20th Armoured Division
The 20th Armoured Division “Macedonia” is the Hellenic Army’s only armoured division, headquartered in Kavala and responsible for coordinating armoured formations in northeastern Greece.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The 20th Armoured Division “Macedonia” is a major armoured formation of the Hellenic Army and the country’s only armoured division. Its headquarters is located in Kavala, in the Greek region of Macedonia, while its principal subordinate armoured brigades are based in Thrace. The formation is identified in Greek as the 20ή Τεθωρακισμένη Μεραρχία «Μακεδονία» and is commonly abbreviated XX ΤΘΜ. Unlike a commercial brand, it is a military organization whose identity is expressed through its designation, insignia, motto, history, and operational role. The division emerged from Greece’s postwar effort to create a durable armoured force. An earlier attempt to establish a mechanized division, the 19th Mechanized Division, was made in early 1941 but was destroyed during the German invasion. After liberation, Greece re-established mechanized units, which participated in the Greek Civil War from 1946 to 1949. The country also began acquiring modern armoured vehicles, including British Centaur tanks, M24 Chaffee tanks, and M18 Hellcat tank destroyers. In 1954, the 9th Infantry Division was converted into an armoured division organized around two Battle Commands. At first, this transformation was largely nominal because Greece lacked enough tanks and other armoured vehicles. In 1956, the 9th Armoured Division was redesignated as the 20th Armoured Division, and the new formation was progressively built over the following four years. The arrival of M47 Patton tanks in 1957 enabled the creation of medium tank battalions, each planned around 55 tanks. The division’s equipment and organization expanded during the 1960s and 1970s. M48 Patton tanks and M113 armoured personnel carriers began arriving in 1964, replacing earlier vehicles. By 1971, the number of available M48 tanks supported the creation of the 24th, 25th, and 26th Medium Tank Battalions. These developments allowed each Battle Command to operate with two medium tank battalions and gave the formation a more credible armoured structure. Between 1977 and 1979, the Battle Commands were reorganized as independent armoured brigades. The 3rd Battle Command became the 23rd Armoured Brigade, the 1st became the 24th Armoured Brigade, and the 2nd became the 25th Armoured Brigade. The 20th Division remained as an operational headquarters coordinating two of the brigades. In 1985, the 25th Armoured Brigade was transferred directly to IV Army Corps and was subsequently replaced within the division’s structure by the 22nd Armoured Brigade. The division’s documented 2016 structure included its headquarters company, signal and military police companies, a divisional artillery command, and the 21st, 23rd, and 25th Armoured Brigades. These brigades included medium tank battalions, mechanized infantry, self-propelled artillery, engineers, signals, and support units. The formation’s emblem shows a centaur preparing to fire an arrow. The horse represents the strength and aggression associated with armour and cavalry, while the human figure represents the soldier controlling the vehicle and weapon. Its motto, “In the Shade,” refers to the traditional account of the Spartan soldier Dienekes at Thermopylae, who reportedly welcomed the prospect of fighting under the shade created by Persian arrows.
History
The origins of the 20th Armoured Division lie in Greece’s repeated attempts to establish a modern armoured and mechanized capability. In early 1941, the Hellenic Army created the 19th Mechanized Division, but the formation was destroyed during the German invasion of Greece. Following liberation, mechanized units were rebuilt and took part in the Greek Civil War between 1946 and 1949. This postwar period also saw the introduction of Greece’s first significant tank inventory. British Centaur tanks began to enter service in 1947, followed from 1950 by American M24 Chaffee light tanks and M18 Hellcat tank destroyers. A more formal institutional basis for an armoured division was created in 1954, when the 9th Infantry Division was converted into an armoured division. It was organized into two Battle Commands, but the designation initially exceeded the available equipment: the Hellenic Army did not yet possess sufficient tanks or armoured vehicles to make the division fully armoured in practical terms. In 1956, the 9th Armoured Division was redesignated the 20th Armoured Division. The new formation was developed gradually over the next four years rather than appearing as a fully equipped division immediately. The arrival of M47 Patton tanks in 1957 marked an important step in this process. Medium Tank Battalions were formed with an intended establishment of 55 tanks each. From 1964, M48 Patton tanks and M113 armoured personnel carriers began replacing older equipment. The introduction of these vehicles improved the division’s ability to combine tank units with mechanized infantry and other arms. By 1971, the Hellenic Army had received enough M48 tanks to establish the 24th, 25th, and 26th Medium Tank Battalions. The resulting arrangement gave each Battle Command two medium tank battalions. In the late 1970s, the organization was changed again. Between 1977 and 1979, the Battle Commands were transformed into independent armoured brigades. The 3rd Battle Command became the 23rd Armoured Brigade, the 1st became the 24th Armoured Brigade, and the 2nd became the 25th Armoured Brigade. The division continued as an operational headquarters responsible for coordinating the latter two brigades. In 1985, the 25th Armoured Brigade was placed directly under IV Army Corps and was replaced in the division’s arrangement by the 22nd Armoured Brigade. The formation’s documented 2016 organization shows the division functioning as a combined-arms headquarters rather than as a simple collection of tank units. Its structure included a headquarters company, a signal company, a military police company, and a divisional artillery command. The listed subordinate brigades were the 21st Armoured Brigade at Komotini, the 23rd Armoured Brigade at Alexandroupoli, and the 25th Armoured Brigade at Xanthi. Their component units included medium tank battalions, mechanized infantry battalions, self-propelled artillery battalions, engineer companies, signal companies, and support battalions. The division is associated with the honorific “Macedonia,” reflecting its headquarters location and regional identity. Its emblem depicts a centaur drawing or preparing to fire an arrow. The symbolism combines the physical power and aggressiveness associated with armoured cavalry with the human soldier who directs the vehicle and weapon system. The motto “In the Shade” is linked to the story of Dienekes, a Spartan defender at Thermopylae. According to the traditional account, when told that Persian arrows would be so numerous as to block the sun, Dienekes replied that the Greeks would therefore fight in the shade. The motto conveys defiance, discipline, and readiness under overwhelming conditions.
- 2016
Documented divisional structure
[1]A published 2016 structure listed the divisional headquarters and artillery command together with the 21st, 23rd, and 25th Armoured Brigades and their tank, mechanized infantry, artillery, engineering, communications, and support units.
- 1985
25th Armoured Brigade transferred to IV Army Corps
[1]The 25th Armoured Brigade passed directly under IV Army Corps and was replaced in the division’s arrangement by the 22nd Armoured Brigade.
- 1979
Armoured-brigade structure completed
[1]The 3rd Battle Command became the 23rd Armoured Brigade, the 1st became the 24th Armoured Brigade, and the 2nd became the 25th Armoured Brigade.
- 1977
Battle Commands begin conversion to armoured brigades
[1]The division began converting its Battle Commands into independent armoured brigades, a reorganization completed over the 1977–1979 period.
- 1971
Additional medium tank battalions established
[1]The availability of M48 tanks enabled the creation of the 24th, 25th, and 26th Medium Tank Battalions, allowing each Battle Command to field two medium tank battalions.
- 1964
M48 Patton tanks and M113 carriers introduced
[1]M48 Patton tanks and M113 armoured personnel carriers began replacing older equipment in the division’s force structure.
- 1957
M47 Patton tanks support medium tank battalions
[1]The arrival of M47 Patton tanks allowed the Hellenic Army to establish medium tank battalions with planned strengths of 55 tanks.
- 1956
Formation redesignated as the 20th Armoured Division
[1]The 9th Armoured Division was redesignated as the 20th Armoured Division, which was progressively formed over the following four years.
- 1954
9th Infantry Division converted into an armoured division
[1]The 9th Infantry Division was converted into an armoured division organized around two Battle Commands, although equipment shortages initially limited its practical armoured capability.
- 1947
Centaur tanks enter Greek service
[1]British Centaur tanks began to be employed by Greek forces, contributing to the country’s first postwar tank capability.
Products and positioning
A frontline Hellenic Army armoured formation and operational headquarters focused on the command and coordination of armoured and mechanized forces in northeastern Greece.
Brand decisions
1977
Conversion of Battle Commands into independent armoured brigadesStrategyBackground
The division’s growing inventory of M48 tanks and supporting vehicles made a brigade-based organization more practical than the earlier Battle Command structure.
Action taken
Between 1977 and 1979, the three Battle Commands were reorganized as the 23rd, 24th, and 25th Armoured Brigades, while the division continued as an operational headquarters.
Aftermath
The reorganization established a more distributed armoured command structure and clarified the division’s coordinating role.
1956
Redesignation and progressive formation of the divisionStrategyBackground
Greece sought to develop a permanent armoured formation after earlier wartime and postwar mechanized efforts. The predecessor 9th Armoured Division still faced severe shortages of tanks and armoured vehicles.
Action taken
The 9th Armoured Division was redesignated as the 20th Armoured Division, with the new formation built progressively over the next four years.
Aftermath
The division became the Hellenic Army’s principal armoured headquarters and later coordinated several independent armoured brigades.
Sources1 sources
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