You are surrounded, Ivan! Accept your defeat!Leo Steiner during the invasion of Stalingrad.
You won't find satisfaction in this. It won't end with me. We'll destroy you all. {...} Not me. Herr... Herr Freisinger. He will finish what he started.Steiner to Polina before his death.
SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer Leo Steiner is a major antagonist in the 2021 video game Call of Duty: Vanguard.
He is a high-ranking officer of the Nazi Party who led the invasion of Stalingrad, and was also a conspirator of Hermann Freisinger's coup. Before the events he led came into fruition, he was eliminated by his nemesis Polina Petrova, who would later go on to stop Freisinger two years later.
He was voiced by Ray Proscia.
Biography
Past
Leo Steiner was born in Germany, but his past is unknown, but Jannick Richter refers to him as a "lowly officer", implying that he came from a low social rank or was just another officer within the party. He later joined the Nazi Party under Adolf Hitler, and was sent to the Eastern front to fight against the Red Army and take control over the Soviet Union. Steiner also became acquainted with Hermann Freisinger, a fellow officer who created "Project Phoenix" to usurp Hitler to become the new Führer and form the Fourth Reich.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
In the summer of 1942, Steiner leads the invasion of Stalingrad to expand Germany's control over the Eastern front. Once the planes bomb the city, Steiner sends in his soldiers and tanks to find and execute any survivors. During the invasion, Steiner orders the surviving citizens to accept their defeat since he has them surrounded, but the Partisans are able to escape due to the assistance of medical officer Polina Petrova. After the first day of the invasion, Steiner gathers enough information on Polina and her family, and the Nazi Party continued their pursuit of Petrova once she becomes the dreaded "Lady Nightingale". Steiner continues to keep the Nazi's control over the city during the winter period of the war, and the party places wanted posters on Polina since she has become a symbol of hope for the Soviet Union.
In January of 1943, Steiner and his army keep the pressure against the surviving Red Army soldiers outside the city, but the general comes into contact with Fresinger. Whilst speaking with Hermann, one of Steiner's snipers notices Polina and her brother Misha in the area so Leo orders his men to kill the two, but Polina manages to escape down below while Misha sacrifices himself since he is already wounded. Seeing that she is still alive, Steiner taunts Lady Nightingale while sending his men in each destroyed building to find her. Once all of his men are eliminated, Leo decides to take it upon himself to kill Polina, managing to disarm her from a building afar.
Inside a dark former clothes factory, Steiner attempts to kill Petrova, first trying to shoot her but is mortally wounded during the encounter. On the roof of the building, Steiner told Polina that she wouldn't find satisfaction in killing him, and that Freisinger would complete what he started. Before being killed, Leo pleaded to Polina that he could help her, but she mocked him, stating that every Nazi she has killed have said the same thing. Once telling him that she will kill Freisinger and that the Nazis created "Lady Nightingale", Polina pushed him off the top of the building. His body landed around his surviving men, but his death would spark the Red Army to take back their city from the Nazis.
Legacy
Freisinger would continue his plan to become Führer of his new Reich, which came into fruition once Hitler committed suicide during the Soviet's siege of Berlin. However, Polina would stop Freisinger alongside Task Force Vanguard, a special operations group formed to find intel about the secret project.
Skills and Abilities
- Bilingualism: Leo Steiner could fluently speak both German and English.
- Marksmanship: Steiner was able to very effectively shoot Polina through the tightly packed clothes factory.
Arsenal
- Gewehr 24: Whilst hunting Polina in the clothes factory, Leo Steiner used the standard issue Nazi riffle of the time.
- Molotov Cocktails: After being stabbed for the second time, Seiner used Molotov Cocktails to flush her out of hiding places.
Quotes
You are surrounded, Ivan! Accept your defeat!Leo Steiner during the invasion of Stalingrad.
Running won't save you. I will hunt you all down.Steiner to the fleeing Petrov family and the Partisans.
Lady Nightingale. I know you are here somewhere. You will not get away this time, little bird.Steiner hunting for Polina.
You are nothing without your rifle, Lady Nightingale. You are exactly where I want you.Steiner after Polina dropped her rifle.
Scurry along, pathetic girl.Steiner.
You cannot hide forever, little bird. You will not escape Stalingrad alive.Steiner.
Do you wish to kill me, Polina? You are welcome to try.Steiner during his confrontation against Polina.
You think you bested us all, but you have not faced me yet.Steiner during his confrontation against Polina.
I know all about you, Polina. Poor little nurse girl wanting to defend her home.Steiner provoking Polina.
Did daddy teach you how to shoot a gun? Or maybe brother? Where are they now? Of course, dead. That's why you're so angry.Steiner provoking Polina.
You think I'm the reason for all your troubles. When really you should be blaming yourself. You failed to keep them alive. Now no one will remember them. Just a couple of pitiful, useless Russian weaklings.Steiner provoking Polina.
Found you again!Steiner if Polina is spotted.
You are mine now!Steiner if Polina is spotted.
I'll burn you out of hiding.Steiner hunting Polina.
You and this pathetic city will burn in hell!Steiner hunting Polina.
I could... help you...Leo Steiner's last words.
Gallery
Trivia
- Leo Steiner's boss fight is similar to J-12's from 2019s Modern Warfare.
External Links
- Leo Steiner on the Call of Duty Wiki.
