**** Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos ****
**** National Alliance ****
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Symbol Type |
Racist/Extremist Group |
Symbol Description |
"Life Rune" surrounded by a band of ivy on each side |
Also Known As |
"Yggdrasil" (a symbol in Norse Mythology) |
Traditional Use/Origins |
The "Life Rune" was a character from the Runic Alphabet which signified life, creation, birth, rebirth and renewal. The "Life Rune" symbol was also used by the Nazis on the graves of SS soldiers signifying the soldier’s date of birth (while the "Death Rune," an upside-down "Life Rune," was used to signify date of death). |
Hate Group/Extremist Organization |
National Alliance |
Extremist Meaning or Representation |
See below |
Background/History |
Racists also employ the "Life Rune" to denote "Giver of Life" in relation to women in the white supremacist movement. The National Alliance is a neo-Nazi organization led by William Pierce and is based near Hillsboro, West Virginia. It is the largest and most active neo-Nazi organization in the United States. |
Links to Related Information | Explosion of Hate: The Growing Danger of the National Alliance |