US Army 3rd Armored Division shoulder sleeve patch with tank, gun, and red lightning bolt

Identifier
irn35145
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2004.749.7
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 3.375 inches (8.573 cm) | Width: 3.625 inches (9.208 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, 3rd Armored Division, United States Army, known as the Spearhead 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 3, 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 3rd Division landed in Normandy in late June 1944, where their role as the spearhead in many attacks during the liberation of France in 1944 earned them their nickname. They pushed on and were the first Allied ground force to invade Germany. While fighting through Germany, they were first to capture a German town and to breach and advance across the Siegfried Line in September 1944. They were also the first Allied ground force to capture a major German city, when they captured Cologne on March 5 and 6, 1945. The 3rd and the 104th Infantry Division liberated Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp and Boelcke-Kaserne, a subcamp of Mittlebau, on April 11, 1945. They immediately began transporting 250 ill and starving survivors to nearby hospitals. Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945. The Division was placed on occupation duty in Germany until inactivated on November 10, 1945.

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 3 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 colors of the patch are muted.

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.