45th division swastika patch

The 45th thunderbird division saw combat in world war ii and the korean war. Items for sale area pre wwii 45th division patch swastika. During world war i, the swastika could even be found on the shoulder patches of the american 45th division and on the finnish air force until after world war ii. Even native americans used the swastika and because of this the 45th infantry division u. It was activated in 1941 as the us army built up to fight world war ii. Permission reusing this file publicdomain source other versions. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that. The division, which recruited in arizona and new mexico, had a high proportion of indians native americans in pcspeak, who also. The 45th infantry division traces its roots to the 1800s.

For more information, please visit the 45th infantry division website take a look at the gift shop at their site. They were one of the handful of national guard units that were federalized and brought into service overseas for ww2. 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. The patch is not a real prewar example of the 45th division swastika insignia. It wasnt until hitlers rise to power did they change the division s insignia. This was the shoulder patch of the us armys 45th infantry division before 1938. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the. If purchasing from overseas, please proceed with check out. Most collectors are aware of the fact that, from the 1920s to the late 1930s, the shoulder patch of the 45thinfantry division was a yellow swastika on a red square.

Pay attention before you ignorant peeps go flying off the handle and claiming that this is a nazi emblem, it is not. Photo provided the 45th infantry division originally used the swastika to represent the unit as a symbol of good luck. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with a. From swastika to thunderbird for the first 15 years of its existence, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient.

Up to that time the insignia had been an indian swastika. This native american symbol became the division s insignia in 1939. Priorservice is proud to offer a selection of items for the 45th infantry division. They arrived in north africa in may of 1943 and fought in sicily, france and finished the war in germany. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the southwestern united states throughout the late 1800s. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder patch footggett. Oklahomas thunderbirds wear historic emblem local news. It wasnt until hitlers rise to power did they change the divisions insignia. 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 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the. 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. 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. Most collectors are aware of the fact that, from the 1920s to the late 1930s, the shoulder patch of the 45th infantry division was a yellow swastika on a red square. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Til the 45th infantry division featured a swastika patch. 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.

Swastika to thunderbirds history of the 45th infantry division. Each side of the square represents one of the four states. Many native american tribes used the shape as a symbol of happiness. The purpose of the soldiers deployment was to assist in training afghan security forces. Other patches bearing the swastika symbol are to be found in collections, where often they are identified as variants of the sleeve patch of the 45th. In used condition with moth damage to the red field. For the first 15 years, members of the 45th infantry division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient american indian symbol of good luck, commonly referred to as the swastika. The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. The division was raised from guard units in oklahoma, colorado, new mexico and other western states with a large native population. Regardless of the swastikas provenance, its attractiveness as an insignia began to fall after it. 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. Prewwii us 45th infantry division felt patch this auction is for one patch as pictured. I will send a separate invoice for shipping charges.

With the rise of germanys nazi party, which also used a swastika, the 45th division retired its original insignia and replaced it in 1939 with another native. The embroidered gold thunderbird design symbolizes the troops from the southwestern states of oklahoma, new mexico, colorado, and arizona, who formed the unit when it was established in 1942 as a national guard division. Most of the books out on shoulder insignia contain tons of fake insignia. Today i learned that the 45th infantry division used to. This is the early, preww2 design depicting a yellow native american swastika on a red background. Company sells swastika t shirts page 2 gun and game.

Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch owned. Sep 22, 2009 each division in the us army has its own shoulder patch. Hopefully this will be a good reference for all collectors. It is interesting to note that the year 1938 found hitler taking his first toll from the 180th infantry of the 45th division. The patch was designed to tell a little about the region of the country the division hailed from. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. Combat team was actually a divisionfirst the 45th division, then the 45th infantry division. In the us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch. The 45th infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. Mitnick, a 27 yearold jewish american, served as a captain in the 65th infantry division, european theater and in the chemical warfare service, 91st. Their shoulder patch is a bright red square, balanced on one of its points, with a golden wingspread bird on it, a symbol of the navaho indians. Patch, 45th infantry division 19241939 quartermaster inspector.

Before world war ii, 45th infantry division members wore a swastika patch on their left shoulder in honor of native americans. The influence of american socialism is exposed in the union of soviet socialist republics. The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do with. Thunderbirds 1952 this one is a republic pictures production about the american armys 45th infantry division during ww2. Their shoulder patch was a sun symbol indicating good luck. 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. Felix sparks and wwiis forgotten 45th infantry division. The 45th infantry division gained its nickname, thunderbird division, from the gold thunderbird. Today i learned that the 45th infantry division used to have.

Historical insignia for the usa 45th infantry division. Dec 10, 2014 the patch is not a real prewar example of the 45th division swastika insignia. 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. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war. The 45th museum still sells the old swastika patch. Apr 08, 2015 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. Patch us army 45th inf div swastika w yellow bdr, pre.

The 45th infantry division of the united states army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968. I would encourage members to post their samples of the patch so that we can build a database of good and bad patches. The 45th division, made up of national guard units from new mexico and arizona was one of the first unites to be shipped to europe. Most collectors are aware of the fact that, from the 1920s to the late 1930s, the shoulder patch of the 45 th infantry division was a yellow swastika on a red square. 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. Til the 45th infantry division featured a swastika patch on their shoulder sleeves as a tribute to the large population of native americans in the sw united states, this was changed in 1939 due to the nazi party adopting this symbol as their own. The 36th engineer brigade colors carry 23 battle streamers, many earned in combat while reorganized as infantry, including service at anzio where, for fifty days, soldiers wearing the seahorse shoulder patch held 7 miles of the front line and earned the distinction by the germans as the little seahorse division. The 45th was activated as a national guard division in 1924 in arizona, colorado, new mexico and oklahoma. Mandela effect us army uses swastika patch rallypoint. Apr 01, 2017 i thought i would start a thread on the swastika patches of the 45th division. Mitnick, a 27 yearold jewish american, served as a captain in the 65th infantry division, european theater and in the chemical warfare service, 91st chemical mortar battalion, 45th infantry division.

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 45thoklahoma, new mexico, colorado, and arizona. Wwii us army wool 45th division thunderbird patch wool. The patch is in unused condition and has never been sewn onto a uniform. Powered by ebay turbo lister the free listing tool. Here is a short history lesson of the 45th infantry division where my m38a1 has its roots.

It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it became closely associated with the nazi party. If the authors did not have real period pieces they used reproductions to fill a spot in their books. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it. The division was part of the oklahoma nation guard from 1920 until 1968. The use of insignia of organizations that have been banned in germany like the nazi swastika or the arrow cross are also illegal in austria, hungary, poland. The cast is headlined by john derek and john drew barrymore, with support from, ward bond, mona freeman, slim pickens. From swastika to thunderbird by brigadier general ross.

What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do with the swastika. So lets see your good, bad and the ugly swastika 45th id patches. Sep 25, 2015 in fall of 2003, the 45th infantry brigade was deployed to afghanistan in support of operation enduring freedom, assuming command of task force phoenix ii from 2nd brigade, 10th mountain division. Til the 45th infantry division featured a swastika patch on. The insignia served as recognition of the great number of native americans proudly serving in the 45th infantry division. 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. 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. This close resemblance to the symbol of nazi germany constituted a source of embarrassment on several occasions. So i think, a sole combat division is around 14,000, 15,000 guys, round about 7000, 8000 will actually see combat. What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do. The history of the 45th infantry brigade signaleer.

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. That division had more native americans among its ranks. Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch. History from swastika to thunderbird 45th infantry museum. Shoulder sleeve insignia of the united states army 45th infantry division, nicknamed the thunderbird division. I thought i would start a thread on the swastika patches of the 45th division. They were the national guard for oklahoma, new mexico, colorado before wwii.

The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the oklahoma army national guard, from 1920 to 1968. Thats why the new books that have come out try to use genuine period insignia to correct those early mistakes ie. The current division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. What american infantry division had the swastika as its. The 45th infantry division has an illustrious history, in both warfare and american. Each division in the us army has its own shoulder patch. From swastika to thunderbird 45th infantry division museum. This was the unit patch of the oklahoma army national guards 45th infantry division which was comprised of the consolidated colorado, arizona, new mexico and oklahoma national guard units. Other patches bearing the swastika symbol are to be found in collections, where often they are identified as variants of the sleeve patch of the 45 th. A change in meaning in the 1800s, countries around germany were growing much larger, forming empires. However, with the rise of the nazi party in germany, with its infamous swastika symbol, the 45th division stopped using the insignia. A even had the swastika as there emblem during ww1 but was changed when the nazi party used the emblem.

If you visit native american museums, youll probably see swastikas everywhere. The sooner soldiers swastika influenced the swastika of the union of soviet socialist republic swastikas ussr as a socialist symbol before the national socialist german workers party existed. Before the 1930s, the divisions symbol was a red square with a yellow swastika, a tribute to the large native. 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. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with.