Swastika

:For the town in Ontario, see Swastika, Ontario.

Nazi Germany

The National Socialist German Workers Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) formally adopted the swastika or Hakenkreuz (hooked cross) in 1920. This was used on the party's flag (right), badge, and armband. (It had been used unofficially by the NSDAP and its predecessor, the German Workers Party, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP), however.)

Related Topics:
National Socialist German Workers Party - 1920

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In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote:

Related Topics:
Mein Kampf - Adolf Hitler

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: I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika.

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(Red, white, and black were the colors of the flag of the old German Empire.)

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The use of the swastika was associated by Nazi theorists with their conjecture of Aryan cultural descent of the German people. Following the Nordicist version of the Aryan invasion theory, the Nazis claimed that the early Aryans of India, from whose Vedic tradition the swastika sprang, were the prototypical white invaders. Thus, they saw fit to co-opt the sign as a symbol of the Aryan master race. The use of swastika as a symbol of the Aryan race dates back to writings of Emile Burnouf. Following many other writers, the German nationalist poet Guido von List believed it to be a uniquely Aryan symbol. Hitler referred to the swastika as the symbol of "the fight for the victory of Aryan man" (Mein Kampf).

Related Topics:
Nordicist - Aryan invasion theory - India - Master race - Aryan race - Emile Burnouf - Guido von List

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In fact, the swastika was already in use as a symbol of German volkisch nationalist movements. In Deutschland Erwache (ISBN 0912138696), Ulric of England (sic) says —

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: ? what inspired Hitler to use the swastika as a symbol for the NSDAP was its use by the Thule Society (Gr. Thule-Gesellschaft) since there were many connections between them and the DAP ? from 1919 until the summer of 1921 Hitler used the special Nationalsozialistische library of Dr. Friedich Krohn, a very active member of the Thule-Gesellschaft, ? Dr. Krohn was also the dentist from Sternberg who was named by Hitler in Mein Kampf as the designer of a flag very similar to one that Hitler designed in 1920 ? during the summer of 1920, the first party flag was shown at Lake Tegernsee ? these home-made ? early flags were not preserved, the Ortsgruppe München flag was generally regarded as the first flag of the Party.

Related Topics:
Thule Society - Gr. - 1919 - 1921 - 1920

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José Manuel Erbez says —

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:The first time the swastika was used with an "Aryan" meaning was on December 25, 1907, when the self-named Order of the New Templars, a secret society founded by Lanz von Liebenfels, hoisted at Werfenstein Castle (Austria) a yellow flag with a swastika and four fleurs-de-lys.{{ref|flagspot.net-ont}}

Related Topics:
December 25 - 1907 - Order of the New Templars - Austria

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However, Liebenfels was drawing on an already established use of the symbol.

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On 14 March 1933, shortly after Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany, the NSDAP flag was hoisted alongside Germany's national colors. It was adopted as the sole national flag on 15 September 1935.

Related Topics:
14 March - 1933 - 1935

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The swastika was used for badges and flags throughout Nazi Germany, particularly for government and military organizations, but also for "popular" organizations such as the Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft.{{ref|flagspot.net-jagerschaft}}

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While the DAP and the NSDAP had used both right-facing and left-facing swastikas, the right-facing swastika is used consistently from 1920 onwards. However, Ralf Stelter notes that the swastika flag used on land had a right-facing swastika on both sides, while the ensign (naval flag) had it printed through so that you would see a left-facing swastika when looking at the ensign with the flagpole to the right.{{ref|flagspot.net-offset}}

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Several variants are found:

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• a 45° black swastika on a white disc as in the NSDAP and national flags;
• a 45° black swastika on a white lozenge (e.g., Hitler Youth{{ref|flagspot.net-jugend}});
• a 45° black swastika outlined by thin white and black lines on a white disc (e.g., the German War Ensign{{ref|flagspot.net-reichskriegsflagge}});
• an upright black swastika outlined by thin white and black lines on a white disc (e.g., Hitler's personal flag, in which a gold wreath encircles the swastika; the Schutzstaffel; and the Reichsdienstflagge, in which a black circle encircles the swastika);
• small gold, silver, black, or white 45° swastikas, often lying on or being held by an eagle, on many badges and flags.{{ref|flagspot.net-uprightswastika}}
• a swastika with curved outer arms forming a broken circle, as worn by the SS Nordland Division. (See photo at "Nordland Reenactors".)

There were attempts to amalgamate Nazi and Hindu use of the swastika. Notably by Savitri Devi Mukherji who declared Hitler an avatar of Vishnu (see Nazi mysticism).

Related Topics:
Savitri Devi Mukherji - Avatar - Vishnu - Nazi mysticism

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