Last modified: 2013-08-04 by antónio martins
Keywords: nazi | neonazi | politics | swastika | cross: swastika | cross: celtic | celtic cross | rune: odal | werewolf | 88 | eighty eight |
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Nazist movements from different parts of the world have quite similar flags.
They usually are red, white and black, that are the
“Bismark colors” upon which was also
based the Hitler’s flag. The scheme is always
the same: red background, a white circle in the middle and a black symbol. As
in many countries it is forbidden to use fascist or
nazist symbols, they use new symbols reminescent of swastika.
Anon.
All these are flags resembling the german flag of 1933-1945. Here’s a list:
I think these are mostely beautiful flags, though politically,
I strongly oppose what they stands for.
Elias Granqvist, 24 Apr 2001
That’s completely possible. Tyrants, with their devotion to
“bread and circuses”, are often masters of manipulation, including
symbols. The German Nazis were absolute masters of
this; if they were just another political party, their flags would be
considered works of art. Indeed, the swastika itself now has a meaning that no
Buddhist would put on it, it being found
often in their iconography and elsewhere. (I recall maps in Japan being
marked with swastikas to indicate Buddhist temples. Took me a while to get
used to that!)
Al Kirsch, 25 Apr 2001
The texts about this symbol [the so called hurricane on the
P.N.S.S. flag] illustrate quite well the interesting
phenomenon of neonazi symbology worldwide: The flags, symbols, salutes, etc.
are clearly influenced by Hitler and Mussolini and based on them —
however the “official” explanations refer most everything except
that fact. This symbol is “hurricane”, then? Yeah, as much as
South Africa’s AWB threelegged swastika was
based on the number "777", and similar explanations. I simply dont get
it. If these people use simbols reminding of they’re ideological idols,
why dont they say so? There sure don’t hide their intentions in other
situations… Saying «our symbol looks like a swastika out of a
coincidence, as it was originally designed by my mother-in-law’s
cat» is being plain coward — something neonazis don’t like to
be called at…
António Martins, 27 Jul 1999
It would be inconsistent with the nationalist part of the ideology, I think.
The nebulous explanations also fit in with the use of the swastika —
there is no link between the ancient and the Nazis, other than the swastika
itself.
Ole Andersen, 28 Jul 1999
It is interesting to note that most mock
versions of the swastika flag feel much more “nazi” than the
flags of real nazi-sympathetic entities, and that many of the
listed sympathetic regimes of the pre-WWII era end
up in quite “unsympathetic” relations with Germany (the Cutch-cross
austrians, Horthy, the rumanian what’s-his-name, et c.).
António Martins, 10 Feb 2003
image by António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
(With and without the white and black
lining/fimbriation, both usual forms).
António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
image by António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
The celtic cross is probably the most popular symbol among (seemingly not
only) european neonazis, even more than the traditional swastika (but
that’s maybe because the swastika is banned
or has its use “protected” in many countries). They base it in that
Celts are “true” Europeans (i.e., of “pure”
breed).
António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
The circle/cross design has (like the swastika) a long and honourable usage
before it was associated with modern nazism. The circle/cross is another
variation of the solar disk, and is found in ancient American, Asian, and
European cultures. It was also associated with Celtic Christianity. The symbol
also has various meanings in alchemy and hermetic studies.
Anon.
I suspect that the present users care less for the actual symbolism
involved than they value its similarity to the swastika design, and
substitute it for a swastika when such a design is
illegal.
Anon.
The celtic cross somehow resembles the cross on he Ku
Klux Klan flag.
António Martins, 10 Feb 2003
image by António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
This white power cross is a popular symbol amongst
Europe’s hardcore Nazis. It is molded after the Celtic
cross, seeking to make an heritage issue of it.
António Martins, 27 May 1998, quoting
Nazism
Exposed | Flags and Symbols (Pål’s site)
image by António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
Black celtic cross on white, as opposed
to the more usual white celtic cross on black,
used on european neo-nazi flags.
António Martins, 4 Oct 1998
Other sites:
image by António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
Another popular rune among neonazi organizations is
"ᛟ", the odal rune (notably the by the South
African African Student
Federation). It is the last letter of futhark,
the “modern” 16 letter viking rune set.
(Here with and without the white and black
lining/fimbriation, both usual forms).
António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
image by António Martins, 18 Apr 1998
The odal was originally used by ethnic
Germans (Volksdeutsche) from Yugoslavia
SS-regiment
(the 7. SS Freiwillingen-Gebirgs —
Division Prinz Eugen) operating
during the WWII in the Nazi Germany sponsored
State of Croatia.
According to FlagMaster 073
[flm],
it may have been used by ethnic Germans
in other countries.
António Martins and Mark Sensen, 18 Apr 1998
Another version (with arrows at the end)
was used by the 23. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division
"Nederland".
Mark Sensen, 19 Apr 1998
image by António Martins, 27 Jul 1999
I found a brief but interesting description of a symbol that appears on some current nazist flags:
A fascist sign, used in for instance Sweden in the 1990s, meaning werewolf. According to ancient superstitions men were sometimes transformed into beings, half men, half wolves, extremely blood-thirsty and ferocious. These beings were called werewolves. Werwolf, German for "werewolves", was the name chosen for the guerilla fighters Hitler and the Nazi top had planned should continue the fight against the invading Allies when Germany’s Wehrmacht was defeated and the German territory was occupied.Giuseppe Bottasini, 29 Jul 1998, quoting from www.symbols.com
A complete history of the Werwolf organization can be found at
this site.
The symbol was also used by a number of organizations
in german occupied Netherlands.
Marcus Wendel, 07 Aug 1999
This symbol is the ancient german rune Wolfsangel.
In past it was a magical means to frighten away the wolfs. In
WWII this sign was used by Division Waffen SS Das Reich.
Source: [mux97]
Viktor Lomancov, 01 Jan 2000
What’s the connection between neo-nazism and "88"…?
It’s not the first time I notice this (f.i., NZ’s
Unit 88). I imagine that, since "88"
looks a bit like "SS" (especially if on a flag with different sides
seen in backlight, hmm), and might be used as a surogate for it in the lines
of what happend with the celtic cross and other
substitues for the swastika, but I’d expect to see
it more proeminentely displayed and sported, namely on flags.
António Martins, 08 Jul 2002
Nothing to do with the SS, nor with the famous German 88mm gun. As
far as I know, each "8" stands for the eighth letter in the
(German, English etc.) alphabet, "H". Thus "88" stands
for "HH", which in turn is an abbreviation for "Heil
Hitler".
Santiago Dotor, 09 Jul 2002
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