top of page

Major American Combat Units in West Germany and West Berlin

1952-1994
Cold_War_units_in_West_Germany.png
FLGIMGS1000000542_-00_48-Stars-American-Flag_3.jpg
United States Army
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Fulda -Down Barracks

Following its service in Vietnam, the 11th Armored cavalry Regiment would make it return to Germany in May of 1972. Replacing the 14th Armored Calvary Regiment, and would assume the mission of surveillance and reconnaissance of the 385 kilometers of the East and West German border.Would defend the Fulda gap from a Soviet invasion of West Germany.

It's regimental headquarters was in Fulda with subordinate units located in Bad Hersfeld and Bad Kissingen.

​

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, followed the opening of the Iron curtain. The mission to defend the Fulda gap since 1972 came to a end, the following year.The unit would later deploy in 1991 to Turkey as part of Operation Provide Comfort, and to  Kuwait for Operation Positive Force assisting Kuwait in rebuilding following the Persian Gulf War.By October of that year, the regiment had completed its mission in Turkey and Kuwait,  returned to Fulda Germany. As the need for US forces in Europe decreased,  the Blackhorse Regiment was deactivated in a ceremony on October 15th 1993, and the remaining troops departed Germany in March 1994. Ending a era for Germany.

​​​​​​

2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment- Nurnburg- Merrell Barracks

Following its service in Vietnam, the 11th Armored cavalry Regiment would make it return to Germany in May of 1972. Replacing the 14th Armored Calvary Regiment, and would assume the mission of surveillance and reconnaissance of the 385 kilometers of the East and West German border.Would defend the Fulda gap from a Soviet invasion of West Germany.

It's regimental headquarters was in Fulda with subordinate units located in Bad Hersfeld and Bad Kissingen.

​

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, followed the opening of the Iron curtain. The mission to defend the Fulda gap since 1972 came to a end, the following year.The unit would later deploy in 1991 to Turkey as part of Operation Provide Comfort, and to  Kuwait for Operation Positive Force assisting Kuwait in rebuilding following the Persian Gulf War.By October of that year, the regiment had completed its mission in Turkey and Kuwait,  returned to Fulda Germany. As the need for US forces in Europe decreased,  the Blackhorse Regiment was deactivated in a ceremony on October 15th 1993, and the remaining troops departed Germany in March 1994. Ending a era for Germany.

1st Armored Division - Ansbach

As part of the US Army's Post -Vietnam Reorganization in 1971, The 1st Armored Division was to be moved to West Germany, upon their arrival in they would replace the 4th Armored Divison in the Bavarian city of Ansbach.The Division  headquarters would remained in Ansbach, with brigade units in the neighboring towns of Bamberg, Illesheim, Fürth (Nuremberg), Schwabach, Katterbach, Crailsheim, Erlangen and Zirndorf for the next twenty years, as part of VII Corps, itself part of NATO's Central Army Group.

​

​

​

​

2AD.png
2nd Armored Division (Forward)- Garlstedt
2AD.png

In 1975, the US Army 2nd Armored Division's third brigade, would forward deploy to West Germany.Where they were assigned to (NORTHAG) NATO  Northern Army Group

and was reflagged as the 2nd Armored Division (Forward). The unit's primary mission in case of conflict with the Warsaw Pact was to either secure airfields and staging areas for the deployment of III Corps from the United States, or to deploy directly to the Inter-German Border (IGB) and establish a blocking position as part of a NATO combat force.

​

3AD.png
3AD.png
3rd Armored Division- Frankfurt
1ID.png
 1st Infantry Division - Göppingen
1ID.png
3ID.png
3ID.png
3rd Infantry Division - Wūrzburg
8ID.png
8th Infantry Division - Bad Kreuznach
8ID.png
62-627753_us-army-berlin-brigade-patch-clipart.png
62-627753_us-army-berlin-brigade-patch-clipart.png
Berlin Brigade - West Berlin

Copyright ©2018 -2025  Cold War Outpost History Group

Powered By Wix

  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Facebook
  • SoundCloud

Last updated 11.13.25

bottom of page