US Army 14th Armored Division shoulder sleeve patch with tank and red lightning bolt

Shoulder sleeve insignia, 14th Armored Division, United States Army, known as the Liberators, of the type used during World War II. The patch design was used by all Armored divisions, with the division number, in this case 14, 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 14th Division landed in Marseilles, France on October 29, 1944, and entered combat along the French-Italian border. They advanced into Germany in December 1944. Between May 2 and 3, 1945, the 14th liberated several subcamps of Dachau concentration camp. Near the towns of Ampfing and Muhldorf, the Division discovered four large underground munitions plants and three large forced labor camps, housing thousands of Polish and Soviet prisoners. The Division also liberated two other camps nearby, one holding Jewish female prisoners and the other holding 1,500 Jewish prisoners, of whom only 900 could walk. The Division became known as Liberators because they liberated thousands of concentration camp prisoners and Allied prisoners of war in 1945. When Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945, the Division was processing prisoners of war in Germany. The Division was placed on occupation duty until inactivated on September 16, 1945. This Division was only active during WWII.