Fascist symbolism
Fasces.jpeg
As there were many different manifestations of fascism, especially during the interwar years, there were also many different symbols of Fascist movements.
The symbol of fascism, in its original Italian incarnation under Benito Mussolini, and which gave fascism its name, was the fasces. This is an ancient Roman symbol of power carried by lictors in front of magistrates: a bundle of sticks, which included an axe indicating the power over life and death.
The nature of German fascism, as encapsulated in Nazism, was somewhat less Roman and more racist in nature. Its symbol was the swastika, a purported symbol of the Aryan civilisation of which Germany was to be the highest incarnation. Although the swastika is a positive symbol in many other cultures in history, because of Nazi use, the swastika carries highly negative connotations in most Western countries today.
Most other fascist movements did not win power and their symbolism is not well-remembered today.
- The chief symbol of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists was the Flash and Circle, representing the flash of action within the circle of unity that was to be the all-important British nation. (The BUF had previously used the fasces.)
- The symbol of Hungary's fascistic Nyilaskeresztes Párt (Arrow Cross Party) was, naturally, the Arrow Cross.
- The symbol of the Spanish Falange was the yoke and the arrows, which were also the symbols of the Reyes Catolicos.
- The symbol of the Norwegian Nasjonal Samling was St. Olaf's Cross.
While some Neo-Nazi organisations continue to use the swastika, most have usually tried to shy away from such inflammatory symbols of early fascism, using substitutes that are nevertheless often reminiscent of the swastika and other Nazi badges.
- crosses:
- Celtic cross – David Duke's website; Bases Autónomas (Autonomous Bases), Spain; Movimento de Acçăo Nacional (National Action Movement), Portugal; Unit 88, New Zealand
- cross crosslet – e.g., Lithuanian National Socialist Party
- cross of the Order of Christ – Ordem Nova (New Order), Portugal
- sun cross – e.g., Nordiska Rikspartiet (Nordic People's Party), Sweden
- cogwheel – Magyar Népjóléti Szövetség (Hungarian Welfare Association)
- runes:
- the Algiz rune ᛉ – e.g., Allgermanische Heidnische Front (All-Germanic Heathens' Front)
- the Odal rune ᛟ
- the Sigel ("Sig") rune ᛋ, especially on the Schutzstaffel badge, sometimes confused or used interchangeably with Eihwaz.
- the Tyr rune ᛏ was the badge of the SA Reichsführerschulen in Nazi Germany
- a combination of the Sig and Tyr runes was used as a logo by the German fashion label "Thor Steinar".
- swastika – e.g., American Nazi Party; Săo Paulo Skinheads, Brazil; Nationalsocialistisk Front (National Socialist Front), Sweden
- "bladed swastika" – Российское Национальное Единство (National Unity of Russia)
- a triskelion-like symbol composed of three 7s – Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (Afrikaner Resistance Movement), Republic of South Africa
- the "Wolfsangel" symbol, used by the SS and Hitlerjugend, as well as various Neo-Nazi groups
In many cases, the alternatives are, like the swastika, symbols from the Indo-European tradition that are also used by a variety of non-fascist movements and organizations, such as Ásatrú and Cadw.