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[arrow5]

Certainly similar linked rings were used when four car manufacturers amalgamated to form Auto Union during that period, better known today as Audi.  Wonder if that was the inspiration. The swastika was put on the headrest of many of the racing cars and record breakers such as this for propaganda.

[Bob K]

According to Wikipedia . . .

"The symbol of the Olympic Games is composed of five interlocking rings, coloured blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white field. This was originally designed in 1912 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games."

[arrow5]

Time out caught me again. Sorry

[dodgy geezer]

I remember seeing a program somewhile back which said the olympic rings were a nazi invention for the 1936 olympics,and the nazi's  linked the design to some ancient ayrian master race.As for fitting the flags etc.fit them,if any one complains tell them where to go,you can't change history no matter how bad it was.

I think you're getting a bit confused with the Swastika, which is indeed an old design - believed to be Indian originally. Here is the front page of a copy of a Kipling book I have - this printing is from 1916, but the edition is the 1903 version. So you can see that the swastika (pre 1940s) was not seen as an unusual symbol at all - just an Indian sign adding an exotic tone - in this case to a children's book...

[Circlip]

The Nazis reversed the symbol so the legs pointed the opposite direction.

  Regards   Ian.

[Trevor Holloway]

Whilst in South Korea for work a few years ago I was surprised at the amount of swastikers on the buildings until I found out that they were all over the buddist temples !
The symbol was stolen by the nazis for their own - a clear breach of copyright !

[Netleyned]

Contrary to popular belief the symbol swastika
was used both ways in Hindu and Bhuddist
religions
The nazis just chose one

Ned

[Raymond]

I think you're getting a bit confused with the Swastika, which is indeed an old design - believed to be Indian originally. Here is the front page of a copy of a Kipling book I have - this printing is from 1916, but the edition is the 1903 version. So you can see that the swastika (pre 1940s) was not seen as an unusual symbol at all - just an Indian sign adding an exotic tone - in this case to a children's book...

Most certainly not getting confused with the swastika,the program showed how the nazi's tried to link the rings to the German people , and their conection to some past super race,it was all about how they used the olympics to further the nazi ideals .

[RAAArtyGunner]

Somewhere, probably lost now, in the back of my brain, I also recollect that the swastika was a religious symbol.

[essex2visuvesi]

yes it is and also used on Finnish armour during the winter war


Photo courtesy of the Finnish Tank Museum, Parola, Finland

[arrow5]

The Finnish one is square on , not tilted and is blue. It was also used in Latvia, red this time.

[essex2visuvesi]

Must have been a right royal pain in the bum during WW2 as the Finns flew a bit of everything... english, russian, American and german.  and with a swastika on the side it makes me curious how many were shot at by allied forces

[arrow5]

Good point. I wondered about that myself. Consider that in the Pacific the non American allies had to remove the red centre spot on RAF and RAAF roundels as some pilots could only see a "meatball" and reacted accordingly .   The Finnish Bf 109 must have been a nerve wracking ride in WW11.

[RAAArtyGunner]

Not to mention that "D Day" all allied aircraft had broad black and white stripes painted on them to distinguish them from the enemy.

If it didn't have black and white stripes shoot it down both in the air and from the ground.

Also didn't matter if you were colour blind stripes were easy to make out

[dodgy geezer]

Must have been a right royal pain in the bum during WW2 as the Finns flew a bit of everything... english, russian, American and german.  and with a swastika on the side it makes me curious how many were shot at by allied forces

I think the position of Finland in European fighting is somewhat confusing. Finland has always been overshadowed by Russia, so most of its policies have been aimed at defending itself against this giant neighbour, who had conquered it in 1809.

In 1917/18, as Russia collapsed in revolution, Finland ejected Russian occupation (supported by Germany), and gained independence. At that time Germany was seen as a friendly power.

By 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 'gave' Finland to Russia, so Finland was fighting Russia and Germany became unfriendly. At this point Finland was looking for help from Sweden and Britain against Germany, and proposals were made for Finland to join the Allied side.

When Germany turned on Russia in 1941 Finland then allied with Germany in order to keep fighting Russia. This meant that there were occasions when Britain and Finland fought.

In 1944 the Germans started collapsing, and the Russians switched their troops towards German invasion, away from Finland (where they were not doing well).  This led to the Finns obtaining an armistice from the Russians. Part of the terms were that the Germans should be ejected from Finland - the Germans did not want to go, so the Finns promptly fought the Germans again, until 1945.

Since Finland had sided with Germany at various times it was classified as a belligerent and fascist power in the Paris peace treaty, paid reparations to Russia, and remained aligned with Russia (though somewhat distantly) during the Cold War....

So, briefly, and misusing the words 'Axis' and 'Allied' to refer to political inclination rather than actual treaty agreements, Finland' policy was:

1930s - Axis
1939-1941 - Allied
1941-1944 - Axis
1944-1945 - Allied

 
I would guess that Allied, Axis and Finnish pilots fighting in this theatre needed a regular and frequent check with their respective embassies to confirm who it was they were fighting that day...

[essex2visuvesi]

I think the position of Finland in European fighting is somewhat confusing. Finland has always been overshadowed by Russia, so most of its policies have been aimed at defending itself against this giant neighbour, who had conquered it in 1809.

In 1917/18, as Russia collapsed in revolution, Finland ejected Russian occupation (supported by Germany), and gained independence. At that time Germany was seen as a friendly power.

By 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 'gave' Finland to Russia, so Finland was fighting Russia and Germany became unfriendly. At this point Finland was looking for help from Sweden and Britain against Germany, and proposals were made for Finland to join the Allied side.

When Germany turned on Russia in 1941 Finland then allied with Germany in order to keep fighting Russia. This meant that there were occasions when Britain and Finland fought.

In 1944 the Germans started collapsing, and the Russians switched their troops towards German invasion, away from Finland (where they were not doing well).  This led to the Finns obtaining an armistice from the Russians. Part of the terms were that the Germans should be ejected from Finland - the Germans did not want to go, so the Finns promptly fought the Germans again, until 1945.

Since Finland had sided with Germany at various times it was classified as a belligerent and fascist power in the Paris peace treaty, paid reparations to Russia, and remained aligned with Russia (though somewhat distantly) during the Cold War....

I would guess that Allied, Axis and Finnish pilots fighting in this theatre needed a regular and frequent check with their respective embassies to confirm who it was they were fighting that day...

That pretty much sums it up

M'lud I rest my case :)

Now the Finns busy themselves making the quality Birch ply us modellers love so much

[arrow5]

Nice resume Dodgy, thanks.   As well as birch ply they produce some VERY good race and rally drivers, world champions in fact. Olympic torch arrives in southern UK today...ho hum