The 3rd Special Forces Division () was a division encompassing the

special forces Special forces or special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

units of the

Hellenic Army The Hellenic Army (, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the army, land force of Greece. The term Names of the Greeks, '' Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is the largest of the three branches ...

. The first similar unit was formed as the 3rd Raiding Division () during the final stages of the

Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War () took place from 1946 to 1949. The conflict, which erupted shortly after the end of World War II, consisted of a Communism, Communist-led uprising against the established government of the Kingdom of Greece. The rebels decl ...

(1946–49). Commanded by the "father of Greek Special Forces", Andreas Kallinskis, the division grouped the Mountain Raiding Companies (LOK) into five squadrons (I–V) in two brigades (I and II), and took part in the final operations of the Battle of Grammos in August 1949, that ended the civil war in a victory for government forces. The 3rd Special Forces Division was formed again in 1978, when, in the aftermath of the

Turkish invasion of Cyprus The Turkish invasion of Cyprus began on 20 July 1974 and progressed in two phases over the following month. Taking place upon a background of Cypriot intercommunal violence, intercommunal violence between Greek Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cy ...

, it became clear that a unified command for the various special forces units of the Army was necessary, if they were to function as a

rapid reaction force A rapid reaction force / rapid response force (RRF), quick reaction force / quick response force (QRF), immediate reaction force (IRF), rapid deployment force (RDF), or quick maneuver force (QMF) is a military or law enforcement unit capable of ...

. The division grouped together the 32nd Marines Brigade, the 1st Raider Regiment and the 2nd Paratroopers Regiment. The division was disbanded in 1988, but a similar role is now fulfilled by the 1st Infantry Division.

References

1978 establishments in Greece 1988 disestablishments in Greece Divisions of Greece Military units and formations established in 1978 Military units and formations disestablished in 1988 Special forces of Greece Special forces units and formations {{Greece-mil-stub