Swastika/Hakenkreuz/Hooked Cross
The Hakenkreuz, also misrepresented as the Swastika or Hooked Cross, is an ancient symbol, an equilateral cross with four arms bent at four right angles.
Historically, it has been used by multiple cultures which attributed to it beneficial meanings (the name "swastika" means literally "to be good") but in the context of the Wolfenstein series, its most important use is that by the Nazi Party, who used it as their emblem back when the swastika had a boom in popularity in the early 20th century. The swastika appears throughout the games of the Wolfenstein series, and is included not only in the textures, but the level design of Wolfenstein 3D.
The inclusion of the swastika led to uncut versions of games from the Wolfenstein series being banned in Germany due to cultural stigma associated with the symbol, which is legally enforced through the Strafgesetzbuch section 86a as well as the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (German: Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien or BPjM) As such, the censored version of games normally replace the swastika with either the stylized letter W logo of the Wolfenstein series or the Iron Cross, a cross pattée symbol that pre-dates both World Wars.
In Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, the censored symbol is a triangle with extended arms.
On August 9, 2018, Germany relaxed the ban on the usage of swastikas and other Nazi symbols in video games including Wolfenstein, as per a ruling deeming video games as an art form under the social adequacy clause required for media to be exempted from censorship under § 86a StGB. German versions of Wolfenstein still use some of the censored version's symbols however.
Wolfenstein 3D levels with swastikas in the level design[]
A wall tile that shows a swastika.
Wolfenstein 3D often incorporates swastikas in level design, like this level, Floor 3 of Episode 6.
Many levels of Wolfenstein 3D feature levels and rooms that are designed in the shape of swastikas, often to a preposterous extent. This list does not include levels that merely feature swastikas in the coloration of wall tiles.
- Episode 1, Floor 4 (map) features a wooden swastika five tiles wide, near the center of the level. A pushwall reveals a Medkit in the center.
- Episode 2, Floor 2 (map) has a region of three angular hallways connected by a central hub, which resembles a three-armed swastika.
- Episode 2, Floor 5 (map) has a main hallway in the shape of a giant swastika.
- Episode 3, Floor 8 (map) has a moderately large, very lopsided swastika-shaped hallway.
- Episode 4, Floor 5 (map) has one small room in the shape of a swastika, filled with ammo and food.
- Episode 4, Floor 8 (map) has a hefty, heavily guarded cache of supplies in the western portion of the level. The array of ceiling lights in the room is in the shape of a swastika.
- Episode 6, Floor 3 (map) is comprised almost entirely of 7 rooms shaped after swastikas.
Spear of Destiny[]
Spear of Destiny also has some swastikas ingrained in the levels.
- Tunnels 3 (map) features a diagonally-shaped swastika of ceiling lamps in the southernmost room of the level.
- Dungeons 1 (map) features a swastika of ceiling lamps in the west of the level.
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