Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00220)

In a message dated 03/10/03 12:02:17 PM, global-theosophy@adslhome.dk writes:

>A question:
>Wasn't it so, that the NSDAP used both directions for the Swastika in the
>movements beginning ?
>I believe there are pictures confirming that as early as 1927.
>
>My views:
>And what sinister is there in the turning directions of the Swastika ?
>In the olden days the use of both directions happened equally without any
>regard to sinister thoughts. This historical evidence can verify.

Sinister means, "on the left side." It comes from ancient heraldry where the 
enemies of the King's men (the good guys) -- who were usually their bastard 
sons (the bad guys) -- had to reverse the direction of the bar on their 
shields so that it slanted left. (The King's and all his Knight's bars were 
slanted to the right.) Also, if these Bastard sons used the King's name they 
had to add the prefix "Fitz" before it. Thus King Patrick's bastard son's 
family name was Fitzpatrick and he had the bar "sinister" on his shield. 

The Nazi swastika is thus the "sinister" version. That was Hitler's specific 
design. However on some of the early banners used by brown shirt marchers 
prior to around 1933, the design is embroidered through the cloth and could 
be seen from both sides. Later this was recognized by Hitler and he ordered 
banners made in two layers with the swastika always turning in the sinister 
direction. 

LHM