How Has The Swastika Changed Throughout History

How was a symbol of good changed to a symbol of hate? The swastika was changed by the Nazis who were led by Adolf Hitler when they took over Germany in the early 1900’s. Throughout history, the swastika was known as symbol of good omen. It was a very common symbol in ancient times. The Nazi Party adopted the swastika in 1920, with a white circle and red background, and that became the national flag of Germany. Now it is known as symbol of discrimination, hatred, and genocide.

The symbol that is now known as a swastika was used in history by many cultures. The article “History of the Swastika” talks about the it, “The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means ‘good fortune’ or ‘well-being’” (History 1). It originally

Thirteen years later, in 1933, when Hitler was elected Chancellor, a black swastika on a white circle with a red background became the National Flag of Germany. Then two years after that, the National Socialist Party was founded on September 15, 1935. A quote from “The History of the Swastika” states, “The swastika would become the most recognizable icon of Nazi propaganda, appearing on the flag referred to by Hitler in Mein Kampf as well as on election posters, armbands, medallions, and badges for military and other organizations” (History 2). The Nazis used the swastika on almost everything in Germany. It became extremely popular in Germany and nations around the world knew about it. The Nazi Swastika was used differently than the ancient swastika. A quote from Holocaust Encyclopedia explains, “As a symbol, it became associated with the idea of a racially “pure” state” (History 2). Additionally, the swastika was racist and it was turned into a hate symbol, unlike the ancient swastika which was for good. The oppressed Jews quickly learned that the swastika, as used by the Nazis, represented hatred and danger towards them. Hitler, and the Nazi mission, was to exterminate Jews, and the swastika invoked fear into them and other targeted groups. A quote from “History of the Swastika” states, “It also became a symbol of Nazi racial ideology that called for the elimination of Jews and other groups deemed inferior” (History 2). Nazis were

Racist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, use it today. The KKK, formed in the early 1900’s in America, holds many of the same ideas of racial superiority that the Nazis had. “The History of the Swastika” states, “By the time the Nazis gained control of Germany, the connotations of the swastika had forever changed” (History 3). Another article called “How the World Loved the Swastika” states, "We didn't know how the symbol dates back so many thousands of years ago. But I think it's interesting for people to learn that the swastika was not always the symbol of fascism" (Campion 1). People should know what the swastika really means. It is now associated with violence and unfortunately, Neo Nazis and other racist groups today are using the swastika for discrimination. An article called, “How Nazis twisted the swastika into a symbol of hate” further explains how the swastika is recognized, “The swastika is no longer a sign of peace. It’s a sign attached to a party that literally almost wiped out an entire culture” (Skidmore). The hate-filled intentions of the modern swastika are very clear, and it has replaced the once ancient symbol. It is looked at today as a symbol of hate because of the Nazis, but maybe one day the ancient, innocent swastika can come