By Matt Underwood Finland’s Air Force Will Stop Using the Swastika on Flags. This feels like a moment that demands a bit of unpacking, doesn’t it? It’s not every day you hear about a military force – the Finnish Air Force, in this case – phasing out a symbol that, let’s be honest, is instantly recognizable. But before anyone jumps to conclusions, it’s crucial to understand the context, and the history behind this unique situation.
For the Finnish Air Force, the swastika wasn’t just some random symbol. It was adopted in 1918, a good while before the rise of Nazism. The symbol actually came from a Swedish nobleman’s coat of arms, who was kind enough to donate the first airplane to the Finnish Air Force. This was a time when the swastika held a different meaning entirely, often associated with good luck and well-being. You see it in photos from World War I, even appearing on the sides of aircraft from various nations, including some British planes. The swastika wasn’t inherently tied to hate or violence at that point in history.
However, as the 20th century unfolded, the swastika’s association with the Nazi regime became undeniable, and indelibly stained. The fact that Finland’s swastika is blue and square, not black and angled, is certainly a distinction, but its origins no longer matter. The symbol of the swastika has become synonymous with the horrors of the Holocaust and the atrocities of World War II, and this context is a powerful, undeniable reality. It’s now time to admit that the symbol is no longer able to be rehabilitated.
Some might argue that removing the symbol is giving in to the fascists, and perhaps even suggest reappropriating the symbol, making it a positive sign once again. But this is not the case. By removing the symbol it does not legitimize its use by fascists, but instead it acknowledges the inescapable reality of the symbol’s history.
The process of deciding to change the flag must have been a long one. The history surrounding the flag goes back to the beginning of the Finnish Air Force, around 107 years. There’s a certain weight to the decision, and the path to this point wasn’t exactly straightforward. It seems that in 2020, the Air Force Command already removed the swastika from uniforms, but now they’re extending that change to include Air Force regimental flags. But that’s not the end of the story for the swastika in Finland. It is important to note that the Finnish president’s flag also features a swastika, and this change doesn’t currently extend to it.
The search for a replacement symbol raises another question. The proposed replacement is a golden eagle, a symbol that may not have the same impact as the swastika. One can only assume the design process was a complicated one! The challenge lies in finding a symbol that represents national identity and heritage without stirring up controversy.
As with any decision, the move to remove the swastika has its share of critics. Some may say that the swastika should be kept, or that the symbolism and history behind it is a part of the nation’s identity and that the symbol should be reclaimed. It is a fair argument. After all, the swastika existed for millennia before it was co-opted by a hate-filled ideology. But the reality remains: the symbol is inextricably linked to Nazi Germany. It is not a matter of what we *want* the symbol to mean, but what it now *does* mean for much of the world.
The story of the swastika in the Finnish Air Force also offers a chance to reflect on how symbols evolve over time. Symbols, like language, are not static. Their meanings are shaped by history, culture, and the events that surround them. What might have once been a symbol of good fortune can, over time, become a symbol of something entirely different. It reminds us of the importance of historical context and the need to be sensitive to the impact of symbols on different communities. The history of the swastika serves as a cautionary tale about how even the most ancient symbols can be taken, twisted, and redefined to serve agendas that stand in stark contrast to their original intent. It is a process that must be remembered as the Finnish Air Force moves on to a new chapter.