1st French Army Rhin et Danube SSI Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

The 1st French Army Rhin et Danube SSI (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) represents the unit known formally as the French First Army, which served prominently during the Second World War. The insignia features a stylized “Cross of Lorraine,” a symbol of Free France, set against a blue background with wavy lines symbolizing the Rhine and Danube rivers—major geographic areas where the unit operated between 1944 and 1945. Officially designated as “Rhin et Danube,” the 1st French Army participated in the liberation of France and the advance into Germany alongside Allied forces. SSI patches such as this one were worn on the upper sleeves of uniforms to indicate unit affiliation. This particular insignia was produced in various types, with minor variations in fabrication and materials, reflecting the patch’s wartime and postwar use. The design stands as an emblem of French military participation under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny during the European campaigns.