An interesting volume entitled “The Hakenkreuz-the History of a Symbol” has just appeared here from the pen of Herr Iorg Lechler. It is particularly important at this time to become familiar with the facts in this book because of the fact that the Hakenkreuz, which is the German equivalent of Swastika, is used as the emblem of the German and Austrian anti-Semites, who are waging a bitter war of persecution and extermination against the Jews of Central Europe.
Herr Lechler gives an outline of the history of the Swastika. The exact origin of this symbol is rather uncertain, he says, but he proves that it is certainly not true that the Swastika was originally an old Aryan German symbol, a product of the Teutonic spirit, as the pseudo-scientific pamphlets written by zealous Hakenkreuzler would have it. On this point Herr Lechler’s book has caused considerable grief among the members of the German anti-Semitic circles, but to the Jews it is rather cheerful information.
The Swastika, according to the author, has been used for many centuries as an ornament or as a symbol among nearly all tribes and nations, being in vogue at various periods in history among the Chinese, Japanese, Hindoos, the Negroes of North Africa, the Indians of North, South and Central America, etc.
It existed among primitive tribes, as evidenced by the crude sculptures and drawings which have been unearthed by archaeologists, and has even been traced as far back as the Stone Age. It spread from one part of the world to the other either in the form of decorative ornament or as a symbol of social and religious customs and in time it was brought over from Asia to the American continent.
As regards the original meaning of the Swastika symbol, scientists and historians are as yet unable to give a clear explanation. It is not impossible that in most instances the Swastika had no definite symbolic meaning but served merely as a decorative ornament created by the mind of primitive man for the satisfaction of his rudimentary esthetic sense. On the other hand it is evident that some tribes and races regarded the Swastika as a symbol of their sun-god, as has been shown by Herr Wilke in his book “Relations Between the Cultures of India, the Orient and Europe.”
It should also be mentioned that the Swastika was likewise prevalent in the Semitic countries, including Palestine. This has been substantiated by the McAlister excavations in the near East.
A Danish archaeological expedition has announced that it discovered a Swastika in the ruins of a synagogue near the Sea of Tiberias. But there is no truth in this. The writer of these lines had an opportunity several months ago to inquire about this from the famous German archaeologists Kohl and Watzinger and they stated emphatically that this is impossible, a statement which they made on the basis of their vast knowledge of the subject and their own experiences in excavating in Palestine. The Danish excavators were deluded by an ornamental design in the form of two crossed lines which resembles somewhat a Swastika.
At any rate Herr Lechler has shown the world that the Hakenkreuzler in their falsehood and unscrupulousness stop at nothing in trying to justify their hypocritical philosophy and do not hesitate to pervert deliberately historical facts which are well known to every serious truthful scientist.
Maximum Amount of News in Minimum Amount of Space.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
