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Tanks of the first German armoured unit deployed in Africa - i.e. the 5th Armoured Regiment - had the divisional markings of their parent 3rd Armoured Division, from which the regiment was "taken". On the other hand, the entire 5th Light Division did not receive its own divisional markings. This might have been done on purpose, since the division was considered as a "temporary" unit, supposed to be restructured into a standard armoured division or ... soon disbanded. It is worth mentioning that the four light divisions existing in the years 1937-1939 did not receive their divisional markings either (at that time, armoured divisions possessed their own divisional markings). In September and October 1941, the 5th Light Division was restructured into the 21st Armoured Division and given proper insignia. The 21st Armoured Division used this emblem until the end of the war. (After the defeat of Axis forces in Africa in the second half of 1943, the division was refitted in France and fought on the Western front, and in 1945 also on the Eastern front).