DEATH KORPS OF KRIEG: I Hate Shovels| Warhammer 40k Lore

Storyline (Warhammer 40,000 lore: Death Korps of Krieg)

• Origin and prosperity on Kreig: Kreig is described as a once-beautiful, industrial world in the Imperium, known for trade and manufacturing power.

• Rebellion and isolation: The planet’s corrupt ruling elite overthrow Imperial authority. The only Imperial holdout is on/near High Farrad, defended mainly by the C 83rd under Colonel Uran Jünger.

• No reinforcements: The Imperium refuses/neglects to send nearby help, leaving the defenders to face the rebels alone.

• Huges / forbidden tech and the nuclear decision: An adviser, Mago’s Greel, urges use of forbidden underground Huges nuclear weapons. Colonel Jünger hesitates due to the catastrophic long-term effects on Kreig.

• Nuclear annihilation: Despite warnings and objections, Jünger releases a massive nuclear strike during the Feast of the Emperor’s Ascension.

  • Detonations are done in a way meant to reduce impact, but it still results in planet-wide storms, nuclear winter, ecological collapse, and mass death.

• A long trench war: With the planet effectively ruined and reinforcements unlikely, the war becomes a brutal war of attrition, dominated by vast trench warfare.

• Death Korps formation: Over hundreds of years, Kreig’s people adapt into the regimented, mythic Death Korps of Krieg, including their iconic Death Riders (biologically and mechanically enhanced cavalry concepts).

• Colonel’s legacy and continued production: As Jünger eventually succumbs to the consequences of the nuclear devastation, Greel proposes further esoteric measures (a V/WBS device is discussed).

  • The video implies this may involve cloning or genetic incubation, though the exact nature is presented as uncertain/arguable.

• Reclamation and Imperium indifference: After enormous losses, the Death Korps reclaim Kreig for the Imperium. The Imperium still treats the victory bureaucratically—demanding tithes, not gratitude.

• Repentance culture and “cult of sacrifice”:

  • Krieg’s regiments are later sent to the worst war zones as penance.
  • The video emphasizes they are not suicidal by default—they see themselves as expendable resources used effectively to achieve the Emperor’s aims.

---

Gameplay / gameplay-adjacent highlights mentioned (what the lore emphasizes)

The subtitles aren’t from an actual gameplay walkthrough, but they highlight “how the faction plays” in terms of themes, tactics, and unit roles.

• Attrition as the core “strategy”: relentless endurance, trenches, waves of infantry, and outlasting the enemy.

• Combined-arms emphasis: Krieg are presented as one of the few regiments trusted to field coordinated combined arms, rather than only single-role tactics.

• Siege / artillery-first approach:

  • Long artillery bombardments using platforms like Basilisks, Medusas, and mortars.
  • Artillery can continue for months, while Krieg forces entrench and survive underneath.

• Infantry “cleanup” after breaking the enemy: After bombardment, they push with mass infantry and heavy transports/assault vehicles (examples mentioned include Gorgon assault carriers, Hades breach drills, and mass charges).

• Death Riders (cavalry concept):

  • Enhanced horses are described as fearsome, durable, and adapted for harsh wasteland terrain.
  • The rider must continually manage the steed via monitoring/injections (drugs/psycho-injections are mentioned).

• Unit roles and “how to use them” (tactically):

  • Commissars: portrayed less as classic “execution threat” figures and more as political/coordinating roles to keep Krieg integrated with other regiments.
  • Quartermasters / scavengers: recover useful gear from fallen soldiers and analyze battlefield data (ammo, casualties, territorial gains) to improve command decisions.
  • Grenadiers (Stormtrooper-like): heavy armor and special weapons; formed from veterans; used for fortification-breaking and assault leading.
  • Engineers / sappers: create trenches/tunnels for subterranean battles; use shotgun mines/grenades and breaching “mole” torpedoes; presented as the “true shovel men” conceptually.

---

Key lore clarifications / common misconceptions addressed

• The speaker argues against memes that reduce Krieg to “shovel-only” caricatures (including the idea of literally shoveling a tank).
• They also push back against the idea that Krieg are inherently mindless automatons or always robot-like. The video frames it as a human tragedy: attempting to suppress humanity to atone for perceived guilt.
• Another claim disputed: a “Krieg killing a commissar” idea is said to have limited/no solid lore basis in the speaker’s memory.

---

Sources / gamers featured (named at the end)

• Rocket Money (sponsor mentioned during the video; not a gamer/source in the gameplay sense)
• Patreons (mentioned generally as supporters; no specific names provided)