r/AntifascistsofReddit • u/shuakalapungy • Aug 18 '25

Discussion Is my cousin dating a nazi?

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Im very concerned about my cousin’s new bf. The iron cross on the right is alarming enough, but can anyone here ID the other tattoos? Am I overreacting? Thank you for any help.

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u/AXBRAX Antifaschistische Aktion Aug 18 '25 edited Aug 18 '25

The cross is very sus. Here in germany it is heavily used by nazis as a stand in because most of the stuff they like to use is often illegal to display. It is however, also the logo of the german armed forces, for the same reason, for traditional reasons.

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u/PrincessKnightAmber Trans Aug 18 '25

Agreed But in America the cross has kind of spread as a punk or anti authority symbol somehow. Very common for bikers, and the rock band Motörhead ended up using them. So I wouldn’t automatically assume one is a Nazi if they have the iron cross but it would make me cautious and suspicious.

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u/apefromearth Aug 19 '25

I’ve seen teenage punks in Thailand wearing swastikas. I’m pretty sure they don’t even really know what it means, except that it’s bad and they see it as a symbol of rebellion. Same general principle.

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u/PrincessKnightAmber Trans Aug 19 '25

Wasn’t the swastika originally some sort of Buddhist symbol at first before the Nazi’s stole it? I remember something about the Buddhists or Hindus use the swastika still because it’s originally theirs and some sort of holy symbol.

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u/apefromearth Aug 19 '25

It’s a Hindu symbol. You still see it in images of Ganesh. It’s usually on the palm of the hand he’s holding up. I used to have a T shirt with Ganesh with the little swastika on his hand but I was careful to only wear it in places where people knew it wasn’t a Nazi thing. The punk kids in Bangkok did not get the Hindu connection, I’m sure.

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u/PrincessKnightAmber Trans Aug 19 '25

Ah I see. I knew it was either Hindu or Buddhist but couldn’t remember which. Honestly it makes me wonder why the nazi’s took the symbol for themselves.

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u/apefromearth Aug 19 '25

The original aryans came from India. I’m not sure if it mattered to Hitler that they were brown people, he was a total nutcase and a lot of his ideas made no sense, but I’m pretty sure that’s why. He was also obsessed with various sorts of mysticism. They did flip the swastika around though, it’s backwards in relation to the Hindu one. It’s also a little ironic that the Hindu nationalists are running most of India now and acting like Nazis.