Steel Division 2 Blog Post - Nemesis: Raid on Drvar Revealed

Hello!

It’s that time of the week again. That’s right: today we’ll be looking at our second option for the next Steel Division 2 Nemesis DLC. Nemesis: Raid on Drvar promises to give you two unique divisions from a similarly unique battlefield during World War II: the partisan-infested Balkans.

Nemesis: Raid on Drvar presents you with a special Axis composite battlegroup called Unternehmen Rösselsprung centered on the infamous SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500.

For the Allies, we have the mixed Yugoslav partisans, collected under the banner of the NOV battlegroup, roughly translated as the Yugoslav Liberation Army.

Let’s take a look at what makes Nemesis: Raid on Drvar so special, and why you should vote for it in the next Nemesis DLC poll!

[h2]The History of Nemesis: Raid on Drvar[/h2]

By 1944, the former territories of pre-war Yugoslavia were in almost constant turmoil with various armed groups, partisans, nations, and armies vying for control. Ever since the invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941, the communist partisan army under the command of the capable Tito had been a thorn into Axis’ side. The capitulation of Italy in 1943 to the Allies not only provided the local insurgents with a valuable source of (outdated but still useful) military hardware but also shifted the burden of the anti-partisan operations on the sole German shoulders. Not only that, but thousands of Italian soldiers switched sides and joined the numerous guerilla units active in the region.

Nazi Germany wanted to put an end to the continued Yugoslavian partisan menace - swiftly. Having identified the charismatic Tito as a key element in the command hierarchy, by eliminating or capturing him, the Germans hoped that the various multinational partisan groups would disintegrate and turn their guns on each other. Unternehmen Rösselsprung - Operation Knight’s Move - was conceived. In essence, it was a daring airborne operation, deep inside partisan-controlled territory, aimed to deliver a stunning coup de main strike against the head of the Yugoslavian partisan army.

Instead of forcing a checkmate, however, the German assault near the Bosnian town of Drvar in May 1944 became a costly failure. Tito and his headquarters - including attached Allied military personnel - escaped while partisan troops resisted the airborne SS troops fiercely. A ground assault made by the additional German land forces and the collaborationist Croatian Home Guard was likewise repulsed. Disengaging successfully, the majority of the guerillas - including Tito - managed to escape. They kept the fight going and ultimately proved to be victorious at the end of the war.

[h2]What will Nemesis: Raid on Drvar bring?[/h2]

As with our previous Nemesis DLC options, Nemesis: Raid on Drvar presents you with two new divisions on both sides.

Nemesis: Raid on Drvar will also feature two new nations - Yugoslavian partisans and Croatia with the latter being a minor ally within the German battlegroup. Yes, these new soldiers will be fully voiced, having access to a full repertoire of battlefield orders, curses, and damnations!

As always, you’ll be able to play around with a host of notable units, vehicles, and soldiers.

[h3]Unternehmen Rösselsprung[/h3]

A mixed battlegroup, Unternehmen Rösselsprung carries the name of the operation. It features not only the fanatical SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500, but also regular Grenadier foot soldiers, as well as supporting forces from the SS-Gebirgsjäger and the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), a puppet state of Nazi Germany.

The SS-Fallschirmjäger were an interesting bunch: almost half of these die-hard soldiers were SS penal troops, recruited because the new parachutist unit was going to be deployed in the most dangerous actions behind enemy lines. This assumption proved correct: the battalion became famous for its semi-suicidal missions and casualty rate of over 50%.

The Croatian units consist of infantry with support from the Croatian Air Force. Filling in the void left by the Italian troops, Germany came to rely more and more on this small Balkan ally. Within Steel Division 2, Croatia would appear as a separate nation in the Armory - similar to the Belgian units attached to the British 6th Airborne Division.

The SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 were the first in action on the ground. They do NOT carry the FG-42, but instead half the paratrooper squads are equipped with full SMGs instead. SS-Fallschirmjäger feature the Fanatical trait.
A small number of Brandenburg special forces can be found in this battlegroup as well. They can count on the Raider trait.
Other German troops include regular Grenadier, but also fresh Kadetten, Brandenburg Jäger and SS-Gebirgsjäger (the latter as mountain troops with the Raider trait, and equipped with captured Czech. weapons).
Armor support includes French “Beute” H-39 and Somua tanks in an anti-partisan role, but also various Italian armored vehicles including AB 41 and AB 43 (with a 47mm gun) armored cars, AS.37 wheeled armored personnel carrier, and the M15/42 medium tank.
Croatia brings its own infantry units: regular Kro. Legionäre, Domobran (Home Guard troops almost entirely equipped with Italian weapons) and Ustashe auxiliaries. The minor nation also has some light armor of its own, all of them former Italian vehicles including AB 41, L3/35, and L6.
Croatian Air Force covers the sky above, equipped with a mix of old pre-war Yugoslav Air Force planes and Italian or German ones: Czech. Avia BH-33 and Italian CR-42 biplanes, G.50, C.202 and C.205 in fighters or fighter-bomber roles, French MS.406, Italian Caproni and German Do-17 bombers, ...

[h3]NOV[/h3]

On the Allied side, we find the Yugoslavian partisans, collected under the name of NOV (Narodnooslobodilačka vojska, meaning Yugoslav Liberation Army. This communist-led partisan force was considered one of the most effective anti-Axis resistance movements in Europe, turning much of Yugoslavia into a partisan country for the war duration.

Five NOV “divisions” were involved in the Raid on Drvar, but being weakly armed, they were closer to a regiment in fighting power. Mostly equipped with captured arms and vehicles, the NOV was actively supported by the Allies, including special advisory missions embedded with Tito’s headquarters and Allied airpower overhead (supplies, bombing, and even close air support).

As a partisan army, NOV troops as a whole feature the Raider trait. The soldiers are mostly equipped with salvaged Italian small arms, from Beretta SMGs, M91 Moschetto rifles, Breda 30 LMG and Solothurn anti-tank rifles. Airdropped British weapons (Bren, PIAT, and Sten guns) can also be found within its ranks.
Additional weapons include German MP-40, MG-34, Panzerfaust and even American UD M42 SMGs.
Heavier equipment all come from captured stocks, such as the German PaK 38 50mm and even a handful of PaK 40 75mm AT guns, but mostly Italian Elefantino 47mm guns.
The main source of artillery support, next to mortars, consists of mobile mountain guns - easier to assemble and transport them across the mountainous local terrain.
AA defense is provided by the ubiquitous dual-purpose Italian Breda 20 mm guns.
The NOV battlegroup can even count on some armored support. Four light L3/35 Italian tankettes were fielded during the battle, but a limited number of heavier tanks were also available on theater, including AB 41 armored cars, the L6/40 light tank, and French R-35, H-39 and Somua tanks.
Allied air support consisted of older Spitfire, Mustang and Hurricane fighter or fighter-bomber variants. Ventura and Baltimore light bombers are available for close air support or reconnaissance roles. The Beaufighter will do service as a heavy fighter or as a dedicated CAS plane.

[h2]The Nemesis DLC concept explained[/h2]

We are currently in our second run of future Nemesis DLCs and if you were wondering how this whole thingamajig Nemesis DLC works, read the following carefully!

The first DLC option was revealed last week. Be sure to check out Nemesis: Battle of Rimini.

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.
The first Nemesis DLC will be FREE and likely release later in September. This is Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead and will contain the 16. Panzerdivision versus the 97th Guards Rifle Division.
The second Nemesis DLC - that you the community voted on - will be Nemesis: Lvov Offensive. This one will feature the 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and 10th Guards Tank Corps with some shiny new toys, including the Elefant tank destroyer and the one-of-its-kind Tiger (P).
At the end of this second run of future Nemesis DLCs you get to decide which one will be released first in a community-wide vote! Runner-ups might get a second chance and return in future votes.

[h2]Coming up next[/h2]

That’s it for this week. Next week, we’ll be revealing the last option of our second run of the Nemesis DLC.

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!