# Dust Bowl Swastikas **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475 "2012-11-19T04:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/21 "2012-11-22T04:45:08Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > You know who else that mustache worked for? > > Chaplin. But it only works to make you look silly. Since I am a man with a wide handlebar moustache, a goatee, and long sideburns\*; you should probably accept myself as an authority on silly facial hair. > [@Acsenray](#): > > My understanding that before Hitler, it was known as the “toothbrush moustache” and it was popular amongst Army officers because of its neatness. But, like the flat top haircut, it doesn’t really “work”, does it? \*Think “THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!”. That’s pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/22 "2012-11-22T04:58:37Z")
There are swastikas on the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama. > **[Swastikas on the JeffCo Courthouse have more to do with prosperity than Hitler](https://www.al.com/strange-alabama/2012/05/swastikas_on_the_jeffco_courth.html)** > > Swastikas on the Jefferson County Courthouse - Photo by Beverly CriderSwastikas are etched on the Jefferson County Courthouse. Some of you may be surprised to learn this; others may have known for years. So, let's address the "elephant in... ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/23 "2012-12-01T16:25:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > The insignia of the 45th Infantry Division (from OKC) was originally a yellow swastika on red in honor of the states native american heritage. They changed it to the Thunderbird in 1939 because of some issue with a guy named Adolf using the symbol. German fellow, wasn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/24 "2012-12-01T16:55:35Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > The YMCA near my house has swastikas on the floor in places. I keep waiting for someone to complain, but I guess either they understand or don’t care. And the county courthouse in Washington County, OH. They have a prominent sign covering the issue to avoid any…unpleasantries. You gotta admit, when the Nazi’s ruin something, they do a thorough job. 70+ years later and several cultural items are still off limits. Likely to remain so for a long time, too. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/25 "2012-12-01T17:05:53Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > And the county courthouse in Washington County, OH. They have a prominent sign covering the issue to avoid any…unpleasantries. > > You gotta admit, when the Nazi’s ruin something, they do a thorough job. 70+ years later and several cultural items are still off limits. Likely to remain so for a long time, too. Well, when you realize that many people who suffered under that symbol are still alive, and have nightmares every night because of it, perhaps it’s not that long a time after all. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/26 "2012-12-01T17:50:43Z")
I had a friend in China who wore a swastika on a necklace. I never got a picture with her on a day she wore it, but it would have made for a fun picture. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/27 "2012-12-01T17:55:07Z")
I’ve been in a _synagogue_ that had a swastika pattern in the floor tiles of the lobby. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/28 "2012-12-01T20:38:19Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > German fellow, wasn’t he? Old joke: Austria’s greatest accomplishment was to persuade the world that Beethoven was Austrian and Hitler was not. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/29 "2012-12-01T21:29:30Z")
My mother was very disturbed by the architectural design of the [hospital](http://www.hohbach-lewin.com/images/projects/health/stanford.jpg) where I was born. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/30 "2012-12-01T21:45:28Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Chaplin. Maybe I’m being too picayune, but I don’t think of Chaplin’s flared trapezoid as being the same style as Hitler’s rigid rectangle. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/31 "2012-12-01T21:57:49Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’ve been in a _synagogue_ that had a swastika pattern in the floor tiles of the lobby. Built before the 1930s, I would guess. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/32 "2012-12-01T22:31:02Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Maybe I’m being too picayune, but I don’t think of Chaplin’s flared trapezoid as being the same style as Hitler’s rigid rectangle. They were very similar. It was certainly close enough for Chaplin to play [The Great Dictator.](http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Chaplin,%20Charlie/Annex/Annex%20-%20Chaplin,%20Charlie%20(Great%20Dictator,%20The)_01.jpg) [Hitler’s](http://www.historyguy.com/Hitler.jpg) and [Chaplin’s](http://www.nndb.com/people/876/000023807/charlie-chaplin.jpg) style was very close. [Hitler’s original moustache](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gABH2kfaXNo/T-ZvDT_4xPI/AAAAAAAAAeM/TlnmDb5BeEM/s1600/5045fg3.jpg)was pretty different. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/33 "2012-12-01T23:52:36Z")
Do the historical swastikas have the 45° rotation like the Nazis use (and Swastika Fuel Company, I see)? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475/34 "2012-12-02T02:53:49Z")
We had the [Swastika Laundry](http://comeheretome.com/2010/04/26/swastika-laundry-1912-1987/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-bowl-swastikas/641475.md?page=1)