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Finland, a NATO member, has announced plans to phase out the swastika from its remaining military flags. According to national media reports, the air force will remove any remaining swastikas from its unit flags.
### Why It Matters
The swastika is strongly associated with Nazi Germany, although it predates this era and was once a symbol of peace or well-being in many cultures. In modern times, it is primarily linked to antisemitism and Nazism, and displays of Nazi symbols are banned in many European countries.
Finland’s air force command adopted the swastika as an emblem since early in the 20th century but removed it in 2017. Colonel Tomi Böhm, commander of Finland’s Karelia Air Wing, told Finnish broadcaster YLE that they have encountered “awkward situations” with foreign visitors, including U.S. personnel, due to the presence of swastikas on their flags.
### What To Know
The Finnish Defense Forces informed The Associated Press in 2023 that plans to change air force flag designs were initiated then. The move is not linked to Finland’s NATO accession or its neighbor Sweden joining the alliance in 2024. Instead, the country aims to “update the symbolism and emblems of the flags to better reflect the current identity of the air force.”
The swastika was dropped from Finnish aircraft following World War II but still appeared on some unit flags, other emblems, and uniforms until at least 2020, according to a spokesperson for the Finnish air force.
In early 2017, Finland’s air force adopted a new emblem featuring a golden eagle surrounded by wings. This change was practical because the old emblem had caused misunderstandings on occasion.
### What People Are Saying
Colonel Tomi Böhm stated: “The world has changed, and we live according to the times.”
Teivo Teivainen, a professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, told The Associated Press that there is now a need for greater integration with forces from countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and France—nations where the swastika remains a negative symbol.
### What Happens Next
The exact timeline for completely removing the swastikas from military flags is unclear.
