US Army 9th Armored Division shoulder sleeve patch with tank, gun, and red lightning bolt

Shoulder sleeve insignia, 9th Armored Division, United States Army, known as the Phantom 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 9, 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 9th Division landed in Normandy in September 1944, and earned their nickname Phantom while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. They advanced through Germany, where they captured the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River in Remagen on March 7, 1945. They had pushed into Czechoslovakia when Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945. On May 8th, troops of the 9th and 1st Infantry Division liberated Zwodau and Falkenau an der Eger labor camps, subcamps of Flossenbürg concentration camp. They found 900-1000 starving female prisoners at Zwodau. The Divisions provided medical attention and food to the survivors. The 9th was placed on occupation duty until their return to the US on October 10 and inactivation on October 13, 1945. This Division was active only during WWII.