Use of swastika before NSDAP takeover.

[Panzerknacker]

I open this topic to compilate pictures of the "hakenkreuz" ( hooked cross in german) in use before 1933 and also in others non-german military services.

Is incredible the widespread aplication of this now sinister simbol.

U.S army aircraft in 1929.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4186/americanswastikawwii192dx2.jpg

[Amrit]

45th Infantry division

http://www.m38a1.com/images/Thunderbird_Patches.jpg

http://www.m38a1.com/Misc-MV/thunderbirds.htm
http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/History/SwastikaToThunderbird.html

[alephh]

A blue swastika was adopted as the insignia of the Finnish Air Force on 18 March 1918 (- 1945).

http://swastika-info.com/en/startpage/finland/1061679609.html

_

[Major Walter Schmidt]

Why did the Nazys have to ruin stuff?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/44/Image-Swasont.jpg
Also, the Swastika was used as a good luck charm by aviators like Lindburg.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Buddhistswastika.jpg
Bhudist monastry.
In some countries, a Buddist monastry or temple is marked by a swastika.

[Rising Sun*]

Is incredible the widespread aplication of this now sinister simbol.

At the risk of telling you something you already know, it's an ancient symbol that crosses many cultures and continents.

Here's one summary.

http://www.intelinet.org/swastika/swastika_intro.htm

[gumalangi]

Japanese martial art called 'kempo' has swastika as it s emblem

[Panzerknacker]

Thanks guys for the images, yes I know that was an hindu symbol but I am more interested in the western usage of it. Amazing the one used by the Infantry Division. :shock:

[Major Walter Schmidt]

http://www.warbaby.com/WBgrafix/swastika.jpg
Good luck charm. I guess its like a clover.

[Panzerknacker]

Tell the german people about good luck with that :rolleyes:

A primitive swastica, very much like the finnish one painted on the isde of Werner Voss airplane ww1.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4215/vossalbhertzwh1.jpg

[Panzerknacker]

Again ww1, the one in the side of french-american ace Raoul Luftbery.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5198/lufbery3st7.jpg

[Major Walter Schmidt]

More swastikas for america and good luck.
http://blog.wired.com/tableofmalcontents/images/2007/04/03/picture_2.jpg

[Panzerknacker]

Very good , amazing the one with the baby. :)

[Major Walter Schmidt]

Backwards swastika on Japanese map. (symble for Bhuddist monastry or temple)

[BearMgk]

well swastika was used in ancient Europe by many nations
but now if you gonna use it your gonna be blamed as a nazi
but before 1939 it was common to see swastika around the worl

[Chevan]

Yea , especially if keep in mind the fact that ideas of national-socialism wasn't so bad looking befor the 1939 in some of states..

[Panzerknacker]

The Honourable Finnish Swastika

By Mr. Aarne Ellilä, World War II bomber pilot

Original Finnish language article (http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/artikkelit/kunniakas_hakaristimme/) translated into English on February 2007 by Ossi Juntunen

Anti-Semitism used to be widespread in Europe. As the Nazis took over in 1932 in Germany, the systematic persecution of Jews commenced, and after the outbreak of war, systematic genocide. The Holocaust and the occupation of European countries by the Wehrmacht resulted in making the tilted swastika ? the insignia of antisemitists since the end of the 1800s - the symbol of evil. The Nazi Swastika also tainted the Finnish Level Swastika, originating from the year 1918.

These two insignias share the shape but the symbolic content is completely different. They share no background. An uninformed person cannot tell them from apart: he does not know that the German symbol, tainted as evil is not the same as the Finnish, untainted and honourable swastika, and he abhors both. The Swastika is an ancient sign of luck originating from Asia, widespread in the world. Even today it is recognized as the insignia of the Falun Gong. The Swastika is included in the Finnish ornamentics for ages. By an extraordinary chance it was adopted to symbolic use at the same time but independently in Germany and in Finland.

In Finland the Swastika was introduced in the high art included in the frame of the painting ?Aino? by Akseli Gallen-Kallela in 1889, now owned by the Bank of Finland. The Swastika was decorating the Fennia series dishes by Arabia ceramics factory in the age of Art Noveau. The Swastika was first used by the government in 1918, in the Cross of Liberty decoration designed by Gallen-Kallela, and as the national insignia of the Finnish Air Force. Swedish Count Eric von Rosen had donated the first FiAF aircraft, decorated by swastikas painted on the wings.

Thus the Swastika was introduced by two sources by two men in two different manifestations. The other national symbols of the young Finnish state included the national coat of arms from the 1500's, the national anthem and the blue cross flag from the year 1918.

The German National Socialist Party, founded in 1919, adopted an ideologically correct red flag with a white roundel including a slanted swastika. The slanted swastika had been since the end of the 1800s the symbol of antisemitists in Germany and Austria. After Hitler took over in 1933 that flag became two years later the German national flag. The tilted Nazi Swastika vanished from view in 1945.

War of Independence breaks out

The Finnish Senate (Cabinet) nominated on the 28.1.1918 Gen.Lt C.G.E.Mannerheim (1867-1951) as the Commander- in-Chief of the legal government troops. The very same day the troops were ordered to disarm the Russian garrisons, foreign troops, in Ostrobothnia. The War of Independence had been started.

Cross and Medals of Liberty




The G-in-C understood the significance of acknowledgment by decorations. He recalled painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 53 years in age, from the front and ordered him to design the decorations. At Mannerheim?s suggestion the senate temporarily decreed on the 4. March 1918 about the Cross of Liberty and Medal of Liberty decorations. The Senate was to award the decorations but the task was delegated to the G-in-C except for the highest decorations. The military or civil rank of the receiver decided the rank of the decoration.

The crosses had five ranks and the medals two. The design drawings were dated 3.3.1918. The Cross of Liberty is comprised of the St. George?s cross superimposed by a Swastika. The Grand Cross and the 1st class Cross include a star carried on breast, featuring a swastika with a rose superimposed. The decoration grades are differentiated by size and material.

One essential part of a decoration is the ribbon. The Grand Cross and 1st and 2nd class crosses were carried on yellow ribbons, 3rd and 4th class featured red ribbons. The colours were adopted from the "lion flag" preceding the present blue-white flag. A decoration awarded for military valour is hanging from a metal wreath of laurels comprising armoured arms holding swords, symbolizing East and West ? coat of arms of Carelia. The decoration is then awarded ?with swords?. Decorations for civil and medical valour the ribbon does not include the swords. 1st Class Medal of Liberty is carried on a blue and 2nd class Medal of Liberty on a red ribbon. The medal features the words "urheudesta, för tapperhet" (for courage, Finnish and Swedish), on the reverse: "Suomen kansalta 1918" (From the people of Finland in 1918).
The Crosses and Medals of Liberty were not awarded after 28 Jan 1919 by the decree of Regent Mannerheim (Gen. Mannerheim was nominated as the Regent until a presidential election could be arranged, tr. rem.). Two Grand Crosses had been awarded by the Senate, one with swords to Cavalry General (12.3.1918) C.G.E. Mannerheim and another for civil merits to Senator P.E. Svinhufvud. While Crossed of Liberty and Medals were no more awarded, the Finnish White Rose order was created.

Memorial medal for the War of Independence was created on the 10.9.1918, designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The front of the medal includes the Cross of Liberty, armoured arms with swords and ?1918?. The reverse includes the Lion of Finland. The ribbon is blue with two black stripes.

The Cross or Medal of Liberty was awarded to more than 23 000 Finnish citizens. German soldiers who had been fighting in Finland were awarded about 3500 decorations. Volunteers from Sweden and other countries were awarded 1500 decorations.


http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/articles/honorable_swastika/haka1.jpg


Full article here:

http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/articles/honorable_swastika/

[Rising Sun*]

Check out fylfot here
http://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/Jpglossf.htm

and widespread usage in a solid British institution here
http://www.scouting.milestones.btinternet.co.uk/swastika.htm

[kornblumenblau]

badges of Polish Mountain Infantry :

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2290/psp1919ys1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/KorpusowkaPodhalanczykow.png

[Egorka]

A bit from Soviet Russai , 1918.
http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ussrsocialistswastika19nw6.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ussrsocialistsovietswasha4.jpg

Source:
http://i-grappa.livejournal.com/336125.html

[Egorka]

Australia.

Medal of Australian boyscouts: http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nla1qh2.jpg

The moonument for the falen in WWI with the wreth from the local national-socialists: http://i-grappa.livejournal.com/382140.html?style=mine

[Panzerknacker]

Thanks, so many nations use this symbol, amazing.


The moonument for the falen in WWI with the wreth from the local national-socialists:


Not quite the topic but good aniway.

[Ardee]

Latvia used a red swastika...
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Roundel#L

[Panzerknacker]

I see, not really different of the luftwaffe rudder insignia but red.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Latvia_roundel_1940_border.png

[tankgeezer]

It was indeed a widely used symbol, a bind-rune charm really, for successful, and positive outcomes of all situations. Health, wealth, love, all of the things important to mankind.
it also symbolized the "4 winds" or "4 directions" basically the forces of all creation.
Here in Milwaukee, it was common to place the hooked cross in places where the potential for danger was present, most notably at the water line of all public swimming pools. (they were all removed once Hitler came along) They could also be found in the patterns of brickwork on buildings, where success was wanted. (there is one school here where they are yet visible.)

[Ardee]

I see, not really different of the luftwaffe rudder insignia but red.

Yes, but I hope you noticed the dates of its use -- starting in 1918!

[Panzerknacker]

Yes, but I hope you noticed the dates of its use -- starting in 1918!


I noticed http://www.elgrancapitan.org/foro/images/smiles/04.gif



Here in Milwaukee, it was common to place the hooked cross in places where the potential for danger was present, most notably at the water line of all public swimming pools. (they were all removed once Hitler came along) They could also be found in the patterns of brickwork on buildings, where success was wanted. (there is one school here where they are yet visible.)


Definately, the anglo saxon seems to be very keen to this symbol at list in XIX century and first part of XX, 90 km from my home there is a lutheran church wich have swatikas everywhere in his decorations, specially in the ceramic floor.

[Clave]

I have 3...

Finnish Hurricane, obviously:

http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/aircraft/hawker_hurricane/Mk1_Finland_1.png

Latvian Camel:

http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/aircraft/sopwith_camel/Camel_Latvia.png

And a 112 Sqn Camel:

http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/aircraft/sopwith_camel/Camel_RAF_112Sqn.png

[imi]

The swastika is coming from the ancient India,and the also greece is like to use it.
http://www.geographic.hu/images/napihirek/3083.jpg
http://www.geographic.hu/images/napihirek/3086.jpg

http://www.geographic.hu/images/napihirek/3084.jpg

[Adrian Wainer]

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/photos/profile_112sqn_02.gif

Sopwith F.1 Camel
112 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Throwley, Kent, August 1918

The F.1 Camels that re-equipped 112 Sqn from March 1918 carried no actual squadron markings as such, each aircraft being decorated by its pilot with his own personal insignia. Thus this Camel has the white swastika on the fin and the red fuselage decoration outlined in white.

The use of the swastika as an individual marking during WW I was quite common as, at that time, it was simply a good luck charm or mystic symbol which originated in very ancient times in many parts of the world from India through Central Asia and accross Europe and also in North America. The British of course ruled India at that time and so were well used to it as a lucky sign; nobody could have foretold the evil purpose with which it would become associated only a few years later. The rest of the colour scheme on this Camel is the same as for the Pup except that the serial number has been painted over and the roudels on the top wing are red and blue only with no white.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2000/03/stuff_eng_profile_112sqn1.htm

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer

[Adrian Wainer]

http://people.sinclair.edu/thomasmartin/knights/Beckhard.jpg

Fritz Beckhardt flew a Siemens Schuckert fighter with a swastika on it. Pilots on both sides flew planes adorned with swastikas, which during World War I represented the sun, good fortune, or just something interesting.

Germany's

Jewish Knights of the Air



Introduction

During World War I warriors took to the skies for the first time in history. People of all nations were enthralled by the courage and daring of young men who were determined to fly despite primitive aircraft, insufficient training, physical hardships, and enemy fire. The fighter pilots were looked upon as "knights of the air" because they had a reputation for a certain amount of chivalry, especially compared to the soldiers on the ground. The essence of chivalry is recognizing the common humanity of our enemies, and treating them with as much dignity as wartime allows; chivalry puts boundaries and limits on cruelty and destruction during the waging of war. It is based upon Biblical principles, especially those expressed in Isaiah 1:17: "Make justice your aim; redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow."


http://people.sinclair.edu/thomasmartin/knights/

http://people.sinclair.edu/thomasmartin/knights/index2.htm

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer

[Cavalry Gunner]

In "The Swastika," Folklore, Vol. 55, No. 4 (Dec., 1944), pp. 167-168, W. G. V. Balchin says the word swastika is of Sanskrit origin and the symbol is one of good luck or a charm or a religious symbol (the last, among the Jains and Buddhists) that goes back to at least the Bronze Age 3000 BCE. It appears in various parts of the ancient and modern world. This article mentions Christians did, indeed, consider the swastika for their symbol.


Cavalry Gunner ;)