Grigory Maksim, Tank Commander of the Death Korps of Krieg
Artist: Ilich Henriquez Source: Ilich Henriquez
Grigory Maksim is a towering figure within the Astra Militarum, specifically as one of the most feared and respected Tank Commanders of the Death Korps of Krieg in Warhammer 40,000. Known for his tactical brilliance and cold, unflinching demeanor, Maksim leads armored assaults with devastating efficiency. Like many from Krieg, he embodies the grim tenacity of his world, where survival and sacrifice are intertwined with duty. Maksim’s personal history is shrouded in the same mystery that often surrounds the Death Korps, but his legend is built on his countless victories and the near-mythical status of his tank, Brecher, an enormous, battle-scarred war machine.
Maksim’s tactical genius lies in his ability to exploit the terrain and outthink his enemies with methodical, brutal precision. He favors direct assaults, crushing opposition with overwhelming firepower and relentless pressure. His command of Brecher, a heavily modified Leman Russ tank, allows him to spearhead offensives and anchor the lines in defensive battles. His crew, deeply loyal and similarly hard-edged, follows his every order without question, trusting in Maksim’s leadership as much as they trust in the thick armor that shields them from enemy fire. Maksim is notorious for his refusal to retreat, preferring to grind the enemy into dust, no matter the cost.
However, what truly defines Grigory Maksim is his unyielding faith in the Emperor and the Krieg doctrine of attrition. Like all soldiers of Krieg, he views life as a tool to be spent in service of the Imperium, and he expects the same from his crew and fellow soldiers. This ruthless pragmatism makes him both a feared and respected figure among Imperial forces. His presence on the battlefield inspires the Death Korps to fight harder, knowing that Maksim will lead from the front in his indomitable tank, showing them that, in the Emperor’s name, no sacrifice is too great, and no enemy too powerful to withstand the crushing might of the Death Korps’ armored divisions.