Swastika

Definition

An ancient symbol used in many cultures around the world for thousands of years. It became infamous as it was adopted by Nazi Germany during World War II as their emblem.

Analogy

Imagine using a popular emoji today to represent something positive, but then someone else uses it for something negative and harmful. That's similar to how the swastika went from being seen as a symbol of good luck and prosperity to representing hate and genocide due to its use by Nazi Germany.

Related terms

Nazi Party: A far-right political party in Germany that led by Adolf Hitler came into power in 1933 and used the swastika as their emblem.

Holocaust: The systematic genocide carried out by Nazi Germany during World War II which resulted in six million Jews' deaths along with millions more targeted groups such as Romani people, disabled individuals, Polish people etc.

Aryan Race Theory: A racial ideology propagated by Nazis that claimed 'Aryans' were superior race.