Hammerskin Nation (U.S.)

Last modified: 2014-03-28 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | hammerskin nation | hammers |
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image by Tomislav Todorovic, 9 November 2013		image by Pete Loeser, 8 November 2013

• Introduction: Hammerskin Nation
• Description of the flag
• Pink Floyd - The Wall

See also:

• Nazi and Neo-Nazi Flags in the United States
• Political Parties and Movements (U.S.)
• United States of America

Introduction: Hammerskin Nation
NS-ALP

The Hammerskins, or Hammerskin Nation, are a white supremacist group formed in Dallas, Texas in 1988. They are very active in the the promotion of hate through the music of white power rock music. To this end the Hammerskins host several annual concerts, including the "Summer of Hate" concert and the "Hammerfest" in honor of deceased Hammerskin Joe Rowan, the lead singer of Nordic Thunder, which has become an annual event in both the United States and in Europe.

The Anti-Defamation League describes them as the best-organized neo-Nazi skinhead group in the United States. They claim six chapters in the United States: The Northwestern Hammerskin Chapter (NWHS), Western Hammerskin Chapter (WHS), Confederate Hammerskins (CHS), Northern Hammerskin Chapter (NHS), Eastern Hammerskin Chapter (EHS), and the Midland Hammerskins (MHS). The movement is now international, with chapters existing in Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia. The Hammerskins also have supporting chapters called Crew 38.

Historical Flags of Our Ancestors website
Pete Loeser, 8 November 2013

Description of the flag

The Hammerskins logo, "depicting two claw hammers crossed to resemble goose-stepping legs," is based on the 1982 Pink Floyd film "The Wall." Their logos and motto "Hammerskins Forever, Forever Hammerskins" (HFFH) often appears on their buttons, T-Shirts, posters and tattoos. Crew 38 and Hammerskins members identify themselves with the slogan "838," (the acronym HCH translates into the eighth, third, and eighth letters of the alphabet).

The first Hammerskin flag ( first ) was used at the Summer of Hate concert, organized by the Western Hammerskins, the Southern California branch of the Hammerskin Nation. The second flag design ( second ) is more commonly used on posters, badges and as a logo. The Confederate Hammerskin flag is often used as a square wall banner (1:1).
Pete Loeser, 8 November 2013

image by Pete Loeser, 8 November 2013

According to my notes the slogan "838" means "Hail the Crossed Hammers" (HCH). I'm not sure what "Crew 38" means exactly, but according to the Southern Cross Hammer Skinheads -Hammerskins Nation (Austrialia) website: "The Crew 38 Supporter Club is for people who are interested in the S.C.H.S. and wish to be a Hammerskin one day or because of work, family, distance or that they appreciate and support the S.C.H.S-H.S.N. and do not want membership, to show support to the Nation and have some part in the brotherhood."
Pete Loeser, 8 November 2013

Pink Floyd - The Wall

In the film "Pink Floyd - The Wall", there is a quasi-Nazi flag displayed that has been adopted by several Neo-Nazi groups in the USA. I recall the flag having a pair of claw hammers with handles overlapping to form an X, and the head of the hammers facing the left, superimposed against a ring with gear teeth on the outside. The background had two bars, white (top) and red (bottom). Use of this flag has inspired a movement known as "hammerskins". Ironically, the film was meant as an attack ON fascism! Go figure!
Steven F. Scharff, 10 february 2001

The only graphic I have seen of this flag is from some original artwork. The hammers are shown as almost photographic, the flag is shown as a 1:1 scale, pretty much as described in the posting but half grey and half red. This grey colour may just be to give it a slightly older or oppressive look.

The (light-duty) claw hammers have red painted handles with a black rubber grip covering the lower half. There is a black band on the top of the handle where it joins the hammer head.

In the promotional video to the single "Another Brick in the Wall", in the film "The Wall" and at concerts, these crossed hammers are shown in animation like the marching legs of soldiers in a parade. "The Wall", these hammers and anti-facist sentiment played a large part in Pink Floyd's works.

I have seen the toothed wheel mentioned as part of this image at some other time, presumably to give it a "hammer and sickle" look, but not in connection with The Floyd.

Alan Jenney, 1 July 2002