Quote Originally Posted by konny
It was a variation that was introduced by the navy in 1916, when Hitler was a little private, Goebbels was studing to become a priest, Göring was pilot under Richthofen, Himmler was still at school and no one had an idea what 'Nazi' should be.

And of course, it was used on German planes, tanks etc., it was an military identifying mark.
Exactly. Both of those crosses were used before the nazi party existed and were used by the armed forces with no special nazi connotations (unlike the swastika). Which is why I find it a little odd if Germany allows one but not the other.