3:33rd Armored Division Germany

3:33rd Armored Division Germany Homepage Photos Members

Relive and share the memories of your service-time with your brothers and sisters in arms today. VetFriends.com can help you reconnect.

Did you proudly serve in the 3:33rd Armored Division Germany?

Are you looking for someone who is or was in the 3:33rd Armored Division Germany?

Do you have 3:33rd Armored Division Germany photos you'd like to share?

Then join a community with your brothers and sisters of the 3:33rd Armored Division Germany.

Branch

U.S. Army

Members

About 3:33rd Armored Division Germany

The 3rd Battalion, 33rd Armor Regiment (3/33rd Armor) was a key armored unit within the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Division, stationed in Germany during the Cold War. Activated in the post-World War II era, the battalion played a crucial role in NATO's forward defense strategy, frequently participating in large-scale training exercises such as REFORGER to deter potential Warsaw Pact aggression. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, 3/33rd Armor maintained a high level of readiness and often conducted joint operations with allied forces. The unit continued its mission until the early 1990s, when the end of the Cold War led to the drawdown and eventual inactivation of the battalion as part of U.S. Army force reductions in Europe.

Unit Members

Tim Williams

U.S. Army

3:33rd Armored Division GermanyView Profile

Gregory Clevenger

U.S. Army

3:33rd Armored Division GermanyView Profile

Photos

U.S. Army • 1974

U.S. Army • 1976

About 3:33rd Armored Division Germany

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Lineage: The 3rd Battalion, 33rd Armor Regiment was part of the famous 3rd Brigade, 3rd Armored Division ("Spearhead") during the Cold War, stationed in West Germany as a frontline deterrent against the Soviet Union. • Fulda Gap Defense: 3/33rd Armor played a critical role in plans to defend the Fulda Gap, a strategic corridor believed to be a likely route for a Warsaw Pact invasion into Western Europe. • Home Base: The battalion was headquartered at Kirch-Göns, Germany, in what was known as "The Rock," a major American armored garrison throughout the Cold War. • Nickname: The unit earned the nickname "Men of War," reflecting its combat readiness and esprit de corps. • Operation Desert Storm: In 1991, 3/33rd Armor deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in the ground offensive into Iraq as part of the liberation of Kuwait, engaging enemy forces and capturing large numbers of Iraqi prisoners. • Cold War Exercises: The battalion regularly conducted massive REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) exercises, simulating rapid mobilization against a Soviet attack. • Heavy Armor: 3/33rd Armor was among the first units to field the M1 Abrams main battle tank in Europe, marking a significant leap in firepower and protection. • Unit Insignia: The distinctive unit insignia features a silver tank tread and a battle axe, symbolizing offensive power and the unit’s armored heritage. • Deactivation: Following the end of the Cold War and the drawdown of American forces in Europe, the battalion was inactivated in 1992, along with the rest of the 3rd Armored Division. • Veteran Legacy: Veterans of the 3/33rd Armor have remained active through reunions and online groups, preserving the memory and camaraderie of their time on the frontlines of the Cold War.