Força Expedicionária Brasileira Patch

[Plynkes]

This arrived today, sent by a Brazilian customer who is a WWII enthusiast. I believe it is the shoulder patch of the FEB (I'm guessing a modern reproduction, as it is pristine). Neat, ain't it?

Actually, I think it's probably the coolest insignia I've ever seen. A snake smoking a pipe? Never mind your eagles and crosses, or Greek blokes on flying horses, a snake smoking a pipe is what you want.

[commissarmoody]

Pretty cool. I read about them a few months ago. Apparently a smoking snake was the Brazilian equivalent of when pigs fly. Kind of. I'll believe that when I see a snake smoke.
The regiment took a long time training and people did not believe they would deploy. So when they did, they adopted this as there name and patch. The smoking snakes. Sounds even better in Brazilian.

[carlos marighela]

A cobra está fumando! Yes, it's the patch of the FEB. My wife's late father served with the FEB in Italy. Almost certainly a repro, originals are pretty rare these days but super cool none the less. Supposedly, according to legend, a response to an almost certainly apocryphal remark by Hitler that he would be more likely to see a snake smoking than Brazilians fighting in the war.

In reality few of those patches or the multiple variations therof were worn during the actual fighting most were produced after the war ended. The shoulder badge worn by most, when it was worn was a fairly plain green shield with the title ' Brasil' on it.

Super cool item and a real conversation piece. If you are interested in the FEB then there's an English translation available of their commanding general's work. Look for Mascarenhas de Moraes: The FEB by its Commander. There was a Brazilian feature film being produced on the subject a few years ago but I'm not sure whether it ever made it to release. By th e by the Osprey on the FEB isn't too bad for once.

[cuprum]

 

http://viaturasbrasil.blogspot.ru/p/profiles.html

[Helen]

Sweet patch!