It's in the German coat of arms I think (or a similar design).

It's going to resemble a turkey vulture by the time you're sixty, but it's your skin.

I've never heard that one before, but like Oof and others have said it always has been and still is a symbol involved in many Eastern religions, most specifically Hinduism and Buddhism. Such as this Hindu sign for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/HinduSwastika.svg/180px-HinduSwastika.svg.png.

Wow, lots of misunderstandings in here. Hitler didn't "invert a symbol of love to make a symbol of hate". The swastika wasn't (exclusively) a symbol of love, or in fact a universal symbol of anything. It was a symbol with many different meanings in many different cultural contexts, some of which Hitler appropriated in his usage of it. He didn't invert either the symbol (it was usually drawn in a clockwise direction) or its meaning.

Since the Second World War, many religious groups that used (and still use) the swastika have, understandably, emphasized that their usage of it is as a symbol of (amongst other things) love and peace, thus attempting to sever the connection with the Nazi party. They emphasize incomparability between the two uses of the swastika, but that's not to say that one is the opposite of the other. In both contexts the swastika is a symbol of power and strength, for example.


As to the symbol which Ixiom wants to get as a tattoo, I'd advise against it. Not because it might be mistaken as a symbol of National Socialism (I think that's unlikely) but because as a symbol of German Nationalism it's inadequate. The two items in that picture are the Bundesadler and the flag of the German republic, both of which relate to Germany as a political entity rather than as a nationality. So it doesn't really make sense to use them to indicate German heritage...

EDIT: In fact, come to think of it, if you're so inspired by your family's German heritage, why are you coming to us to ask about the symbolic meanings of German insignia? Go do some research of your own into your family's background, find out where in Germany they're from, who they identified with, what symbols might have meant something to them. Being German (or English, or Dutch, or Korean) is more than just a symbol and it seems a bit stupid to identify with something you know little about...

Too true.

Reminds me why Germany has the coolest hockey jerseys. http://www.allforfan.com/userfiles/Image/vyrobky/MN_GER11.jpg?29012012

But yeah, it's not offensive, only ignorant scum would make it so. But like MutantPenguin said, it's not so much representing nationality, but a Political whole.

Maybe research into Germanic runes or something.

It's too bad the swastika is now seen as a symbol for the nazis. I always liked the design.

Where did you found that image. I tried to search for that image via googe. The only thing I found out is that's not the official german eagle, but a slightly different version of it. Mostly used for different things like tattoos/bags/t-shirts and stuff.

The symbol is poltically correct, but to give you my own personal opinion. I wouldn't tattoo myself at all (maybe if I were part of the military or something like that).

It's basically a variant of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Germany_(state).svg.

Personally, I wouldn't have it tattooed on me because a lot of people would take it as a white supremacist symbol - like the iron cross (which could just be Teutonic) - or duel lightning bolts (which also means scout snipers).

Just not a wise thing to do.

If you think there is a chance that it will be misinterpreted, especially in a negative way, are you sure you want it on your body forever? Do you want to have to explain it and/or defend it all the time?

Seeing as how you started a thread about it, you obviously have doubts, which is not a good way to start the tattoo process.

Just sayin'.

If you are interested in German heritage, you might look into the futhark runes and choose one of those for a tattoo. They predate all the political stuff that have unsavory implications. The eagle isn't bad, but it represents some pretty crappy government and these days is just a boring bureaucratic symbol I think. Just my opinion, no one flame me for it.

It's a shame that a lot of German history and heritage has been tainted by association with the Nazis. This quote from Tolkien about it sums up what I think about that. He's writing to his son.

I don't know where you are from, but here in germany someone, who speaks about nordic spirit and tattoos himself with old germanic rune symbols to emphasize his "german" heritage, would get instantly branded as nazi.

I'm from the US. That's a shame, since it seems the neo-Nazis are further corrupting things that have nothing to do with extremist politics. I have nothing but contempt for that. They don't own those things, and people of German heritage shouldn't just let them have them as if they do.
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I agree. Anyone who sees that eagle is going think Nazi straight away. I wouldn't recommend it.

I'm not offended by it, I think it's ugly.

The Swastika if a symbol for the sun god. and more, there's millions from different places around the world

It just depends on how the/or a symbol is used. To me the picture looks kinda cool .

Good point.

Here you just get called a nerd. Our racist extremists come from an entirely different tradition, and so there's an entirely different set of trappings you need to be cautious to avoid. Valknuts are fine - confederate flags are to be avoided like the plague.

Pretty much this. You can go on about how it's not related to the Nazis and how it represent your German roots and stuff, but the fact is people are going to see it and think 'racist'.

Also it's pretty ugly.

That symbol reminds me of Imperial Germany, not Nazi Germany. That said, others may not realize the distinction but your call.

On a personal note, I find the tatooing of "flags" somewhat tacky tbh and remember that Germany (same with Britain, France, etc.) was an Imperial power with all the negative connotations that implies.

Man just slap the German flag(tattoo) on your body and be done with it.

Thank you, sir.

I should wear a shirt that has a huge Swastika on the back that says: I'm taking it back.

That poor indian/asian symbol.

While you're at it, bring back the mini mustache.