US Army 2nd Infantry Division Insignia Patch (? Date)
 
The first military patches were worn by British officers in the 19th century to denote officer rank. With the coming Industrial Revolution and cheaper access to fabrics and sewing machines, patches became a norm in many militaries. During World War I, military patches became commonplace for the United States Military. Many units sported unique patches related to where they came from in the states or their unit nicknames, and many of these original patches have become collector's items over time.
 
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army, nicknamed the "Indianhead Division" due to the design of their black badge with a cartoonlike head of a Native American on a white star. The patch was created by the unit’s troops during World War 1. The unit landed on Omaha Beach on D Day plus one, June 7, 1944, and were in Germany in October. In early April 1945, the division occupied Hadamar, liberating a psychiatric clinic that was a major killing center for the Nazi euthanasia program for the physically and mentally disabled. The unit provided aid for the remaining inmates. They then liberated Leipzig-Schönfield concentration camp, a subcamp of Buchenwald, on April 14, 1945, where they interred the uncovered corpses in graves. On the following day, troops liberated Spergau/Zöschen labor education camp in Zöschen. The division continued into Czechoslovakia in early May, taking the city of Pilsen on VE Day, May 8th. The unit remained in Pilsen until they returned to the US on July 10, 1945 to train for a scheduled invasion of Japan. The division was still in training when victory over Japan was announced on August 14, 1945.
 
One Insignia Patch For Sale in Good Condition