h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On the swastika, its identification with the Nazis had two major roots, the first being its use as their symbol by the Teutonic Knights of the late middle ages, a crusading order founded to the purpose of forcing Christianity on the people of the north countries.

Crusading was not restricted to the eastern Mediterranean, the Mideast, north Africa and Spain, but also had a theater in the Baltic countries.

Besides their legendary official monopoly of the amber trade, they also founded the medieval Kingdom of Prussia, by means of one of the most complete genocides in history versus the Viking Russ, from whose name Prussia and Russia take their names.

The second important root in the creation of the Nazi symbol was the arms of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the world famous 'Red Baron', so called on account of the color of his plane, which he'd had painted in the colors of his coat of arms, as did a number of the other members of his so-called 'flying circus' squadron.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Baron+von+Richthovens%27+plane,+images&hl=en&biw=1277&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=1s0LrU5twEFSTM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bad-dog-cafe/65212-look-charlie-brown-its-red-baron.html&docid=ACj7Wh5GES71GM&imgurl=http://1000aircraftphotos.com/AmateurBuilt/1777.jpg&w=450&h=349&ei=gFUST-nTEcaRiAKu4oHnCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=981&vpy=178&dur=9500&hovh=198&hovw=255&tx=148&ty=122&sig=105173701465227203595&page=1&tbnh=112&tbnw=180&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0

The commemoration in the Nazi colors apparently originates with Herman Goering, who served under Baron Manfred von Richthoven during the first world war.




On race and prejudice, followers of the way during the Viking era were by no means restricted to inhabitants of the north countries.

The cult of 'Voudun', from 'Wodin', the cargo god, came up during this period in west Africa, with much of its imagery and ritual founded on symbols like the 'World Serpent' and the 'Rainbow Bridge' of the Old Norse system.

Voudun persists to this day, places like west Africa and the Carribean.