8th Mountain Armoured Battalion (Germany)

The 8th Mountain Armoured Battalion (8. Gebirgspanzerbataillon) is a reserve armoured regiment of the German Army.

History
The 8th Battalion was formed in October of 1981 when the new 1st Mountain Division was formed. The battalion was formed as a regular battalion and stationed in Pocking. In 1992 the battalion joined the 24th (Lower Bavaria) Panzerbrigade. In 1994 the battalion again moved joining the 12th (Upper Palatinate) Panzerbrigade. Finally in 1997 the battalion was disbanded.

Recently after the HEER 2011 reforms the battalion was reformed as a mixed mountain tank battalion based in Pfreimd.

Organisation
The battalion's structure is as follows:
 * 1st Company (Reserve)
 * 2nd Company (Reserve)
 * 3rd Company (Regulars) - when not mobilised, attached to 104th Armoured Battalion
 * 4th Company (Regulars) in Bad Frankenhausen - when not mobilised, attached to 393rd Armoured Battalion

Badge Significance
The coat of arms are a red background with white-blue-white diamons as a sign of solidarity signifying Bavaria. The edelweiss is a hallmark of the former 1st Mountain Division. The tank is from the former Bavarian Heavy Horse regiments before mechanisation with a cuirass background. Showing the icon of both the cuirass and the tank shows the large change in warfare and looking to the future.

The edelweiss is traditionally the symbol of camaraderie and cohesion of mountain troops. The soldiers of the battalion wear the edelweiss on the unit's black beret.