Fascist symbolism
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/* Militarist uniforms with nationalist insignia */
{{fascism}}
As there were many different manifestations of [[fascism]], especially during the interwar years, there were also many different '''symbols of Fascist movements'''.
==Common symbolism of fascist movements==
Organized fascist movements have [[militarist]]-appearing uniforms for their members; utilize paramilitaries for political violence against opponents; use national symbols, historical symbols of a nation as symbols of their movement; and utilize orchestrated rallies for propaganda purposes. Fascist movements are led by a "Leader" (i.e. ''[[Duce]]'', ''[[Führer]]'') who is publicly idolized in propaganda as the nation's saviour. A number of fascist movements utilize a straight-armed salute.
==Italian origins==
[[Image:Fasces lictoriae.svg|left|thumb|100px|The fasces was the premier symbol of Italian fascism]]
The symbol of fascism, in its original [[Italy|Italian]] incarnation under [[Benito Mussolini]], and which gave fascism its name, was the [[fasces]]. This is an ancient [[Roman Empire|Roman]] symbol of power carried by [[lictor]]s in front of [[magistrate]]s: a bundle of sticks, which included an [[axe]] indicating the power over [[life]] and [[death]].
Until the adaptation of the fasces by the Italian fascists it had in modern times been a symbol used by Italian political organizations of various political ideologies (ranging from socialists to nationalists) called [[Fascio]] ("leagues") as a symbol of strength through unity. However, the adoption of the fasces by the Italian fascists has not completely tainted the symbol by association and the symbol appears on, among other things, the [[seal of the United States Senate]], the [[coat of arms of France]], the wall of the debating chamber of the [[United States House of Representatives]] and the coat of arms of the Swiss [[Canton of St.Gallen]].
==Nazi Germany==
[[Image:Nazi swastika clean.svg|right|thumb|The swastika was the main symbol of Nazism and remains strongly associated with it in the Western world]]
The nature of [[Germany|German]] fascism, as encapsulated in [[Nazism]] was similar to Italian Fascism ideologically and borrowed symbolism from the Italian Fascists such as the use of mass rallies, the straight-armed [[Roman salute]], and the use of pagentry. Nazism was different than Italian Fascism in that it was explicitly [[racism|racist]] in nature. Its symbol was the [[swastika]], at the time a commonly seen symbol in the world that had experienced a [[Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th century|revival in use in the western world in the early 20th century]]. German [[Völkisch movement|völkisch nationalists]] claimed the swastika was a symbol of the [[Aryan Race]] (essentially a race of [[White people|caucasians]] with no ties to other races) who they claimed were the foundation of the German civilization and were superior to all other races.
As the Italians Fascists adapted elements of their ethnic heritage to fuel a sense of nationalism by use of symbolism, so did Nazi Germany. Turn of the century [[Germanic mysticism|German mystic]] and author [[Guido von List]] was a big influence on [[Reichsführer-SS]] [[Heinrich Himmler]], who introduced various ancient Germanic symbols (filtered through von List's writings) most thoroughly into the [[Schutzstaffel]], including the stylized double [[Sig Rune]] (von List's then-contemporary [[Armanen runes|Armanen rune]] version of the ancient [[sowilo]] [[runic alphabet|rune]]) for the organization itself.
Other historical symbols that were already in use by the German Army to varying degrees prior to the Nazi Germany, such as the [[wolfsangel]] and [[totenkopf]], were also used in a new, more industrialized manner on uniforms and insignia.
Although the swastika was a popular symbol in art prior to the regimental use by [[Nazi Germany]] and has a long heritage in many other cultures throughout history and although many of the symbols used by the Nazis were ancient or commonly used prior to the advent of Nazi Germany, because of association with Nazi use, the swastika is often considered synonymous with Nazism and some of the other symbols still carry a negative post-[[World War II]] stigma in some Western countries, to the point where some of the symbols are banned from display altogether.
==Militarist uniforms with nationalist insignia==
[[Image:Mussolini young.jpg|thumb|100px|right|[[Benito Mussolini]] in uniform.]]
Organized fascist movements typically utilize military-appearing uniforms. What differs fascist militarist uniforms from similar militarist uniforms worn communist or military-junta led-states is that fascist uniforms have a nationalistic insignia of the fascist movement on them, whereas Communist uniforms are usually devoid of nationalist insignia and military-junta states simply have insignia of the country rather than that of a movement. The leaders of the fascist movements typically appeared in such uniforms.
[[Image:Hitler Mannerheim.png|thumb|100px|left|[[Adolf Hitler]] in uniform.]]
In Italy, the Italian Fascist movement in 1919 wore black military-appearing uniforms, and were nicknamed "[[Blackshirts]]". In power, uniforms during the Fascist era extended to both the party and the military which typically bore [[fasces]] or an eagle clutching a fasces on their caps or on the left arm section of the uniform. Youth groups had their own specifically designed uniforms which also bore Fascist insignia.
[[Image:Franco0001.PNG|thumb|100px|[[Francisco Franco]] in uniform.]]
In Germany, the Nazi movement was similar to the Italian Fascists in that they initially utilized a specifically coloured uniform for their movement, the tan-brown coloured uniform of the [[SA]] paramilitary group earned the group and the Nazis themselves the nickname of the "[[Brownshirts]]". The Nazis utilized the [[swastika]] for their uniforms and copied the Italian Fascists' uniforms, with an eagle clutching a wreathed swastika instead of a fasces, and a Nazi flag arm sash on the left arm section of the uniform for party members. For the military, a Nazi eagle was on the left arm section. The Nazis also copied the Italian Fascists by designing uniforms specifically for their youth groups (i.e. the [[Hitler Youth]]) as well.
[[Image:Pliniosalgado.jpg|thumb|left|100px|[[Plínio Salgado]], Brazilian Integralist leader in uniform.]]
Other fascist countries largely copied the symbolism of the Italian Fascists and German Nazis for their movements. Like them, their uniforms looked typically like military uniforms which nationalist-appearing insignia of the movement.
==Other regions==
Many other fascist movements did not win power or were relatively minor regimes in comparison and their symbolism is not well-remembered today in many parts of the world.
* The chief symbol of [[Oswald Mosley|Sir Oswald Mosley]]'s [[British Union of Fascists]] was the [[Flash and Circle]] adopted in 1936, which represented the "flash of action" within the "circle of unity" that symbolized the all-important British State (which is also used by the [[People's Action Party]] of [[Singapore]]). The BUF previously used the image of a gold fasces superimposed on a blue circle, located centrally on a red background. The emblem was also disparagingly referred to as "The Flash In The Pan", particularly by opponents of Mosley. The "Superstar Shock" logo, as featured on the album "[[Antichrist Superstar]]" by [[Marilyn Manson]] also bears a very close resemblance to the BUF symbol
* The symbol of the [[Croatia|Croatian]] [[Ustaše]] movement was capital letter U
* A prominent symbol of the [[Greece|Greek]] [[4th of August Regime]] was the [[Labrys]]/Pelekys, the double-headed axe which [[Ioannis Metaxas]] thought to be the oldest symbol of all Hellenic civilizations.
* The symbol of [[Hungary]]'s fascistic ''Nyilaskeresztes Párt'' ([[Arrow Cross Party]]) was, naturally, the [[Arrow Cross]].
* The symbol of the [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Nasjonal Samling]] was as golden/yellow [[sun cross]] on red background.
* The symbol of [[António de Oliveira Salazar|Salazar's]] [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]] regime was a stylized version of the [[Armillary sphere]] and shield found on the national flag; its rivals in the [[National Syndicalists (Portugal)|Movimento Nacional-Sindicalista]] used the [[Order of Christ Cross]].
* The symbol of the [[Romania]]n [[Iron Guard]] was a triple [[cross]] (a variant of the triple parted and fretted) - three parallel verticals intersected with three parallel horizontals, usually in black; it was meant to represent prison bars, as a badge of [[martyr]]dom. It was sometimes deemed the ''[[Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael]] Cross'', after the [[patron saint]] of the movement.
* The symbol of the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Falange]] was the yoke and the arrows, which were also the symbols of the [[Reyes Catolicos]]. Each Arrow represents one of the 5 early kingdoms of Spain.
* The [[National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands]] (NSB) used the [[Wolfsangel]] as its main symbol.
* The Brazilian [[Brazilian Integralism|Integralist Party]] used an upper case [[sigma]]
* The Turkish [[Nationalist Movement Party]] uses Three Crescents as their main symbol. Youth organization of Nationalist Movement Party; Home of Ideals (Ulku Ocagi) uses a howling wolf standing on a crescent.
==Modern use==
===Neo-Nazi use===
While some [[Neo-Nazism|Neo-Nazi]] organizations continue to use the swastika, most have usually tried to shy away from such inflammatory symbols of early fascism, using substitutes that are nevertheless sometimes reminiscent of the swastika and other cultural or ancestral symbols that may evoke Nationalistic sentiment but do not carry the same racist connotations.
* [[cross]]es:
** [[Celtic cross]] – [[David Duke]]'s website;
** cross crosslet – e.g., Lithuanian National Socialist Party
** [[sun cross]] – e.g., ''Nordiska Rikspartiet'' (Nordic People's Party), [[Sweden]]
* cogwheel – ''Magyar Népjóléti Szövetség'' (Hungarian Welfare Association)
* [[rune]]s:
** the ''[[Algiz]]'' rune <big>ᛉ</big> – e.g., ''Allgermanische Heidnische Front'' (All-Germanic Heathens' Front)
** the ''[[odal rune|Odal]]'' rune <big>ᛟ</big>
** the ''[[Sigel (rune)|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 [[Sturmabteilung|SA]] ''Reichsführerschulen'' in Nazi Germany
** [[Orkhon script]] letters - used by followers of [[Nihal Atsiz]], e.g., ''[[Türkçü Toplumcu Budun Derneği]]''
* the swastika continues to be used by groups ranging from the [[American Nazi Party]], the São Paulo Skinheads in [[Brazil]], to the ''Nationalsocialistisk Front'' (National Socialist Front) of 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, as used by the SS and Hitlerjugend, as well as various Neo-Nazi groups
* the "[[Meandros]]" symbol, is the emblem of the Greek party [[Hrisi Avgi]]
* the "[[Labrys]]" (or "Pelekys") symbol, the Minoic double-headed axe, is sometimes used by some fascist Greek nostalgics.
===Non-fascist use===
Some of these symbols are also used by a variety of non-fascist movements and organizations. Most prominently the swastika, by virtue of featuring as a central symbol to both [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]].
The [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL) points out that
:''Nazi Germany glorified an idealized "Aryan/Norse" heritage, consequently extremists have appropriated many symbols from pre-Christian Europe for their own uses. They give such symbols a racist significance, even though the symbols did not originally have such meaning and are often used by nonracists today, especially practitioners of modern pagan religions''
in the entries on the [[Thor's hammer]], the [[Black Sun (occult symbol)|Sun Wheel]], the [[Valknut]] and the [[Tiwaz rune|Tiwaz]], [[Algiz]] and [[Odal rune|Odal]] runes.<ref>[http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/Pagan_graphics.asp adl.org], accessed 19 December 2007</ref>
==See also==
* [[Blackshirts]]
* [[Nazi symbolism]]
== References ==
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://flagspot.net/flags/qt-z.html Neonazi flags]
* [http://flagspot.net/flags/qt-z_sym.html Neonazi flag symbolism]
[[Category:Fascism]]
[[Category:Neo-Nazism]]
[[Category:Symbols]]
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