Patch

Sewn sleeve badge on a uniform

The patch swords to plowshares as a symbol of the independent GDR peace movement

Patch for XX. 1972 Olympics

Patches ( english patch "patch") are woven or printed textile badges , depending on the organization , social group may have different and / or personal preference meanings. On uniforms they are usually worn as sleeve badges as a symbol of group assignment and ranking information .

Spread of patches

Patches have a long tradition; For centuries, for example, they have been a simple way of visually representing primarily business rankings in a more or less formalized manner.

After the Second World War , for example, as part of the protest movements, the badges usually used for official identification were also used in a different form for other representations and thus expressed a political stance. In their current form of distribution, patches were first known in the late 1970s and early 1980s .

A great symbolic power received in the GDR in the early 1980s in the context of the peace movement of the patch swords to plowshares among the opposition youth. On the one hand, the young people , who often came from the intellectual blueser or customer scene , protested against the nuclear armament of the time ( NATO double decision ), especially - and that was the decisive factor - against the subsequent armament program in their own system. The patch was spontaneously worn publicly on street clothing such as denim jackets and parkas and documented the young people's desire for peace. Because of the criticism against nuclear weapons in their own country, those young people who did not remove the patch were treated with massive repression, such as dismissal from universities and advanced secondary schools (Abitur), non-admission to the Abitur, transfer from companies etc.

This symbol was also popular with the West German Greens in the Bundestag . So wore z. For example, Petra Kelly , a member of the Bundestag, presented a sweater with the imprint Swords to Plowshares at a reception by Head of State Erich Honecker in October 1983 and asked him why he was forbidden in the GDR and what he supported in the West.

The largest spread of patches found in the Bay Area - Thrash instead -time (1983-1989). On the occasion of special events (e.g. anniversary of a motorcycle club , festival, etc.), patches adapted to the event are sold to the visitors and then represent a permanent memento for them. There are also patches that generally indicate belonging or friendship to one Symbolize club.

In the case of uniforms , they carry the group assignment and the ranking information , in the metal scene patches are worn on jeans frocks and rucksacks, in the punk scene they adorn jackets, trousers, other items of clothing and rucksacks. The patch motifs are mainly record covers , band photos or logos and various slogans. In the rocker scene , patches shape the robes of motorcyclists. Frocks with patches are also common among football fans .

In the meantime, individual patches can be made. These are called custom patches . Patches with motifs from bands that do not own or sell patches themselves are particularly popular .

External differences

Patches are available in a wide variety of designs: from simple square, round, oval to outline and schematic shapes. Particularly large patches, the back of the central area of the cowl find their place or jacket and cover this largely be when baking patches called. There are two main types of patches: printed and embroidered patches.

National and international patches - official and private