Steiner's Attack In WWII: Memes & History - You Won't Believe It!
Could a single, desperate counterattack, orchestrated amidst the crumbling ruins of Berlin, have altered the course of World War II? The tale of Army Detachment Steiner, a phantom force conceived in the fevered imagination of Adolf Hitler, offers a glimpse into a reality that never was, and a testament to the delusion that gripped the Nazi leadership in its final days.
The year was 1945. The Soviet Red Army, relentless in its advance, had broken through the outer defenses of Berlin. Within the claustrophobic confines of his bunker, Adolf Hitler, oblivious to the grim reality unfolding above, clung to a sliver of hope: a counterattack led by the enigmatic SS-Obergruppenfhrer Felix Steiner. This wasn't just any counterattack; it was a desperate gamble, a last-ditch effort to stave off the inevitable. The plan, ambitious in its scope, called for Steiner's hastily assembled forces to strike the northern flank of the Soviet spearhead, aiming to encircle and obliterate the Red Army units poised to seize the German capital. But as history would record, the attack never materialized. "Der Angriff Steiner ist nicht erfolgt" - Steiner's attack did not take place. The command, issued with the force of a dictator's will, was ultimately rendered null by the crushing weight of circumstance.
| Full Name: | Felix Martin Julius Steiner |
| Born: | May 23, 1896, Stallupnen, East Prussia (now Nesterov, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) |
| Died: | May 12, 1966, Munich, West Germany |
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| Reference: | Encyclopedia Britannica - Felix Steiner |
The genesis of this doomed offensive can be traced back to April 21, 1945. As Soviet forces breached the city's outer defenses, Hitler, in a state of denial, summoned Steiner to launch a counterattack. The Army Detachment Steiner, a temporary military unit pieced together on paper, was placed under Steiner's command. The units assigned to Steiner were to be the saviors, the force that would reverse the tide of war. This was the last throw of the dice.
The order was met with disbelief, as Steiner's forces were woefully underprepared. The "divisions" were comprised of exhausted, under-equipped units, often lacking essential resources like armor, air support, and even sufficient manpower. Some reports mention divisions filled with inexperienced 14-year-olds, armed with little more than basic weaponry. The situation was so dire that the very premise of a successful counterattack was laughable. To make matters worse, the Soviet forces were firmly entrenched, possessing both superior numbers and firepower. The VVS (Soviet Air Force) dominated the skies, and Red Army artillery provided devastating support.
Hitler, however, was not one to be swayed by reality. He demanded to know if Steiner's counterattack had begun, clinging to the illusion of victory. His generals, knowing the futility of the situation, must have understood the desperation of the moment. When the news finally reached him that Steiner was unable to launch the offensive, Hitler flew into a rage. The dream of a counterattack, the last hope to save Berlin, had crumbled.
The failure of Steiner's attack, or rather, the fact that it never happened, became a symbol of the Nazi regime's descent into madness. By 1945, German counterattacks were more likely to result in more German deaths, and to simply allow the Allies to waste even more ammunition. The order, born from delusion, was a testament to the increasingly detached leadership and their inability to accept the inevitable. The idea for Steiner's offensive was already dropped the next day, by Heinrici who informed Hitler that Steiner won't carry the offensive.
The consequences of this non-existent offensive were profound. Had Steiner been able to launch a successful counterattack, the war could have been prolonged. Some suggest it could have delayed the end of World War II for months, or even years. The Red Army units would have been attacked, the Soviets would have been pushed back, the Balkans might have been retaken. The war could have continued for longer.
Felix Steiner, the man at the center of this tragic farce, was a seasoned military commander. He had proven his mettle during the war, leading the SS Division Wiking with distinction and earning the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Steiner was later given charge of a new unit, the III (Germanisches) SS Panzer Corps, made up of personnel from both the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe. Despite fighting exhaustion, Steiner molded them into a cohesive unit. Yet, even his skills could not overcome the insurmountable odds he faced in Berlin.
After the war, Steiner's last years were spent in Munich, where he enjoyed the company of friends and wartime associates. He died of heart failure on May 12, 1966. His funeral was attended by hundreds of his former comrades, who came from across Europe to pay their respects to a man who had become a symbol of both courage and the tragedy of a lost cause. The legacy of Army Detachment Steiner remains a potent reminder of the desperation and delusion that characterized the final days of Nazi Germany. It serves as a chilling illustration of how decisions made in the face of overwhelming defeat can be divorced from reality, and how one mans order, no matter how forcefully delivered, could never change the course of history.
The story of Steiners attack is often referenced in the context of the Hearts of Iron 4 (HOI4) community. The game allows players to strategize and simulate historical events. The failed counterattack has become a topic of memes and discussions within the community. It also highlights the role of historical events and military strategy as a subject of interest for gamers and historians alike. From "It's always sunny in Philadelphia" to historical memes, the events surrounding the Steiners attack have found their way into popular culture.
In the final days of the war, as the Russian army circled the city, the dimly lit halls of the underground refuge became an execution chamber for the Fhrer and his closest advisors. Hitler, Keitel, Jodl, Krebs, and Burgdorf, remained in the room, as the others leave. Steiners attack was an order. The order that could never be carried out, the order that encapsulates the absurdity of war.
