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- "Seek out the leadership, captain… the Princess, Rieekan. Capture the smuggler if you can."
- ―Darth Vader, to a captain of Blizzard Force
Blizzard Force, also designated as the Blizzard Unit was an elite armored unit within the 501st Imperial Legion of the Imperial Army that specialized in cold-weather operations. It utilized multiple AT-AT walkers in which dozens of snowtroopers could be stationed inside of along with numerous armaments. The force itself was led by the ruthless General Maximilian Veers,[10] who had personally selected every AT-AT pilot in the unit.[11] Blizzard Force spearheaded the assault of Echo Base on the ice world of Hoth while the Imperial Death Squadron loomed overhead.[12]
Description[]

The AT-ATs of Thundering Herd fire on the Rebel forces.
Headquartered on Death Squadron, the personal fleet of Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader, Blizzard Force,[5] or Blizzard Unit,[13] was an elite armored formation within the 501st Imperial Legion.[9] Blizzard Force was under the command of General Maximilian Veers,[7] with fellow Imperial officers consisting of Brigadier General Nevar, Colonel Starck,[2] Captain TS-4068,[3] and another stormtrooper captain.[4]
Blizzard Force consisted of at least one battalion of elite snowtroopers,[7] as well as at least one armored squadron of walkers, the Thundering Herd.[6] Blizzard Force unit two-two-eight-seven was a subunit,[5] as was a squad led by Captain TS-4068,[3] and another squad led directly by Lord Vader.[7] Blizzard Force consisted of at least twelve All Terrain Armored Transports,[8] which had the callsigns of Blizzard 1, Blizzard 2, Blizzard 4, Blizzard 6, Blizzard 8, and Blizzard 9.[2] The AT-AT walkers were supported by All Terrain Scout Transports,[1] and the force could be deployed by Y-85 Titan dropships or Gozanti-class Assault Carriers.[5]
History[]
- "Yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generators. The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing."
- ―General Maximillian Veers to Darth Vader, regarding the Echo Base shield generator

Darth Vader leads the Imperial assault on Hoth.
Upon discovering the Rebel Alliance's hidden base on the remote world of Hoth, the Galactic Empire quickly mobilized an attack force, with the Death Squadron in orbit above the planet while the elite Blizzard Force led by General Maximilian Veers would spearhead the assault on Echo Base below. Assembling a force of a dozen AT-AT walkers deployed by nimble Gozanti-class cruisers escorted by TIEs, Blizzard Force landed in the Moorsh Moraine.[8] Blizzard Force promptly assaulted the base, attempting to disable the rebel's shield generator and ultimately destroy the Rebellion once and for all.[14] The battle ended an Imperial victory, however not before Veers' AT-AT walker Blizzard 1 was destroyed and several rebel GR-75 medium transports and T-65B X-wing starfighters escaped the Hoth system.[1]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: Galactic Defense
- Star Wars Battlefront II
- Star Wars Battlefront
- Battlefront: Twilight Company (and audiobook)
- Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (First appearance)
- The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi? (and audiobook)
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back junior novelization
- AT-AT Attack!
- "A Good Kiss" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (and audiobook)
- "Ion Control" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (and audiobook) (Indirect mention only)
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures — "Battle of Hoth"
- "The Truest Duty" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (and audiobook)
- "Against All Odds" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (and audiobook)
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures — "Luke vs. Imperial Walkers - Commander on Hoth"
- "Beyond Hope" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (and audiobook)
"Tales of Villainy: Invasion of Echo Base" — Star Wars Adventures (2020) 1
- Doctor Aphra (2020) 1
- Star Wars (2020) 18 (In flashback(s))
"Tales from Wild Space: A Tauntaun Tail" — Star Wars Adventures (2017) 22 (In flashback(s))
Sources[]
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know (First identified as Blizzard Force)
Star Wars Helmet Collection 3 (Databank A-Z: Wedge Antilles–Azmorigan) (Picture only)
Star Wars Helmet Collection 6 (Databank A-Z: Jar Jar Binks–B'omarr Order)
Star Wars Helmet Collection 9 (Highlights of the Saga: Ground Assault on Hoth)
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
Star Wars Helmet Collection 29 (Helmets: Snowtrooper)
- Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
Star Wars Bust Collection 3 (Character: Stormtroopers)
Star Wars Helmet Collection 65 (Databank A-Z: VCX-100 Light Freighter–Veers)
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
Star Wars Bust Collection 21 (Star Wars Universe: The Battle of Hoth) (First identified as Blizzard Unit)
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian — "Practical"
"Imperial Troops" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
"The Battle of Hoth and the Second Death Star" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
Star Wars: The Vintage Collection (Pack: Luke Skywalker (Hoth)) (backup link)
- Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
Star Wars: Legion — Blizzard Force Battle Force Starter Set
- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Star Wars: Complete Locations
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The Truest Duty" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2
"Tales of Villainy: Invasion of Echo Base" — Star Wars Adventures (2020) 1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Battlefront: Twilight Company
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars Complete Vehicles, New Edition
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4
"The Battle of Hoth and the Second Death Star" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
- ↑ 9.0 9.1
Star Wars Helmet Collection 29 (Helmets: Snowtrooper)
- ↑ Lost Stars
- ↑ Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- ↑ Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- ↑
Star Wars Bust Collection 21 (Star Wars Universe: The Battle of Hoth)
- ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Defense