US Army 11th Armored Division shoulder sleeve patch with tank tracks, gun, and red lightning bolt

Identifier
irn35126
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2004.749.1
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 3.375 inches (8.573 cm) | Width: 3.875 inches (9.843 cm)

Archival History

The badge was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection

Scope and Content

Shoulder sleeve insignia, 11th Armored Division, United States Army, known as the Thunderbolt Division, of the type used during World War II. The patch design was used by all Armored divisions, with the division number, in this case 11, at the apex of the triangle. The colors represent the military branches that form an armored division: yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry, and red for artillery. The symbols represent the characteristics: the tank track, mobility and armor protection; the cannon, fire power; and the red flash of lightning, shock action. The 11th Division landed in Normandy on December 16, 1944, and their rapid march across France to the Meuse River, 350 miles in four days, earned them the nickname Thunderbolt. On May 5, 1945, the 11th entered Linz. They liberated two of the largest concentration camps in Austria, Mauthausen, and a subcamp, Gusen, on May 5 and 6. They discovered 19,000 prisoners in deplorable conditions, and thousands needing immediate medical care. The Division provided medical assistance and arranged for the burial of the dead. Germany surrendered on May 7. The Division ended the war in Amstetten, Austria, where they met with Soviet forces on May 8, 1945. The Division was placed on occupation duty until it was inactivated on August 31, 1945. This Division was active only during World War II.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Equilateral, triangular patch machine embroidered on white netting with an evenly divided, 3 color field: the top is yellow; bottom left, blue; bottom right, red. Embroidered in black on the center is an Arabic numeral 11 at the apex above a 2-wheeled cannon within a circle of chain link tank track. A red, jagged lightning bolt is embroidered diagonally leftward across the cannon. The patch has a light green border. The patch appears to be unused.

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.