Hello!

We hope all is well, commander. We’ll keep it brief in today’s round-up post, but many good things are coming to Steel Division 2, including the upcoming Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion.

So what are we working on?

Work in Progress

Quite a few features are cooking in the Eugen’s kitchen. The following ones we are actively working on in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.



Dialogue and Translations
We are recording the acknowledgments for the expansion, while some are already being done, such as the new U.S. and Canadian special forces dialogues. Others still need to go through the voice-acting pipeline.

As a matter of fact, we are checking suitable voice actors for French-Moroccan and “full” Moroccan (for Groupement Dody Montagnards and Goumiers troops specifically), as well as Dutch voice actors (both Axis Landstorm collaborators and Allied fighter pilots).



The following goes out to our players, but we need some help with Bulgarian dialogue due to the lack of a military-versed translator. We have a Bulgarian translation of the script, but we are looking for someone knowledgeable enough to proofread it. We want to ensure it’s 100% a-okay before we record it. If, by any chance, within the Steel Division 2 community, there is a Bulgarian native-speaker who would like to step up to give us a hand… the Eugen team would be most appreciative!

Models and Infantry
All the 3D models have been done and integrated (except for one unannounced unit, which we managed to add at the last minute). In the meantime, our artists are occupied with the painstaking job of reskinning all the existing models used by the Bulgaria battlegroup.





On top of this is another lengthy task: creating infantry profile pictures. This one is also ongoing, with much to be done still.

Traits
All the new Traits coming to Steel Division 2: Men of Steel are finished and being implemented as we speak. Traits will apply to all units, when and where applicable (so not only those brought new by the expansion).



The icons for Traits are also being completed, following the same format as those found in WARNO. A few of them are newly designed. This means there is more commonality, making it easier for players of either game to jump into the other title! The Traits themselves are being tested, fine-tuning their effects where needed (such as AoE range, optics values, etc.)

Action Against Hunger Charity Event

Don’t forget, the Action Against Hunger charity event is happening this weekend! By playing Steel Division 2 and WARNO in a competitive setting, you’ll be able to support the funraise effort for the Action Against Hunger charity.



The charity tournament event will take place on the 27th and 28th of May. The first day, the 27th, will be dedicated to Steel Division 2, while the 28th of May will be all about WARNO.

You can sign up for the tournament by following this link: https://playsdl.com/tournament/4th-SDL-charity-tourney.

More information about the fundraising can be found by following this link:
https://actionfundraisers.funraise.org/fundraiser/sdl.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

If you want to do some background reading on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you soon

Let us know what you think!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello, hello!

As a long bank holiday weekend has descended upon us - and the Eugen Systems offices - today’s DevBlog for Steel Division 2 will be brief.

Not to worry. We are hard at work on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, and we will be able to show you new details and more information in the coming weeks. So, be sure to tune in with next week’s post!



Before we leave you, we also have a message from our dedicated Protosz asking us to spread the word about the upcoming Action Against Hunger charity community tournament.

Action Against Hunger Charity Event

After a very successful 2022 edition, in which more than $2100 was raised, Action Against Hunger event is back in the same format. Once again, by playing both Steel Division 2 and WARNO in a competitive setting, you’ll be able to support the funraise effort for the Action Against Hunger charity.

The charity tournament event will take place on the 27th and 28th of May. The first day, the 27th, will be exclusively dedicated to Steel Division 2, while the 28th of May will be all about WARNO.



You can sign up for the tournament by following this link: https://playsdl.com/tournament/4th-SDL-charity-tourney.

More information about the fundraising can be found by following this link:
https://actionfundraisers.funraise.org/fundraiser/sdl.

We’ll be sharing more info leading up to the tournament. Please note that this event is not organized by Eugen but through the community. Much like previous editions, and other player initiatives, we wholeheartedly support the event. If you have any questions, please contact the organizers directly.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

If you want to do some background reading on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you soon

That’s it. Expect a bigger Steel Division 2 DevBlog next week!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello, commander!

Ready for another peek at the next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel? Today is not a showcase of new models, but an expanded system directly affecting a host of units in-game: new and updated Traits.

Let’s dig in.

Traits

We have come full circle. One feature of Steel Division 2 was how certain units would have specific Traits that would set them apart and provide bonuses (or drawbacks) on the battlefield. Little details like this dig not only into realistic (and historical) reasons but also influence the way you deploy and order your units around.

Over time, we expanded this list, but you might recognize the Disheartened trait, Radio, or the Tank Buster one. Some traits would just explain the innate abilities of a unit, while others would provide a specific function or characteristic, such as the experience boost of Leader unit or the Disciple trait (to keep those cowardly Disheartened units in line).

With the new Cold War cousin of Steel Division 2, WARNO, we took the Trait system a step further, to differentiate each unit and their role on the battlefield even more. Some of these Traits will find their way back into Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, together with several new ones.



Please note that the following list is not complete and final. We might change certain traits, add or remove unit types, or tweak their mechanics as we see fit.

Traits adapted

We begin with traits that have already been introduced WARNO. These have all been adapted to World War II’s battle conditions in Steel Division 2.

SHOCK
This trait will be given to units dedicated and drilled for close combat. They are soldiers excelling in using SMGs, pistols, grenades, explosives, knives, and even entrenching tools if they have to. Units with the Shock trait will inflict more physical damage at very close range, meaning inside city blocks or in forests.



The following units will receive the Shock trait:

• Almost all the current SMG squads, such as the Soviet Avtomatchiki, Tankodesantniki, U.S. Assault Groups, various German Stosstruppen, etc.
  
• Assault engineers, such as German Sturmpioniers, Commonwealth Assault Pioneers, Soviet Shturmoviki.
  
• Other units, although not equipped with SMGs or flame-throwing weapons, but still marked for an assault role. This includes Romanian Asalt squads. Formations famous for their hand-to-hand combat skills will also gain this trait, such as the Allied Gurkhas, Maoris, and Goumiers.

SECURITY
This particular trait will grant the Good recon optics to regular infantry units, but only when they are stationary. The Security trait is given to typical rear-area security forces whose mission was usually focused on patrolling in quieter sectors. As Steel Division 2 takes place during the summer and early autumn of 1944, this trait will mostly find its way to Axis security units forced to fight on the actual front line more often than not.



Units with the Securit trait:

• German Sicherungs, Schupo, Schuma units.
  
• Italian fascist RSI GNR units.
  
• More to come.

TANK RIDERS
This trait can also be found in Steel Division 2 more modern cousin, WARNO, where it is known as IFV Infantry. Tank Riders works in pretty much the same way. As a so-called “mirror trait”, to be active, it requires both an infantry unit and vehicle to feature the trait AND stay close to each other. When this condition is met, both units will receive an extra “shield” boost against suppression.



In Steel Division 2, the trait will differentiate those units trained to fight in close cooperation with armor. This includes:

• Soviet (and assimilated nations) Tankodesantniki, the most famous of mounted tank riders.
  
• German Begleit units.
  
• A new Western Allied unit, created specifically to use this trait. This is the Canadian Kangaroo Rifles unit from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. This large infantry unit will be the only one available to be transported by the Kangaroo armored personnel carrier. Both the unit and the transport will feature the Tank Rider trait.

New Traits

The following traits have been newly created for Steel Division 2.

COMMANDO
The Commando trait will combine the Shock and Raider traits, but as the cherry on the cake, it will also include a “shield” bonus against suppression. This is much like the new Tank Riders trait, but without needing a vehicle. The Commando trait will only be gifted to a nation’s elite special forces. This ensures they are different enough from more regular paratroopers or light infantry.



A list of those units getting the Commando trait:

• Of course, the various British Commando units will be the most obvious recipient.
  
• German Brandenburger and MEK special forces.
  
• American Rangers and O.S.S. troops.
  
• Canadian-American Forcemen units (from the upcoming Devil’s Brigade of the 1st Airborne Task Force).
  
• The Soviet OSNAZ unit.
  
• Polish Cichociemni.
  
• Fascist Italian RSI Decima Mas, part of the upcoming 715. Infanterie-Division.
  
• The Finish Sissi unit.

ARTILLERY LEADER
This trait will apply to all existing artillery leader units. It will give artillery pieces the Radio trait when close by, even to those artillery pieces lack one. Artillery Leader will also gain more accuracy within their radio net, reducing suppression.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

If you want to do some background reading on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

That’s it. We’ll be back with a Steel Division 2 new DevBlog soon!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield.

Hello, hello!

We are back with another deep dive into our upcoming expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. After our recent Highlights, we decided it was time to lift the tip of the veil on a larger variety of models, including new units.

The first nation to receive such a showcase is Bulgaria, presented in the expansion as the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada. Read more about this new division in the dedicated Versus #4 DevBlog.

Get ready for a host of shiny (or not-so-shiny) new 3D models!

Bulgarian Infantry

We have already showcased the Bulgarian infantry models, which you can check in this Steel Division 2: Men of Steel dedicated Highlight DevBlog. But, there is always something new to share.

The few Bulgarian Motorized Rifles attached to the armored brigade were nominally organized along German lines - 10 men centered on an MG-34 light machine gun. However, regular Bulgarian infantry went into battle during World War II as much as they did at the end of World War I, with large 14-man squads and a single automatic rifle.



One major issue the Bulgarian infantry encountered was the lack of anti-tank weapons. The only ones delivered by the Germans were PzB 39 anti-tank rifles, which were outdated by 1944 and could only be used against the lightest of enemy armored vehicles. The main alternative were hand-held AT grenades or improvised explosives.

While at a disadvantage when war finally came to their nation, Bulgarian infantry quickly reequipped themselves in the field with captured Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck. In our Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, Bulgarian infantry will mainly be represented as they first clashed with the Germans. Bulgarian infantry with captured German AT weapons are only available as a separate Combat Phase B-locked variant.

Bulgarian Vehicles

Most Bulgarian vehicles in World War II featured a single-colored beige/yellowish paint job. This would apply to all wheeled vehicles, as well as most of the tanks. However, some of the older models retained their camouflage, which we will recreate in-game.



Bulgaria’s tank force includes:

• German Panzer IV G and H (without Schürtzen, the side skirts), known in Bulgarian service as the T-IV.
  
• German StuG III G, in Bulgarian service used as the T-III.
  
• Czech. Panzer 38(t) as the PRAGA P-38 in Bulgaria’s arsenal.
  
• Czech. Panzer 35(t), known as the ŠKODA Š-35 in Bulgaria.
  
• a variant of the above tank, equipped with a more powerful gun and destined for export to … Afghanistan! The Germans handed it over to Bulgaria after the annexation of Czechoslovakia. A new unit, this vehicle is a hybrid between the Panzer 35 and 38, and called ŠKODA T-11.
  
• German SdKfz. 222 and 223 armored cars, respectively M-222 & M-223 in Bulgarian service.
  
• old British Vickers E tanks, part of Bulgaria’s earliest armored forces. The brigade used these as artillery observation tanks.

Bulgarian Guns and Artillery

Next up, the wide variety of guns and artillery pieces available to the Bronirana Brigada in-game.

• The armored brigade’s artillery is entirely sourced from German arms manufacturers, featuring the le.FH 18M 105mm, s.FH 18 150mm, as well as 20mm, 37mm and 88mm AA guns and PaK 37mm, 50mm and 75mm anti-tank guns.
  
• The brigade also had a regiment of regular infantry attached to the formation at Nis, as well as army support. They weren’t as well equipped, bringing only older guns to bear.
  
• This includes a new unit, the Czech. KPUV vz. 37 37mm AT gun.
  
• The captured French and refurbished by the Germans PaK 97/38 delivered by the Germans.
  
• A new unit in the form of the Swedish Bofors 75mm M36 field gun.
  
• Another new unit as the French WWI Schneider 220mm TR howitzer.
  
• And yet another new unit as the Czech. Skoda vz.37 80mm AA gun.

(German crew is placeholder)

Bulgarian Airplanes

A whole lot of original flying machines will make their way into the Bronirana Brigada. Expect plenty of new models of various origins, including even one indigenous one.

• A new unit, the Kb-11-II Fazan. It was the small nation’s sole indigenous-made plane. It is a reconnaissance or artillery observation plane, much in the same vein as a Storch or Grasshopper.
  
• Another new unit, the B-71 Jerav, is the Bulgarian designation of the Czech. B-71, a Soviet interwar bomber built under license by Czechoslovakia. This plane was a copy of the Soviet SB (Skorostnoy Bombardirovschik, “High-speed Bomber”), quite revolutionary in 1934 when it made its maiden flight. This aircraft first saw combat during the Spanish Civil War and became the mainstay of the Soviet bombing forces in the early war years. Czechoslovakia acquired the license to produce the bomber in 1938. This is why this particular plane found its way into the Bulgarian, German, and Finish air forces.

• The French D.520 Dewoitine, in Bulgarian service known simply as the Dewoitine, is another new unit. This one is new to Steel Division 2 but already made an appearance as a German fighter in the older Steel Division: Normandy 44. One of the last French fighter models to enter combat during the 1940 campaign in France, it was roughly equal to the best variant of the Me 109 at the time, and while slower, was more agile. By 1944, the D.520 was no longer a front-line combat aircraft but was still useful as a general fighter against lesser opponents.
  
• The German Do 17, in Bulgarian service the Do 17 Uragan, will be available in bomber (Kb-1 and M-1) and recon (P) variants.
  
• The German Fw-189A-2, in Bulgaria known as the Fw 189 Oko, can be deployed in a recon role.
  
• The German dive bomber Ju-87 will be available in Sztuka D-5 and Sztuka R2 variants.

• A new unit, the B-534 Dogan, which is a renamed Czech. Avia B.534, used as a close air support and fighter biplane.
  
• The Czech. Letov Š-328, in Bulgarian service the Vrana, which is another new unit. This plane was also used for recon or artillery observation.
  
• The German Me 109 (Bulgarian designation Strela) deployable in several variants.
  
• And a new unit, the Polish PZL.43A, known by the Bulgarians as the Chaika, a light bomber.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

We have already shared a bunch of new details on our next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. If you want to do some background reading, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs. Find the list below:

Versus

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this week’s showcase. We’ll be back next week!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello commander,

Welcome back! Let’s look at the last batch of new infantry 3D models on their way to Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll shine the spotlight on the Allies and their (rather special) boots on the ground.

The Allies

Partigiani
We return to World War II Italy, but this time with a slightly different Allied perspective. Let’s welcome to the stage the Partigiani (partisans) from La Resistenza. A bit of background.

Although there was opposition to Mussolini’s fascist regime in the early war years, the Italian resistance truly sprung into being after the Armistice between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies on September 3rd, 1943. This notable event saw part of Italy siding with the Allies and the Germans taking over all remaining Italian lands and occupation zones (at times with much bloodshed).

The German occupation of Northern Italy and the subsequent establishment of the puppet regime of the RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or the Italian Social Republic) triggered the resistance of a large part of the Italian population.



By the summer of 1944, the various Italian resistance movements, with the communists being the most prominent, had grown to around 100,000. They harassed the Germans and RSI troops in the rear. This happened while the Allies moved northwards until being blocked for an extended period at the Gothic defensive line, north of Rome.

In Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, the new Partigiani won’t be attached to an Italian division, but to the French Groupement Dody. When Allied troops landed in southern France during Operation Dragoon, some units were sent east to secure the Alpine passes between France and Italy. They had to protect the Allied landing zones from a potential German counter-offensive from northern Italy. As such, it brought the Allied formations in contact with the Italian partisans. Besieged in the mountains, these irregular troops were under constant pressure from German Gebirgsjäger and RSI anti-partisan units.



Many Italian partisans crossed the border and found refuge in the newly liberated sectors. Reorganized and resupplied, the Italians joined their FFI brothers-in-arms during the subsequent combat operations in the Alps. The Partigiani formed at least an entire infantry battalion and several independent formations, and even provided trained crews for captured French artillery batteries.

509th Parachute Battalion
Next up are some daring American paratroopers. Activated as a single independent battalion, the 509th Parachute Battalion trained with the British 1st Parachute Brigade in England, earning the right (a rather unique distinction) to wear the British paras’ maroon beret. Unfortunately, the Americans could not display their new headwear as the berets were never distributed. Only a handful of lucky paratroopers got their hands on one, including the much-decorated (and legendary) battalion Surgeon Captain “Doc” Carlos Coolidge Alden.

By the summer of 1944, the 509th Parachute Battalion had seen its fair share of combat from airborne operations (Operation Torch and Avalanche), seaborne (Anzio), to mountain warfare (mainland Italy). A distinguishing feature was the small size of the battalion and, consequently, the lack of fire support. To offset this, the American paratroopers managed to get their hands on a sizable amount of squad automatic weapons to increase their firepower in the field.



In Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, the 509th Parachute Battalion will be part of the 1st Airborne Task Force, represented by a single card of veteran AB Assault Group. They are equipped with Thompson and BAR rifles, even though the latter type was not officially handed out to airborne troops at that time of the war.

Another feature that made the 509th Parachute Battalion an interesting choice was that the paratroopers wore camouflaged uniforms. A rather crude one, as just before taking off for their combat drops, the paratroopers would wait in line while someone came around with paint to smear their regular beige uniforms. This later led to heat issues, as the painted uniforms did not wick perspiration normally, leading to some very sweaty paratroopers under the French summer sun.



Another American unit wearing camouflaged uniforms, although with a different pattern, will be the AB Pathfinders, also featured in the 1st Airborne Task Force.



1st Special Service Force/Devil’s Brigade
Last, but certainly not least, come the cunning Forcemen commandos of the Devil’s Brigade or, more officially, the 1st Special Service Force. The unit’s nickname stems from the legend that the Germans themselves had dubbed the soldiers of this outfit “Schwarzen Teuffel” (Black Devils). Why? With their faces blacked by boot polish, they sneaked into the German-held camps at night to silently kill any one found - without leaving a trace. It seems that this was more a “PR” invention from the 1st Special Service Force than fact.



What is well-recorded, though, is that during the fighting to break the long siege of the Anzio bridgehead, Forcemen would indeed sneak around the German positions at night, keeping them under pressure by killing sentries with knives, or mounting raids, leaving signature stickers on the bodies of killed Germans saying “Das dicke Ende kommt noch” (“The worst is yet to come”).



Our Allied Ace, to be featured in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, Sergeant Tommy Prince will be found with the 1st Airborne Task Force. Within a brigade renowned for its sneaky soldiers, Prince was so successful that he was regarded as a ghost. For instance, in Italy, leading a patrol to locate several machine guns and gun emplacements, Prince advanced alone. He crawled and entered each position, dispatching all their crew without noise or raising any alarm. He returned to his unit before dawn, reporting to have cleared a safe path to the summit, still held by the Germans. The rest of the brigade captured it in a raid the next day.



During the Anzio siege, Prince would sneak outside of the Allied bridgehead, enter enemy camps, steal items, and kill a single sleeping soldier in a tent while leaving the others unarmed. The following day, their comrades would find a dead body in their midst - always with the Forcemen’s famous calling card close by.

Although American-Canadian, the 1st Special Service Force was entirely equipped with U.S. gear, with the occasional Canadian paratrooper retaining their maroon beret (such as Prince).

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

If you want to know more about the next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs. Find the list below:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this week. Hope you enjoyed this infantry highlight. We’ll be back soon with more juicy details on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello,

It’s time for another round of Steel Division 2: Men of Steel infantry highlights. As in last week’s highlight, today we will look at some new German, Dutch, Italian and British models.

Let’s detail the new combat soldiers itching to deploy in Steel Division 2.

The Axis

The Germans
First up are our Axis German 15. Welle Warriors. As you might remember, Welle means “mobilization wave”, and during the war, Germany called up many a million recruits in different waves, with a decrease in quality as the conflict continued.

The divisions that formed part of the 15th Aufstellungswelle were assembled in April 1941, destined for occupation duty in the Balkans. Once arriving in the theater of operations, they would likely see combat against local partisans, not heavy-duty frontline combat (hence the questionable quality of the recruits). The divisions (numbered in the 700 range) contained two regiments from each military district (Wehrkreis) found in greater Germany.



However, the new formations, with two infantry regiments, were weaker than previous mobilization waves. For instance, the regiments lacked infantry guns, anti-tank artillery, and heavy machine-gun companies. The first divisions were ready in early May, while the rest, including our 715. Infanterie-Division, could be deployed two weeks later.



As static divisions, these formations were filled with men generally unfit for active service: too old, too weak, too scrawny, or too ill. Our models try to reflect that reality: meet Scrawny, Old Timer, and Fatty (inspired by Hogan’s Heroes’ Sergeant Schultz). These 3D models will be featured in the expansion’s 715. Infanterie-Division.



Dutch
The flinke kerels of the 34. SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Landstorm Nederland are next. The Landstorm was raised as a territorial unit filled with local collaborationist Dutchmen wanting to fight for the Axis. Founded in 1943 by the Reich Commissioner Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the unit first focused on guarding and protecting key infrastructure in the Netherlands, such as bridges, railways, and canals.



From November 1944, it officially became a brigade, and in early 1945 it turned into a division, even though in reality it never outgrew its brigade size.
Service in the formation was rather popular for those collaborationists wishing to avoid the other hardships of war. They were exempted from forced labor in Germany, did not have to fight beyond the Dutch borders, and a number of troops were deemed unfit for combat duties in other SS formations.



When the fighting approached the Netherlands in September 1944, the first battalions of the poorly trained and lightly equipped Landstorm were thrown at the Commonwealth forces in Belgium. They didn’t fare well. The third battalion was present when the British paratroopers landed near Arnhem, thanks to a nearby training camp. The Dutch SS took to the fight after a day or two (arriving by bicycle, how typically Dutch). Equally ill-performing, when used against Polish paratrooper reinforcements, and using captured British airdropped weaponry, the Landstorm was beaten back rather without much trouble. Many of the Dutch soldiers deserted during the fighting.



The Landstorm saw only limited action in the Netherlands for the rest of the war, ultimately surrendering in droves during April and May 1945 (which caused its share of issues when done by Dutch Resistance fighters). In Steel Division 2: Ment of Steel, the Landstorm units will be found with the Kampfgruppe von Tettau.

Italians
The Italians are back! This time in the form of the Axis RSI Decima Mas, the Italian naval raiding forces. Usually rated as the best of the RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or the Italian Social Republic), these soldiers were not under either Mussolini or German control. The RSI Decima Mas was “only loyal” to their commander, Prince Borghese.



These Italians kept the war going against the Allies in coordination with the Germans, but not under their official command. After the split between an Allied and Axis-controlled Italy, Decima Mas eventually grew to over 18,000 members. Although conceived by Borghese as a naval unit, instead, it gained a reputation as a savage pro-fascist, anti-communist resistance force in various land battles alongside German troops.



After the Armistice of 1943, one of the first Decima Mas units, “Battalion Barbarigo” with artillery, was sent to Anzio to counter the Allied landings, where it was attached to the 715. Infanterie-Division.

The Allies

The British Commandos
The following models are not completely new, having first been featured quite a few years ago in Steel Division: Normandy ‘44. Having been left unused since, they are getting a second lease on life in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.



We will include the British Commandos as part of the 1st Special Force Brigade. This formation was composed of 4 Commando (each a small battalion) plus two Troops (small companies). The full breakdown is N°3 Commando, N°4 Commando, N°6 Commando, N°45 (Royal Marine) Commando and two French troops from N°10 (Inter-Allied) Commando.



All Commandos use, in essence, the same models, but the Royal Marines and French variants will have some additional flourish. Each Commando will be represented as a separate unit card with its own equipment and organization specificities.

The British 30 Assault Unit
Another new unit - but also from Steel Division: Normandy ‘44 - will find its way to the expansion: the N°30 Commando. Renamed by D-Day as 30 Assault Unit, this special formation was the brainchild of intelligence officer Ian Fleming, of later James Bond fame.



This formation focused on securing key buildings, personnel, and valuable documents, including ciphers and codebooks, for strategic intel or technological knowledge. Soldiers from the 30 Assault Unit would attach themselves to the vanguard of any Allied unit, allowing them to approach their objectives as fast as possible. This gave them a shot at taking their goals before being evacuated or destroyed by the retreating Germans. These soldiers ranged ahead, far and wide, and were successful in the lead-up to the Liberation of Paris and France in general. They will serve as the 1st Special Force Brigade recon units in the expansion.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

We have finished all the historical highlights - our so-called Versus DevBlogs of all the new divisions of the expansion. In case you want to check them out again:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog].
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog].
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog].
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

Before we leave you be, a short message from the SDL community. This Saturday, the 22nd of April, at 2 pm CEST (GMT+2), the finals of SDL Season 1 will be streamed live at http://twitch.tv/sd_league. You will be able to see the exciting finale between Inshaa and Mimile as they fight to be declared the winner of the championship. Don’t forget to tune in!



Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello, commander!

We hope you are well. On the back of last week’s reveal of the two new Aces coming to Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, and before that, the extensive Versus DevBlogs detailing a pair of new divisions each, we’ll start a fresh series of posts today. We will look at the combat soldier who takes center stage in our upcoming expansion and showcase several new in-game 3D models.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll detail two nations, one being brand-new to Steel Division 2: France and Bulgaria. Other nations to be featured in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, such as Canadians, Dutch, Italian, Americans, ... will get their chance to shine in the next few weeks.

Nation in focus: Bulgaria

Bulgaria is one of the new nations to be included in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. You can read more about Bronirana Brigada, in this DevBlog here, detailing the unique circumstances of the Balkan nation fighting first for the Axis and then for Soviet-led Allies in the waning stages of World War II.

Details of the uniform of Bulgaria’s foot soldiers during World War II are scarce - especially in English.



The Bulgarian soldier is predominantly wearing brown jackets and pants, with red collars and shoulder insignia for the infantry. The Bulgarian M36 helmet is very reminiscent of the ubiquitous German Stahlhelm. This is because Bulgaria used the same model as the Germans, but from World War I, and both nations’ World War II helmets are an evolution of this older type - bulkier and heavier - helmet.



Limited to its sole paratrooper battalion, Bulgaria also used camouflaged uniforms during the war. These were based on the Wehrmacht splittertarn (“splinter”) pattern. Some of these uniforms also found their way to regular recon forces. The Bulgarians seemed to have been very fond of the pattern, which the airborne troops kept on using - with some modifications - for most of the Cold War.

Nation in focus: France

With the wide variety of French fighting forces during World War II, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are still plenty of special types of troops to be highlighted. As you know from the previous Versus DevBlogs, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion will feature French troops in both the mixed Allied Groupement Dody and as part of 1st Airborne Task Force. French infantry will come in three distinct new sets.

Goumiers
The Morrocan Goumiers were used as auxiliary troops before World War II, chiefly as “pacification” forces to crush rebellions against French colonial rule. Recruited from tough mountain tribesmen, mostly Berbers, Gourmiers were feared and often hated by other North African ethnic groups. However, World War II would allow the Gourmiers to shed this reputation and emerge as some of Free France’s best combat soldiers.



After the defeat of France in 1940, and with the limitations imposed on the Armistice Army in terms of manpower and equipment, Goumiers weren’t included. Instead, they were considered “police troops.” Being scattered all over the place, these auxiliary forces slipped under the radar, which the French high command used to increase their number and weapon stocks discreetly.

When the French Armée d’Afrique switched sides after Operation Torch in late 1942, the Goumiers were among the first troops ready for action. Although fighting well in the mountainous areas of Tunisia, they took heavy casualties against enemy armor, not having been trained or equipped to deal with tanks.

The Goumiers’ claim to fame happened during the Battle of Garigliano in Italy in May 1944, which decided the fate of Monte Cassino. Having been regrouped as a brigade, they broke through German lines in supposedly impassable mountain terrain (even for an infantry division). The whole of the French Expeditionary Corps exploited the breach. So fast the Goumiers moved in this inhospitable terrain that not only were the Germans incapable of reforming their defenses, but Allied status reports on the conditions on the ground were also hopelessly outdated when they reached Allied high command.

The Germans were forced to abandon the Gustav line, as well as Rome. This left the Fallschirmjägers defending Monte Cassino unsupported, which in turn allowed the Poles to storm and capture the strategic monastery.



Goumiers didn’t wear an army uniform, but a striped djellaba, sandals, and an American M1917 helmet or occasionally a French Ardian one. Tireless in the mountains, equipped with only a few mules, Goumiers could advance quickly through any terrain. They also made for excellent scouts and snipers. More warriors than soldiers, they were feared by the Germans who called the Moroccans (collectively, not just the Goumiers) the ”Sparrows of Death” for their ability to sneak undetected and kill any unsuspecting sentry with their fearsome looking knives.



Chasseurs-Parachutistes
The 2nd and the 3rd Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes were seconded to the SAS and thus organized along British lines (as depicted in Steel Division: Normandy 44’s DBSAS battlegroup). The 1st Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes, to be featured in 1st Airborne Task Force, was kept in Allied reserve in the Mediterranean theater and entirely equipped as a (smaller) American airborne regiment. It was the only unit with the 2e DB officially fielding Garand rifles.



While inspired by the Americans, the uniform kept a distinct beige color with specific markings, including the inevitable French fashion touch!



Chasseurs-Alpins
Lastly, the Chasseurs Alpins were French mountain troops. Regarded as elite light infantry, they constituted most of the Armée des Alpes, which in 1940 resisted the belated Italian invasion from the east. They inflicted heavy casualties on the invaders with almost no victims of their own. Undefeated in 1940, they still formed close to an entire division in French Vichy’s Armée d’Armistice before being disbanded in 1942 when the Germans invaded the Unoccupied Zone. Although not under arms, it meant many trained soldiers were available in the Alp region.



The Chasseurs Alpins, with their trademark tarte (pie) headgear, would form the core of the well-disciplined and effective Alpine Résistance groups. When the time came, the backbone of an entire new Free French division, the 27e Division d’Infanterie Alpine, would be recreated under a month after the landing in Provence.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

We have finished all the historical highlights - our so-called Versus DevBlogs of all the new divisions of the expansion. In case you want to check them out again:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all. Let us know what you think!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

• fixed Tatra's missing PANZER 38(t)
  
• fixed JAGDKAMPF's HP to match the number of its soldiers
  
• fixed CALARASI MOTO's rifle ammo loadout
  
• fixed a typo with RÖSSELSPRUNG
  
• fixed the ERDKAMPFLAFFETE's crew into LW ones
  
• fixed some wrong veterancy patterns for planes' 3/4/6 availabilty
  
• unified B-4 & Br-5 heavy SP howitzer's HP (10) speed (10/14) and same armor (artillery)
  
• (3VDV) fixed Faustniki's avail curve

• changed "heavy tank" leaders (T-34/85, StuG IV, Tiger, Panther, M4 76mm, Churchill VI)'s availability to 2/(4)/(6)
  
• standardized all C205 VELTRO's availability at 3/6/9
  
• decreased C202 FOLGORE's price from 75 to 65

• decreased (British & Canadian) SHERMAN V C.O.'s price from 150 to 140
  
• standardized armed WLA side-cars at 6/12/(18) vet1
  
• decreased OT-34's frontal armor from 80mm to 75mm, on par with other M1941 T-34
  
• changed M3A3 & M5A1 CMD's availability from 2/4/6 to 3/(6)/(9)
  
• decreased ISU-122 price from 155 to 145
  
• decreased ISU-122S' price from 165 to 155
  
• increased BA-64B KAO (180mm)'s price from 130 to 135
  
• increased AOP CARRIER (203mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased CHURCHILL IV OP (140mm)'s price from 130 to 135
  
• increased WILLYS OP (140mm)'s price from 120 to 140
  
• increased M3A1 KAO (203mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased M3 OP (203mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased M4A1 OP (155mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased M4A2 OP (155mm)'s price from 135 to 170
  
• increased all Sherrman V POA (140mm)'s price from 130 to 140
  
• decreased PE-3 BIS (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 75 to 55
  
• decreased P-38 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 115 to 95
  
• decreased BEAUFIGHTER (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 85 to 70
  
• decreased MOSQUITO (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 95 to 75
  
• (TF45) increased M5A1 RECON's availability to 5/10/15 on par with other recon Stuart
  
• (Vyborg) changed HURRICANE MK.IIc (2x250kg bombs)' availability from 2x cards of 1/2/4 to 1x of 2/4/6
  
• (CIABG) replaced FFO MG-42's TRACTION transport with captured KUBELWAGEN

• changed TURAN I PK.'s availability from 2/4/- to 3/(6)/(9)
  
• decreased TURAN I's price from 35 to 30
  
• decreased PANTHER D's price from 140 to 130
  
• decreased PANTHER A's price from 140 to 135
  
• decreased PANTHER G's price from 145 to 140
  
• decreased AUFK. PANTHER D's price from 150 to 140
  
• changed JANDARMI's availability from 2/4/6 to 3/(6)/(9)
  
• decreased PANHARD (25mm)'s price from 25 to 15
  
• decreased TAR VADAS' price from 30 to 25
  
• decreased TAR TANKAS' price from 15 to 10
  
• increased FELDJÄGER's price from 15 to 20
  
• decreased HG PIONIER (MP-44)'s price from 35 to 30
  
• increased BEO.PZ. 38H(f) (172,5mm)'s price from 135 to 165
  
• increased BEO. SCHWIMM. (210mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased BEO. SCHWIMM. (172mm)'s price from 130 to 160
  
• increased BEO. SDKFZ. 250/5 (220mm)'s price from 150 to 170
  
• increased BEO. SDKFZ. 251/18 (210mm)'s price from 160 to 170
  
• increased BEO. KUBEL (194mm)'s price from 150 to 180
  
• increased BEO. KUBEL (164mm)'s price from 130 to 170
  
• increased BEO. AR-196A3 (138mm)'s price from 85 to 100
  
• increased BEO. AR-196A3 (203mm)'s price from 95 to 105
  
• increased BEO.GO.145B (172mm)'s price from 80 to 100
  
• increased (German & Finns) BEO. STORCH (210mm)'s price from 95 to 105
  
• increased GAUNTLET Mk.II (152mm)'s price from 85 to 100
  
• increased IAR-39A (152mm)'s price from 80 to 100
  
• decreased JU-88C-6 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 75 to 60
  
• decreased JU-88G-1 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 90 to 65
  
• decreased Me-410B-1 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 75 to 65
  
• (52Sich) changed s.FH 396(r) 122mm's availability from -/3/6 to -/6/-, on par with other divisions
  
• (Korück) changed TIGER E FÜH.'s availability from 1/2/3 to 1/3/-
  
• (PzD HG) changed BF-109G-6R/2's availability from 1/2/4 to 3/4/6, on par with 1. & 3. FJ
  
• (Blindata) increased T.4 CERCETARE's availability from 3/-/- to 4/-/-
  
• (Pancelos) Mot Lovesz (44M) avail reduced from 3 cards to 2

Hello, hello, hello!

It’s good to be back. We hope you are doing well, and enjoying the new Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus reveals. As we have run through all the divisions, it's time to look at another feature coming with our next expansion.

Let’s welcome to the stage the two new Aces, 1st Airborne Task Force’s Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian StuG commander Barnabás Kőszeghy.

A small housekeeping note: we will be switching around the publication day of our DevBlogs for Steel Division 2 and WARNO. From now on, you can expect your Steel Division 2 posts on Friday!

The Aces of Steel Division 2: Men of Steel

As with previous expansions, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel will also feature two new Aces. These are units based on historical fighter pilots, tank commanders, or other notable soldiers with a noteworthy connection to their in-game division. They don’t offer any gameplay benefits but come with special unit portraits or, in certain cases, camouflage paint jobs.

In Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, you’ll get to play with:

• The Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince found with the 1st Airborne Task Force. A special Ace, he will be featured as a Forcemen Scouts unit, part of the American-Canadian Devil’s Brigade.
  
• The Axis Hungarian Lieutenant Barnabás Kőszeghy with the new 1. Páncélos Hadosztály. His unit will be a StuG III G PK. leader assault gun. As a StuG commander, Kőszeghy led an aggressive counter-attack against Soviet forces, destroying many tanks but also resulting in the death of Kőszeghy himself.

Devil’s Brigade’s Sergeant Tommy Prince

First up is Tommy Prince, one of Canada's most-decorated Indigenous war veterans, with this First Nation soldier receiving 11 medals across both World War II and the Korean War. As a tracker and hunter, Prince enlisted in the Canadian armed forces before being posted to the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion. Here, he became one of the select few to train with the Americans who were in the midst of forming a specialized assault brigade: the unit that later became known as the Devil’s Brigade.



Prince distinguished himself during the fighting in Italy and France, in no small thanks to his growing up in the Canadian wilds. He led various covert missions, including establishing observation points almost on top of the German lines and manning it for several days while calling in artillery strikes. This resulted in the destruction of various enemy tanks. Likewise, in France, in one audacious feat, he trekked for 72 hours without food or water in order to lead his comrades to a German encampment. This was subsequently destroyed, resulting in the capture of hundreds of enemy soldiers.



Prince survived both this war and the next, before dying in 1977 at 62. Within Steel Divison 2: Men of Steel, this Ace will be part of the new Forcemen commandos. Coming in four different squads, expect to play with a Leader variant, two variants of Rifles, and one variant of Recon. All these units will be Canadian, except for one Rifle squad, which will be American.

StuG Commander Barnabás Kőszeghy

Our next Ace distinguished himself during one particularly ferocious battle on the Eastern Front, which saw the elimination of a Soviet armored attack but also resulted in the death of the Ace himself. In the waning months of World War II, Kőszeghy had been trained as a StuG commander before being deployed near the Hungary-Romanian border as part of the 7. Rohamtüzérosztály (7th Assault Gun Battalion). In late September, Soviet troops had already advanced to the Transylvanian frontier (a campaign you can play in-depth in the major Steel Division 2 expansion, Blood Feud in Transylvania).



The 24-year-old Lieutenant Barnabás Kőszeghy lead one battery of the assault gun battalion into battle. On September 25th, after a surprise attack by the Soviets, Kőszeghy counter-attacked the Soviet troops, routing them and destroying a number of tanks for only a few casualties on the Hungarian side. However, later in the day, a fresh force of T-34/85s attempted to outflank the assault guns. The resulting battle, at dusk and in a mix of rural hamlets and cornfields, lead to the destruction of a dozen Soviet tanks and all the StuGs, including Kőszeghy’s.



In his last act, having just destroyed three tanks, our tank commander was mortally injured - but he still kept up the fight. He destroyed two more T-34s before his StuG blew up. After the battle’s conclusion, with all formation’s armor disabled, the battery received the grim nickname The Battery of the Dead. Posthumously, Barnabás Kőszeghy was awarded one of Hungary’s highest honors. His battery was reconstituted, fighting on until being surrounded and destroyed in the Battle of Budapest in February 1945.



In-game, Barnabás Kőszeghy will be featured in the leader StuG III G PK. assault gun, with the same Gelbbraun beige paint job and “700” unit marking.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

We have finished all the historical highlights - our so-called Versus DevBlogs of all the new divisions of the expansion. In case you want to check them out again:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
  
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
  
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada

[/b] get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.
[/list]

What will Steel Division 2: Men of Steel feature

In case you want to know what the Steel Divison 2: Men of Steel expansion will offer, look no further!

• 8 new divisions from 7 nations, including a brand-new minor nation.
  
• With units from 12 nations in total!
  
• Two new Aces.
  
• And new Unit Traits, which will be made available to all existing Steel Division 2 divisions as well.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this week. Let us know what you think!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered 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!

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello commander!

For this fourth and last Men of Steel’s “versus” reveal, we will head back to the Eastern Front.
But while MoS intends to focus on infantry divisions, we’ve taken the opportunity to bring two new “exotic” armored ones, one for each side. Including one brand new, and rarely depicted, WW2 minor nation: Bulgaria!

Introducing Axis Hungary’s 1. Páncélos Hadosztály (1st Armored Division) and Allied Bulgaria’s Bronirana Brigada (Armored Brigade) .

A new major expansion

But first, a little reminder: Steel Division 2: Men of Steel is the next big chapter of our World War II battle simulator. We are still going strong, even four years after Steel Division 2’s official launch! In this new major expansion, we will put the hardy combat soldier center stage, from all corners of warring Europe, offering:

• 8 new divisions from 7 nations, including a brand-new minor nation.
  
• With units from 12 nations in total!
  
• New Aces.
  
• New Unit Traits, which will be rolled out to certain existing units in older Steel Division 2 divisions as well.

In size, this expansion follows the lines of our previous Tribute to… DLCs, but unlike these types of expansions, we don’t focus on a specific theater of war. Instead, we spotlight interesting divisions or battlegroups from all over Europe, notable for their unique infantry and armored forces (and taking advantage of the new Unit Traits system).

1. Páncélos Hadosztály

Again, this division isn’t a complete stranger since it once competed in Nemesis #4, although focusing solely on the battle of Păuliș (September 14-19th, 1944). This version will take into account the broader month of September 1944.

Formation
Although created on November 1st, 1942, 1. Páncélos Hadosztály didn’t really come to existence as a combat formation until mid-1944. In the meantime, it was stripped of most of its vehicles to create the ad-hoc 1st Field Armored Division which served and was destroyed in the USSR, then was used as a training unit for 2. Páncélos Hadosztály which had priority for organization.



By mid-1944, the division barely had 50 tanks, mostly for training purpose and its motorized infantry had no motor transports.
Everything changed when Romania, Hungary’s arch-enemy, switched side in late August! 1. Páncélos Hadosztály then received the highest priority in equipment, more than doubling its tank strength in the first ten days of September. To achieve such feat, the Hungarian army scrapped the barrel: they drew on training units, depots, factory reserves, … but also had the new assault guns battalion reequipped with newer StuG, Marder or Zrinyi send back their second-hand Toldi and Turan. The infantry was motorized by commandeering civilian trucks!

Finally going to war
In mid-September, when the division finally engaged the Romanians, it had been brought back to over 120 tanks. An impressive amount hiding the fact that all were Hungarian Toldi & Turan, hence obsolete at that stage of the war. To this were to be added about 40 Nimrods AA/AT SPG and half a dozen Csaba armored cars.
Yet, the division was still far from complete: the infantry regiment was understrength, had only a handful of medium AT guns (40mm) and was given Panzerfaust to compensate for the lack of heavy ones (PaK 40)!



The division’s first clash with the Romanians occurred near Arad, on September 13th. There, the division was supported by elements from 6th Replacement Infantry Division (meaning reserve troops) as well as 7th Assault Gun Battalion (StuG). Although 1. Páncélos swiftly dispersed and pursued the Romanian cavalry, it quickly ran into troubles. First the very next day at Păuliș, where 6th Replacement Infantry Division it still supported was kept at bay for five days by the stubborn cadets from an NCO school.
By September 20th, the Hungarian counter-offensive had foundered when the Soviets showed up in support of their new Romanian allies: 6th Replacement Infantry Division was overrun by the lead elements of their 53rd Army, again near Arad. 1. Páncélos counter-attacked the heavier and better armed Soviet tanks, simulating retreat to bring them on more favorable terrain and counter-attack with the help of German Stukas. By the end of the day, the Soviet had abandoned 23 tanks for no loss on the Hungarian side. Nonetheless, the Hungarians had to evacuate Arad again on September 22nd.

Retreat & death
This skillful reaction taught the Soviets some humility and for a few days they remained more cautious, probing and reconnoitering. But on September 24th, the regrouped 53rd Army stroke again, this time with full force. It was to be the 7th Assault Gun Battalion’s days of glory, for in the ensuing battle its 30 machines destroyed 67 Soviet tanks. Meanwhile, 1. Páncélos was by then working closely with KG Ameiser, a battlegroup from 22. SS-Freiwilligen Kavallerie-Division.



Despite some gallant defense, the Hungarian Third Army couldn’t withstand such an onslaught, even with some German help. 1. Páncélos, just like 7th Assault Gun Battalion & 22. SS-Freiwilligen Kavallerie-Division would retreat until they reach Budapest, where they perished in that city’s famous siege (Christmas 1944-February 13th, 1945).

1. Páncélos in September 1944
Over the course of its September 13-25th campaign, 1. Páncélos went through two phases, first offensive then defensive, which will be represented ingame.

1. Páncélos’s organic elements will be available over all phases (as long as units strength allowed full card), as well as 7th Assault Gun Battalion’s StuGs.

In phase A/B, it will also count on elements from 6th Replacement Infantry Division which, although Disheartened, will fill in for 1. Páncélos’s very limited infantry and AT assets.

In phase B/C, it will receive reinforcement from KG Ameiser in the form of new SS-Kav.-Jäger (and support).

Bronirana Brigada

Finally, it is time to reveal Men of Steel’s last division and our new minor nation: let’s welcome Bulgaria’s Bronirana brigada (Armored Brigade) to Steel Division 2!
Despite its designation, this “armored brigade” is actually closer in size to a division.

Bulgaria during WW2
Although Bulgaria’s Tsar Boris III was openly admirative of Adolf Hitler, he kept his country neutral for about a year and a half into WW2. But in March 1941, he agreed to join the Tripartite Pact (a.k.a the Axis) when Germany’s Führer requested passage on his soil for German & Italian troops attacking Greece. In return, he would get territorial gains over Greece and Yugoslavia, the alternative being to be the possible next target for an invasion.



Yet, despite joining the Axis, Bulgaria didn’t take an active part in either the Greek or Yugoslav campaigns, but was ready to step in his newly acquired territories in Macedonia & Thrace. Nor did it declare war on the Soviet Union on June 22nd, 1941, but agreed to send an Occupation Corps in Serbia to take off some weight from the Germans. Bulgaria’s policy was one of “conciliate Germany by making many comparatively unimportant concessions”, dixit Tsar Boris’ secretary, without involving itself too much in international affairs.



But whatever its leaders’ convolutions, Bulgaria was to be dragged into WW2 nonetheless …
On August 28th, 1943, Tsar Boris died suddenly, leaving the throne to his 6-year-old son Simeon and a regency. The new government, although still pro-German at heart, began to consider ways to escape the German alliance, and thus war, and sought contacts with the Allies. Despite the pro-German Prime Minister being replaced by a pro-Allies one in June 1944, Bulgaria’s situation didn’t improve: the Normandy landings shattered all hopes of an Allied landing in the Balkans, which Bulgaria could have joined. Bulgaria’s situation was then meaningless to the Western Allies, while the Red Army was quickly advancing toward its borders in the wake of Operation Bagration and its subsequent operations.

The situation worsened quickly with Romania’s defection to the Allies on August 23rd, allowing Soviet troops to reach Bulgaria’s border unchecked. On the 27th, Bulgaria declared itself neutral, but despite concessions to Stalin, such as the disarmament of German troops, delayed declaring war on Germany as long as possible. When it finally did on September 7th, USSR had just declared war on Bulgaria itself! For one day, September 8th, the country was therefore at war both with Germany & the Allies! Soviet forces crossed the border, meeting no resistance from Bulgarian troops, while in Sofia a coup deposed the government, replacing it with a pro-Soviet one.



Under this new leadership, Bulgaria mobilized three armies against the retreating Germans and their allies, entering Yugoslavia in September. Their first action in WW2 being the offensive at Niš to block German troops from withdrawing to Greece.

Bronirana Brigada
Which leads us to the Bulgarian Armored Brigade (armored brigade), which would play a major role in the Niš operation.

Prior to joining the Axis in March 1941, Bulgaria’s army only had three tank companies, equipped with British Vickers & Czech. LT-35 tanks. Upon siding with Germany, it was supplied captured French R-35, enough to raise a fourth one. In June of that year, two more companies were formed. The six of them were then regrouped into the Broniran Polk, or Armored Regiment, but which by all standard was already a small brigade since, in addition to the tank group, it had its own reconnaissance, motorized infantry, motorized artillery and services.



From July 1941 to August 1944, the “regiment” would train under the watchful eyes of German advisors. Over the course of 1942, its organization was changed to get closer from the structure and equipment of a German Panzerdivision, while the Bulgarian army try to get more modern vehicles from their ally. After intense negotiations, it was decided in 1943 that Germany would deliver newer Panzer IV & StuG.

In September 1943, the Armored Regiment was expanded to an Armored Brigade, with one tank regiment, one motorized infantry regiment, one artillery regiment, one armored reconnaissance battalion, one anti-tank battalion, one anti-aircraft battalion and one engineer battalion. By all account, this was a small division.
On August 12th, 1944, the German advisors declared the brigade finally combat-ready … but immediately started wondering about its intended employment, with Bulgaria leaning more and more openly toward the Allied side. By the end of the month, the Germans had secretly dispatched a special team to Bulgaria to take the tanks and assault guns out of action immediately should they receive such order.



But the Bulgarian Armored Brigade was put on alert and relocated out of its barracks three days before the coup and the change of alliance, and the Germans could do nothing about it. The brigade moved into Serbia as soon as September 5th with orders to push the Germans back as far away as possible from Sofia. The inexperienced Armored Brigade got its first taste of blood … and losses there. Because of poor reconnaissance work, an entire tank company ran into a minefield and was lost.

Niš operation
Meanwhile, Bulgarian forces (namely the First, Second and Fourth Armies) were put at the disposal of Soviet Marshal Tolbukhin’s 3rd Ukrainian Front and ordered to attack German forces in Serbia, while Soviet & Yugoslav forces were to drive to Belgrade. The Bulgarian offensive soon staled in the face of a 7. SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen"’s counter-attack.



The Armored Brigade was called in to break through the German defenses, with an extra infantry battalion from 32nd Infantry Regiment attached. This time, it fared better, although at a high price: 7.SS was repelled, but losses (irreplaceable since the Germans wouldn’t deliver replacements at that point) forced the brigade to reorganized its three tank battalions into only two. Pursuing the retreating Germans, the brigade was brought to operate on very difficult terrain where the older Czech. tanks proved much more at ease than the heavier German ones, managing to “climb” slopes considered unsuitable for tanks in order to attack German mountain strongpoints from an unexpected direction.

The brigade was kept fighting until November, when losses and the lack of spare parts made it impossible to keep functioning. It was disbanded on December 5th, 1944, and its personnel sent back to Bulgaria.

The Bulgarians in SD2
At its strongest, Bronirana Brigada amounted to about 135 tanks, of which 65% were T-IV (Panzer IV G & H) and the rest Škoda Š-35 (LT- 35) & Praga P-38 (LT- 38), as well as 18 armored cars SdKfz. 222 & SdKfz. 223 and 50 T-III (StuG III G). With supporting PaK 40, Flak 88mm, le.FH 18M, …
If you ever dreamed of playing a 1942 Panzerdivision, that’s it … but on the Allies’ side!

The infantry retained its local armament, with a majority of ZK-383 SMG, Mannlicher rifles & carbines and ZB-26 LMG.



Bronirana Brigada will be reinforced by a battalion from 32nd Infantry Regiment, beefing up its very reduced infantry arm. But those retain the Bulgarian organization, with very large (14!) squads but barely no infantry AT weapons, as well as non-German equipment. It can also count on some light Yugoslav partisan forces operating in the Niš area.

Air force is a mix of German planes, older pre-war (Czech., Polish) and early war (French, Italian) ones, as well as a locally produced Kb-11 Fazan.



Having no combat experience at all when engaged in the Niš operation, no Bulgarian ground troops will be able to be taken as vet2 status. This doesn’t apply to the air force, which had some experience fighting allied bombing raids over Bulgaria.

See you on the battlefield

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