The swastika is linked with the Nazi party and its ideology. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the swastika is a sacred symbol representing good fortune, but in early twentieth-century Germany, the swastika was appropriated by racist groups—not just the Nazis—to represent the supposed racial superiority of “Aryans.” When used by these groups, the swastika was meant to promote pride. By representing “Aryans,” the swastika became the symbol of the “us” vs. “them” ideology the Nazis promoted.
In order to control the use and messaging behind the swastika, in May 1933, the Nazi government prohibited private companies and advertisers from featuring the swastika. Hence, the Nazis forever changed the imagery and association of this once-peaceful symbol.
In 1945, after the defeat and collapse of Nazi Germany, organizations, symbols, and propaganda linked to the Nazi regime were outlawed in Germany. To this day, it is illegal to disseminate Nazi propaganda in Germany. Throughout Europe, many countries still forbid public displays of Nazi symbols and promoting Nazi ideology on the internet. Anyone who violates these terms is subject to criminal proceedings.
Source: Holocaust Encyclopedia. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Source: Boissoneault, Lorraine. “The Man Who Brought the Swastika to Germany, and How the Nazis Stole It." Smithsonian Institution.