- For the Helldivers 1 Galactic Campaign, go HERE
| “ | It is the year 2084. When mankind ventured into space, we were curious to see if anything loomed behind those stars; unfortunately, we were right. The initial contacts were peaceful, but soon the people of Super Earth realized the potential danger of communicating with alien species, and before we knew it, they started our first intergalactic war. For 40 years, the war has raged on, a conflict whereby three hostile alien species are hell-bent on a single goal: the total annihilation of the human species. Luckily, the fighting spirit of man has not decayed since the last great war on Earth. We are now stronger than ever; man, woman and child alike are encouraged to try their strengths in the ultimate test - to have the courage to defend Super Earth. |
„ |
| ~ Helldivers - Encyclopaedia Description |
| “ | You are to deploy the Dark Fluid, an Illuminate technology discovered at the end of the First Galactic War. This exotic material yet holds many mysteries, but for now we will use to secure Liberty's future. | „ |
| ~ Democracy Officer - Helldivers 2 |
| “ | In the First Galactic War, we cast the Illuminate from our galaxy, and secured the half-human Cyborgs safely in the mines of Cyberstan. Our enemies in this war will do no better. | „ |
| ~ Democracy Officer - Helldivers 2 |
The First Galactic War, also sometimes referred to as the First Intragalactic War, the Great Galactic War, or shortened to GW1, was a galaxy-wide armed conflict waged by the 
Federation of Super Earth against the 
Bugs, a race of alien insectoids; the 
Illuminate, a race of extra-terrestrial highly advanced semi-humanoid cephalopods; and, after the start of the war, the 
Cyborgs, a separatist movement comprised of cybernetically-enhanced terrorists.
The events that occurred in this war are mostly depicted in Helldivers 1 as part of the game's Galactic Campaign, which resets and plays out differently depending on the players' actions. However, in Helldivers 2, certain events of the First Galactic War are established to be canon to the franchise's history (and the war to have been canonically won by Super Earth), leaving the canonicity of the Galactic Campaign dubious, and mostly to be determined by what is established in Helldivers 2.
Casus Belli and the Start of the War[]
| “ | Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is inhabited by more species than was previously believed, and it turns out, most of them are, in one way or another--hostile. The Super Earth military is fighting to keep back the tide of enemies that besiege us from all fronts. The elite Helldivers go both beyond the front and behind our own lines to support you and our troops. | „ |
| ~ Helldivers - Encyclopaedia Description |
Not much is known about the specific conditions in which the First Galactic War started, as Helldivers 1 itself opens in 2084, roughly 40 years after the start of the war. However, some details are given that could shed some light into the specifics of how each faction got into conflict with Super Earth.
It is also known that, although Super Earth's marketing and propaganda depict the three conflicts of the First Galactic War as defensive wars, they are in reality quite the opposite.[2]
Bugs: Problem or Solution?[]
| “ | The federation has decided that the Bug threat is becoming too great. Senator John W. Killjoy declared: "The Bugs have been a plague in this galaxy for far too long, they must now be eradicated before they spread to other worlds." [...] This is also proven by scientist Henk Ploeg Ph.D.: "The Bugs rapidly generate vast quantities of oil when they decompose. This is beneficial, but is not the primary reason why the Bugs must be exterminated. They are far too dangerous to be allowed to live." | „ |
| ~ Bug War Announcement
|
Not much is known about how humanity first entered into contact with the Bugs (established in Helldivers 2 to be designated 
Terminids). Given that Super Earth's declaration of war on the Bugs also states that the 
Helldivers will be deployed to re-activate "lost oil pumps" on Bug-infested planets, a possible explanation is that, during the early expansion of mankind, Super Earth colonists had begun to settle Bug planets in order to exploit them for their oil (established in Helldivers 2 to be named "Element-710"), thus disturbing the Bugs' nests.
At some point, the issue of the Bugs became such that Super Earth decided to declare all-out war on the creatures, likely encouraged by the discovery that the Bugs generated vast quantities of E-710 when they decomposed.
Illuminate: Weapons of Mass Destruction[]
| “ | "We have reason to believe the Illuminates have Weapons of Mass Destruction, capable of destroying entire planets" stated house representative Powley Colle. He continued "Every statement I make today is backed up by reliable sources". Whether or not the Illuminates prove the large threat that Mr. Colle is so certain about is met by little resistance. Some sympathizers deny this fact and instead state that "The Illuminates are an ancient and wise species, they are no threat to us unless we threaten them". These voices were set right immediately afterwards through public executions. | „ |
| ~ Illuminate War Announcement
|
The Illuminate are unique, as they are the only faction that is admitted to have attempted a peace deal before Super Earth delivered the first strike. From what is told in Helldivers 1, the Illuminate were first spotted during the early 21st century, as there were frequent sightings of Illuminate recon spacecraft, which were dismissed as folklore. At some point afterwards, the Illuminate would make the first proper contact with the Federation and offer peace.
The government of Super Earth would end up making a startling claim: the Illuminate apparently possessed large quantities of world-destroying devices, nicknamed "obliterator bombs" at the time. Fearing for the safety of its citizens and for the future of Managed Democracy, the government of Super Earth launched a pre-emptive strike on the squid-like beings, claiming that Liberty would not be safe so long as these aliens had more advanced technology than humanity.
After successfully repelling a region capital assault from the Illuminate, the ship's Admiral reminds the player that there is "solid evidence" that the Illuminate were planning to use a planet-destroying device. However, lost region capital planets can be recaptured from the Illuminate (considering that Super Earth is "destroyed" and then moved to a new planet if the war is lost, these capitals could indeed have been destroyed and a new one with the same name set up; but more likely, it could simply mean that the Illuminate are not as willing to use their supposed weapons of planetary destruction as the citizens of Super Earth are led to believe, or that they were not even developed by the Illuminate until the end of the war).
Cyborg Secessionists[]
| “ | A man with cybernetic parts has detonated a bomb in the center of District 48 of Super Earth, killing 8 civilians. Dr. Henk Ploeg explains "The Socialistic Cyborgs are perverted, lack any sense of responsibility, and have, ever since their declaration of independence from Super Earth, grown weary and hateful of what they gave up: Freedom, Democracy, Liberty, Justice and Decency." He continues "The Cyborgs are becoming increasingly threatening in their rhetoric. With the latest development, they have put words into action and, in the most significant way, hurt Super Earth." [...] Some Cyborg sympathizers question whether or not the lone individual was in any way affiliated with the Cyborg Nation, to which John W. Killjoy responds "Those hippies that believe there is a single thought of peace in a Cyborg's mind need to be put in jail, or even executed. We are going to war, and that's the end of the discussion." | „ |
| ~ Cyborg War Announcement
|
The only faction that is explicitly stated to have attacked Super Earth first are the Cyborgs. The usual stated reasons for conflict are because of the supposed "oppression" of Cyborgs by the government of Super Earth, which then prompted a terrorist bombing that then forced Super Earth to declare war against the Cyborg Nation. However, it is also possible that these terrorist incidents are false flag operations, staged in order to allow the Federation a reasonable justification to exterminate cybernetically-enhanced citizens.
Nevertheless, in all 3 cases, the common conclusion is the same: Super Earth, in its need to defend Democracy, calls upon the Helldivers for aid in bringing back Freedom to a galaxy riddled with tyrants, fascists and socialists that hate liberty.
Currently Confirmed Battles & Events of the War[]
In Helldivers 2, the 3 currently available characters, being the Ship Master, the Service Technician and the Democracy Officer, will sometimes mention the First Galactic War or certain battles from the First Galactic War when the player asks to speak with them. As well, players can sometimes find mentions of certain battles and events taking place during the war when checking the descriptions of certain armors, helmets and weapons. These are the following:
Battle of Cyberstan[]
| “ | Rerouters spoke to Cyborg relations expert Dr. Gustaf Smith on why a decision to disarm was made. "We must show the world that the only way to create peace is through Democracy." He continued "Therefore we have installed voting booths all around the capitals of Cyberstan and enforced voting turnout by further restricting liberties for entire families if they do not vote." Senator John W. Killjoy clarifies "We believe that the Cyborgs will change their entire culture thanks to the installation of these voting booths and the threat of being severely punished if they do not vote." [...] The Super Earth Construction Company, SECC, will take over the forges and industrial complexes spread throughout Cyberstan. "We believe this will be very profitable for us, and for mankind" said CEO, Mullé Mick. | „ |
| ~ "Cyborgs Disarmed!" - Helldivers |
| “ | Everyone knows Cyberstan has been a rehabilitation facility for the Cyborgs since the First Galactic War. What a lot of people don't realize is just how many patriotic citizens it takes to keep an operation like that afloat. We will avenge every last one of them. | „ |
| ~ Ship Master |
| “ | Cyberstan is a place with a long history of treachery. The stronghold of the Cyborgs, and later, their prison. Perhaps it is no accident that this world has become our target once again. | „ |
| ~ Democracy Officer |
Super Earth defeats the Cyborgs on Cyberstan.
A battle that is confirmed in game both through dialogue and by the game itself is the Battle for Cyberstan, a crucial battle between the 
Super Earth Armed Forces and the Cyborgs. While in Helldivers 1 it is possible to lose this battle, in Helldivers 2 it is shown that the canon result of this battle was a Super Earth victory.
After signing their surrender, the Cyborgs were sent to the voting stations by force under threat of losing what remained of their civil rights. After the voting, Cyberstan would then be under military occupation for 5 years to prevent further rebellion and lawlessness and, following the occupation, Super Earth would leave the Cyborgs under "rehabilitation" at the mines of Cyberstan, under the ownership of the Super Earth Construction Company.
Battle of Kepler Prime[]
| “ | Helldiver troops have finally taken control of the Bug homeworld of KEPLER PRIME, and while the goal of extermination has not yet been reached, a drastic change of tactics is employed. Senator John W. Killjoy explains: "We have found through extensive research that the Bugs generate the quantities of oil that we require for a sustainable future. To eradicate them from the galaxy just doesn't seem right from a moral perspective and due to this, we have collaborated with scientists such as the brilliant Dr. Henk Ploeg to devise a way where we can safely breed this rare species and, potentially, harvest more oil than we have done before." | „ |
| ~ "Bugs Allowed to Live?" - Helldivers |
Super Earth defeats the Bugs on Kepler Prime.
A battle that is not mentioned anywhere in Helldivers 2 but makes an appearance in Helldivers 1 is the Battle of Kepler Prime, the homeworld of the Bugs during the First Galactic War. While it is possible for the community to be defeated in this battle, the state of the galaxy prior to February 2184 in Helldivers 2 confirms that this battle ended in victory for Super Earth.
Kepler Prime is currently not present in the Galactic War Map.
Battle of Squ'bai Shrine[]
| “ | Super Earth soldiers have managed to defeat the highly advanced Illuminate race and talks with their former leaders are under way. The government of Super Earth demands that the Illuminates sign a treaty disallowing the Illuminates from ever creating an armed forces branch and immediately turning over all technology which could be used as weapons to the federation of Super Earth. Dr. Henk Ploeg excitedly exclaimed "The amount of technology we are going to receive will accelerate our technology tenfold and allow us to create peacekeeping devices that have the power to destroy entire planets!" What is to become of the subjugated squid-like creatures is unclear. What is certain, though, is that they will never pose a threat to Super Earth again. | „ |
| ~ "Illuminates Subjugated!" - Helldivers |
Super Earth defeats the Illuminate on Squ'bai Shrine.
A battle that is not mentioned anywhere in Helldivers 2 but makes an appearance in Helldivers is the Battle of Squ'bai Shrine, the homeworld of the Illuminate during the First Galactic War. While in Helldivers 1 it is possible for the community to be defeated in this battle, the state of the galaxy in Helldivers 2 prior to December 2184 confirms that this battle ended in victory for Super Earth. After being defeated, the Illuminate signed a peace treaty with the Federation and subsequently abandoned the Milky Way, supposedly never to return. However, once the 
Illuminate resurfaced, it would immediately re-ignite the conflict, as they had been presumed extinct.
Squ'bai Shrine is currently not present in the Galactic War Map.
Battle of Liberty Peak[]
| “ | When I was a kid, I always loved All Heroes' Eve. The adults would all dress up as Bugs, and ring out doorbells and we'd have to fire 3 shots in the air and say "No Fascism here, insects!" At the end of the night, they'd re-enact the Battle of Liberty Peak and we'd all get cake. | „ |
| ~ Service Technician |
One battle that is brought up in-game is the Battle of Liberty Peak. Not many details are given about it, with the only piece of information that can be inferred being that it was an engagement between the Helldivers and the Bugs, with the obvious result being a decisive Super Earth victory. The location of Liberty Peak is not shown in the Galactic Map, meaning that this battle perhaps took place at a location with such name inside of one of the planets available in either Helldivers 1 or Helldivers 2.
One thing that is known is that the "Savior of the Free" armor is the closest glimpse available at the kind of armor that the Helldivers present that day were outfitted with, as its description states it to be a faithful replica of the armors worn that day.
It is worth noting that this location is not to be confused with the similarly named Liberty Ridge, a planet in the Meridian Sector in Helldivers 2.
Battle of Justice Hill[]
| “ | Emblazoned with the red, white and green of the 676th Democracy Regiment, who made their final stand on the slopes of Justice Hill | „ |
| ~ Blazing Samaritan Cape Description |
A mysterious battle is referenced on the description of the "Blazing Samaritan" cape, an obtainable cape that can be found in the 9th page of the Helldivers Mobilize standard warbond. According to the description, this cape is emblazoned with the colors of the possibly defunct 676th Democracy Regiment, which was presumably decimated in battle at Justice Hill, an unknown location that does not appear in either game much like Liberty Peak.
It is not known who the Super Earth Armed Forces engaged against in this battle, but the memorialization of the 676th Democracy Regiment can imply that, while a victory for Managed Democracy, it also caused massive losses for the S.E.A.F.. However, given the fact that the 676th Democracy Regiment is commemorated with this cape, it could also imply that their heroic sacrifice allowed Super Earth to claim victory and prevented even more deaths.
Battle of Nublaria[]
| “ | Based on the uniform of Jackle 6, a veteran of the Viper Commandos who held off an entire Terminid brood on Nublaria during the First Galactic War with nothing but a machine gun, pocket knife and Orbital Laser Strikes. | „ |
| ~ PH-9 Predator Armor Description |
Another confirmed battle in the First Galactic War is the Battle of Nublaria, which presumably took place in Nublaria I, a currently inaccessible planet in the Celeste Sector. Judging by the description, this was an armed engagement between the Super Earth Armed Forces against the Bugs, as the aforementioned "Jackle 6" is specified to be a veteran of the "Viper Commandos", a military unit of which neither game has ever made any mention of prior to the addition of this armor.
Given the current state of peace and Prosperity on Nublaria, it can be inferred that the battle resulted in an undisputed victory for Super Earth, with Jackle 6's actions most likely being crucial to this development.
X-45 Advanced Weapons Laboratory[]
| “ | The planet X-45 in the Ymir Sector is home to a lost Advanced Weapons Lab from the First Galactic War, buried underneath rubble and abandoned due to dangerously high radiation levels across the planet. The Lab was working on development of a powerful interplanetary battle station. Now, with radiation levels abated to completely safe levels, excavation and recovery of the Lab's work can begin, which would allow the eventual construction of this battle station. However, the Automatons have become aware of X-45's importance, possibly through malicious and deceitful cyber attacks. They have launched an opportunistic assault to rout our cut-off forces in the Ymir Sector. On High Command's orders, SEAF Forces have begun amassing on Aesir Pass. Soon, we will be ready to initiate a push to break through the Automaton line and relieve our cut off forces. Until then, the Automaton assault may be slowed, but will be extremely difficult to stop altogether. It is imperative that X-45 be held until the plans for the battle station are recovered. If they fall into the Automatons' actuators, the results could be disastrous. | „ |
| ~ Operation Starslayer Briefing, Super Earth High Command |
During Operation Starslayer, Super Earth High Command would issue a major order mandating that the Helldivers maintained control of X-45 while search and recovery teams investigated the lightly irradiated ruins of an old weapons lab from this war, its research focused on the production of Interplanetary Battle Stations, meaning it was probably a Super Earth Navy facility. It is also likely that this facility was a joint military base, intended to house research/other non-combat personnel of the Super Earth Navy and serve as an outpost for Helldiver Commandos, as a cache of fully operational MLS-4X Commando Missile Launchers and blueprints for Tier 5 Super Destroyer upgrades were also found on the planet during the operation, which allowed their fleetwide deployment after the operation concluded.
The conditions of how this facility became irradiated and abandoned are never stated, but given the proximity of the planet to Cyberstan, it is likely that it was directly related to the conflict that was going on between Super Earth and the Cyborg Secessionists in 2084. Whether it was due to the fallout from a nuclear meltdown or nuclear bombardment is up for debate.
What is made clear is that X-45 was uninhabitable due to the radiation for the 100 year period between the First and Second Galactic Wars, which explains why the planet didn't have any FTL Supply lines connecting it to the rest of its sector until July 2184.
Battle of Choepessa IV[]
| “ | A tribute to the Liberation of Choepessa IV in the First Galactic War, in which so much orbital ordnance was detonated that its sun was occluded by ash for an entire lunar cycle. | „ |
| ~ Helldivers 2 - "Purifying Eclipse" Cape Armory Description |
Another confirmed battle of the First Galactic War is the Battle of Choepessa IV, also known as the "Liberation of Choepessa IV". This engagement would see the Bugs fight against the Helldivers over control of the once lush, green jungle planet, as its location can make it a handy forward base. According to the description of the "Purifying Eclipse" cape from the "Freedom's Flame" Warbond, this battle saw such a heavy usage of orbital ordnance that the resulting cloud of debris and ash would occlude the planet's sun for an entire lunar cycle (29.5 days).
Going by the name, it can be inferred that the Bugs would initially overwhelm the planet's defenses but would then be liberated after an unknown amount of time. Judging by the "heavy usage of orbital ordnance", it perhaps was shortly after the initial assault.
Judging by Choepessa IV's status prior to the Second Galactic War and the name it is described by on the previously mentioned source, it is safe to say that this engagement resulted in victory for Super Earth, while also being a possible cause for the glaciation that made Choepessa IV into the icy boneyard planet it is by 2184.
End of the War[]
In 2084, Super Earth successfully defeated all of its enemies and the First Galactic War ended. The Bugs were successfully contained into Element-710 farms, in which they were then subjected to genetic experimentation and selective breeding in order to increase E-710 production, with the result being their rapid evolution into the Terminids present in Helldivers 2.
The Cyborgs, as previously mentioned, were defeated and interned in the mines of Cyberstan as punishment until a new foe, the 
Automatons, seemingly invaded the planet during the Second Galactic War, their current fate being unknown.
The Illuminate, after the battle of Squ'bai Shrine, ended up signing a peace treaty with Super Earth, the terms of which forced them to surrender all of their technology and weapons to the Federation, amongst which was technology allowing for better Faster-Than-Light travel and the Dark Fluid, a mysterious superweapon capable of collapsing planets into black holes, as displayed in Meridia during the Second Galactic War. However, having spent 100 years in exile, these Squ'ith would then come back to enact vengeance onto Super Earth once more, as the Illuminate suddenly attacked the urban colonies of Calypso on December 12th, 2184.
Aftermath and Consequences of the War[]
| “ | In the First Intragalactic War alone, the Bugs accounted for the deaths of one hundred and eighty nine million Super Earth Citizens, many of them babies! Don't let the Bugs kill babies! Fight the good fight! | „ |
| ~ Broadcast Announcement[1] |
| “ | Even though the First Galactic War ended almost 100 years ago, we're still enjoying the freedom those heroes fought and died for. Maybe in another 100 years, our descendants will be doing the same. | „ |
| ~ Ship Master |
The years following the First Galactic War saw the rapid and unopposed expansion of Super Earth through the Milky Way, in part thanks to the technology obtained from the Illuminate.[3] As the years passed, the Helldivers were dismissed as a new era of peace and prosperity ushered in for humanity.
According to the PA Announcer in one of the randomized TV Ads in the Super Destroyer in Helldivers 2, the Bugs were responsible for 189,000,000 civilian casualties in the First Galactic War, with a significant portion of those being human babies. This could explain why, by the time of the Second Galactic War, civilian society is so accustomed to the glorification of violence towards the Terminids.
The Illuminate and the Cyborgs, thought decisively defeated by Super Earth, were reduced to mere boogeyman for parents to use across the Federation in cautionary tales recited to their children as they raised them into proper citizens of the Federation.
While it is not shown in either game, the canonical result of the Battle of Cyberstan suggests that the few Cyborgs that remained not only continued to suffer discrimination, but were also held under bondage (if not complete subservience) to the Super Earth Construction Company, being mostly relegated to concentration camps within Cyberstan's surface.
By February 2185, the last surviving veteran of the First Galactic War would peacefully pass away at the ripe old age of 103 years old. His last words were "Serving was my life's greatest honor"[4]