BAD REICHENHALL, Germany — 81 years ago, the 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Bad Reichenhall, liberating the town near the end of World War II. Bad Reichenhall, stood as one of the last strongholds of the Nazi regime, where Nazi leadership hoped to continue the war in the region known as the Berghof. The 3rd Infantry Division's actions liberating the town, brought the War one step closer to its end. On May 5, 2026, Soldiers assigned to 3rd ID returned to Bad Reichenhall as guests to the Gebirgsjagerbrigade 23, German Armed Forces. Their purpose, to stand together and commemorate the history that continues to shape the town and the division. The anniversary placed Soldiers on ground once defined by the final phase of the war in Europe. The ceremony reinforces the division’s historic role in liberating occupied territories while highlighting the commitment to preserving their legacy for future generations. The event brought together service members and leaders to reflect on the sacrifices made and the lasting bonds formed between Allied forces and local communities. “The Soldiers who stood where we stand today secured victory at a tremendous cost,” said Col. Robert Harless, commander of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd ID. “In doing so, they helped defeat a ruthless Nazi regime. A regime that not only brought unprecedented devastation to Europe, but one that also brutally oppressed and victimized its own citizens. We remember the faces of the fallen, the courage of the wounded, and the quiet endurance of every Soldier who carried the burden of that war to bring an end to that tyranny.” For the past 17 years, the commemoration occurred at Kaserne Reichenhall, the German Bundeswehr base located in Bad Reichenhall. The ceremony, jointly hosted by the German garrison and the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, routinely sees U.S. forces attend as a sign of commitment to honor our past and build on the growing alliance between Germany and the United States. The significance behind why this year is important is due to the fact 3rd ID is currently deployed across several nations, including nearby Poland. With this proximity, 3rd ID leaders were given the opportunity to attend the ceremony, wearing the same patch that was worn 81 years prior. “For the men of the 3rd ID, this was the culmination of a long road that began on the shores of North Africa,” added Harless. “Carved its way through the mountains of Italy, pushed across the beaches of Southern France, and finished here, in the beautiful region of Bad Reichenhall, the Berchtesgadener Land.” For today’s Soldiers, the visit served as a powerful reminder of the division’s legacy and the responsibility carried by those who wear the patch. Walking the same terrain where Dogface Soldiers once advanced, participants reflected on the resilience, sacrifice and determination that defined the division’s campaign across Europe. “Returning to Bad Reichenhall as a Division is sacred,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Daarius Jackson, senior enlisted leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. “Stepping back in this place, knowing that giants before me wore this patch, freed this region which then ended up freeing the Nation.” Known as the “Rock of the Marne,” 3rd ID maintains a legacy of toughness and determination. Commemorations like this continue to reinforce the division’s identity and strengthen the connection between past and present. “Without understanding the sacrifice that the Giants made that came before us, there is no context as to understand what we are honoring right now,” added Jackson. “To understand that someone who wore this uniform before you have gone through trials and tribulations, so while we go through our everyday challenges in the military or not in the military, you can remember the one that came before us did and the sacrifices that they made, which gives us convictions of what we do right now.”