Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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Swastika

Posted by peter cook on 8/9/2026, 10:46 am

This postcard dates from circa 1908 and shows the Mauretania with a swastika above. The swastika was originally a sign of good luck, health, and personal safety. In the late 1900s and 1910s, it was incredibly popular on Western greeting cards, long before its meaning was entirely corrupted by the Nazi party in the 1920s and 1930s. The phrase "Pansies for Thoughts" at the bottom references "floriography," a Victorian and Edwardian tradition where different flowers carried specific meanings (pansies symbolized remembrance, love, and keeping someone in your thoughts).

Re: Swastika

Posted by Liz Dance on 8/9/2026, 1:20 pm, in reply to "Swastika"

How interesting, the Finns had the Swastika on their planes up until a few years ago.

The Nazis adopted the Swastika because of Goering’s wife who was Swedish, Goering thought it would be a good symbol for them to use??

Re: Swastika Liz

Posted by peter cook on 8/9/2026, 1:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Swastika"

The Nazi party adopted the swastika in August 1920 and Goering didn't join the Nazi party until 1922.

Re: Swastika Liz

Posted by Brian on 8/9/2026, 1:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Swastika Liz "

The use of the swastika was also used in many ancient cultures and was seen as a sign of good luck. The Nazis corrupt it in the eyes of the world

Re: Swastika Liz

Posted by AJG on 8/9/2026, 5:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Swastika Liz "

A lot of Eastern / Asian religions use the Swastika as a symbol, e.g. Hinduism and Jainism.

I remember there was a movement several years ago to "Reclaim the Swastika" from its Nazi connotations. Clearly it wasn't too successful, but I can understand the sentiment if you come from one of those traditions that use it.

Re: Swastika - Peter

Posted by Liz Dance on 8/9/2026, 8:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Swastika Liz "

I am sure I read that Goering brought the Swastika to the Nazi Party but you are right the time line doesn’t fit.

Re: Swastika - Peter

Posted by Patrick on 8/9/2026, 10:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Swastika - Peter"

The swastika was used by the British War Savings movement during WW1, long before the Nazi Party was created.

Re: Swastika

Posted by Steve in Australia on 9/9/2026, 12:27 am, in reply to "Re: Swastika"

Having visited many Buddhist temples in Japan, you'll find that the east/west and north/south legs face the opposite direction and have done so for over 1000 years, like many other things, the Nazi's got this wrong too.

Re: Swastika

Posted by Patrick on 9/9/2026, 3:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Swastika"

Steve is correct about Buddhist representations of the swastika, but the other configuration has been common in Hinduism for many generations. The Nazis may have chosen that form because of their obsession with Aryan races.

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