William G. Allan served in the United States Army, 99th Infantry Division, during World War II. He achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. The 99th Infantry was deployed overseas in September 1944, and fought its way across Europe. After the Battle of the Bulge, it was one of the first divisions to cross into Germany in March 1945. The 99th Division is an officially recognized concentration camp liberating unit. In early May, it liberated several Dachau subcamps, including a concentration camp linked to the Muhldorf complex. The division was near Munich when the war ended on May 7 and returned to the US in September. William and his wife Sarah had three children. William died in 2005, age 84 years.
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German army pattern breast eagle acquired by William G. Allan, 2nd Lieutenant, 99th Infantry Division, United States Army. The patch, in the shape of the Nazi national emblem, an eagle grasping a swastika, would be sewn to the uniform above the left breast. The US 99th Infantry was deployed overseas in September 1944, and fought its way across Europe. After the Battle of the Bulge, it was one of the first divisions to cross into Germany in March 1945. The 99th Division is an officially recognized concentration camp liberating unit. In early May, his unit liberated several Dachau subcamps, including a concentration camp linked to the Muhldorf complex. The division was near Munich when the war ended on May 7 and returned to the US in September.
Greenish-gray cloth with a machine woven design in gray thread on gray feltlike backing, all in the shape of the Nazi national emblem, a dexter facing eagle with outspread wings holding a wreath enclosing a swastika in its talons. On the reverse are remnants of shiny, gray cloth and white thread clumps.
German Army eagle breast patch acquired by a US soldier
The patch was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2006 by Tara Allan Stewart, the daughter of William G. Allan.
overall: Height: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm) | Width: 4.250 inches (10.795 cm)
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