![]() ![]() Hitler deliberately used these colors when creating the Nazi flag, using propaganda and the colors to try and draw Germans into the Nazi agenda by connecting the imperialism of the German Empire and the Nazi regime. These colors were originally the colors of the German Empire that fell after World War I. The combination of the colors red, white, and black is another example of a neo-Nazi symbol. The sonnenrad has become alarmingly disseminated, with the symbol being used in memes and social media posts in support of alt-right leaders around the world. In March of 2019, Tarrant massacred 51 members of two Christchurch mosques. A manifesto created by Brenton Tarrant displayed the sonnenrad prominently on the cover. While the swastika is known around the world as a hate symbol and is illegal in certain countries, the sonnenrad is not so well known despite the similar hateful connotations it represents. Contemporary neo-Nazis have revived the symbol. The head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, had a sonnenrad mosaic installed in the floor of the SS headquarters and included the SS’s insignia within the sonnenrad to represent the “Aryan race” the Nazis were intent on creating. Many hate symbols, including the swastika, have been appropriated from ancient cultural symbols in order to encourage dangerous racist narratives. While the symbol originates from an ancient Norse representation of the sun, more modern context shows us how the sonnenrad was a symbol of Hitler’s SS and after the fall of the Nazis in Germany, a symbol of the remaining Nazi supporters. The sonnenrad, or black sun, has long been a symbol of the neo-Nazi movement. A popular way of hiding this message in social media posts, pieces of clothing, or on posters is to represent it on a pair of dice. ![]() An example of secret messages would be the use of the number “1488.” 14 refers to the 14 words of a slogan utilized by white supremacists and 88 refers to “Heil Hitler” with H being the 8 th letter in the alphabet. They intend the symbols to be messages to other neo-Nazis. ![]() They want to openly announce their support of the group/ideology 2. Most of the time, neo-Nazis have three reasons to use a hate symbol: 1. People who utilize hate symbols in modern times work to ensure their ideologies are recognizable to likeminded people but not recognizable to the point that they might be criticized. This article serves as a baseline explanation of popular hate symbols within hate groups with the goal to make these symbols more recognizable and therefore less powerful. Because of this, hate groups have been able to mobilize, protest, and distinguish their members from others without fear of retribution aimed at their symbols. Therefore, hate groups have evolved to utilize symbols that perpetuate a very similar type of racism and hate as the swastika but are subtler and not as recognizable. However, hate groups have recognized how the swastika withdraws an immediate response of disgust and criticism from society. Pretty much everyone around the world is able to recognize the swastika as a symbol of oppression and hate. They are used to send messages, intimidate, and represent alt-right, white supremacist groups. Swastika flag at a neo-Nazi rally in Massachusetts, USA. ![]()
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