US Army 8th Armored Division shoulder sleeve patch with tank, gun, and red lightning bolt

Identifier
irn35141
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2004.749.4
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 3.500 inches (8.89 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, 8th Armored Division, United States Army, of the type used during World War II. It was originally known as the Thundering Herd, but became known as Iron Snake following an article in Newsweek that called the unit “A Giant Ironclad Snake.” They were also known by their war code name, Tornado. The patch design was used by all Armored divisions, with the division number, in this case 8, 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 8th Division landed in France on January 5, 1945, fought its way through France and Holland, and entered Germany in March. Near Langenstein, troops of the 8th and 83rd Infantry Division encountered a group of adjacent subcamps of Buchenwald concentration camp. The 8th liberated Halberstadt-Zwieberge subcamp between April 11 and 17, 1945. Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945, and the Division was placed on occupation duty until inactivated on November 14, 1945. This Division was active only during WWII.

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 8 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 has several loose green threads on the borders.

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.