Rodło
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The Rodło is a Polish emblem used since 1932 by the Union of Poles in Germany. It is a stylized representation of the Vistula River and Kraków as the wellsprings of Polish culture.
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[edit] History
The Polish national emblem, the White Eagle, having been banned in Nazi Germany, the Rodło was invented as a new symbol that Poles in Germany could rally around. The name, "Rodło," is a portmanteau of "ród" ("folk") and "godło" ("emblem").
The Rodło graphics was conceived in 1930's by the graphic designer, Janina Kłopocka, who sketched the "emblem of the Vistula River, cradle of the Polish people, and royal Kraków, cradle of Polish culture". The white emblem was placed on a red background — the Polish national colors. It was adopted in August 1932 by the leadership of the Union of Poles in Germany.
The similarity to half of the Nazi swastika was probably not intended, but was noticed by Germans. Actually, Rodło was a Polish patriotic challenge to the swastika.
[edit] Other uses
The Rodło has since been adopted by other organizations of Poles in Germany, notably the Scouts, who have used it alongside the fleur de lys. After the World War II it was also used by organizations working in Poland, on the territories gained from Germany as the result of war.
In 1985 the People's Republic of Poland introduced a Rodło Medal. In 1992, after the fall of communism, it was discontinued.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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