Crosstar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Crosstar is an anti-communist symbol adopted by the white supremacist Nationalist Movement, which named its website after the emblem. Although the two are almost identical, its advocates claim that the Crosstar has no direct relation with the fascist Arrow Cross symbol. Both are basically the arrow cross symbol[1] that is traced back to ancient times and was used by Hungarian tribes in the middle ages[2].
The Crosstar was used by American soldiers stationed in Banmethuot, Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. Modeled after a weather vane and signifying victory in the North, South, East and West, its users were Larry Borders, David French, Warren "Smitty" Smith, Al Cantrell, Ken Cozart and Richard Barrett. Soldiers originally scratched the Crosstar on their helmets, but it was later sewn onto flags and patches as a pro-war alternative to the peace sign.
When it was used in 1965 by American soldiers the Crosstar was generally a white insignia on a blue field. When used as a flag it was called either the Crosstar Flag or the Victory Flag. In 1966, the field was changed to red, with the Crosstar remaining white. In 1967, a blue stripe was added, bordering inside the outer limits of the white Crosstar.
Although used by soldiers in Vietnam, in the United States the Crosstar came to be a general anti-communist symbol. In Europe since the 1930s this symbol has always been associated with fascism. The American Victory Committee, which sponsored numerous Victory in Vietnam parades and rallies, began using the Crosstar, as well as its affiliate America's Victory Force, which held the Victory in Vietnam March on Washington in 1970 with some 200,000 participants.
It was adopted in 1971 by the National Youth Alliance, and in 1987 by both the Forsyth County Defense League and the Nationalist Movement. The Nationalist Movement also named its website after the Crosstar in 1996.
[edit] References
- History of the Crosstar from the Nationalist Movement's website
