The 45th infantry division of the united states army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968. Army pins patches coins army patches and insignias u. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with. The 45th infantry division of the united states army used a yellow swastika on a red background as a unit symbol until the 1930s, when it was switched to a thunderbird. They left their imprint on the annals, and the public face, of the u. The 45th infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia.
The 45th thunderbird division saw combat in world war ii and the korean war. Anthony christy was the oldest active serving coast guard member. When the three units arrived at dachau, they discovered more than. Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch. The 45th infantry division has an illustrious history, in both warfare and. Feb 17, 2014 authentic 1930s era us army uniform patch for the 45th infantry division oklahoma national guard. This page uses creative commons licensed content from wikipedia.
The 45th infantry division was organized as a national guard division in 1923 with units stationed in, and formed from men in oklahoma, colorado, new mexico, and arizona. After the nazi partys adoption of the swastika, the 45th changed their insignia to a thunderbird. Many native american tribes used the shape as a symbol of happiness. This patch in not in patch king catalog or supplement it is listed j. What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do with. Bill mauldin 45th division news angelo casertano unknown wilson kale. The use of the swastika symbol in the pre ww2 us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch. For a time, a gold swastika on a red background was the insignia of the 45th infantry division, oklahoma national guard. Jul 11, 2010 what american infantry division had the swastika as its shoulder patch until the 1930s. Felix sparks and wwiis forgotten 45th infantry division. Show your military pride with the finest quality military patches, pins and gifts from all branches of the military. Jul 11, 2010 their shoulder patch was a sun symbol indicating good luck.
I am transcribing all of the 768 extant general orders issued by headquarters, 45th, from 19431945. It was used by the army s 45th infantry during wwi. Us army 8th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with an 8 pierced by a yellow arrow. The thunderbird division nmai magazine american indian. The division is currently headquartered at the glenmore road armory in troy, new york. They were the national guard for oklahoma, new mexico, colorado before wwii.
What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do with the swastika. History main page organization campaigns and battles medal of honor citations. The cast is headlined by john derek and john drew barrymore, with support from, ward bond, mona freeman, slim pickens, wally cassell, barton maclane, norman budd and gene evans. Authentic era us army uniform patch for the infantry division oklahoma national guard. The division adopted the thunderbird shoulder patch in 1939 after the rise of the nazi party in germany which used the swastika, a symbol that.
Ww2 wwii us army 45th infantry division kelly green border rare and desirable. The first division shoulder patch was a gold swastika on a red background, considered by native americans and other peoples worldwide as a good luck symbol. A militia group in germany, called the freikorp, had already adopted the swastika and was using the symbol on arm bands that they wore in 1919 when they. Western use of the swastika in the early 20th century wikipedia. White troops in the 3rd brigade were used in the formation of the 9th armored division 9th ad noted for its stand at bastogne and the capture of the. Object shoulder sleeve insignia, 8th infantry division, united states army, known as the golden arrow or pathfinder division, of the type used during world war ii. For the first 15 years of its existence, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient american indian symbol of good luck, most commonly referred to as the swastika. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the.
When the three units arrived at dachau, they discovered more than 30,000 prisoners in the. This is the early, preww2 design depicting a yellow native american swastika on a red background. Western use of the swastika in the early 20th century. The division was part of the oklahoma nation guard from 1920 until 1968. The patch is in unused condition and has never been sewn onto a uniform. George mitnick when he served in the 45th infantry, us army, during wwii. These patches are excellent for the collector, military enthusiast, paintball gunner or cosplayer. The cast is headlined by john derek and john drew barrymore, with support from, ward bond, mona freeman, slim pickens. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled gnu free documentation license. This native american symbol became the divisions insignia in 1939.
In may 1943, troops stationed at camp patrick henry in virginia witnessed one of the strangest spectacles in american military historya campfire war dance put on by soldiers about to embark for overseas. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1. At the time of pearl harbor the top us navy command was called cincus pronounced sink us, the shoulder patch of the us armys 45th infantry division was the swastika, and hitlers private train was named amerika. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that was. Thunderbirds 1952 this one is a republic pictures production about the american army s 45th infantry division during ww2. The new insignia featured the thunderbird, another native american symbol, and was approved in. Object bundle of patches issued by the united states army to j. What american infantry division had the swastika as its shoulder patch until the 1930s. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that persons official. However, with the rise of the nazi party in germany, with its infamous swastika symbol, the 45th division stopped using the insignia. The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. The 42nd infantry division 42id rainbow is a division of the united states army national guard. What american infantry division had the swastika as its.
Priorservice is proud to offer a selection of items for the 45th infantry division. For the first 10 years of its existence, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient american indian symbol of good luck, commonly referred to today as the swastika an east indian word. The use of the swastika symbol in the pre ww2 us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch and incidentally. The insignia served as recognition of the great number of native americans proudly serving. The insignia served as recognition of the great number of native americans proudly serving in the 45th infantry division. The american division wore the swastika patch while fighting against germany in world war i. Til that the 45th infantry division of the united states army used a. The 45th was activated as a national guard division in 1924 in arizona, colorado, new mexico and oklahoma. The shield shaped blue badge has an 8 pierced by an upward arrow. White troops in the 3rd brigade were used in the formation of the 9th armored. In 1985, the united states holocaust memorial museum and the us armys center of. History from swastika to thunderbird 45th infantry museum.
The original insignia was approved in august of 1924 and featured a swastika, which was a symbol. On that day, three us army divisions converged on the camp. Auction is for 1 new full color us army 45th infantry patch. Thunderbirds 1952 this one is a republic pictures production about the american armys 45th infantry division during ww2. Us army infantry division patches, military gifts and. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the oklahoma army national guard, from 1920 to 1968.
So i think, a sole combat division is around 14,000, 15,000 guys, round about 7000, 8000 will actually see combat. The division, which recruited in arizona and new mexico, had a high proportion of indians native americans in pcspeak, who also thought the swastika was a symbol of the sun. If you visit native american museums, youll probably see swastikas everywhere. Division insignia of the united states army military.
The division, which recruited in arizona and new mexico, had a high proportion of indians native americans in pcspeak, who also. The 42nd infantry division has served in world war i, world war ii and the global war on terrorism gwot. Dec 05, 2017 and thats that the 45th infantry division, nicknamed the thunderbird division because they had a shoulder patch, a beautiful soft felt thunderbird patch on their shoulders. Before world war ii, the armys 45th infantry division wore a swastika patch on their left shoulders in honor of native americans. The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. During the spring of 1942 a war department decision to increase the number of armored divisions within the united states army resulted in the planned conversion of the 2nd cavalry division.
Us army 45th infantry division pre wwii swastika patch from ebay sign in try for free sign in try for free price guide. Red patch with an embroidered yellow thunderbird issued to j. The 42nd infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch owned. The 45th museum still sells the old swastika patch. Media in category 45th infantry division united states the following 124 files are in this category, out of 124 total. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. Jun 25, 2014 45th infantry division patches posted in army and usaaf. Dec 10, 2014 45th division patch posted in army and usaaf. Sep 05, 2016 the use of the swastika symbol in the pre ww2 us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch and incidentally. For nearly the first 50 years of its existence, the 45th infantry brigade combat team was actually a divisionfirst the 45th. Has the swastika ever been used by the us on their military. From swastika to thunderbird 45th infantry division museum.
They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in. Each side of the square represents one of the four states. Til that the 45th infantry division of the united states army used a swastika on a red background as a unit symbol until the 1930s. For the first 15 years of its existence, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient american indian symbol. On april 29, 1945, three us army divisions converged on the camp. American symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. That division had more native americans among its ranks.
This was the shoulder patch of the us army s 45th infantry division before 1938. The spanish colors, red and gold, indicate that the four states colorado, oklahoma, new mexico, and arizona represented by national guard units in the division were settled by the. This was the shoulder patch of the us armys 45th infantry division before 1938. This close resemblance to the symbol of nazi germany constituted a source of embarrassment on several occasions. Armys 45th infantry division was the swastika the 45th was part of the oklahoma army national guard and the swastika was a tribute to. This is the early, design depicting a yellow native american swastika. My excel worksheet currently has 4200 names and is about 140 pages. Us army national guard, the 45th infantry division david irving. It was activated in 1941 as the us army built up to fight world war ii. The swastika was considered to be a native american good luck sign.
I dont have much hope for the 4 swastica style but the other one looks good to me. In the us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch. What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1923, and on august 11, 1924, it adopted an ancient symbol used by native americans, called the swastika. Patch us army 45th inf div swastika w yellow bdr, pre.
Us army 45th infantry division shoulder patch footggett. Caleb emde, with the 45th infantry brigade combat team. Us army 45th infantry division pre wwii swastika patch from ebay. Authentic 1930s era us army uniform patch for the 45th infantry. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war. Before the 1930s, the symbol for the 45th infantry division of the united states army was a red diamond with a yellow swastika, a tribute to the large native american population in the southwestern united states. The division was raised from guard units in oklahoma, colorado, new mexico and other western states with a large native population. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the. More us servicemen died in the air corps than the marine corps. On april 29, 1945, the 42nd infantry division entered the dachau concentration camp, the earliest and longestfunctioning sscontrolled camp in nazi germany. The division adopted the thunderbird shoulder patch in 1939 after the rise of the nazi party in germany which used the swastika, a symbol that bore a resemblance to the original divisional patch. Their shoulder patch was a sun symbol indicating good luck.
Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch owned by a. Us army, 45th infantry division, bundle of class a thunderbird patches. Us army 45th infantry division patch military uniform. The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol, a swastika. As the 45th infantry division completed its drive on munich, the unit was ordered to liberate the dachau concentration camp. Us army infantry division patches, military gifts and more. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war the 45th infantry division guardsmen saw no major action until they became one of the first national guard units activated in world war ii in 1941. The influence of american socialism is exposed in the union of soviet socialist republics. Division insignia of the united states army military wiki. Army division patches infantry divisions strives to offer the most complete collection of authentic infantry division patches available. Up to that time the insignia had been an indian swastika.
Before world war ii, 45th infantry division members wore a swastika patch on their left shoulder in honor of native americans. The yellow swastika on a square background of red symbolized the spanish heritage of the 4 southwestern states that made up the membership of the 45th oklahoma, new mexico, colorado, and arizona. Find us army infantry division patches, military gifts and more at. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with a. I finally updated my avatar to reflect the thunderbird patch of the 45th infantry division, u. Patch, 45th infantry division 19241939 before the 1930s, the divisions symbol was a red square with a yellow swastika, a tribute to the large native american population in the southwestern united states. Wikimedia commons has media related to division insignia of the united states army. They changed it to a thunderbird in the late 1930s. Pay attention before you ignorant peeps go flying off the handle and claiming that this is a nazi emblem, it is not. Has the swastika ever been used by the us on their. A militia group in germany, called the freikorp, had already adopted the swastika and was using the symbol on arm bands that they wore in 1919 when they fought the communists in the streets of bavaria.