Hitler and the Swastika?

Question

I was reading about the Swastika and it has a meaning of harmony and love. Why did Hitler choose this symbol for the Nazi party? Just wondering.

also if anyone could give me a more in depth definition of the Swastika I would appreciated it.

Answer 1

n the 1800s, countries around Germany were growing much larger, forming empires; yet Germany was not a unified country until 1871. To counter the feeling of vulnerability and the stigma of youth, German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika, because it had ancient Aryan/Indian origins, to represent a long Germanic/Aryan history.

By the end of the nineteenth century, the swastika could be found on nationalist German volkisch periodicals and was the official emblem of the German Gymnasts' League.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, the swastika was a common symbol of German nationalism and could be found in a multitude of places such as the emblem for the Wandervogel, a German youth movement; on Joerg Lanz von Liebenfels' antisemitic periodical Ostara; on various Freikorps units; and as an emblem of the Thule Society.

Hitler and the Nazis

In 1920, Adolf Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia and flag. For Hitler, the new flag had to be "a symbol of our own struggle" as well as "highly effective as a poster." (Mein Kampf, pg. 495)

On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, this flag became the official emblem of the Nazi Party.

In Mein Kampf, Hitler described the Nazis' new flag: "In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the nationalistic idea, in the swastika the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has been and always will be anti-Semitic." (pg. 496-497)

Because of the Nazis' flag, the swastika soon became a symbol of hate, antisemitism, violence, death, and murder.

What Does the Swastika Mean Now?

There is a great debate as to what the swastika means now. For 3,000 years, the swastika meant life and good luck. But because of the Nazis, it has also taken on a meaning of death and hate.

These conflicting meanings are causing problems in today's society. For Buddhists and Hindus, the swastika is a very religious symbol that is commonly used. Chirag Badlani shares a story about one time when he went to make some photocopies of some Hindu Gods for his temple. While standing in line to pay for the photocopies, some people behind him in line noticed that one of the pictures had a swastika. They called him a Nazi.

Unfortunately, the Nazis were so effective at their use of the swastika emblem, that many do not even know any other meaning for the swastika. Can there be two completely opposite meanings for one symbol?

In ancient times, the direction of the swastika was interchangeable as can be seen on an ancient Chinese silk drawing.

Some cultures in the past had differentiated between the clockwise swastika and the counter-clockwise sauvastika. In these cultures the swastika symbolized health and life while the sauvastika took on a mystical meaning of bad-luck or misfortune.

But since the Nazis use of the swastika, some people are trying to differentiate the two meanings of the swastika by varying its direction - trying to make the clockwise, Nazi version of the swastika mean hate and death while the counter-clockwise version would hold the ancient meaning of the symbol, life and good-luck.

Answer 2

The swastika became popular not just in Germany, but right across Europe and America. The actual symbol is some 6000 years old at least. Pottery from the 5th millenium BC with swastikas on it has been found in Europe. The symbol is definately an "Aryan" one and they spread it to other peoples; it would be interesting to see how the Navajo picked up this symbol. East and south asia have it of course because it is a religious symbol. It's use all stems from the Hindu religion and the Hindu religion is from the beliefs of the Aryan tribes that settled/invaded northern India.

The swastika is considered a good luck symbol like a horseshoe sometimes is, was a symbol of the germanic god Odin/Woden, and is likely an early representation of the sun and related to the wheel of life (also a sun symbol).

I've come across the symbol as part of the decorative design on buildings, both floors and walls, inside and outside.

One other thing, the swastika that Hitler used is the same way around as the Hindus and Buddhists use, it's not reversed. The closest to a reversed runic symbol would be the upside down life rune that the peace movement uses. The life rune shows the tree of life and is a symbol used by neo-pagans. It was widely used by the Germans during the war as an alternative to using crosses on their graves. The peace movement decided it was a nazi symbol, turned it upside down to show that they believed in the opposite from the nazis, and ended up with a symbol that actually means death for their peace symbol.

Answer 3

Dalmatian Rescue is right on target, that's why I voted for him. Hitler was a big fan of Mussolini, and modeled his Reich, or reign, after Il Duce. That hero worship caused Hitler to adapt anything Roman into the trappings of his regime. One look at The Triumph of the Will will show how many symbols Hitler took from Ancient Rome. I believe 'swastika' is not a German word, more likely it came through Turkey from the Indus Valley. The symbol is revered as a sign of good luck--very old. The Holy Roman Empire was said to be the First Reich. I think Barbarossa ruled the Second Reich, making Hitler's the Third. If you are that interested, find a copy of The Triumph of the Will, or exerpts from it. The Library or a good school a/v library should have it. Check out the legends of Sigfried and the Volsung Saga--Hitler thought he was a virtual reincarnation of that hero, and had a special private auditorium built just to stage performances of Wagner's Ring Operas. B.

Answer 4

I saw a thing on the History Channel that said that Hitler had a slight obsession with the occult. He both loved and hated it. According to that show, he chose the swastika because in some places it meant power. I do not know for sure if that is why he chose it. That is the only story that I have heard.

Answer 5

It is still a good luck symbol,Hitler just tilted it.I don't know why he had to use that particular symbol. he kinda ruined it for everyone,just like that mustache.

Answer 6

the same symbol was used by native Americans as well as japan. Hitler picked it cause it looked cool his version is backwards