Hello!
Today is the day we’ll be looking at our very first Nemesis DLC option. Let’s dive deep into Nemesis: Lvov Offensive and its two rather unusual divisions: the 20. Panzergrenadier-Division versus the 10th Guards Tank Corps.
If you missed the news, be sure to check our reveal of the new Nemesis Divisions.
In case you’ve forgotten: Nemesis Divisions are paid DLCs focusing on pairs of new divisions not previously featured in Steel Division 2. We’ve decided to develop smaller sets of unique battlegroups while keeping the link to the summer of 1944. These pairs will feature new units, new models, and even… new nations!
That’s not all: you can vote on which Nemesis DLC is your favorite and want to see launch first. We will highlight three alternative sets of divisions, each from a different Theater of Operations, leading up to a big community vote. The first vote will happen at the end of August.
Today we shine a spotlight on Nemesis: Lvov Offensive. Let’s dive in.
The Historical Context
Our first Nemesis DLC option highlights the Lvov Offensive. As you know, the massive Operation Bagration plays a central role in Steel Division 2. This Soviet strategic campaign proved so successful that it went down into history books as the offensive that broke the Wehrmacht’s back. However, it wasn’t the most powerful Red Army strike planned during the summer of 1944. That honor goes to the Lvov-Sandomierz operation. The double name refers to the Ukrainian city that provided the starting point, while the second title applies to the bridgehead established across the Vistula in Poland.
By concentrating enormous forces, Stavka had purposefully made the Germans believe the main thrust that summer would come from the Lvov area. The Wehrmacht reacted as expected, depriving Army Group Center of substantial armored reserves, which led to Red Army’s triumph when Operation Bagration in Belorussia, further north, commenced. As some of Wehrmacht’s reserves were hurriedly transferred back to this part of the Eastern Front, the fact remained that most of the German armored forces were concentrated in Ukraine. For good measure, the Soviets shipped even more firepower to the Lvov area: three tank armies and one cavalry-mechanized group.
In the opening move of Lvov-Sandomierz, the Soviets launched two massive armored thrusts around the XIII. Korps, trapping it near Brody despite German armored counter-attacks. Facing the Soviet southern pincer was the German XXIV. Panzerkorps, which only managed to save itself after a costly fighting retreat. This was mostly done by the 20. Panzergrenadier-Division, which was supported by one of the Wehrmacht’s strangest formations: Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653 (heavy tank destroyer battalion 653).
On the opposing side, the northern pincer was formed by the Soviet 4th Tank Army - the parent formation of the capable 10th Guards Tank Corps. This armored thrust was spearheaded by the equally unusual 51st Independent Motorcycle Regiment.
Divisions of Nemesis: Lvov Offensive
Which battlegroups will form part of the Nemesis: Lvov Offensive? And what cool units or troops will they be able to deploy?
20. Panzergrenadier-Division
A battle-hardened division which experienced the campaigns of Poland, France, and the Soviet Union, the 20. Panzergrenadier-Division was one of Wehrmacht’s “fire brigades” on the Eastern Front. Moved from one army group to the next, this formation was kept in reserve until brought forward to counter an enemy breakthrough and plug any gap in the line.
Organized as a regular Panzergrenadier-Division (see 17. SS or 25. Panzergrenadier in Steel Division 2), the 20. Panzergrenadier was lavishly reequipped with StuG IV prior to the Lvov-Sandomierz offensive. However, what truly sets this battlegroup apart from other in-game divisions is the attached Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653.
- The Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653 was a unique Wehrmacht formation. By 1944, it concentrated all the surviving Elefant heavy tank destroyers in one unit. Much like the open-top Nashorn, this beast of a machine is armed with the 88mm PaK 43 in a fixed armored casemate structure. However, it is built on a Tiger chassis, making the Elefant one of the hardest hitting (and most heavily armored) tank destroyers of the war.
- The s.PzJäger-Abt. 653’s workshop tinkered away, creating many different tank variants not found anywhere else. Such as self-propelled anti-air weapons including 1x Flakpanzer Panther (20mm Flakvierling built on a turretless Panther) or the 1x Flakpanzer T-34 (20mm Flakvierling built on a turretless T-34).
- Other special vehicles include the Muniwagen T-34 and Muniwagen Panzer III, which were ammo carriers and tractors rebuilt from turretless tanks.
- One of the command tanks, a Panzer V/IV Führer, could be considered a true Frankenstein: a Panzer IV turret fixed forward on a Panther D hull.
- Lastly, the s.PzJäger-Abt. 653 possessed the one and only field variant of the VK 45.01 (P), also known as the Tiger (P). This was Porsche’s prototype for the Tiger tank, which lost to the Henschel prototype, which in turn became the mass-produced Tiger I. This unique vehicle was used as the battalion’s command tank.
10th Guards Tank Corps
A veteran division from the battle of Kursk and Bryansk, the 10th Guards Tank Corps was formerly known as the 30th Tank Corps before being awarded the honorific Guards status in late 1943. This formation took part in the (ultimately failed) encirclement of the 1. Panzerarmee in the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket.
At the start of the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation, the 10th Guards Tank Corps was organized as a regular T-34 corps (see the 2nd Guards Tank Corps in Steel Division 2 for reference). The tanks were evenly distributed between T-34/76 and the more potent T-34/85 variants. What makes the 10th Guards Tank Corps unique, though, was the attachment of the 4th Tank Army’s own 51st Independent Motorcycle Regiment.
- The 51st Independent Motorcycle Regiment’s workshop was given any German captured tanks found on the battlefield. If they could repair them, the Soviets would try to use them against their former owners for as long as possible. This means that during the Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive, the regiment could count on no less than 7x T-6s Tigr (Tiger E) and 2x T-5s Pantera (Panther A).
- Another regimental feature is that unlike other armored reconnaissance formations in the Red Army - which used lend-lease Valentines or older T-34/76 as recon tanks - this unit uses the full-blown recon T-34/85.
- The 10th Guards Tank Corps was also supported by the Soviet fighter ace of the war, Aleksandr Ivanovich Porkyshkin, flying the P-39N Airacobra. At the time of the offensive, he was the highest-scoring ace in the Red Air Force.
First Nemesis DLC for free
If you like to see Nemesis: Lvov Offensive, don’t forget to keep in mind this Division set for the upcoming community vote at the end of August.
To be clear and reaffirm: we will release the first Nemesis Divisions set for FREE. It will feature the
16. Panzerdivision versus 97th Guards Rifle Division and will likely launch in September.
Future Nemesis Divisions DLC will be PAID - this would include Nemesis: Lvov Offensive,if you would vote for this set.
Coming up next
Next week, we’ll look at the second option for the new Nemesis DLC. We are keen to hear what you think! 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!