Thats why the new books that have come out try to use genuine period insignia to correct those early mistakes ie. Patch, 45th infantry division 19241939 quartermaster inspector. 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. Cliff and john met during r and r at the seaside hotel in karatsu,ky shu, japan in early september, 1953. Apr 01, 2017 i thought i would start a thread on the swastika patches of the 45th division. If the authors did not have real period pieces they used reproductions to fill a spot in their books. Mitnick, a 27 yearold jewish american, served as a captain in the 65th infantry division, european theater and in the chemical warfare service, 91st. This native american symbol became the division s insignia in 1939. Felix sparks and wwiis forgotten 45th infantry division. Shoulder sleeve insignia of the united states army 45th infantry division, nicknamed the thunderbird division. The 45th infantry division of the united states army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968. This was changed to the thunderbird with the rise of the nazis.
Swastika to thunderbirds history of the 45th infantry division. The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. The influence of american socialism is exposed in the union of soviet socialist republics. 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. The 45th was activated as a national guard division in 1924 in arizona, colorado, new mexico and oklahoma. Priorservice is proud to offer a selection of items for the 45th infantry division. Before the 1930s, the divisions symbol was a red square with a yellow swastika, a tribute to the large native. This native american symbol became the divisions insignia in 1939.
History from swastika to thunderbird 45th infantry museum. 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 posted by 1 year ago. The 45th infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the. This was the shoulder patch of the us armys 45th infantry division before 1938. For more information, please visit the 45th infantry division website take a look at the gift shop at their site. Til the 45th infantry division featured a swastika patch. 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. 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 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. This close resemblance to the symbol of nazi germany constituted a source of embarrassment on several occasions. Til that the 45th infantry division of the united states.
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. The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. The history of the 45th infantry brigade signaleer. Combat team was actually a divisionfirst the 45th division, then the 45th infantry division. Regardless of the swastikas provenance, its attractiveness as an insignia began to fall after it. It is interesting to note that the year 1938 found hitler taking his first toll from the 180th infantry of the 45th division. Today i learned that the 45th infantry division used to. If you visit native american museums, youll probably see swastikas everywhere. Permission reusing this file publicdomain source other versions.
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. 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. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it. The division, which recruited in arizona and new mexico, had a high proportion of indians native americans in pcspeak, who also. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with.
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. I would encourage members to post their samples of the patch so that we can build a database of good and bad patches. Their shoulder patch was a sun symbol indicating good luck. From swastika to thunderbird community the newstalkers.
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. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that. The 45th museum still sells the old swastika patch. Hopefully this will be a good reference for all collectors. In 1940, the thunderbird division was reactivated and deployed in late june. 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. 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 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 yellow swastika on a square background of red symbolized the spanish heritage of the 4 southwestern states that made up the membership of the. The division was part of the oklahoma nation guard from 1920 until 1968. Before world war ii, the armys 45th infantry division wore a swastika patch on their left shoulders in honor of native americans. The 45th thunderbird division saw combat in world war ii and the korean war. 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. 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. Pay attention before you ignorant peeps go flying off the handle and claiming that this is a nazi emblem, it is not. 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. 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. Anthony christy was the oldest active serving coast guard member.
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. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the. Before world war ii, 45th infantry division members wore a swastika patch on their left shoulder in honor of native americans. The insignia served as recognition of the great number of native americans proudly serving in the 45th infantry division. The patch is not a real prewar example of the 45th division swastika insignia. The thunderbirds are members of the 45th infantry division of the national guard, mostly from oklahoma. Most of their recruits hailed from the south western states of arizona and new mexico. Each side of the square represents one of the four states. 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.
So lets see your good, bad and the ugly swastika 45th id patches. Up to that time the insignia had been an indian swastika. 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. Company sells swastika t shirts page 2 gun and game. What american infantry division had the swastika as its. What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do. Oklahomas thunderbirds wear historic emblem local news. And the swastika was part of the logo of the bauhaus, under paul klee. 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. Most of the books out on shoulder insignia contain tons of fake insignia.
The original insignia was approved in august of 1924 and featured a swastika, which was a symbol. The patch was designed to tell a little about the region of the country the division hailed from. What does the 45th infantry division us army have to do with. The 45th infantry division gained its nickname, thunderbird division, from the gold thunderbird. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the british army, formed just prior to the start of the second world war. Historical insignia for the usa 45th infantry division. Ideal as a gap filler in your display or for living historiansreenactors. Prewwii us 45th infantry division felt patch this auction is for one patch as pictured. Even native americans used the swastika and because of this the 45th infantry division u. Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch.
Com history of the 45th infantry division thunderbirds. 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. They were the national guard for oklahoma, new mexico, colorado before wwii. The division was raised from guard units in oklahoma, colorado, new mexico and other western states with a large native population. That division had more native americans among its ranks. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the oklahoma army national guard, from 1920 to 1968. 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. However, with the rise of the nazi party in germany, with its infamous swastika symbol, the 45th division stopped using the insignia. The 45th infantry division insigniapatch was the swastika. For a time, a gold swastika on a red background was the insignia of the 45th infantry division, oklahoma national guard. They were one of the handful of national guard units that were federalized and brought into service overseas for ww2. In the us army national guard, the 45th infantry division used a swastika as their shoulder patch. 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. Photo provided the 45th infantry division originally used the swastika to represent the unit as a symbol of good luck.
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. So i think, a sole combat division is around 14,000, 15,000 guys, round about 7000, 8000 will actually see combat. Brand new replica of the 45th infantry division patch, world war 2 era. Til that the 45th infantry division of the united states army. Has the swastika ever been used by the us on their. Infantry division, 45th, infantry division, 45th stephen routh. The swastika was considered to be a native american good luck sign. Us army 45th infantry division shoulder patch footggett. Feb 6, 2017 the 45 division from ok, and their history in korea. Today i learned that the 45th infantry division used to have.
It wasnt until hitlers rise to power did they change the division s insignia. The division wore the patch while fighting against germany in world war i. Dec 10, 2014 the patch is not a real prewar example of the 45th division swastika insignia. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war. It replaced another previously used native american symbol, a swastika, that was withdrawn when it became closely associated with the nazi party. The 45th infantry was made up of national guard units from oklahoma, colorado, arizona and new mexico. Many native american tribes used the shape as a symbol of happiness. It was activated in 1941 as the us army built up to fight world war ii. They changed it to a thunderbird in the late 1930s. Cliff served at yong dungpo, s korea with the 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 45th oklahoma, new mexico, colorado, and arizona. 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. 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 thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. In later years the us army national guard 45th infantry division had a gold swastika patch on their uniforms prior to entry into world war 2. The 45th infantry division has an illustrious history, in both warfare and american. Company sells swastika t shirts page 2 gun and game the. Here is a short history lesson of the 45th infantry division where my m38a1 has its roots. It wasnt until hitlers rise to power did they change the divisions insignia. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the southwestern united states throughout the late 1800s.
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