Hello commanders,
We are back again with a new Steel Division 2: Battle of Dukla Pass preview! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll focus on the Axis German 208. Infanterie-Division.
Onwards!
The Axis 208. Infanterie-Division’s History
The 208. Infanterie-Division was formed in 1939, seeing first action during the invasion of Poland as a reserve formation. In much the same vein, it would participate in the invasion of the Low Countries, finding itself on occupation duties in northern Belgium afterward. From 1942, the infantry formation was sent east and fought exclusively on the Eastern Front.
As part of the 1. Panzerarmee from early 1944, the division was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsk pocket during the Soviet Dnieper–Carpathian strategic offensive in March 1944. The Germans managed to break out, evacuating all their wounded with them but losing a substantial amount of heavy equipment in the process. To this day, this particular battle is considered to be an excellent lesson in a successful breakout from a military encirclement.
During the fateful summer of 1944, the 208. Infanterie-Division was allowed to catch its breath momentarily. It was transferred to the newly created XI. SS-Armeekorps (which included no SS troops, only the staff) from the 17. Armee. Once again, it was at the forefront of the fighting when the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front reached the Beskid mountains.
The 208. Infanterie-Division during the Dukla Pass
Down to 60% combat strength in early September 1944, the division was positioned in and around the city of Krosno, the gateway to the Dukla Pass. On its left flank, the weak and green 545. Grenadier-Division, and itself was the right flank of both the XI. SS-Armeekorps and 17. Armee. On the right was the 68. Infanterie-Division, with the battlefield space filled up in between by the Sicherungsbattalion 1004, a weak security unit.
Holding Krosno was vital for German defensive plans. The Soviets had to be prevented from advancing through the mountain pass - and to link up with the Slovak Uprising insurgents. However, even taking into account the critical strategic importance, what occupied the junction of two corps - two armies even - was a solid but weakened division flanked on both sides by inexperienced and unreliable formations.
And, as can be expected, that’s exactly where the Soviets decided to strike. While detachments fixed the left flank in place, two main groups struck straight at Krosno, and at the Sich.Bat. 1004. With the security troops utterly wiped out, the 208. Infanterie-Division’s right flank also took heavy casualties. Still, the battlegroup managed to regroup and hold to Krosno as long as possible.
Two days later, Jägerregiment 228 (from 101. Jägerdivision) and Sturmregiment Panzer-AOK 1 arrived to bolster its strength, followed by additional reinforcements from the 8. Panzerdivision. Although the Soviets had managed to take Krosno by then and were already driving south through the Dukla Pass, the whole Allied offensive was in jeopardy from that day onwards. The Germans managed to maintain pressure on the pass, and with it a chief bottleneck.
The 208. Infanterie-Division Detailed
The 208. Infanterie-Division in Steel Division 2 will be a melting pot of different units cobbled together under the battlegroup’s tactical command.
Reflecting the division’s experience during the course of the Battle of Dukla Pass:
- The 208. Infanterie-Division’s own forces, reduced to 60% combat strength, can be deployed during all Combat Phases.
- With the addition of several new formations attached, represented as being available from Phase B onwards:
- Jägerregiment 228.
- Sturmregiment Panzer-AOK 1, a regiment under 1. Panzerarmee's direct command, acting as its ultimate reserve unit.
- Kampfgruppe 8. Panzerdivision, not a detachment, but technically what still remained in the field after the division was mauled during the failed counter-offensive against the Sandomierz bridgehead.
The 208. Infanterie-Division Detailed in Steel Division 2
How will the 208. Infanterie-Division look like in Steel Division 2: Battle of Dukla Pass? While the battlegroup doesn’t have many new units, it does combine existing Axis German forces in original new ways. As always, new units are both italic and bolded. All of the following is subject to change.
RECON
- A decent but not spectacular category. The 208. Infanterie-Division’s own recon elements only amounted to the BMW R.75 and FUSILIER.
- From Combat Phase B onwards, the battlegroup has access to more options.
- These include the Jägerregiment 228’s JÄGER SPAHTRUPP.
- Plus Sturmregiment Panzer-AOK 1 AUFKLÄRER recon squads in SDKFZ. 222.
- And Kampfgruppe 8. Panzerdivision SPAHTRUPP, SDKFZ. 231, and AUFK.PANZER IV.
INF
- Very good, as can be expected from an infantry division. The 208. Infanterie-Division’s GRENADIER squads are available in command, MG-42, and Panzerfaust variants. You’ll further get to deploy PIONIER in command, regular and assault versions, plus ERSATZTRUPPEN.
- From Combat Phase B onwards, you’ll get more options, including Jägerregiment 228’s JÄGER in regular and command variants, as well as the new JAGER (MP-44) and JÄGER (MG-42), both organized along a “trial” TO&E which accompanied the delivery of the new MP-44.
- new GRENADIER (GrB) representing Sturmregiment Panzer-AOK 1.
- Furthermore, there are KG 8. Panzer's PZ.GRENADIER in command and Panzerfaust variants, though they deploy without half-tracks.
TANK
- Mediocre with the division's organic tank firepower being provided by a handful of STUG III G.
- From B onwards, a few cards of KG 8. Panzer's PANZER IV H in command and regular variants can deploy.
SUPP
- Balanced with the usual complement of FELDGENDARMERIE, s.MG-34 and MG-42 machine gun teams, IG 18 and IG 33 infantry guns, KOMMANDANT, and BEF.BMW R.75.
- From B, some additional GEB. IG 18, JÄGER MG-42 and BEF.PANZER IV H become available.
AT
- A pretty good category for the 208. Infanterie-Division. The battlegroup can count on a motley assortment of anti-tank guns, be it of German manufacture or captured pieces.
- These include PANZERSCHRECK, PAK 184(r) 45mm, FK 288(r) 76,2mm, PAK 40 75mm, and MARDER III M.
- A few cards of MARDER II, PAK 43/41 88mm and (Jäger) PANZERJÄGER can deploy after Phase B.
AA
- Not very impressive. Though the 208. Infanterie-Division was no mountain division, its own AA guns were GEB.FLAK 38 20mm units. This is all what the battlegroup had either saved or received in terms of anti-air defenses.
- Luckily, the Jägerregiment 228 and Kampfgruppe 8. Panzerdivision bring some heavier pieces. These are additional (regular) FLAK 38 20mm, FLAK 43 37mm, and SDKFZ. 7/1.
ART
- The division has access to a sizable amount of artillery, such as the GrW. 34 80mm mortars, le.FH 18M 105mm and s.FH 414(f) 155m, as well as BEOBACHTER and BATTERIE FÜHRER squads.
- From Combat Phase B, its firepower increases significantly with the addition of s.FH 18 150mm, SK 18 100mm, WESPE 105mm, JÄGER GrW. 34 81mm, and GrW. 120mm mortars.
AIR
- The air cover for 208. Infanterie-Division is pretty decent. At the start of the battle, in Phase A, you get Bf. 109 G-6/U3 recon planes, Ju-87 D-5 bombers in HE and cluster loadouts, Bf 109 G-6 fighters, and the Fw-190 F-8 in new Panzer-Büchsenrohr configuration with its 8x Panzerschreck strapped under its wings.
- In B, the Ju-87 G-1 Panzervögel and Ju-88 A-4 with various HE loadouts can deploy for action.
- In Combat Phase C, the Bf 109 G-14 fighter becomes available.
The 208. Infanterie-Division is a solid infantry division, with a great variety of choice, including some limited mechanized support. This allows the battlegroup to build up strength and counter-attack from Combat Phase B onwards.
Battle of Dukla Pass Expansion
What can you expect from the Steel Division 2: Battle of Dukla Pass?
- The expansion features 1 massive Army General campaign centered on the Battle of Dukla Pass.
- Plus 6 new Divisions, playable in both single-player and multiplayer. These include the Allied 1. Československý Armádní Sbor, Slovak National Uprising, and Soviet 242-ya Gornostrelkovaya, while the Axis deploy the 208. Infanterie-Division, Hungarian 13. Gyaloghadosztály, and 18. SS-Fr.-Panzergrenadier "Horst Wessel".
See you on the battlefield
We’ll be back next week with another Steel Division 2: Battle of Dukla Pass preview!
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See you on the battlefield, commander.