<p>That's the symbol for the Sturmabteilung, or Storm Division of the Nazi Party. They always wore the brown uniforms, and were the main tool used to strike fear into political enemies of Adolf Hitler. It was in fact used during WWII by the SA, so it's not a Neo-Nazi creation. It's not a reference or an attempt to avoid Swastika bans as this was a genuine symbol used. They didn't use the symbol on their armbands. I'm 99.99% sure all armbands worn had the Swastika on them. The Waffen Schutzstaffel took their place after the Nazis REALLY kicked in.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-29T23:48:34.750Z
2017-08-29T23:48:34.750Z
Eric Johann
<p>This is the symbol of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmabteilung" rel="noreferrer">Sturmabteilung</a>,  a paramilitary organization within the German Nazi Party, whose methods of violent intimidation played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power.</p>

<p>It's made up of an "S" (in lightning bolt shape) and an "A" and is probably a reference to Neo-Nazi groups evading the Swastika ban by using other related symbols.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Jukxn.png" alt="SA logo"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-19T07:43:55.927Z
I'm not sure which Swastika ban you are referring to, but according to Wikipedia use of this emblem is prohibited by the [same law in Germany](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a) as for the Swastika (in Nazi context). Just for info.
LiveWireBT
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-19T19:35:13.733Z
@LiveWireBT Many Nazi-related symbology are banned in European countries as an effort to curtail neo-Nazism. Even when banned, such symbols are still far less recognizable than swastikas, and thus serve as more discreet symbols of white supremacy.
кяαzєя
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-13T00:16:12.300Z
2014-08-13T05:23:01.123Z
2014-08-13T05:23:01.123Z
кяαzєя
<p>I'm on episode 5 of Black Lagoon, and I noticed this symbol being used by the Nazis on a flag and on a red arm band worn by one of the leaders of the group.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1G8Ee.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rfNQw.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>What's this symbol called, assuming it corresponds to something in real life? Is there any reason this should be used over a more recognisable symbol like the swastika? It doesn't correspond to anything listed on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_symbolism" rel="noreferrer">the Wikipedia page for Nazi symbolism</a>.</p>

<p>EDIT: In response to the idea that it might have been censorship specific to Funimation, I decided to look up the episode on a Chinese streaming site I use. The symbol there was identical to the one in the Funimation episode. Of course, this doesn't mean that there couldn't have been censorship on the Chinese end as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T23:38:06.637Z
just speculation but i'd dare say that it's to avoid the negative connotations assigned with the Swastika, much like how in a reenactment of *Raiders of the Lost Ark* by Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida despite the fact that Nazi's are in it anyway. also the west often confuses the  [Buddhist symbol with the Nazi's one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Misinterpretation_over_imported_Asian_products_in_Western_countries)
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T23:46:56.127Z
@Memor-X: I figured that _might_ be the reason for it, but I wasn't sure so asked.
Maroon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T23:53:19.730Z
well i only speculate why the Nazi's here aren't using their normal Swastika for this anime and for all i know Funimation has done some censoring and the symbol your seeing here may have been the Swastika in Japan, it's not like they haven't done graphics editing in anime before during localization
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-13T00:06:28.533Z
@Memor-X: checked and edited my response into the question. I will however note that I have a suspicion some of the vague nudity in Sailor Moon was touched up on the same streaming site, so it's hard to say.
Maroon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-13T00:20:04.817Z
A key note here is that they are Neo-Nazis.
кяαzєя
<black-lagoon>
What's this symbol used by the Nazis?
# What's this symbol used by the Nazis?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-08-12
I'm on episode 5 of Black Lagoon, and I noticed this symbol being used by the Nazis on a flag and on a red arm band worn by one of the leaders of the group.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/1G8Ee.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rfNQw.png)

What's this symbol called, assuming it corresponds to something in real life? Is there any reason this should be used over a more recognisable symbol like the swastika? It doesn't correspond to anything listed on [the Wikipedia page for Nazi symbolism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_symbolism).

EDIT: In response to the idea that it might have been censorship specific to Funimation, I decided to look up the episode on a Chinese streaming site I use. The symbol there was identical to the one in the Funimation episode. Of course, this doesn't mean that there couldn't have been censorship on the Chinese end as well.
**Tags:** black-lagoon
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: just speculation but i'd dare say that it's to avoid the negative connotations assigned with the Swastika, much like how in a reenactment of *Raiders of the Lost Ark* by Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida despite the fact that Nazi's are in it anyway. also the west often confuses the  [Buddhist symbol with the Nazi's one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Misinterpretation_over_imported_Asian_products_in_Western_countries)  
> **username_0**: @Memor-X: I figured that _might_ be the reason for it, but I wasn't sure so asked.  
> **username_1**: well i only speculate why the Nazi's here aren't using their normal Swastika for this anime and for all i know Funimation has done some censoring and the symbol your seeing here may have been the Swastika in Japan, it's not like they haven't done graphics editing in anime before during localization  
> **username_0**: @Memor-X: checked and edited my response into the question. I will however note that I have a suspicion some of the vague nudity in Sailor Moon was touched up on the same streaming site, so it's hard to say.  
> **username_2**: A key note here is that they are Neo-Nazis.  
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2014-08-13. Score: 18 | Accepted answer
This is the symbol of the [Sturmabteilung](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmabteilung), a paramilitary organization within the German Nazi Party, whose methods of violent intimidation played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power.

It's made up of an "S" (in lightning bolt shape) and an "A" and is probably a reference to Neo-Nazi groups evading the Swastika ban by using other related symbols.

![SA logo](https://i.sstatic.net/Jukxn.png)
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2015-01-19): I'm not sure which Swastika ban you are referring to, but according to Wikipedia use of this emblem is prohibited by the [same law in Germany](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a) as for the Swastika (in Nazi context). Just for info.  
> **username_2** (2015-01-19): @LiveWireBT Many Nazi-related symbology are banned in European countries as an effort to curtail neo-Nazism. Even when banned, such symbols are still far less recognizable than swastikas, and thus serve as more discreet symbols of white supremacy.  
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2017-08-29. Score: 0
That's the symbol for the Sturmabteilung, or Storm Division of the Nazi Party. They always wore the brown uniforms, and were the main tool used to strike fear into political enemies of Adolf Hitler. It was in fact used during WWII by the SA, so it's not a Neo-Nazi creation. It's not a reference or an attempt to avoid Swastika bans as this was a genuine symbol used. They didn't use the symbol on their armbands. I'm 99.99% sure all armbands worn had the Swastika on them. The Waffen Schutzstaffel took their place after the Nazis REALLY kicked in.
---
