| Life Rune |
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Disclaimer: Nazi Germany glorified an idealized "Aryan/Norse" heritage, consequently extremists have appropriated many symbols from pre-Christian Europe for their own uses. They give such symbols a racist significance, even though the symbols did not originally have such meaning and are often used by nonracists today, especially practitioners of modern pagan religions
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Symbol Type |
Neo-Nazi Symbol
General Racist Symbol |
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Symbol Description |
Vertical line branching at top into three smaller lines
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Also Known As |
Elhaz rune, Algis rune
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Traditional Use/Origins |
Literally "elk," the elhaz rune in pre-Christian Europe had meanings related to stags or hunting, as well as honor, nobility, or protection.
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Hate Group/Extremist Organization
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Neo-Nazis, Racist Skinheads
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Extremist Meaning or Representation
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Often called the "life rune" (from the German lebenrune), it was the symbol of the SS's Lebensborn project (see below). To white supremacists, it signifies the future of the white race.
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Background/History |
The ancient runic symbol was adopted in the 1930s by the SS's Lebensborn project, which encouraged SS troopers to have children out of wedlock with "Aryan" mothers and which kidnapped children of Aryan appearance from the countries of occupied Europe to raise as Germans. The neo-Nazi National Alliance adopted this symbol as part of their logo.
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