Steel Division 2 News

Hello commander!

Are you ready for Steel Division 2’s newest DLC? Today is the glorious day that Nemesis: Raid on Drvar launches on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1833830/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_5__Raid_on_Drvar/

Lead your forces to victory and deploy as either the elite Axis airborne troops of Unternehmen Rösselsprung or the hard-fighting partisans of the Yugoslav NOV!

Keep reading to find out more.

[h2]What to expect from our Nemesis DLCs[/h2]
First off: Nemesis: Raid on Drvar is the latest community-voted DLC for Steel Division 2. Featuring two new battlegroups, with associated new units and toys, the popular Nemesis DLC highlights often-overlooked battlefields or battles from the latter part of World War II.

Which can you play?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405650/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_1__Sandomierz/

Our first Nemesis DLC is available for free! It highlights the Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead and transports us to August 13th, 1944, to the battlegrounds of Poland. The Nemesis: Sandomierz features two hard-hitting divisions, and two new Aces, with the 16. Panzer bringing the mighty Königstiger (H) and the Allies the Soviet 97-y Gv. Strelk. Div featuring new units such as the Razveddozor heavy recon patrol.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1418230/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_2__Lvov_Offensive/

We remain on the Eastern Front with our second Nemesis: DLC: the Nemesis: Lvov Offensive. This mini-expansion brings two brand-new divisions to play in skirmish or multiplayer: the Axis German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied Soviet 10-y Gv. Tank. Korpus. New units include the Elefant heavy tank destroyer, as well as the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV command tank and captured T-5 Pantera put in use by the Soviets.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1477780/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_3__Battle_of_Rimini/
Transporting the action to the Mediterranean, our third mini-expansion is the Nemesis: Battle of Rimini, set on the Italian Adriatic coast. It pits the veteran Axis German 1. Fallschirmjäger against the Allied 2nd New Zealand Division. Two new Aces are included, as well as a host of units such as the British Bristol Beaufighter, Greek Martin Baltimore bomber, German (commandeered) Re.2005 fighter, as well as various new infantry units such as Greek Oplites mountain infantry, and New Zealander Maoris.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1571590/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_4__Storming_Toulon/

We bring the player to Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of the French Riviera in August 1944 with our fourth Nemesis DLC, the Nemesis: Storming Toulon. The Axis defensive-focused Verteidigungsbereich Toulon and the multinational veterans of the 1e Division Française Libre await your command. New units include Kriegsmarine Marineinfanterie, Commandos d'Afrique special forces, heavy Flak 38 105mm guns, M3 Gun 37mm, and many more.

Leading us to our latest Nemesis: DLC offering: Nemesis: Raid on Drvar!

[h2]What does Nemesis: Raid on Drvar bring?[/h2] Nemesis: Raid on Drvar takes the player into one of World War II's most unusual airborne operations: the ambitious Axis air assault to neutralize Yugoslav partisan leader Tito in the spring of 1944.



Unternehmen Rösselsprung - Operation Knight’s Move - was Nazi Germany’s daring paratroop raid deep inside the partisan-controlled territory. Instead of a checkmate, Tito and his guerilla forces successfully resisted the elite SS paratroopers, mountain soldiers, and Croatian ground troops.

Nemesis: Raid on Drvar gives you the command of two unique battlegroups in skirmish or online multiplayer: the Axis airborne troops of Unternehmen Rösselsprung and the partisans of the Yugoslav NOV. New units include fanatical SS-Fs-Jäger and SS Gebirgsjäger, Croatian Domobran, partisan Snajper, or British SOE special forces.



Command unique units such as the homemade Yugoslav Partop infantry mortar, M.28 heavy AA gun, Aufk. Panzer II F or the L35 tankette. The sky is filled with Croatian-operated BH-33E-SHS biplane, pre-war Yugoslav IK-2 fighter, the Ca.310bis Libeccio bomber, or Allied-flown tank killer Hurricane Mk IV Vickers and South African Ventura GR.V bomber.



[h2]Some additional reading[/h2]
If you want to read more about the unique details and the divisional historical background of Nemesis: Raid on Drvar, we got the following deep dives for you!

• A preview of the Axis battlegroup Unternehmen Rosselsprung in this blog post here.
  
• The Allied partisan army of NOV gets highlighted in a blog post, which you can read here.
• We ran a detailed breakdown of the Air Forces featured in the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar in this dedicated blog post here.
  

[h2]Until next week[/h2]
That’s it for this week, commander. Get into the game, deploy your new units, and see you on the battlefield.

Let us know what you think of Nemesis: Raid on Drvar. Do this through our Steam forums. If you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2, keep an eye out on our Instagram. Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

Take care, commander!

Hello commander,

Good news! We finally have a release date for the long-awaited Nemesis: Raid on Drvar. Muster your troops as the newest DLC for Steel Division 2 is going to be hitting the Steam store page next week, Thursday, the 16th of June.

Keep reading to find out more!

[h2]A mea culpa[/h2]
First off: we want to share with you our apologies for the delay in getting Nemesis: Raid on Drvar in your hands. Next to continued developmental issues, the DLC took much longer than expected.



This is also one reason we didn’t publish anything last week. We wanted to make sure that the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar was ready to go when we would share something with you!

[h2]Nemesis: Raid on Drvar[/h2]
So, what can you expect from Nemesis: Raid on Drvar? The newest Steel Division 2 DLC features two brand-new battlegroups, taking the player into one of World War II's most unusual airborne operations: the ambitious Axis air assault to neutralize Yugoslav partisan leader Tito in the spring of 1944.



Unternehmen Rösselsprung - Operation Knight’s Move - was Nazi Germany’s daring paratroop raid, deep inside the partisan-controlled territory, to deliver a stunning coup de main strike. Instead of a checkmate, Tito and his guerilla forces successfully resisted the elite SS paratroopers, mountain soldiers and Croatian ground troops.

Nemesis: Raid on Drvar gives you the command of two unique battlegroups in skirmish or online multiplayer: the Axis airborne troops of Unternehmen Rösselsprung and the partisan forces of the Yugoslav NOV. New units include fanatical SS-Fs-Jäger and SS Gebirgsjäger, Croatian Domobran, partisan Snajper, or British SOE special forces.



Command unique units such as the homemade Yugoslav Partop infantry heavy mortar, M.28 heavy AA gun, Aufk. Panzer II F or the L35 tankette. The sky is filled with Croatian-controlled BH-33E-SHS biplane, pre-war Yugoslav IK-2 fighter, the Ca.310bis Libeccio bomber, or Allied-flown tank killer Hurricane Mk IV Vickers and South African Ventura GR.V bomber.



[h2]Some additional reading[/h2]
It’s been a while since we last let the spotlight shine on Nemesis: Raid on Drvar. If you want to read up on all the juicy details, from history to the new toys you get to play with in Steel Division 2, look no further!

• A preview of the Axis battlegroup Unternehmen Rosselsprung in this blog post here.
  
• The Allied partisan army of NOV gets highlighted in a blog post, which you can read here.
• We ran a detailed breakdown of the Air Forces featured in the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar in this dedicated blog post here.
  

[h2]Until next week[/h2]
Get ready for Nemesis: Raid on Drvar’s launch next week Thursday. Until then, take care and keep calm, cool, and collected, commander!

Don’t forget to cast an eye on our Steam forums and Instagram if you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2 has to offer. Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield.

Hello commander!

We hope you are well. It will only be a very small update, as Eugen’s offices are still officially closed for the day.

But we can’t leave without a short message to you!

[h2]Rest and Recuperation[/h2]
May is the month with the most bank holidays in France, from Worker’s Day to the end of World War II, and religious celebrations. Hence the team is getting some much-needed rest and recuperation.

However, not to worry, development on Steel Division 2 continues at pace. We are still hard at work on Steel Division 2: Battle of Turda, and Nemesis: Raid on Drvar is coming soon too.

[h2]Until next week[/h2]
We will be back with a regular update next week. Thanks for your understanding!

Don’t forget to cast an eye on our Steam forums and Instagram if you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2 has to offer. Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you soon, commander!

Hello commander!

Let’s dive right in with today’s final Battle of Turda DLC division preview. We will take a good look at the varied composition of the Allied Romanian Corpul 6 Teritorial.

[h2]A short Nemesis update[/h2]
Before we press on, a brief message regarding our Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC. Yes, we are working on it, and yes, it will come soon. However, we are still ironing out some final touches which we hope to accomplish in the very near future.

With that out of the way, let’s continue with our new Romanian friends of the Corpul 6 Teritorial. We’d like to thank our Strike Team member and big Romanian fan Charlie TZR (aka the former Steppewolf) for additional details and background info!

[h2]A corps for training[/h2]
After the crushing defeats of Stalingrad, the Romanian High Command hurriedly formed additional training divisions in the home country to process the new recruits and reservists. Made up of a handful of instructors and regulars, these training formations funneled fresh manpower to active divisions at the front. The Corpul 6 Teritorial came into existence in 1943, consisted of a corps of three training divisions, and deployed in Transylvania, south of Cluj-Napoca, at the new frontier with Hungary. The divisions were the 18th, the 20th, and the 6th.

Much like other Romanian training formations, the divisions within Corpul 6 Teritorial featured only six battalions (compared to nine for frontline divisions) and had access to fewer heavier weapons. Each individual division was closer to an infantry brigade. Elements in the corps included the Regimentul 6 Pionieri, providing the bulk of the combat power, and the Regimentul 10 Calarasi, with its recon and motorized troops, ideal for a mobile reserve force. Artillery units allocated to the formation were decent, with a wide range of gun pieces, from relatively modern 105mm Schneiders to 150mm Skoda guns and 155mm heavy WWI French models.

[h2]A new war[/h2]
After Romania’s switch from Axis to Allies in August 1944, hostilities broke out with the former allies, Germany and Hungary. The Hungarians began their offensive into Transylvania to reach the Carpathian mountain passes within days. Being situated nearby, the role of Corpul 6 Teritorial changed overnight, becoming the first critical line of defense. They took the brunt of the offensive, critically delaying the Hungarians and Germans, and buying enough time for additional reinforcements to arrive, including Soviet troops.

The first combat mission of the formation, which was commanded by Brigadier General Georghe Stavrescu, was to stop and slow down the enemy’s advance. The infantry brigades took the first hit of the Hungarian attack but held on, being reinforced by other Romanian combat elements in the area.

[h2]First combat encounters[/h2]
The left flank of the offensive was covered by two battalions of the 3rd Mountain Division, veterans of the Kuban and Crimea campaigns. These troops were the first in combat, and lacking much heavy weaponry, worked together with the border guards to repel the Hungarian attackers. They even used explosives from nearby mines for some additional firepower.

The other formations of Corpul 6 Teritorial also played their part, with the 18th being deployed around Alba Iulia and cleaning up the area of German troops, capturing a few tanks. Later on, it moved north towards Turda to assist the Soviet-Romanian attack. The 20th Division was the least-equipped formation. Regardless, it fought hard against superior forces, repelling frequent counterattacks and even pushing back the opponent across the river Mures. This division later linked up with the Corpul Motomecanizat. The 6th was located in Turda and was mauled in the first days of battle before moving off the line for rest and recuperation. Later on, it rejoined the fight, together with the first Soviet reinforcements. An additional Romanian formation, the 7th, was added to the corps, as it played a part in blocking areas when the enemy was advancing south.

[h2]Additional forces[/h2]
The Corpul 6 Teritorial groups together an array of forces, not only the previously mentioned divisions, but also other troops. These include Regimentul 7 Graniceri, border guards, as well as local garrisons in Cluj and Aries, made up of reservists. However, a key turning point was the arrival of Soviet forces. The Corpul 6 Teritorial was capable of counter-attacking in the latter stages of the campaign, thanks to the influx of Red Army troops.

[h2]What can you expect in-game?[/h2] Corpul 6 Teritorial will have a tough time on the attack, but will receive more mobile troops and offensive options over time. To better reflect its historical conduct during the campaign, this division is phase-locked. A large variety of light Romanian units are available in Phase A, while the Soviets provide heavier reinforcements from Phase B onward.

• With a respectable amount of slots and options, the formation’s Recon units are pretty decent. Romanian scouts can only be deployed on foot or in side-cars, but later down the line, Soviet reinforcements bring units such as half-tracks and T-70 recon tanks.
  
• Lots of cheap slots are available in the Infantry category. This includes the usual Infanteristi (Pzf), Recruti, Pionieri and Pionieri Asalt. In later Phases, you also have access to Soviet Strelki and Strelki (DP, as well as Avtomatchiki including Leader variants.
  
• A number of new Romanian infantry squads are also available. Deploy the Graniceri and Graniceri Calari border guards, Rezervisti units carrying the Disheartened trait and equipped with the old French WWI Chauchat automatic rifle, or the Calarasi Moto with 2x MG-42, and Moti units. The latter squads resemble Vanatori Munte but lack AT weapons and instead use locally sourced TNT stocks for some hand-held explosive demolition charges.
  
  
  
  
• Tank is one of the weakest categories with a (real-life) grand total of zero tanks for the Corpul 6 Teritorial. However, the Soviets brought some of their own machinery later in the campaign. This means the division has to fend for itself without armored support in Phase A, while receiving some T-34/85 in Phase B.
  
• In Support, you will have access to quite a few HMGs, including Schwarloze, ZB-53 and heavy Hotchkiss guns. There are some Jandarmi (military police to keep those of Disheartened trait in line), as well as 47mm Breda support guns. Romanian commanders come either on foot or in a classy and speedy Ford V8 Sedan. Soviets provide an armored M2 Kombat from Phase B.
  
• Quite a bit of choice in the Anti-Tank category, though some with a limited availability of one card. This represents the motley assortment of guns used by the Romanian training divisions. As such you receive Panzerschreck, M32 AC 45mm, Schneider 47mm, PaK 38 50mm and Resita 75mm. From Phase B, Soviets bring their ZiS-2 and ZiS-3 towed guns.
  
• Anti-Aircraft is below average, with some good choices but expensive slots. Commanders get to choose from the ubiquitous twin Hotchkiss on trucks, German 20mm, French twin 25mm and German 88mm Flak guns.
  
• Artillery forces range from Romanian guns in the 75mm to 155mm caliber, but most of them are light or old. The Soviets feature some self-propelled SU-76M from Phase B.
  
• Airforces include a few French Potez 63.11 A3 recon bombers and the Potez 633 B2 bomber variant. These planes are supported by a few Me-109 G-2 fighters until the Red Air Force can bring the better Yak-1, Yak-9, Il-2 and Il-4 aircraft.
  

[h2]A brief summary[/h2]
In case you missed it, the latest DLC for Steel Division 2, The Battle of Turda will contain the following.

• One new Army General campaign centered on the Battle of Turda, Transylvania, pitting Axis Hungary versus Allied Romania.
  
• Six new divisions.
  • Of which three will be Romanian, including the Divizia 9 Infanterie, the Divizia 8 Cavalerie Motorizata and the Corpul 6 Teritorial.
    
  • And two will be Hungarian, with one German. This includes the Hungarian 2. Páncéloshadosztály (2nd Armored Division) and 25. Hadosztály (25th Infantry Division). The Germans are represented with the Sperrverband von Kessel.
• Mixed divisions, with units from various nations, such as Romanian-Soviet or Hungarian-German.
  
• One new map.
  
• 2 Aces: the Hungarian tank commander Lieutenant Ervin Tarczay and Romanian fighter ace, Captain Dan Vizanti.
  

[h2]Until soon (but not next week)[/h2]
That’s it for now. The Eugen staff will take some much-needed holidays on May 19th and 20th. This means that the offices will be closed and no blog post will be published during those days. Not to worry, we’ll be back soon after!

Keep a close watch on our Steam forums and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2 talk. Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

Another day, another deep dive into our new Steel Division 2 DLC: The Battle of Turda. Let’s look at the final Axis division of this upcoming Army General expansion: the “blocking detachment” task force of Sperrverband Kessel.

Keep on reading!

[h2]A personal connection[/h2] Sperrverband Kessel is a German task force formation comprising a motley collection of independent German and Hungarian units grouped temporarily under one command. Fighting near Turda, the division was known as a “blocking detachment.” As such, it received the name of its commander: German General Mortimer von Kessel.



Before we continue, let’s talk a bit more about this officer, which is present in more of our Army General campaigns than anyone else. Born into nobility, Mortimer von Kessel joined the German Imperial Army in 1914 at age 21. He survived World War I, having pocketed not only an Iron Cross First Class but also the rank of lieutenant. During the interwar period, von Kessel remained in the army, rising to the station of lieutenant colonel. At the start of World War II, during the Poland Campaign, he was at the forefront, commanding a reconnaissance regiment and becoming a full colonel in the process. He kept climbing the ranks, as he ultimately was appointed commander of the 20. Panzer in 1943.

[h2]In more ways than one[/h2]
And now we make our connections: the 20. Panzer has been featured in Steel Division 2 in multiple ways:

• In the Army General Bobruisk campaign, the 20. Panzer is one of the divisions trapped in the city. The division, together with von Kessel, spearheaded the garrison’s breakout.

• In the Army General Baranovichi campaign, the 20. Panzer - reduced to Kampfgruppe von Kessel - tried to fight its way towards the defenders in the city from the north.
  
• In the Army General Iasi campaign, there is a Divisions-Gruppe Kessel. This battlegroup represents the 20. Panzer sent to Romania… for rest and refit! Instead, another Soviet offensive had to be faced again. The few combat-ready elements were formed into a single mixed battalion (playable in the campaign).

After Iasi, what was left of the 20. Panzer was utterly worn out. Our general, with barely anything to command, was ordered to Hungary.

[h2]Service in Hungaria[/h2]
In Hungary, von Kessel was to command all independent German armored forces sent to support the Hungarian offensive in Transylvania. In the process, the German commander also ended up taking charge of several infantry formations, including Hungarian soldiers.

A small note: in German, “Kessel” means “cauldron”. This is also the word used in German military language to describe pockets of troops surrounded by the enemy. Now, which commander had found itself in cauldron after cauldron on the Eastern Front? From Brobruisk, cut-off north of Baranovichi, almost surrounded at Iasi; luckily, Mortimer von Kessel avoided the distinction of forming a “Kessel’s Kessel” by always being able to break out.

[h2]Into Romania[/h2]
In our DLC The Battle of Turda, Sperrverband von Kessel exists from the starts, although historically was only officialy formed in the last days of our timeframe. Yet, all the sub-units it involves were already there and engaged.
As mentioned before, this task force groups a whole array of forces under one banner. These include:

• StuG-Brigade 905 - StuG III G and StuH 42
  
• StuG-Abteilung 1015 and 1176 - StuG III G and IV
  
• Panzerjäger-Abteilung 721 - PaK 40 and StuG III F
  
• III./Brand. Jäger-Rgt. 4 - Brandenburger
  
• II,/241. Flak-Abteilung - Flak 88mm and Flakvierling
  
• 92. Panzer-Pionier-Abteilung - Armored Engineers
  
• KG Fessner - remains of infantry regiment
  
• KG Abraham - Ersatztruppen
  
• KG Gradl - 13. Panzer remains, mixed battlegroups, survivors that fought at Iasi.
  
• KG Eder - 10. Panzergrenadier’s remains, mixed battlegroups, survivors that fought at Iasi.
  
• 1st Mtn.Repl. Brigade - Hungarian mountain troops with Raider trait, but veterancy locked. The same as those troops embedded with the Hungarian 25th Infantry.
  
• various smaller units, such as Hungarian Csendőr (=Royal Hungarian Gendarmerie).

[h2]What can you expect in-game?[/h2] Sperrverband Kessell is roughly a Panzergrenadier-Division, with fewer tanks but more, and more diverse, infantry.

• Recon is nothing to write home about. Most of the options in this category are infantry, with only a few slots open. It does include some elite Brandenburger recon squads though.
  
• Infantry forces are potent, with many cheap slots and a large array of choice, from Erzatstruppen to elite Brandenburg commandos, Hungarian mountain troops, combat engineers, and Panzergrenadier (some of them deployable in half-tracks).
  
• There are only a few armored slots open. Most of the cards available are StuG III G, rounded out by a handful Panzer IV and StuG IV.
  
• Support forces are pretty decent, with more options than normal. You will find Hungarian and German MG squads, including Brandenburg versions, as well as SdKfz. 251/16 flamethrower and StuH 42. You will also be able to deploy large Hungarian gendarmerie squads, the Csendőr, being Disciplined and Fanatical, the gendarmes being the most hardcore nazi within the Hungarian regime. Csendőr can also be deployed as the old CV.33 tankettes, which is a Military Police tank (yup) coming with the Disciple trait ... but not Fanatical: nobody could be riding in such a tankette in 1944!
  
• The Anti-Tank category features towed Hungarian 40mm and German PaK 40 guns at its core, and a few lighter s.PzB 41, Marder tank destroyer and StuG III F/8.
  
• You can’t call much, but you can rely on the efficient 88mm AA gun, the Flakvierling or the SdKfz. 7/1.
  
• The division is seriously lacking in artillery, with an average number of slots, but very restricted in choice. You only get mortars and the Hungarian 75mm howitzer, a few self-propelled mortars or the Wespe.
  
• Airforces overhead are a mix of Hungarian and German planes, including the Ju-87, Ju-88, Me-109 and Fw-190.
  

[h2]A brief summary[/h2]
In case you missed it, the latest DLC for Steel Division 2, The Battle of Turda will contain the following.

• One new Army General campaign centered on the Battle of Turda, Transylvania, pitting Axis Hungary versus Allied Romania.
  
• Six new divisions.
  • Of which three will be Romanian, including the Divizia 9 Infanterie and the Divizia 8 Cavalerie Motorizata.
    
  • And two will be Hungarian, with one German. This includes the Hungarian 2. Páncéloshadosztály (2nd Armored Division) and 25. Hadosztály (25th Infantry Division). The Germans are represented with the Sperrverband von Kessel.
• Mixed divisions, with units from various nations, such as Romanian-Soviet or Hungarian-German.
  
• One new map.
  
• 2 Aces: the Hungarian tank commander Lieutenant Ervin Tarczay and Romanian fighter ace, Captain Dan Vizanti.
  

[h2]Until next week![/h2]
That’s all! Keep a close watch on our Steam forums and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2 talk. Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!