south of Riga, the Latvian capital. The offensive’s aim? To re-establish communications between Army Group Center (holding on to parts of Lithuania and Latvia) and Army Group North (cut-off and fighting further north of Riga).
Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics will feature:
1 massive, new Army General campaign.
8 new Divisions, including 6 which took part during Doppelkopf and 2 Divisions from Army Group North.
120+ new units, including a variety of new models such as Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) recon tank, Soviet MT-13 160mm super-heavy mortar and the BS-3 100mm heavy AT gun.
1 gigantic 10v10 map, as well as the new Very Small map edit.
2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.
Please note that Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics is NOT included in the Steel Division 2 - History Pass. This History Pass grants you access to the original three History Expansions:
Let’s look at the historical background of Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics. The Wehrmacht is reeling from the massive blows inflicted during Operation Bagration. In the northeast, the Baltics, the German defensive lines have crumbled.
Having punched through the German lines, a Red Army spearhead reaches the Baltic shoreline in the Gulf of Riga by the end of July, west of the Latvian capital.
This severs the connection between the Wehrmacht’s Army Group North and what is left of Army Group Centre. Reestablishing this link becomes the prime objective of Operation Doppelkopf: one of the last, major victorious Axis offensives on the Eastern Front.
Having turned their attention to Riga, the Soviets are besieging the city. The covering and flanking troops are stretched thin, but the mighty Red Army, even though tired, is still a force to be reckoned with. At this critical point, the Germans group together elements from no less than five Panzerdivisionen, one Panzergrenadier-Division (the mighty “Grossdeutschland”), and one armored Kampfgruppe. That’s a mighty powerful armored fist!
For once, it is the Soviets that are taken by surprise. The Red Army’s delaying actions are moderately successful, buying critical time for emergency Allied armored reinforcements to be brought up from the rear. However, the Germans push through. After heavy combat, including artillery support from Kriegsmarine cruisers in the Baltic Sea shelling enemy positions, the German troops managed to establish a tenuous link with Army Group North.
The victory (and the coherent front that comes with it) is short-lived. Less than two months later, the Red Army attacked again. In the resulting Memel Offensive Operation, the Soviets manage to reach the Baltic Sea once more. This time, the German forces in the Baltic States are cut off for real, and for the remaining of the war, a sizable portion of German formations are held up in the Courland Pocket and at a bridgehead at Memel.
In the new Army General campaign of Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics, you’ll take command of either the 3. Panzerarmee or 1st Baltic Front. And this time, the traditional roles on the Eastern Front are swapped around: the Axis attack, and the Allies are put on the defensive.
Eight New Divisions
All of the following divisions, playable in all solo, cooperative or multiplayer modes, will be extensively detailed in future blog posts.
11. SS-Freiw.Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland” - Part of Army Group North
The Allies
19-y Tank Korpus - Armored
Rezerv 43-y Armii - Mechanized
Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin - Infantry
7-ya Strelkovy Div. (Est.) - Part of Soviet operations further north.
Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics will feature two brand-new nations, fully voiced: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies). We haven’t forgotten Latvia, though. Troops from this nation were fighting as part of the Waffen-SS, and as such will be featured as fully voiced, unique German unit (in the same vein as French LVF or Italian SS-Legionari).
Two new Aces will also be included in Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics. They will be highlighted in a future blog post.
What’s Next?
That’s it for the reveal of Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics. Be sure to check in next week: we’ll start with highlighting key details of our new History Expansion, including in-depth looks into each individual division.
Lest we forget: Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is coming your way. The full launch of this Nemesis We’ll be releasing our new Nemesis DLC on January 28th. Be sure to grab it when it launches!
Happy New Year to all! We are glad you made it. Let’s hope that 2021 will be infinitely more kick-ass than the last (rather crappy) year. At Eugen, we are damned sure to do our part in achieving that lofty goal, at least when it comes to everything related to Steel Division 2 .
How? Well, keep on reading to find out what we have in store for (early) 2021!
Coming up next
What can you expect from us this year? As a matter of fact, lots of things. From the very start, we pledged to keep working on and supporting Steel Division 2. We aim to continue to do this for the foreseeable future.
There is plenty of things in the Eugen pipeline, including one or two super secret things we are working on, not ready yet to be shown in the public light. Who knows, who knows…
What we can talk about is:
MAPS!
Yup, that’s it. We hear you (extremely loud and clear, don’t you worry), and we are going to expand the roster of maps currently featured in Steel Division 2. This means:
We are putting the finishing touches on the previously announced urban map. Check out the deets in our previous post here. Expect some challenging house-to-house combat in this new urban map, which mixes semi- and dense urban terrain. When will it come? Soon, we promise!
We are working on a new dedicated 10v10 map. This new map will use all the available space to its fullest extent, meaning that there will be no leftover terrain on either side. As such, it will feature the largest playing area of all maps.
We are also working on providing a Very Small edit of existing maps. This will allow them to be played more comfortably during 1v1 or Tactical games.
Updated Game Lobby
Moving forward, we’ll introduce the possibility to create (and search) for 6v6 games. Not only that: we will also present an option for players to create their own 10v10 private servers.
Gameplay Changes
One of the gameplay elements we wanted to improve was an armored warfare overhaul (tank and anti-tank combat ranges). We are still working on this. Providing more realistic engagement ranges, including reducing some of the effective combat ranges of various tank guns, takes a bit longer than expected.
In case you’ve forgotten: this new take on armored warfare aims to reduce the amount of inconclusive engagements at extreme ranges, with armor exchanging fire without any result. Our new approach introduces a broader array of gun ranges, meaning that different tank guns will perform better (or worse) at different ranges.
Before we roll out the new combat ranges, we want to update the Effective Shot mechanic as well. In the future, players will treat this as a Rules of Engagement variable, letting them set the desired engagement range of any units, including infantry.
Army General Improvements
We are working on a bunch of Army General improvements including:
Improved Auto Resolve mechanics. They will be more streamlined while taking better into account the type of environment (urban, woods) during a combat resolution.
Improved tactical combat, including the possibility of bringing five battalions to a fight. This is two more than the current maximum of three battalions.
Improved display of battalion strengths to make this information more readable.
Improved Army General’s AI, with the latter using its armored battalions more effectively. This also includes a more cunning use of artillery by the computer to neutralize key enemy battalions.
Improved movement. To make it more transparent and fluid when moving battalions.
A new History Expansion
Ooooh…, that’s right: we are getting very close to revealing all the juicy details concerning the new History Expansion we are working on. The excitement… it’s almost unbearable. Expect some new info very soon!
Until next week!
And that’s it for our future look into 2021. Lots of good things are coming your way - that’s for sure.
Before we forget: Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is heading your way very soon. We’ll be releasing our new Nemesis DLC on January 28th. Be sure to grab it when it launches!
Meanwhile, we are already at work on the next Nemesis DLC, Storming Toulon, with its Légion, Tirailleurs & Kriegsmarine infantry. Read all about the Nemesis: Storming Toulon in this detailed blog post.
Welcome to the final blog post of 2020! It surely has been a long year for all of us, no doubt.
At Eugen, we have tried our best to steer the ship through 2020s dark waters and stormy weather, and we sincerely hope that you’ve liked what came out of our creative spaces and (home) offices during this time. We never stopped working!
As a matter of fact, we’ve got plenty of interesting things planned for you in the new year! Exciting times are coming.
Before we adjourn for the holiday season, we wanted to give you a deep dive into our third Nemesis DLC, including listing all the new units and variants. Expect Nemesis: Battle of Rimini to be released in the not-too-distant future!
Keep reading to find out more.
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini Updated
Let’s rewind. Nemesis: Battle of Rimini takes place at the end of summer 1944, when the Allies are dead set on breaking through the Gothic defensive line in Italy. The Adriatic coastline looks most promising. If the British Eighth Army can enact a breakthrough here, near Rimini, it might force the Germans to redeploy precious forces. This would weaken the center and allow the American troops to punch through and push towards the coast. With one flank rolled up, the road to northern Italy would lay open. This Allied plan became known as Operation Olive.
However, the offensive doesn’t exactly go as planned. The Allied focus, including supplies and manpower, is aimed at other theatres, mostly Normandy and in the south of France with Operation Dragoon. Not only that: due to tempestuous weather, Operation Olive bogs down quickly. Even though the opening battles take the Axis defenders by surprise, tenacious resistance by, amongst others, the paratroopers of the 1. Fallschirmjäger makes it slow going for the Allied units. When 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade steps into the fray, it only results in a slow grind through the rain and mud, until the now ruined Rimini is finally liberated after weeks of heavy combat.
1. Fallschirmjäger
Once considered elite and at the forefront of early war German airborne operations, by the time Operation Olive swings around, the 1. Fallschirmjäger has been decimated in the costly battles of Crete and Italy. The veteran paratroopers recapture some of their lost glory through their legendary defense of the Monte Cassino monastery. Depleted in strength, the 1. Fallschirmjäger is reinforced by fresh Grenadier recruits and elements from 162. (Turk.) Infanterie-Division - Osttruppen from Soviet minorities. Excellent while defending, the battlegroup can count on considerable support forces, especially in anti-tank and anti-aircraft units.
What can you expect of the 1. Fallschirmjäger?
The Recon tab is limited, with few slots and all options being scouts on foot.
A powerful advantage of this battlegroup is the quality and availability in its Infantry tab; there are quite a few slots available with lots of choice. For instance, players can select various elite Fallschirmjäger variants (including a new Fs-Stosstrupp assault squad) which come equipped with the Raider trait. These units are supported by regular Grenadier with MGs, and cheaper Ost-Legionäre (with the Disheartened trait).
What Tanks might lack in variety, it makes up for sheer firepower. All options are Tiger Es!
A regular Support tab, with a standard mix of MGs from Maxim to Fallschirmjäger MG-34s with the Raider trait. Some LG 42 can also be found in a fire support role.
Excellent Anti-Tank forces are at the player’s disposal: light Püppchen and PaK 177 (captured Italian 47mm Elefantino), PaK 40, Nashorn, Jagdpanzer IV and PaK 43.
The Artillery tab is basic with mostly mortars on offer, including 81mm and 120mm. Towed gun pieces are light mountain 75mm guns (with HEAT rounds) and standard 105mm howitzers.
The battlegroup’s AA tab is very good, with many open slots. Options are cheap, including classics such as towed 20mm, 37mm and 88mm, and the self-propelled Breda 20mm mounted on an Italian SPA-38 truck.
The Air tab is average, with fighters and fighter-bombers, although some bomber units can be found. Two captured Italian planes can be deployed: the recon biplane CR.42 and the Re.2005 fighter.
2nd New Zealand Division
As a hybrid combined-arms battlegroup, the 2nd New Zealand Division was a bit of an odd duck among the Allied forces. Having fought in the North African and Mediterranean theatre as part of the British Eighth Army, the veteran formation featured the attached 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade. Notorious for its troops’ looting behavior, the Kiwi formation contains some weaponry of questionable origin, including captured German and other “liberated” Allied materiel. The 2nd New Zealand Division doesn’t have any real shortcomings, being balanced on both the offense and defense.
What can you expect of the 2nd New Zealand Division?
This battlegroup has a large amount of choice in the Recon tab, including some Greek units equipped with radio, as well as heavy turretless Stuart scout APCs and armored cars (Staghound).
There is quite a bit of variety with the Infantry on offer: from Maori heavy infantry squads fielding captured MP-40 and twin MG-34, and featuring the Fanatical trait, to Greek mountaineer squads with the Raider trait, and Diggers as regular Commonwealth infantry.
The Tank category is rather standard with either Stuarts or Shermans 75mm deployable.
A pretty decent Support tab, with typical Commonwealth units. More captured materiel can be found here, including MG-42 and “liberated” M2 .50 cal MGs. Several fire support vehicles are available: Sherman Ib (short 105mm) and Staghound Mk.II ( short 76mm).
Anti-tank forces are pretty regular with 6-pdr towed guns (either New Zealand or Greek operated, the latter bringing the Raider trait), Wolverine and 17-pdr guns.
Basic Artillery tab with mortars and 25-pdr guns, all of them coming in either New Zealand or Greek variants. Some heavy off-map Canadian artillery support is available.
Not much in the way of anti-aircraft units, with only a select number of Bofors guns and captured Italian 20 mm Breda pieces mounted on Morris trucks.
An average Air tab, with plenty of options but mostly limited to older equipment including fighter and fighter-bombers, and a few recon fighters and light bombers. The new Beaufighter and Baltimore bomber can be deployed as well.
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini’s new units and models
The following new units can be found in Nemesis: Battle of Rimini:
New Units
(NZ) Maori - heavy infantry.
(Greek) Oplites - mountain infantry.
(Greek) Anichnefetis - mountain scouts.
(Greek) Baltimore Mk. V - bomber.
(British) Beaufighter Mk. X - heavy fighter.
Fs-Stosstrupp - paratrooper assault squad brimming with automatic weapons.
Ost-Legionäre - infantry with Disheartened trait, entirely equipped with Soviet weaponry.
Re.2005 - captured Italian fighter.
SPA-38R - captured Italian truck.
SPA-38R Breda - self-propelled captured Breda AA gun.
New Variants or Models
(NZ) Carrier .30 - recon carrier with two M1919 MGs.
(NZ) Carrier .50 - recon carrier with one M1919 and one M2 .50 MG.
(NZ) Staghound Mk.II - fire-support version with a short 76mm.
(British) Boston Mk.III - currently only featured in French battlegroups as the DB-73.
P-51C Mustang - only featured in Polish battlegroups as the Mustang Mk.III. Note that these will be deployable as part of the famous “Red Tails”, the first African-American fighter group.
Lince - Italian-built variant of the Daimler Scout car.
Grenadier (MG-42) - regular Grenadier unit but equipped with an MG-42 instead of MG-34. As fresh recruits, they can’t be deployed with veterancy.
JU 88A-4 - bomber, previously featured in Hungarian and Finnish battlegroups.
CR-42 - Italian biplane, previously only featured in Hungarian battlegroups.
PaK 177 - captured Italian Breda 47mm guns. Already featured with Romania, though as a fire support gun. As used by the 1. Fallschirmjäger it will be a light anti-tank gun.
A small model fix: the existing Soviet Spitfire Mk.Vb has been updated (for all players, not only DLC owners).
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini will also ship with a new Allied Ace: the Greek fighter pilot Marinos Mitralexis, famous for performing one of the first ramming attacks of the war - and surviving to tell the tale. Mitralexis took down an Italian bomber over Albania in 1940 with his plane’s propeller. This Ace kept fighting with the Allied Hellenic Royal Air Force. Mitralexis’s plane in-game will be the Spitfire Mk.Vc/trop.
Which Nemesis DLC can you play already?
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is our firstNemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing several new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
The secondNemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive is available now for €4.99 / $4.99! This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera.
This will be our last post for 2020. From the whole Eugen team, we wish you all the best and prosperity, not only to you but also to your friends, family, and loved ones.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay strong. See you on the battlefield in 2021! Happy holidays, commander!
Nemesis DLC Run 4 Winner Revealed
Welcome back, commander.
That’s it, the results are in: we have an official winner of our fourth Nemesis DLC run! In the not-too-distant future, you’ll be able to play with the one, the only: Nemesis: Storming Toulon.
Let’s take a look at how the votes dropped: Nemesis: Storming Toulon edged out ahead with 45% of the vote, followed closely by Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff with 38.1%. Coming in last, Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș garnered 16.9% of the poll’s share.
From the whole Eugen team, we wanted to thank you for participating in this Nemesis DLC poll. We appreciate your efforts in keeping it cool and clean. Good stuff!
The winner is Nemesis: Storming Toulon
As the winner of the latest community vote, Nemesis: Storming Toulon will be our fourth Nemesis DLC. Highlighting the opening battles for the important port of Toulon during Operation Dragoon - the Allied invasion of Southern France in August 1944 - it features two fascinating battlegroups: Verteidigungsbereich Toulon versus the 1e Division Française Libre.
What can you expect from Nemesis: Storming Toulon?
Verteidigungsbereich Toulon
An ad hoc Axis battlegroup composed of Kriegsmarine Seesoldaten garrison units, German naval commando pioneers, Kadetten, Brandenburger special forces, regular Grenadier infantry, and even elite Italian San Marco naval troops.
A heavy dose of artillery, reflecting the historical presence of naval batteries, bunkers and Flak units. This includes a variety of calibers: Skoda 75mm, Italian 149mm and Soviet 152mm howitzers, and heavy Flak 38 105mm.
Off-map artillery is also available, with the extra firepower coming from big platforms such as 138mm, 164mm or 340mm.
1e Division Française Libre
The “real deal” of the Free French will bring a melting pot of a battlegroup containing everything from experienced Légionnaires, Polynesians infantry, veteran North African soldiers, Central Africans reinforcements, and Commandos d’Afrique and Parachutistes de Choc special forces.
Additional firepower is provided by a combat command from the armored 1e Division Blindée with Stuarts, M10s and Shermans.
Artillery support is made up of 105mm and 155mm (Long Tom) howitzers, with AA cover offered by towed Bofors AA guns.
Air support will come from the Free French Air Force, as well as British carrier-borne squadrons. This includes B-26 Marauders, P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Kittyhawk, P-47D Thunderbolt and Spitfire, as well as Hellcat, Wildcat and Supermarine Seafire fighters.
Nemesis: Storming Toulon will also feature a new type of defensive structure. The so-called Tobruk bunker, which is essentially the obsolete tank turret of a S35 Somua (47mm), R35 (37mm) or Panzer II (20mm) mated to a concrete casemate.
Read all about the Nemesis: Storming Toulon in the original detailed blog post.
What happens next?
As we mentioned during our previous community votes, the runner-up Nemesis DLC options will see a play-off vote in the future. Currently, we have the following silver medalists waiting for their second chance: Nemesis: Raid on Drvar, Nemesis: Slovak Uprising, and now Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff. We will let you know when (and how) a new poll will happen. Keep an ear to the ground.
There are only winners with our Nemesis DLC, except for the third place losers, which this time is Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș. Back to the drawing board with this idea!
Which Nemesis DLC can you play already?
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is our firstNemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
The secondNemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive is available now for €4.99 / $4.99! This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera..
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached. Except some news about this Nemesis DLC soon!
Once again, we bid you adieu for the week. We’ll be back, same place, same time. Play it cool on the battlefield, commander!
Nemesis DLC Run 4 Community Vote Open!
Hello commander!
We have arrived once more at that crucial moment you have been waiting for these last couple of weeks: the vote for the next Nemesis DLC for Steel Division 2 is now open!
Before you rush in, vote, and as any good commander, start up your well-oiled propaganda machine to furiously sway the others toward your choice, take some time to read the following carefully.
Nemesis DLC Run 4
Our latest Nemesis DLC community vote is now live. This means you can cast your voice on which of the three new Nemesis DLC we should release next.
Voting will close on Wednesday, December 9th at 1:30 PM (CEST) / 12:30 PM (BST) / 7:30 AM (EDT).
As before, you can vote multiple times, but only your LAST vote will count! Be respectful of the vote and your fellow player. No cheating, bullying, or insults will be tolerated. You have been warned!
Before you vote, take some time to give each option in this latest Nemesis DLC round a quick once-over.
Nemesis: Storming Toulon
Number one on the list is Nemesis: Storming Toulon, featuring two divisions that locked horns during the opening stages of Operation Dragoon - the Allied invasion of Southern France in August 1944.
If Nemesis: Storming Toulon wins the vote, you get to play with:
Verteidigungsbereich Toulon. An ad hoc Axis battlegroup composed of Kriegsmarine garrison units, Marine commandos, regular Grenadier infantry, and even Italian naval troops, with a large array of captured heavy weapons - including land-based naval guns.
The “real deal” of the Free French fighting force: the 1e Division Française Libre. A truly multinational battlegroup, this division deploys with a mix of American and British materiel, Légionnaires, paratrooper commandos, and with Free France Air support.
A new defensive structure, the so-called Tobruk bunker which mounts the tank turret of a S35 Somua (47mm), or R35 (37mm) or Panzer II (20mm).
Our second option is Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș, pitting two former allies and “frenemies” against each other: Axis Hungary versus recently turned Allied Romania.
If Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș is crowned the winner, the following content will be made available:
The Axis armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály battlegroup containing a large amount of Hungarian tanks, guns, and vehicles.
The Allied Detașamentul Păuliș with its unique mix of Romanian cadets, heavy artillery, and Soviet relief forces, including armor.
Two new Aces: the Romanian fighter pilot Dan Vizanti with his IAR-81C fighter; the Hungarian tank commander Lt. Kőszeghy Barnabás with his StuG III G.
Number three is Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff, highlighting two special divisions occupying a “quiet” sector of the Italian Front in late summer 1944.
By choosing Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff, you’ll get:
The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision with a mix of reluctant Luftwaffe ground crew fighting as foot soldiers, backed up by experienced cavalry officers and paratrooper NCOs.
Task Force 45 which introduces not only the Brazilian Expeditionary Force but also the hard-fighting Japanese-American troops of the 100th Infantry Battalion.
Several new units, including Italian AS-43 (Sahariana) trucks mounting a Flak 38mm, and 149mm artillery guns. The Americans will bring the powerful dual-purpose M2 90mm gun. American and British 15-men squads made up of anti-aircraft troops will be available, as well as the 8-inch/203mm howitzer.
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the firstNemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
The secondNemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive is available now for €4.99 / $4.99! This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera..
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached. We are currently working hard to make this Nemesis DLC a reality.
Coming up next
The voting booths are now open. Go and let us know your choice! Check in next week for which option will become the next Steel Division 2Nemesis DLC.
This is it! We are at the end of the latest Nemesis DLC run. Today, let’s take a look at our third and final option: Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff.
It is a return to the Italian front in August 1944, but this time, we are zooming in on the western, “quiet” sector of the Gothic Line, close to Pisa. We are on the Ligurian coastline during Operation Olive, and it is here where we will encounter our two new battlegroups: 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision and Task Force 45.
Both divisions are formed from either anti-aircraft troops or redundant air force’s ground crews.
There is more to Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff. One new nation will put some lively zest in the composition of the Allied battlegroup: the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
The History of Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff
August 1944, and the Allies are commencing with Operation Olive. As you might remember from the post detailingNemesis: Battle of Rimini, Operation Olive was the plan to break through the German Gothic defensive line. The first phase would kick off on the Adriatic coast; beating the Axis defenders around Rimini would weaken the center, allowing American divisions to advance up to Bologna. In the west, the battle lines around Pisa on the Ligurian coastline would remain quiet.
For the Allies, much of their fighting power on the Italian front had weakened with the departure of the French Expeditionary Force (off to liberate their homeland). Operation Overlord further siphoned troops and material to Western Europe. The arrival in late 1944 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Força Expedicionária Brasileira) would only barely alleviated the lack of manpower.
General Crittenberger’s US IV Corps had been left a single division to hold the western flank. To strengthen his frontline, Crittenberger ordered the creation of a new infantry battlegroup: Task Force 45. Most of its soldiers were anti-aircraft gunners, left without much to do and converted to frontline duty. These reluctant soldiers lacked combat training and experience.
Later, this formation received its first Brazilian soldiers. It could also count on the 100th Infantry Battalion, a special unit made up of Japanese-American soldiers.
On the German side, with more and more divisions transferred to the Eastern Front or Normandy, dangerous gaps had started to appear in the defensive lines. The exhausted Axis forces were shrinking in size every day. To give the battered formations some rest, divisions posted on anti-partisan duties were pushed closer to the front. One of these was the mobile (bicycle) 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision.
There was no pitched battle on this part of the front in late summer 1944. Nonetheless, both battlegroups - with similar origins - found themselves actively engaged in the same sector.
What will Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff feature?
Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff will feature two unique battlegroups with a similar composition, bringing several new toys and units.
One new nation will make its appearance in this Nemesis DLC: the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision
In 1943, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was formed in Denmark from excess Luftwaffe personnel. Earmarked as an occupation force, the division was stripped of all its heavy equipment and reorganized as a mobile (bicycle) division. Therefore, unlike other Luftwaffe Felddivisionen, it was considered a “cavalry” unit and received plenty of excellent cavalry officers and NCOs.
Initially shipped off to Italy to hunt partisans, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was very soon moved closer to the front. The division’s mission was still anti-partisan but also used to secure the coastline against any potential Allied landing. As such, it was reequipped and reinforced with heavy equipment as an infantry division.
The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision should rekindle some memories from Steel Division: Normandy 44 veterans as it takes several cues from the 16. Luftwaffe-Felddivision featured in the original game.
This battlegroup will have a fair share of reluctant Luftwaffe mechanics turned infantrymen, as well as “unreliable” Volkdeutschen. That’s why some of the Lw-Jäger will be ill-equipped and feature the Disheartened trait.
However, a strong cadre of paratrooper NCOs, supplemented by cavalry officers, make up a sizable portion of the remaining infantry forces. A number of Lw-Jäger squads will feature more modern equipment, deploying with the MG-42 machine gun, for instance, and not carrying the Disheartened trait.
Instead of IG 18 infantry guns, extra Flak 38mm can be found and used as direct fire support. As a new unit in-game, they will be mounted on captured Italian AS-43 (Sahariana) light trucks.
The battlegroup's anti-tank units are equipped with PaK 97/38, with additional PaK 40, as well as Marder tank destroyers available.
Artillery will be partially equipped with Italian weaponry, including 75mm mountain guns, 100mm and a new unit, the 149mm artillery guns.
Heavy AA cover is provided by Flak 38 20 mm, Flak 36 37mm, and captured Italian 90mm AA guns or Breda 20mm mounted on trucks.
While tanks are few and far between in this battlegroup, an Italian captured vehicle is being put to good use: the Italian Semovente 47/32 will be available as a tank destroyer and command variant.
The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision has decent recon and infantry forces. Its Support category will be well-stocked with several types of machine guns.
Likewise, its Anti-Tank and AA forces are above average. This battlegroup is weaker when it comes to the armor and air forces it can deploy.
Task Force 45
Task Force 45 is an amalgamation of several disparate infantry forces, mostly American anti-aircraft gunners who, due to rare Luftwaffe interference, were left without a job. As such, the gunners were ordered into the trenches with only a minimum amount of basic training.
Additional firepower comes in the way of the first echelon of the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces, the so-called Smoking Cobras, recently arrived in Italy and organized along American lines. Similarly, the unique Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion can also be encountered within Task Force 45. This formation was nicknamed the “Purple Heart Battalion” thanks to almost all of its members having received the award by sustaining a combat wound in action.
Due to its composition changing over time and additional forces becoming available, Task Force 45 will be a Combat Phase-locked battlegroup.
Available in Phase A, Task Force 45 will be made up of anti-aircraft gunners reformed into infantry squads of 15 soldiers with one BAR among them. This is a new unit. Not eager to fight, these squads carry the Disheartened trait.
Quite a few M15 and M16 half-tracks will be available in both AA and support roles.
A new unit is the M2 90mm gun (the American equivalent to the infamous German 88mm gun), which can be used in a direct support role, either as AA or AT.
Additionally, some armored vehicles can be deployed, including Sherman and Stuart tanks and Wolverine tank destroyers.
Phase B sees the arrival of the 100th Infantry Battalion, bringing Nisei American-Japanese squads, a new unit. Eager to prove their patriotism and loyalty, these regular infantry soldiers will fight extra hard, earning them the Fanatical trait.
British anti-aircraft troops, as a new unit, are organized much in the same way as their American counterparts into 15-men squads but without automatic weapons. However, as they will have had time to train, they will not feature any Disheartened trait.
Furthermore, additional war material, including Sherman 105mm tanks, as well as the new8-inch/203mm howitzer, can be deployed in Phase B.
Task Force 45 will see the deployment of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in Phase C. These Brazilian units are equipped with American weapons and vehicles, and include scouts, riflemen, MGs, jeeps, trucks, etc. They will be fully voiced!
This Allied battlegroup has a particularly strong infantry composition with many original choices. The Support and AA categories feature powerful units. Other tabs, such as Recon, Artillery, and Tanks, consist of more regular units while the Air Force is relatively weak (partially offset by the anti-aircraft guns available).
Nemesis DLC explained
How does this whole Nemesis DLC thing work again?
Nemesis: Storming Toulon is the first choice of run 4. Read all about this Nemesis DLC option in this detailed blog post.
Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș is the second option. Read more about this potential Nemesis DLC in the in-depth post here.
Each Nemesis DLC will bring two new divisions (one from each side) and will feature new units, new weapons, new models, and maybe even new nations. They will be PAID.
Each Nemesis DLC focuses on a new historical Theater of Operations (think engagement or battle) that was relevant and set in the summer of 1944. This could be the Eastern Front, could be the Western Front, could even be other interesting… locales.
When can you expect which Nemesis DLC?
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the firstNemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
The secondNemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive is available now for €4.99 / $4.99! This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera..
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached.
Coming up next!
That’s it for our Nemesis DLCrun 4. Next week, we’ll officially open the digital voting booths once more. We can’t wait for the results!
Another week, another Nemesis DLC option! We will be presenting two real archrivals with the newest choice, Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș.
Returning to the Eastern Front, let’s welcome to the stage two former Axis allies: Hungary versus the recently turned Romania. These frenemies have some serious scores to settle!
Before we go on, a little reminder:
Our secondNemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive, launches today for €4.99 / $4.99! This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera.
The History of Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș
If you have played our Steel Division 2 - Black Sunday History expansion, you might know the historical context behind this Nemesis DLC.
After the disastrous summer of 1944, which saw a full Soviet invasion breach the frontier en masse, the Romanians switched sides under King Michael’s direction. These were chaotic times indeed, with Romania finding itself at war with both the Allies and the Axis for a brief period.
Official recognition by the Allies of Romania’s about-face only occurred in mid-September. By this time, German troops were in full retreat, the Red Army continued its advance across the country, and Hungary and Romania were at each other’s throats… again. Romania had lost most of Transylvania to their neighbor and bitter enemy in 1940. Being puppet regimes under the iron fist of Hitler’s Germany, both countries were forced to coexist during the early war years, but these old grievances remained just under the surface.
As soon as Romania broke from the Axis, Hungary saw an opportunity to control the rest of Transylvania … and invaded. In the middle of September, a Hungarian armored spearhead made up of 1. Páncélos Hadosztály (1st Armored Division) advanced toward the village of Păuliș in western Romania.
Having finally recognized Romania as an ally, the Soviet (Stavka) realized that securing the Transylvanian passes before any Axis troops was of the utmost priority. Caught in the middle was the Romanian Army, scattered, deeply in chaos, and unable to reposition themselves in time. That meant that the local defenders of Păulis had to take care of themselves.
A provisional Romanian battlegroup - Detașamentul Păuliș - featuring recruits and cadets from a nearby NCO school, reinforced with a heavy artillery battalion, made their improvised stand.
Against all odds, the determined cadets fought off numerous Hungarian infantry and tank assaults over the next couple of days. The fighting was vicious with counter-attacks, heavy bombardments, house-to-house combat. After three days, relief came in the form of a Soviet motorized infantry column. By September 19th, Detașamentul Păuliș finally pushed the Hungarian force back to their original positions and subsequently forced them to retreat from the area.
What will Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș feature?
Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș will feature two unusual battlegroups from two minor nations, one of which was featured on the Axis side previously.
Not only that, but the Nemesis DLC will also include two new Aces: taking to the skies for the Allies, the Romanian pilot Dan Vizanti with over 100 combat missions and 16 victories, will deploy with his IAR-81C fighter. For the Axis, the Hungarian tank commander Lt. Kőszeghy Barnabás with his StuG III G, from the attached 7th Assault Gun Battalion, will be featured.
1. Páncélos
1. Páncélos Hadosztály was the 1st Armored Division of the Royal Hungarian Army. By 1943, this division was a shadow of its former self, shattered by the Eastern Front’s heavy fighting. Given a low priority for reinforcements and replacement tanks, the formation was mostly used as a training unit.
In September 1944, the 1. Páncélos was activated to combat status, and its tank strength had been brought up to around 250 vehicles - all of them of indigenous Hungarian origin.
As an armored battlegroup, the 1. Páncélos relies for a bulk of its firepower on the Turan medium tank, both the 40mm and 75mm variants. Several Csaba armored cars, as well as a number of StuG III Gs from the independent 7th Assault Gun Battalion can be deployed.
The light tank forces will be made up of Toldi tanks, including a new variant we’ll be introducing with this division: the Toldi III.
Additionally, a sizable amount of versatile Nimrod self-propelled guns will be deployable. The formation’s AA forces are substantial, with the Nimrods backed up by towed Bofors 40mm guns. This greatly offsets the lack of planes, as the Hungarian Air Force was almost entirely absent from the battle.
New infantry units will also be available in the 1. Páncélos, including Csendör (gendarmes), Mot. Árkászok (motorized pioneers) and Mot. Lövész (motorized riflemen). The latter will also include a Leader unit and a squad equipped with the Hungarian bazooka-like 44.M Kézi Rakétavető.
Artillery and support units are very standard, with the anti-tank category being filled up with Panzerschreck squads, 40mm and 75mm towed anti-tank guns.
While 1. Páncélos does not feature the most modern equipment, it’s tank forces are very strong, backed-up by exceptional anti-air units and decent infantry.
Detașamentul Păuliș
Although classified as Romanian, the Detașamentul Păuliș is actually closer to a mixed Soviet-Romanian division. Due to the historical background, the formation will be a locked battlegroup. This means certain units will only be made available in select Combat Phases. Basically, the Romanian units in Detașamentul Păuliș will be deployable from the beginning, while Soviet units will deploy later.
Detașamentul Păuliș will revolve mostly around its Elevi squads (NCO cadets), which form the core of its infantry. They will feature the Fanatical trait to represent their dogged resistance and spirited counter-attacks during the actual battle.
Another new unit will be Artilersti, artillery crews pressed into a combat role. As they are provisional infantry, they carry the Disheartened trait.
The battlegroup fields an entire heavy artillery battalion, which grants the Ob. M1913 105mm (Schneider 105mm) and Ob. M1934 150mm (Skoda 149mm).
From Phase B onwards, the Red Army will enter the battlefield in the form of a motorized column. These include machine gun squads, mortars, anti-tank guns, etc. A tank brigade equipped with T-34/85 will also be available.
This battlegroup’s recon forces will be average, with only a limited number of infantry scouts and motorized units (the latter courtesy of the Soviets).
Detașamentul Păuliș shines with its infantry, with a large amount of choice, and a decent mix of the best Romania and the Red Army has to offer.
There are few anti-tank guns and Soviet anti-air units, though the Romanian Air Force has deployed in numbers, providing heavy cover from the skies above.
Nemesis DLC explained
Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș is the second option of run 4 of our Nemesis DLC concept. How does this whole thing work again?
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the firstNemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our thirdNemesis DLC. Once again voted on by the community, this Nemesis DLC takes its cue from the Italian front, bringing the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached.
In case you’ve forgotten:
Each Nemesis DLC will bring two new divisions (one from each side) and will feature new units, new weapons, new models, and maybe even new nations. They will be PAID.
Each Nemesis DLC focuses on a new historical Theater of Operations (think engagement or battle) that was relevant and set in the summer of 1944. This could be the Eastern Front, could be the Western Front, could even be other interesting… locales.
Coming up next!
Let us know what you think. We love to hear from our community. Reach out to us via our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or keep an eye out on our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Check out the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.
See you on the battlefield, commander!
New Nemesis Run Introduces Nemesis: Storming Toulon
Good news, everyone! We are back with a brand-new Nemesis DLCrun! To kick things off, we will be presenting you the very first option: Nemesis: Storming Toulon.
This choice takes you back to the sunny lands of Southern France, much like Nemesis: Battle of Montélimar, but with two completely new battlegroups (and associated new toys and units).
Today’s spotlight is on the Axis battlegroup Verteidigungsbereich Toulon (Defensive Perimeter Toulon) and the renowned Allied 1e Division Française Libre (1st Free French Division).
If Nemesis: Storming Toulon is chosen, we will also introduce new defensive structures with this expansion.
Keep on reading to find out more!
The History of Nemesis: Storming Toulon
The inspiration for this Nemesis DLC again comes from Southern France. This time, the action is squarely on the opening stages of Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion on the Mediterranean French coast in the summer of 1944.
The first wave of this amphibious assault was made up largely of American troops, tasked with racing north toward the Rhône Valley (see Nemesis: Battle of Montélimar). Subsequent waves featured veteran French divisions with the orders to secure the major port cities of nearby Marseille and Toulon. Once housing the French Mediterranean fleet, the capture of the Toulon naval base was of critical importance to keep the supplies flowing for the Allied invasion.
Advancing on Toulon, one of the participating divisions was the 1e Division Motorisée d’Infanterie (1e DMI). This formation was more famous under its original name (and kept in usage both then and now) of 1e Division Française Libre (the 1st Free French Division). Fun fact: although almost entirely reequipped with American equipment, French high command ordered its soldiers to use the French 1940 Adrian helmet when possible to make the Germans plenty aware of who they were fighting!
Both Marseille and Toulon were originally envisioned to be captured after two months of heavy combat. However, during the landing, the French saw an opportunity and struck fast. Advancing rapidly, Toulon was encircled by August 20th. Defending the city was the ad hoc Verteidigungsbereich Toulon, formed around the 242. Infanterie-Division with various other local units, including a Kriegsmarine garrison and naval batteries.
Battling through a succession of forts, bunkers, and heavy gun emplacements, Toulon’s harbor was stormed on August 27th and captured after ferocious close combat. In the meantime, nearby Marseille had been liberated in much the same way.
Toulon’s port was repaired and in operation two weeks later, serving as a crucial logistical hub for the Allied forces advancing north.
What will Nemesis: Storming Toulon feature?
As with our previous Nemesis DLC options, Nemesis: Storming Toulon presents you with two new divisions, one on each side, and offers a variety of different units or new variants of existing units. As always, we have researched each battlegroup exhaustively, making sure that the Nemesis DLC is as historically accurate as possible.
Verteidigungsbereich Toulon
Verteidigungsbereich Toulon - meaning Defensive Perimeter Toulon - is an impromptu formation made up of a variety of different units. The core of its soldiers is provided by the 242. Infanterie-Division, originally a reserve division “upgraded” to regular status in 1943, but also Kriegsmarine garrison units and even Italian naval infantry. They used a large quantity of captured heavy weapons from different origins, including French, Italian, Czech, and even Yugoslavian.
There is more: this battlegroup will also feature a new type of defensive structure. The so-called Tobruk bunker, which is essentially the tank turret of a S35 Somua (47mm), R35 (37mm) or Panzer II (20mm) mated to a concrete casemate. While not very powerful, these bunkers were incredibly resilient!
Verteidigungsbereich Toulon can count on Grenadier soldiers, deploying with captured Italian Breda 30 LMG. Plenty of sniper units can also be found in the battlegroup.
Kriegsmarine Seesoldaten make their comeback from Steel Division: Normandy 44 in a tougher form. These naval infantry include leader and MG units, as well as their own Landeschützen (Kriegsmarine guards) and Küstenpolizei (naval military police).
Also available is the Marine-Einsatzkommando 71 (aka MEK). Only the size of a platoon, these soldiers were German naval commando pioneers and will act as elite recon in-game.
The battlegroup can also count on a Kadetten battalion, which fought ferociously in the final stages of the battle. As such, it carries the Fanatical trait.
Brandenburger special forces were also present. They will feature their Raider trait.
The Italians also join the fight. At least one company from the famous San Marco naval infantry (known as Marò) was also stationed in Toulon.
There is a distinct lack of armor, with only a limited number of tanks deployable. These include a few StuGs and French Beute tanks (R-35, H-39).
Anti-tank units are Marder I and Soviet FK 39(r) 76,2mm guns, with further support coming from Italian Breda 47mm guns and PaK 40, as well as RSO PaK.
Verteidigungsbereich Toulon can count on a fair amount of artillery, reflecting the historical presence of naval batteries, bunkers and Flak units. This includes a variety of calibers: Skoda 75mm, Italian 149mm and Soviet 152mm howitzers, and heavy Flak 38 105mm.
Off-map artillery is also available, with the extra firepower coming from naval batteries in fortifications, such as 138mm, 164mm or 340mm guns.
The Luftwaffe was almost entirely absent during the battle, meaning that the battlegroup will not have much in the way of a supporting air force.
1e Division Française Libre
The “real deal” of the Free French fighting force: the 1e Division Française Libre (DFL) or the 1st Free French Division. This illustrious veteran formation came with a hefty dose of combat experience, taking part in battles ranging from Narvik to East Africa, Operation Exporter (Syria-Lebanon, 1941), North Africa (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia) before heading towards the Italian front.
Now, they were back - at last liberating their home country.
The DFL embodies Free France in its truest form, regrouping almost all the nationalities of the French colonial empire (and beyond) and armed forces which answered general de Gaulle’s call to keep on fighting. Known for the inclusion of foreigners in its ranks, the formation contains not only escapees from metropolitan France but also exiled Republican Spaniards, die-hard anti-fascist Italians, Austrians and Germans, and many more.
At its core, 1e Division Française Libre calls upon the Légionnaires from the famous 13e DBLE, a Légion regiment formed for the Narvik campaign and which went almost entirely to Free France. In-game, Légionnaires will carry the Fanatical trait, equipped with Thompson SMGs, P17 Enfield rifles and two BARs.
Polynesians (Tahiti and New Caledonia) and sailors from the BIMP, an infantry formation merging two separate battalions together: Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine (BIM) and Bataillon d’Infanterie du Pacifique (BIP).
North Africans from the 22e BMNA. Grouping Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian volunteers together, these soldiers originated from Vichy regiments stationed in Lebanon, who opted to join the Free French after Operation Exporter.
Central Africans (mostly Senegal and Cameroon) from several “bataillons de marche” (provisional battalions). These made up “fresh” replacements, having joined the DFL to replace heavy losses after the North African campaign.
Commandos d’Afrique and Parachutistes de Choc form the special forces section of this battlegroup. These soldiers will feature the Raider trait and are equipped with a mix of British and American equipment, including a large number of SMGs.
Sailors from the 1e RFM acting as mechanized scouts, with Stuart light tanks and Greyhound armored cars.
Additional firepower is provided by a combat command from the armored 1e Division Blindée with Stuarts and Shermans. Furthermore, the M10 is also available.
Artillery support is made up of American 105mm and 155mm (Long Tom) howitzers, with AA cover offered by towed Bofors AA guns.
Air support will be provided by the Free French Air Force flying from Corsica, as well as British carrier-borne squadrons. The French can deploy B-26 Marauders, P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Kittyhawk, P-47D Thunderbolt and Spitfire. British carrier planes will be a mix of Hellcat, Wildcat and Supermarine Seafire fighters.
Nemesis DLC explained
Nemesis: Storming Toulon inaugurates the run 4 of our Nemesis DLC concept. What happened to numbers 1-3? Check it out below!
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the firstNemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
The secondNemesis DLC is Nemesis: Lvov Offensive and was the first one to be voted on you, the community. This Nemesis DLC will launch on November 19th for €4.99 / $4.99 and will contain the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps. New units include the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera.
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third Nemesis DLC. Once again voted on by the community, this Nemesis DLC takes its cue from the Italian front, bringing the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached. We have just started working on this expansion!
In case you’ve forgotten:
Each Nemesis DLC will bring two new divisions (one from each side) and will feature new units, new weapons, new models, and maybe even new nations. They will be PAID.
Each Nemesis DLC focuses on a new historical Theater of Operations (think engagement or battle) that was relevant and set in the summer of 1944. This could be the Eastern Front, could be the Western Front, could even be other interesting… locales.
