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Burning Baltics Expansion - Army General Preview

Hello there!

Once again, we are going to shine a light on our upcoming History Expansion, Steel Division: Burning Baltics. This time, we’ll give you an in-depth preview of the new strategic turn-based Army General Campaign that focuses on one of the last victorious German counter-offensives on the Eastern Front: Operation Doppelkopf.

Please note: we are still busy with this Army General Campaign, meaning that the following images and assets are work in progress and subject to change.

[h2]Historical Background[/h2]
All right, let’s zoom out a bit. As you know, Steel Division: Burning Baltics puts Operation Doppelkopf center stage. It is August 1944, and in the Baltics, much like everywhere else on the Eastern Front, the Red Army is advancing. A few weeks previously, in a daring rush, the 1st Baltic Front manages to cut off Wehrmacht’s Army Group Center and Army Group North by reaching the Gulf of Riga. However, the Soviet troops are exhausted after weeks of campaigning, and their lines are dangerously overextended. Further north, the local Axis forces are fighting a desperate battle to block fresh Soviet forces from entering the Baltics through the Narva bridgehead. Here, the German defenses hold but at great cost.

With the connection lost between the two Army Groups, re-establishing the link becomes a top priority for the Wehrmacht. As such, it puts together an impressive armored force by reorganizing and regrouping the last remaining tank reserves in the region. These formations operate under 3. Panzerarmee’s command, and with Kriegsmarine support from the Baltic Sea, a counteroffensive is ready to be unleashed by the middle of August 1944.



Stavka, the Soviet High Command, in the meantime, is trying to replenish its troops and focuses its attention on taking Riga, beginning a siege of the Latvian capital. Several reserve formations, including the 5th Tank Army further southeast, are forced to rest, finally encountering the time to replace their worn-out equipment.

For once, it is the Soviets who are taken by surprise. Operation Doppelkopf kicks off on August 16th, 1944.

[h2]The Army General Campaign[/h2]
Let’s take a look at the strategic Army General campaign map of Operation Doppelkopf.



The precarious wedge occupied by the Red Army between Army Group Center (to the west and south) and Army Group North (to the northeast) is rather obvious. What is also apparent are the number of forces available and how the Axis need to attack hard and drive fast if they want to reach Riga before substantial Soviet reinforcements can be deployed. Simultaneously, the Soviets have to not only fend off attacks on their weak western lines but also keep up the offensive and take Riga. This will cut off any German reinforcements coming from the north.

The Axis forces will be the numerous armored formations of 3. Panzerarmee, commanded by General der Panzertruppen Raus, with additional support from Army Group North. The Allied forces will be the 1st Baltic Front, historically commanded by Army General Bagramyan.

[h3]The Axis[/h3]
The Axis forces ready for the player to command, as depicted from south to north, are:
  • Along the southern edge of the Šiauliai-Riga highway, the German 40. Panzerkorps, including the depleted 14. Panzerdivision and the heavy-weight champion and elite Panzergrenadier-Division “Grossdeutschland.” The 7. Panzerdivision can be deployed later as reinforcements.
  • In the center, its objective Jelgava along the highway further northeast, is the German 39. Panzerkorps, with 5. Panzerdivision in the lead and the 4. Panzerdivision in support. The 12. Panzerdivision arrives later at this location.
  • Further north, the 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V., represented at the start of the campaign by two lonely battalions trying to hold the line. These are Gruppe Mäder with Lithuanian volunteers and some training units, and SS-Gruppe Hiertes with its Latvian SS soldiers. The rest of the formation will be made available later.
  • Up north, hugging the Gulf of Riga and attacking from Courland, is Panzerverband Strachwitz with its two distinct brigades. Advancing on the logistical hub at Tukums from separate directions is the SS-Panzerbrigade “Gross” and Panzerbrigade 101.
  • On the other side of the Soviet salient, in the northeast, we find elements of
    Army Group North defending Riga. This is I. Armeekorps and Korp Kleffel, with 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland” potentially arriving after the conclusion of the Battle of Tannenberg.

The mighty Grossdeutschland, already a small Panzerkorps by itself.

[h3]The Allies[/h3]
The Red Army is put on the defensive in this Army General campaign:
  • The Soviet defenses facing west are very thinly manned and stretched out.
  • Only a small number of mobile reserves are available. These include the 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps around Jelgava (a formation featured previously in another Army General campaign, Berezina). This unit is overextended and weakened from the combat operations since Minsk.
  • Another reserve formation is the 103rd Rifle Corps further southeast, which forms the basis of our battlegroup Gruppa Fedyunkina. The 19th Tank Corps can be deployed later as reinforcement.
  • The forces facing Riga are much more substantial. This is especially true for the 43rd Army, which is grouped to the south of the capital city, poised to attack.
  • Furthermore, the 5th Tank Army is planned to arrive from a southwest axis as reinforcements.


[h2]AG Objectives and Moves[/h2]
The primary objectives for both sides in this Army General campaign are to control the three objective flags along the Šiauliai-Riga highway:



  • One objective is located in Šiauliai, in the south.
  • One objective is situated in the center, near Jelgava, and the river crossing there.
  • One objective is Riga, the Latvian capital, in the northeast of the map.
  • As a secondary objective, a fourth flag can be controlled: Tukums. If this Allied crossroads is taken quickly enough by the Axis player (as it happened in real life), a free “Beute” reinforcement battalion, filled with Soviet tanks and equipment, will appear.

The Axis player’s strategy will focus on holding back the Soviet forces besieging Riga long enough for the 3. Panzerarmee attacking from the west to reach them. Army Group Center’s armored and mechanized formations enjoy a massive qualitative superiority. However, they lack infantry, and as they have to advance through less-than-ideal terrain (including urban areas and against fortified units), the tanks are in danger of losing the advantage of their ranged firepower and speed.

Time plays in favor of the Allied player: the longer they hold the Axis offensive back in the west, and the more armored units they destroy or neutralize, the more chance there will be for the 5th Tank Army to become deployable as reinforcements. However, it’s not just about riding out the attack waves, their real objective remains Riga. Not only would it be a major coup for the Red Army if they can overcome Riga’s defenders in a bloody battle, but at the same time, they can also cut off Army Group North reinforcements destined to be deployed later during the campaign.

[h2]What can you expect from Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics?[/h2] Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics is the latest in-depth History Expansion. It 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.
  • 2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.


Be sure to check out various Versus articles that detail a pair of new Divisions each:



[h2]See you next week[/h2]
Once more, we bid you adieu! Until next week, commander.

If you want to reach out to us, you can 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.

Burning Baltics Expansion - Aces

Back in business, commander!

In today’s post, we take a look at the two unique Aces which will ship with the new Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics History Expansion. Who? Nothing less than the most decorated German serviceman, Colonel (Oberst) Hans-Ulrich Rudel, and the veteran General Major Georgiy Nefedovich Zakharov.



[h2]Steel Division 2 Aces[/h2]
As with our previous History Expansions for Steel Division 2, two Aces will be featured with Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics. These special gold-rimmed units are unique: they are commanded by real-life war heroes and feature special in-game camouflage patterns to set them apart from their regular counterparts.

Note: our Ace units don’t offer any gameplay advantage over their vanilla versions.

[h2]Colonel (Oberst) Hans-Ulrich Rudel[/h2]
That’s right, Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics will feature one of the most famous German fliers of World War II and the most decorated to boot: the renowned ground-attack pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel. He is the only recipient of the unique Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, an ultra-rare medal intended for the 12 most distinguished servicemen of the Third Reich, to be awarded after the war’s end. Only Rudel received his; U.S. forces confiscated the rest.



As a pilot, Rudel was most famously known as a tank buster, even though he only started flying fighter-bombers in 1941 at the start of Operation Barbarossa. Before this date, he was merely an air observer flying long-range reconnaissance missions. Having retrained as a Stuka pilot, Rudel was famously credited for sinking the moored Soviet battleship Marat of the Baltic Fleet, in an attack during the initial invasion of the Soviet Union in September 1941.

He took part in many famous battles, including Operation Typhoon - the failed German offensive aimed at taking Moscow - Stalingrad, Kursk, Crimea, Romania… and Operation Doppelkopf. During the war, he was credited with destroying hundreds of tanks and vehicles, several ships and landing craft, and over 150 artillery guns. These victories didn’t come easy: Rudel was shot down or forced to land around 30 times, including several occasions behind enemy lines.



In January 1945, he was downed a final time, resulting in the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Still, Rudel crawled back into the cockpit, flying again with an artificial leg in the last months of the war, being credited with destroying a further 26 tanks.

Next to flying - and surviving - over 2500 attack missions and becoming the most decorated German serviceman, Rudel will be forever associated with designing the dedicated anti-tank plane Ju-87G “Panzerknacker” a Stuka with two 37mm anti-tank guns under its wings. During the Cold War, American designers would use his memoirs and input to create the legendary A-10 Warthog attack plane.

In Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics Rudel will fly his trademark Ju-87G Stuka.



[h2]General Major Georgiy Nefedovich Zakharov[/h2]
Our second Ace is the highly decorated veteran General Major Georgiy Nefedovich Zakharov - the flying General. As a volunteer, he flew his first combat missions (with biplanes) during the Spanish Civil War. He continued to fly, rather unusually participating in the Chinese-Japanese War (before it became part of World War II), where he crash-landed far from home. Zakharov had to wait three days with a shattered arm before being rescued and taken to a hospital.



In 1941, as one of the most experienced pilots and commanders of his generation, he was promoted to Major-General at 33. Despite his high rank, he kept on flying, making as many kills as he did after becoming General as he did flying before. During the Battle of Kursk in 1943, he became the commander of the 303 IAD fighter division, which he would lead up until the end of the war.

This formation became famous due to the inclusion of the Free French Normandy regiment. In 1945, when the French pilots were released from service, they were each gifted personally a Yak-3 fighter by Stalin in person. Zakharov took direct command of them, leading the pilots on their last journey back to France.



Zakharov’s plane was decorated with a horse-mounted lancer slaying a snake with the face of Goebbels. Having shot down ten planes across 150 sorties, our flying General was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin. At the same time, in France, he received the Legion d'Honneur and was made an honorary citizen of Paris in recognition of his achievements during the war.

In Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics Zakharov will be found piloting a Yak-3 fighter.



[h2]What can you expect from Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics?[/h2] Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics is the latest in-depth History Expansion. It 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.
  • 2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.


Do you want to know more about the new Divisions? Be sure to check out various Versus articles:



[h2]See you next week[/h2]

And that’s a wrap! Let us know what you think. We always listen!

If you want to reach out to us, you can 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 next week, commander!

Burning Baltics Expansion - Narva Bridgehead Versus #4

Hello!

We have arrived at the latest Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics Versus post. Two slightly different battlegroups will take today’s center stage: the 11. SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland” and the Red Army’s 7. Eesti Laskurdiviis (7th Estonian Rifle Division).



In comparison to the other Versus formations previously featured, which all fought during Operation Doppelkopf, the two divisions highlighted today were located further north, in Army Group North’s area of responsibility.

Specifically, both the ”Nordland” and the 7th Estonian Rifle Division took part in the hard-fought Battle for Narva campaign, including the infamous Battle of Tannenberg Line.

In case you’ve forgotten:


[h2]Historical Background[/h2]
The Battle of Tannenberg Line forms the second phase of the larger Battle for Narva campaign fought from February to August 1944 in Estonia. This particular battle was preceded by the Battle of the Narva Bridgehead, concluded by July 1944. The struggle focused on the strategically important Narva Isthmus, which provided a way into the northern Baltic country for the Red Army’s Leningrad Front. The narrow battlefield was fiercely defended by a motley collection of Axis troops, including various SS formations which included Scandinavians (part of Nordland) to Dutchmen, Belgians, Estonians, etc. That’s why the Battle of Tannenberg Line is sometimes called the The Battle of the European SS.



This particular engagement was brutal, with near-constant attacks and heavy artillery bombardments from the Red Army, and an almost desperate defense from the Axis troops involved. Exhausted, the Soviets called a halt after horrendous losses and only negligible results. Considered a German tactical victory at the conclusion of this hard-fought battle, which finished around the same time Operation Doppelkopf kicked off further south.

The German victories were short-lived, however. Later Red Army offensives in September overran the defensive lines, which forced the evacuation of the Baltics, including Estonia, and resulted in the pocket at Courland and the siege of Memel.

[h2]11. SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland”[/h2]
Built around an existing Nordic SS regiment (from “Wiking”) but expanded on a low budget, the 11. SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland” had to make do with whatever equipment was around. For instance, while this division was supposed to have both a separate Panzer-Abteilung (with Panzer IV or StuG) and a Panzerjäger-Abteilung (with StuG), it never fought with the latter, and all the StuG were concentrated in the Panzer-Abteilung. Nordland was one of the SS volunteer divisions, housing a large contingent of Scandinavian SS troops in its ranks.

Nordland fought mostly with the III. SS-Panzerkorp: around Leningrad and Narva, where it was ordered to defend as long as possible. The division made its famous stand at Tannenberg Line, where it withstood countless attacks. Having held back the enemy, it was moved to Riga but arrived too late to play a significant role in the last phase of Operation Doppelkopf.

During the campaign in the Baltics, it managed to acquire left-over materiel from units sent back to Germany to be refitted. That’s how a dozen worn-out Panthers found their way in Nordland's arsenal. No Panzergrenadier-Division was supposed to field Panthers, which made the SS formation unique. Nordland's workshops worked around the clock to keep these older tanks running.

Some of the Panthers were used as fixed, dug-in positions. This will be represented in-game as a new Panther-Stellung defensive position in Breakthrough mode!

[h2]Nordland’s main features[/h2]
A battlegroup pockmarked by near-constant fighting, Nordland’s equipment might not be state-of-the-art but features plenty of choices.



  • The Recon category is one of the strongest for this battlegroup, with several good options including Puma and Schwedenzug. The latter is the grouping of the few remaining Swedes of the division into the same platoon: this is featured in-game as a heavy recon squad equipped with PPSh, SVT, and twin MG-34.
  • The Infantry category is pretty classic but shines in the number of open slots and their low costs. Due to battlefield conditions and limits of supply, half of the PzGrenadier are armed with the older MG-26 LMG.
  • Only a few tanks are available. These include Panther D, StuG III and several StuG IV, but all come with combat experience.
  • The Stuka zu Fuss, a unique fire support vehicle, is featured in the Support category, which is a combination of a SdKfz. 251/9 half-track (with short 75mm) and Wurframen with a 280mm rocket!
  • One of the drawbacks of the battlegroup can be found in the AT category. With the divisional Panzerjäger-Abteilung having never been formed, the player can only rely on regimental guns, for a good part captured Soviet 45mm or ZiS-3, as well as only a handful of Beute SU-76M.
  • The anti-aircraft and artillery units are pretty standard for a Panzergrenadier-Division. A noteworthy unit is the Vielfachwerfer MLRS.
  • Air forces on call are limited, with only a few fighters and Stuka dive bombers available. However, the Arado 234 B-2, the first jet bomber, became active around the summer’s end and could range as far north as Lithuania. As such, this new fast “recon bomber” has been added as a counterpart to the new Soviet Yer-2 bomber.
  • The other dug-in Panther-Stellung fixed defensive structure is featured in the Defensive category.




It might not be the hardest hitting battlegroup, but Nordland offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to adapt quickly to most situations and opponents.

[h2]7. Eesti Laskurdiviis[/h2]
The Soviet 7th Estonian Rifle Division was an integral part of the Red Army, under the umbrella of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps. This overarching command also contained another Estonian rifle division (the 249th) and the 45th Estonian Tank Regiment. Formed in 1942, this corps participated in some of the Eastern Front’s bloodiest battles: Leningrad, Velikiye Luki, before participating in the offensive aimed at breaking through at Narva. The formation suffered heavily, in both manpower and equipment, during the war years.

Mostly incorporating ethnic Estonians and officers from the pre-war Republic of Estonia’s Army, the 7th Estonian Rifle Division is a regular Soviet rifle division, but with all its Estonian troops fully voiced!

During the Battle of Narva in 1944, the 7th Estonian Rifle Division directly engaged the Estonians fighting for the Waffen SS. Later, the division’s troops were one of the first to enter the Estonian capital of Tallinn, for which the units received the name of the city as a battle honor.

[h2]7. Eesti Laskurdiviis’ main features[/h2]
The 7th Estonian Rifle Division is featured in-game as it was when spearheading the assault towards Tallinn at the end of September. This means that we have also incorporated elements from supporting formations, such as the 45th (Estonian) Tank Regiment, the 952nd (Soviet) SU Regiment, and remnants of the 152nd (Soviet) Tank Brigade.



  • The battlegroup’s recon forces are decent, with rather typical choices and unit availability.
  • The soldier squads are what you can expect from a regular Soviet rifle division. However, there are fewer regular riflemen and more of the new Cherno squads. These are gang-pressed Estonian recruits, picked up along the campaign trail to make up for battlefield losses, and as such, carry the Disheartened trait.
  • The 7th Estonian Rifle Division can call on a fair share of tanks, including Estonian T-34/76 and Soviet T-26, KV-1S and Churchill IV. Only the last slots are expensive.
  • A noteworthy new unit can be found in the Support tab: SMERSH counter-espionage units. These are larger in-game squads, made up of nine military police soldiers. These replace the regular NKVD squads.
  • One of the drawbacks of this battlegroup is the limited availability of its anti-tank forces, with only 45mm guns and a few SU-76 PT and SU-85 deployable.
  • Likewise, the AA units are few and far between, with a small number of slots and a high price for each. You’ll get Quad Maxim and 37mm pieces to defend yourself from air attacks.
  • The 7th Estonian Rifle Division can deploy a sizable amount of artillery units (including some Soviet ones) with usual complement of mortars, 76,2mm and 122mm howitzers, 152mm off-map and Andryusha 300mm MLRS.
  • The battlegroup can also call on a good mix of air forces, such as fighters, close air support planes, as well as the new Yer-2 long-range bombers (which can also found in Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkina).


The 7th Estonian Rifle Division is a battlegroup geared towards being used on the defensive, even though it lacks sizable AT forces. It compensates this with a strong air force and fielding more tanks than a typical Soviet rifle division.

[h2]What can you expect from Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics?[/h2] 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.
  • 2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.


[h2]See you next week[/h2]
That’s it for this week. We are keen to hear what you think!

If you want to reach out to us, you can 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 - Infantry Versus #3

Hello commander!

Welcome to a new Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics Versus post! Today, we will take a look at two Infantry battlegroups featured in our upcoming new History Expansion.

It is time to put the spotlight on the German 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V. and the Soviet Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin.



A quick reminder:


[h2]52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V.[/h2] 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V might be a bit less glamorous compared to some of the other Axis battlegroups we featured, but this security division played an important role during the war. Keeping the rear clear, supplies moving, hunting partisans, or providing guard duty against potential seaborne or airborne raids were all part of the tasks given these Sicherungs-Division.

While perfect for quieter sectors, these formations were mostly made up of older reservists with obsolete or old equipment to match. Combat effectiveness was accordingly very low. The 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V was built up from the regular 52. Infanterie-Division, which fought in France and Russia before being virtually annihilated in 1943 on the Eastern Front. Reconstituted as a training and security division, the 52. Sicherungs-Division lived on, being positioned in Baranovichi. For Steel Division 2 veterans this place should ring a bell as it was the objective for Operation Bagration’s southern pincer which was featured as one of the original Army General campaigns.

Once again, this division was almost completely destroyed. From its ashes, 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V was hastily formed and sent to the Baltics.

The z.b.V means zur besonderen Verwendung - for “special purposes”. This signified that the formation’s structure was closer to an HQ unit, with officers and communication equipment, but no actual combat troops under its command. When the Soviets broke through and reached the Gulf of Riga, several scattered units were placed under 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V. These formations included the 603. Sicherungs-Regiments, Kampfgruppe Böge which managed to retreat all the way from Vitebsk, SS-Kampfgruppe Hierthes and its Latvian SS troops with FlaK guns, and Regiment Mäder with a unique mix of Lithuanian (TAR) volunteers, battle-hardened instructors, Fallschirmjäger veterans, and other security troops.

[h2]52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V.’s main features[/h2]
This battlegroup fields a wide array of soldiers and is phase-locked to represent the combat evolution of the 52 Sicherungs-Division z.b.V. during Operation Doppelkopf.



  • A large variety of different combat troops can be deployed in Phase A, with a motley collection of SS-Polizei and Lett. Hilfspolizei (Latvian auxiliaries), TAR (Lithuanian) units, Kriegsmarine Flaktruppen, Sicherungs and regular Grenadier units, Lett. Legionäre (Latvian SS) and even elite Feldjäger (elite Feldgendarmerie) and Fallschirmjäger.
  • These soldiers are backed up by mostly light AT, medium artillery and a few FlaK guns but not a single armored vehicle is available in Phase A.
  • Following in the wake of Panzerverband Strachwitz allowed the 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V. to claim a large amount of Soviet captured war booty in Phase B.
  • This Red Army materiel, left by the Tukum garrison, includes 45mm, 76,2mm and even ZiS-2 57mm AT guns. In case of the ZiS-2, it is their first use as a Beute unit by the Germans. Additionally, captured 122mm howitzers can also be put to good use.
  • Arriving too late to join Panzerverband Strachwitz’s race towards Riga, Panzerbrigade 103 becomes available later during a game. Several recon Panther tanks will be available from Phase B, but the rest of the force, including Panther, Jagdpanzer IV and Panzergrenadiers can only be deployed starting in Phase C.
  • The battlegroup has access to a decent number of Air slots, with a typical selection of Luftwaffe planes. A new unit is Do 217-K1 bomber variant.


52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V. shows some similarities with the Korück 559, including the variety of troops and units on offer, but differs in being phase-locked. As such, it is weaker in Phase A before becoming increasingly stronger in Phase B (thanks to Soviet captured equipment) before witnessing a giant boost in armored firepower in Phase C with the arrival of Panzerbrigade 103.

[h2]Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin[/h2] Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin represents the depleted 103rd Rifle Corps, plus some additional units, commanded by general Fedyunkin. Having fought its way from the start of Operation Bagration at Polotsk to the Gulf of Riga, by the time of Operation Doppelkopf, 103rd Rifle Corps was on its last legs.



The idea that the Red Army could sacrifice an endless stream of green recruits to stem the tide might have been a reality in the early war years, but by summer’s end in 1944, manpower shortages were a real issue. As such, care was taken to limit losses. While Guard divisions were brought back up to full strength as soon as possible, secondary formations had to keep fighting at half-strength for extended periods.

Pulled out of the line and placed in reserve, Fedyunkin’s weak corps had little time to rest as it was rushed to the front to fend off Grossdeutschland’s strong attack in the Šiauliai sector. The 5th Tank Army was ordered to reinforce Fedyunkin by any means necessary, which amounted to just 17 serviceable T-34/85 tanks. Luckily, several heavy gun pieces were able to be moved up, including MT-13 super-heavy mortars and BS-3 heavy AT guns, just the thing needed to repel the advancing Panzers.

[h2]Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin’s main features[/h2]
To represent the unusual composition of Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin, with its amalgamation of various depleted formations and featuring only two battle-weary divisions, we have adapted the official “reduced” Soviet Table of Organization and Equipment.

  • The core infantry power comes from this battlegroup’s Strelki squads, with no Strelki (DP) nor Strelki (SVT) available.
  • The Strelki Komroti are replaced with Stelki Komroti (PTR), a larger 6-men command squad with SVT and PTRD anti-tank rifles.
  • A new Strelki (DT) squad, representing combat veterans as a 7-men squad with PPSh, SVT, DT machine-gun, and Molotov cocktails.
  • Several armored units provide additional firepower to the Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin including Emcha and T-34/85 obr. 43 in Phase A.
  • A small number of T-34/85 obr. 1944 can be deployed from Phase B - these represent the 5th Tank Army’s historical reinforcements.
  • Some SU-122 from Phase A and ISU-152 from Phase B.
  • A wide array of AT guns and SU-85 from Phase A. From Phase B, two new units can be deployed: the first operational BS-3 heavy anti-tank gun together with the new YA-12 tractor. This new 100mm AT gun provides the Soviets with a PaK 43 equivalent, slightly inferior in penetration but doubling as a howitzer, much like the ZiS-3.
  • The new MT-13 160mm super-heavy mortars can be found in the Artillery tab.
  • Aviation assets include several close air support fighter-bombers. The last remaining Yer-2 long-range bombers flying from Smolensk can also be used.




The Podv. Gruppa Fedyunkin is a battlegroup with few reconnaissance units and only a moderate amount of tanks. Where it shines, however, is its infantry, support, AT, and artillery guns. It fields enough firepower to mount limited attacks but is best used on the defensive.

[h2]What can you expect from Steel Division 2: Burning Baltics?[/h2] 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.
  • 2 new Nations: Lithuania (Axis) and Estonia (Allies) and 2 new Aces.


[h2]Until next week![/h2]
Don’t forget: we have recently launched Nemesis: Battle of Rimini. Get it while it’s still hot!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1477780/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_3__Battle_of_Rimini/

If you want to reach out to us, you can 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.

Steel Division 2 review - a flawed masterpiece

Up near the Korean DMZ there's a place called Rodriguez Range. If you make the trek up the hill to the control tower, you can almost see the whole thing. Tank gunnery lanes stretch out for miles before you, curving around rugged mountains and eventually disappearing in the misty distance. Abrams tank crews qualify on this range, firing at targets five kilometers from their position, and seeing it from such a height, but still so close, provides a fleeting glimpse at the sheer geographic scale of war.


Steel Division 2 aims to provide an even larger and better perspective on war, and I'll be damned if it doesn't almost pull it off.


This is of course the follow-up to Eugen Systems' Steel Division: Normandy '44, and the fundamentals of that game have made the jump to the Eastern Front intact. Here you'll find the same massive real-time tactical battles across miles of front line, with infantry, armour, artillery, and air force on hand to push that all-important control line back a few more acres. These remain the centrepiece of the game, and they look even better this time around.


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