Cool picture, the Natives used the Swaz symbol years before the Nazi did.

Pat... You are correct. The 'good luck' symbol of the Swastica (Left & Right Facing) has its history in antiquity.

Here's a Greek Helmet from 350 BC ......Dave/dblmed

Some Collectors are not aware that even the US Army used the Swastica symbol!!!!

PRE '39 US ARMY 45TH IFD NATIVE AMERICAN SYMBOL PATCH.....For the first 15 years of its existence, members of the 45th Infantry Division proudly wore on their left shoulders an ancient American Indian symbol of good luck, most commonly referred to as the swastika. The insignia served as recognition of the great number of Native Americans proudly serving in the 45th Infantry Division. The yellow swastika on a square background of red symbolized the Spanish Heritage of the 4 Southwestern states that made up the membership of the 45th—Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona.

A similar symbol was adopted by the Nazi party in the late 1920’s, and as the N.S.D.A.P. rose to power in 1933 the symbol became so closely associated with fascist socialism that it had to be abandoned as the insignia of the 45th Infantry Division.

For many months division members wore no insignia, while the design for a new emblem was being explored. The 45th Infantry Division held a contest to assist in selection of the new insignia and many designs were submitted. The contest was overseen by a board of officers who eventually determined the Thunderbird would become the new insignia of the 45th Infantry Division. In keeping with the tradition formerly established, it was also decided to maintain the same colors and design of the original insignia.

In 1939 after approval of the Commanding General, Eighth Corps Area, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Thunderbird design was officially approved by the War Department and authorized for manufacture and wear. The document approving the design, which was to become famous in World War II and the Korean War, stated that, the Thunderbird was a Native American symbol signifying "sacred bearer of happiness unlimited."

Story Credit: 45th Division Museum
(Attached is the Orig. 45th Div. Swaz. Patch)
Dave/dblmed

I know that the swaz synmbol is very old but never thought that it was once used in the US Army.
Very interesting !

The emblem was used on many postcards around the early 20th century. Here is one of the many examples in my collection.

Hello, here's a good-luck token from the Lucky Star Incense Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio dated 1925! Regards, Leipzig

pic-2

A symbol of Good Luck in India for centuries.
Seiler

For Native Americans the swastika is a symbol for the 4 winds or God. Acknowleging the 4 winds is common in ALL Native American religious ceremonies usually done with tobacco, cedar or sweet grass smoke as a blessing. It has nothing to do with good luck.

Another early postcard.

While your antique post card is cute, it is a fantasy dreamed up by a non Native artist. Females do no wear feathers in that manner and to be honest I have never seen an eagle with red and white or blue and white feathers. The North American continent has the golden eagle and bald eagle whose feathers are not pointy and have definite black grey and white features for young and adult birds. Western woodlands and plains ladies either wear drop feathers towards the front part of the part in the top of the scalp or in more modern times have adopted a custom of wearing a large white fluff tail feather in the back of a beaded crown which is also a 20th century invention.
Steve

A saddle at the J.M.Davis museum in Claremore OK.

Finland used the Swas on their aircraft during WW1

So many cards from about 100 years ago.

Here is an other.

Here is one from 1907!

There was an independent oil distributor in New Mexico prior to WW2 called "Swastika Oil Company".
I've seen their advertising pencils and thermometers so marked.
With the coming of the war they - no surprise - changed their name!

“Some authors believe that it was in Karl May's books where Hitler became infatuated with the Swastika. The swastika was used by many North American Indians, and it frequently appeared in illustrations of May's novels.”

From:
http://www.intelinet.org/swastika/swastika_intro.htm
The Swastika and the Nazis
by Servando González.

A good read!

here's my amerindian swaz pin - made for tourists no doubt during our nation's "swastika fever"

The replacement

The original

Of course many different cultures used the Swaz way before Hitler made it into a Germany's ideal favorite symbol of evil and the Nazi's glorified and worshipped this loathsome symbol of dread in justifying its use in killing millions of people under the swaz symbol. Isn't it peculiar that some people would want you to know that the swaz has been around for hundreds of years and nobody then thought it a bad thing, very strange that some collectors would speak as if it was a good thing. Ron

Max, These were not opinionated comments they were making. They were just mentioning other places it has appeared in history and in what context it was used.

Who said it "was a good thing" in referring to the Nazi use of the swastica? You are off in your own world on that one bud.

The jist of the thread is the Nazi's took a previously good thing and made it into a loathsome symbol of evil.

Geez...

Mark