2. The 'Mockingjay Badge' & The Nazi Gunner Badge
The 'Mockingjay Badge' first appears in the first Hunger Games film and is given to Prim by Katniss before the Reaping, with Katniss telling her younger sister that nothing bad will happen to her as long as she keeps it in her possession. It is later given back to Katniss when she volunteers as Tribute and takes her sister's place in the Hunger Games. Later, for the rebels, the Mockingjay becomes a symbol of rebellion as Mockingjays were never intended to exist, and were thus viewed as a slap in the face for the Capitol and its evil values. Again, the symbolism is unfortunately familiar...
The Mockingjay badge also looks a lot like an old Luftwaffe medal - the 'Nazi Gunner Badge' (seen above) depicting an eagle carrying in its talons bent arrows, or lightning bolts. The bird in the Mockingjay badge carries a straight arrow. Eagles and birds of prey were a common symbol of the Nazi party and were used on many of their badges and medals, which is why it's strange the Hunger Games would intentionally use this image, given how easy it is for it to be misconstrued as Nazi imagery. What are we supposed to glean from this? Are the rebels being depicted as a dangerous force? Are we supposed to embrace the allusions to tyranny? Or have the art department and Suzanne Collins just made some spectacularly misinformed decisions?