Small Scale Military Headquarters

Was organizing some of my WWII stuff, both planes and vehicles, and began to wonder why there are no Swastika markings on German vehicles? Virtually every aircraft, both Luftwaffe and Navy had them standard on their tails. Short of a part of a unit badge, no vehicles I've seen in photos have them. Not even SS Panzer units. I always thought the SS units were more hardcore Nazi than the Luftwaffe if that makes any sense Some helmets have them but no vehicles I've seen. Wonder why?

It is rare, but there are actually a very few photos of vehicles with swastikas.

The swastika on the tail is a carry-over from the civil airlines, which had it as the national marking - Hitler wanted to advertise Germany's amazing new air fleet. Since most of the early bombers were "airliners in disguise" the practice was retained especially with the insistence of Hitler and Goering. The ground forces tended to stay out of the nationalist/political arena and so did not use the swastika. However, some SS units did on an individual level rather than as a directive and other combat units did it on their own initiative.

[CAT]CplSlade wrote:It is rare, but there are actually a very few photos of vehicles with swastikas.

The swastika on the tail is a carry-over from the civil airlines, which had it as the national marking - Hitler wanted to advertise Germany's amazing new air fleet. Since most of the early bombers were "airliners in disguise" the practice was retained especially with the insistence of Hitler and Goering. The ground forces tended to stay out of the nationalist/political arena and so did not use the swastika. However, some SS units did on an individual level rather than as a directive and other combat units did it on their own initiative.

Thanks for the info.