History of the Swastika
Origins:
The Original Meaning:
The swastika is an ancient symbol. Dating back 3,000 years, the
swastika predates the ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh.
Approximately 3,000 years ago (1000 BCE), the swastika was
commonly used and has been found on many artifacts such as
pottery and coins dating from ancient Troy.
The word "swastika" comes from the word suastika - "su" meaning
"good," "asti" meaning "to be," and "ka" as a suffix. Until the Nazis
used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures
throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power,
strength, and good luck. Even in the early twentieth century, the
swastika was still a symbol with many positive connections. For
instance, the swastika was a common decoration that was often
found on cigarette cases, vases, postcards, coins, and buildings.
During the following thousand years, the image of the swastika could
be found in many cultures around the world, including China, Japan,
India, and southern Europe. By the Middle Ages, the swastika was a
well known and commonly used symbol, but was called by many
different names due to cultural differences and linguistics:
During World War I, the swastika could even be found on the
shoulder patches of the American 45th Division and on the Finnish
Air Force.
China - wan
England - fylfot
Germany - Hakenkreuz
Greece - tetraskelion and gammadion
India - swastika
In the 1800s, countries around Germany were growing much larger
and establishing empires; but Germany remained fragmented and
would unify itself until 1871. To motivate German nationalist
feelings, German nationalists began to use the swastika as a symbol
because of its positive image throughout world history. The swastika
was soon found on German nationalist periodicals and became the
official emblem of the German Gymnastics League. In the beginning
of the 1900s, the swastika had grown into a common symbol of
German nationalism and could be found in a multitude of places.
Change in Meaning:
Hitler’s Choice:
German Flags:
German Imperial Flag (WWI)
See the attached pages from Mein Kampf to see Hitler’s rationale
behind the particular design he chose for the National Socialist /
Nazi Party flag, which would become the German National flag prior
to and throughout WWII.
Questions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of
paper using the provided readings.
1. What is the literal meaning of the word swastika?
Flag Colors:
Red
White
Black
Gold
National Socialist Party / Nazi Flag
2. What are some concepts or ideals that the swastika stood for in
its origins?
3. Why did Hitler feel that Germany needed to change its National
flag after WWI?
4. Explain Hitler’s idea behind the Nazi flag. Use the colors of the
flag to answer this question? (Hint: You must use the passage
from Mein Kampf to answer this question)
5. What does Hitler say the Aryan man “always has been and will
always be”?
6. Define Anti-Semitism.
7. Throughout the passage from Mein Kampf, what type of people
and what type of political ideology does he constantly speak
poorly about?
Flag Colors:
Red
Black
White