[WW] Swastika?

[Arne Reuter <reuter@tse-online.de>]

Hi!

> First off, the swastika, or 'hakenkreuze', for 'broken-cross' (German
> listmembers please correct my pidgin Deutsche),

Love to oblige ;-). Swastika = Hakenkreuz (sgl.) /e (pl.) = "hook-cross"

> was not terribly common on
> the uniforms or vehicles, save for the one clutched in the eagles talons on
> that particular patch, and on the vertical tail surfaces on aircraft. The
> most commonly used -historical- symbol was the 'balkankreuze', or 'balkan
> cross'. It's what you see in Gear Krieg, Axis & Allies, and a vast selection
> of color and markings books about German equipment.

Bear in mind, that originally the swastika was the symbol of the NSDAP
- the political party. The traditional cross was used widely by the
military and was continued to be used, sometimes modified (in medals,
insignia etc.)

There were more symbols (remember, the Nazis were masters of
propaganda) like the "victory rune" S, which was doubled on the
collars of the Schutzstaffel, but used elsewhere, too.

> A big deal is often made about the presence or absence of the swastika in
> game books. Frankly, unless you're doing a study of the national flags,
> you're not missing much at all. Most games don't use the swastika, both for
> economic reasons (I think there are legal issues in Germany) and for

As for legal issues (would have to research the exakt rulings):

The swastika is not forbidden per se. It is forbidden though, to use
it (and the use of other symbols as well as propaganda material that
supports outlawed political groupings) in order to glorify the
NS-regime and their ideals. The "Verfassungsschutz" (governmental
organisation for the protection of the constitution) does tend to
overact on its display though. ;-)

So "normally" a game book about world war II would not be "banned" for
its display in a historical context.

Regards,

Arne Reuter

ps: As far as i remember, Glory Days for the Brave New World RPG from Matt
Forbeck did contain swastikas as well. And it is sold normally in
Germany ;-).


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