It has meant eternity, peace, has been used as a family crest and many many other meanings over the centuries. It has been found widely throughout Asia, in Europe and even in ancient burials in North America. Its an ancient symbol that was hijacked by the Nazi's.

Didn't know about the rest, thanks. Plus the guy didn't really look like a skin head.

very old symbol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

the mirror image.

while the Nazi swastika is counter clockwise.

Its either Buddist. Tibetan Yungdrung Bön or Hindu...representation of i believe eternity, eternal life-force or an aspect of Ganesh respectively in that order...but

IF it has rounded arms that a perfect circle can encompass (and possibly has the encompassing circle) then it is very very very ancient and can either be a representation of an early Egyptian cult who's name I cannot remember or of a very ancient sect of Jews in Egypt...representing something like the protectors of the occult"

If it has rounded arms and a pointed circle representing the sun then it is an ancient Mason symbol which I will not elaborate on except to say it is for magical protection.

The ancient symbol in both ancient Egyptian and ancient Judaic cultures represents protection from outside magical forces.

This same symbol can be found in modern homes sometimes displayed in windows of certain religious sects in the US today...namely the Mennonites and Amish.

It is considered a very powerful protection symbol to ward off supernatural/magic attacks from outside or evil forces.

And yes some early christian groups adopted it primarily the Gnostics.

I believe some white supremacists have now adopted it thinking it is the ancient symbol for the Norse God Thor but they are a silly confused bunch since the ancient symbol for Thor is the forward bent arm swastika.

Absolutely nothing to do with Germany.....

top connection point extends to left
right connection point extends upward
bottom connecting point extends right
left connecting point extends downward