Nazi symbols | #TranslateHate
Nazi symbols
noun \ ˈnät-sē ˈsim-bəls \
: code words, phrases, and images from Nazi Germany used today by neo-Nazis and white supremacists
WHY THEY'RE ANTISEMITIC:
Code words and phrases have been used for decades by different white supremacist hate groups to avoid censorship or censure. After the Holocaust, one could not support Nazi Germany and be accepted in polite society. Yet white supremacists continued to utilize a mix of symbols and phrases, and especially coded language and numbers, to show support for the Nazi cause. This outward support can take on many forms, such as on flags or clothing, or as tattoos including those “earned” by white supremacists by committing acts of violence. While not an exhaustive list, below are a few of the most common symbols and tropes.
Nazi swastika: The Nazi swastika was the symbol of the Nazi party under Adolf Hitler. It is an inverted version of the swastika symbol that is revered in many Eastern religions and cultures. Neo-Nazis and white supremacists continue to use it today as a symbol of the “pure race.” In addition, religious extremists, including Hamas and other terrorist groups, utilize the Nazi swastika to terrorize Jews and Israelis. Anti-Israel protestors have also wielded the Nazi swastika to weaponize the Holocaust against the Jewish community. This is antisemitism.
Blood and soil: Blut und boden in German, the phrase “blood and soil” was used by the Nazis to convey their values of a racially pure nation (“blood”) within their country’s borders (“soil”). The phrase “blood and soil” was chanted by white supremacists during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, VA.
14: 14 refers to the 14-word slogan, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White children,” coined by the leader of a white supremacist terrorist organization in the 1990s. Today, it’s often combined with the numbers 88 (14/88) as a rallying cry for the neo-Nazi movement.
88: 88 is a shorthand for “Heil Hitler.” The number eight refers to the eighth letter in the alphabet, H, with the two numbers symbolizing the two words beginning with H. It is used around the world by white supremacists to identify with neo-Nazi movements and to show support for racist views.
SS bolts: SS bolts refer to the two lightning bolts originally used as a symbol of victory by the Schutzstaffel (SS), the police force of Nazi Germany led by Heinrich Himmler, one of the main architects of the Holocaust. The symbol is based on a letter of the runic alphabet associated with the sound “s.”
