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US Army 84th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve patch with an axe splitting a rail

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Shoulder sleeve insignia, 84th Infantry Division, United States Army, known as the Railsplitters, of the type used during World War II. The circular red patch depicts a white hatchet splitting a railroad tie. The Unit was activated in 1917 during World War I and drew troops from Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky; all states important in the life of Abraham Lincoln. They were nicknamed the Lincoln Division in his honor, and later the Railsplitters. The 84th Infantry fought in France, Holland, Belgium, and was in central Germany in May 1945. The Division liberated two subcamps of Neuengamme concentration camp, Hannover-Ahlem on April 10, 1945, and Salzwedel on April 14. Both camps contained many starving and ill prisoners. At Salzwedel, the Division directed the mayor of the nearby town to provide food for the liberated inmates. The 84th Infantry stayed in the region until Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945, becoming part of the Army of Occupation until its return to the United States and inactivation in January 1946.

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  • Title: US Army 84th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve patch with an axe splitting a rail
  • Provenance: The badge was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004.
  • Subject Keywords: World War, 1939–1945--Insignia--United States. Armed Forces--Insignia--History--20th century.
  • Type: Military Insignia
  • Rights: Permanent Collection
  • External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Medium: Circular, machine embroidered military patch on white net backing with a red field and an embroidered olive green border. In the center, a white axe descends from the upper right to split a white, horizontal wooden rail. The badge shows no obvious signs of use.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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