WW2 US Army Patches

This collection of WW2 US Army shoulder sleeve insignia — commonly known as patches — represents the rich tradition of unit identification that defined the American Army in the Second World War. Each patch was worn on the left shoulder of the service uniform and identified the soldier's division or corps.

American WW2 patches are among the most widely collected pieces of militaria, with hundreds of distinct designs produced for divisions, corps, armies, and theater commands. The colorful embroidered designs ranged from the simple to the elaborate, and many became iconic symbols of the units that wore them — from the Big Red One of the 1st Infantry Division to the Screaming Eagle of the 101st Airborne.

Original WW2-era patches in good condition are increasingly difficult to find and represent an important record of the organizational structure of the US Army in the war.