Today's question comes from Tony
from Eureka Nevada...
"Mister Jerk Face... I was thinking of getting
that Iron Cross symbol
tattooed on my arm. But before I do, i wanted to ask
where does it come
from, and what does it mean?" -Tony
Well Tony, that's an interesting
question... Lets Take a look at...
The origin of the IRON CROSS
1813
The IRON CROSS was Designed by architect Karl Friedrich
Schinkel and instituted by King Fredrick William III
of Prussia during the the war of liberation against
Napoleon in 1813. This four pointed cross, symbolic
of the goddess of peace and her four horse chariot,
was typically cast in iron and awarded as a medal
for bravery or valor in times of war or conflict.
1914
On August 5th,1914 Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany
and the King of Prussia, reestablished the medal and
awarded it without regard for nationality or social
class to combatants for acts of heroism, bravery or
leadership skills. During the First World War Germany
awarded over five million of these medals to members
of the armed forces. One of the more famous holders
of the cross was a soldier named Adolf Hitler.
1939
Superimposed with the Nazi swastika in its center,
Adolph Hitler renewed use of the Iron Cross as a medal
during WWII. As before, it was also awarded as a medal
for bravery or valor. Following the end of the Second
World War, the government of West Germany permitted
its military veterans to continue to wear the Iron
Cross, however German law prohibited the wearing of
an Iron Cross with a swastika.
1960's
The Hells Angels were among various biker groups involved
with organized crime, drug trafficing, and general
mayhem in the sixties. Many of the members of these
groups endorsed the same ideals as the WWII Nazi party
like racism, white supremacy and wore symbols of the
third reich upon their clothing to identify themselves.
Some bikers wore helmets emulating the shape of the
WWII German army helmets, Some wore tattoos and clothing
adorned with images of the Swastika, the SS symbol,
the Eagle perched upon the Swastika, and the Iron
Cross. Not quite as socially unacceptable as the Swastika,
the Iron cross became the most prominent symbol associated
with these bikers as it's meaning stretches further
than simply Nazi association, and thus became a popular
icon connected with bikers in general.
TODAY
Now that riding motorcycles is more a recreational
activity than a ultra destructive life-style, the
Iron Cross has transformed to represent the outcast
rebellious spirit of the lone biker. Retail companies
like West Coast Choppers have adopted the Iron Cross
as their logo giving it a new cultural significance
and symbolic meaning. Now the symbol can be seen everywhere
you look.
So there you go Tony... Now that you know where the
elaborate and weird history of the Iron Cross, don’t
you think it would be better to get something a little
more creative... Perhaps something like a tattoo of
your girlfriend riding a dragon in hell? What do you
think?
