Totenkopf

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Totenkopf (Plural: Totenköpfe) is the German word for "skull" (literally "dead man's head") and is used to describe a military insigne featuring a skull superimposed upon crossed bones; when used in this context it is commonly known as a "death's head" in English. It is distinguished from the similar traditions of the skull and crossbones and the Jolly Roger by the positioning of the bones directly behind the skull. For a long time in use in several countries, its association with aspects of Nazi Germany has perhaps accelerated its decline as societies remove the most morbid symbols from their military uniforms.

Contents 1 History 2 SS Usage 3 Use outside Germany 4 See also 5 References

[edit] History

Use of the symbol as a military insignia began with the cavalry of the Prussian army under Frederick the Great. Frederick formed Husaren-Regiment Nr.5 (von Ruesch), a Hussar regiment commanded by Colonel von Ruesch. These Hussars adopted a black uniform with a Totenkopf emblazoned on the front of their Mirletons and wore it on the field in the War of Austrian Succession and in the Seven Years' War.

In 1808, when the regiment was reformed into Leib-Husaren Regiments Nr.1 and Nr.2, the Totenkopf remained a part of the uniform. During the Napoleonic Wars, when Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, was killed in battle, his troops changed the colour of their uniforms to black, with a Totenkopf on their Shakos in mourning their dead leader (Other sources claim that the "Black Brunswickers" were so equipped while Friedrich Wilhelm of Brunswick lived, as a sign of revenge on the French [1]).

The death's head continued to be used throughout the Prussian and Brunswick Armed forces until 1918. The Totenkopf was used in Germany throughout the inter-war period, most prominently by the Freikorps. In 1933, it was in use by the regimental staff and the 1st, 5th, and 11th squadrons of the Reichswehr's 5th Cavalry Regiment as a continuation of a tradition from the Kaiserreich.

The Totenkopf was also used as the unit insignia of the Panzer forces of the German Heer (Army) during the Third Reich era, and also by the Panzer units of the Luftwaffe, including those of the elite Fallschirm-Panzerdivision HG^[1].

The WW II era Luftwaffe's 54th Bomber Wing (Kampfgeschwader 54 = KG 54) was given the unit name "Totenkopf" and used virtually the same graphic skull-crossbones insignia as the SS units of the same name^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] SS Usage

In the early days of the NSDAP, Julius Schreck, the leader of the Stabswache (Adolf Hitler's bodyguard unit), adopted the Totenkopf for his unit. This later grew into the Schutzstaffel (SS), which continued to use the Totenkopf as insignia throughout their brief history. As they had done with the Swastika, the Nazis simply adopted the Totenkopf from the historical tradition and used it for their own purposes, leaving it marked with a stigma that has continued to the present.

It is important to note that the SS "Death's Head" symbol is markedly different from the original German (Prussian) Totenkopf, the original being much more archaic in appearance (see images above), with the SS version appearing more realistic. Moreover, the Prussian Totenkopf could face left or right in half-profile, but usually it was shown en face. The SS Totenkopf on the other hand was always facing left in half-profile.

[edit] Use outside Germany

• The British Army's Queen's Royal Lancers continue to use the skull and crossbones in their emblem, inherited from its use by the 17th Light Dragoons - a unit raised in 1759 following General Wolfe's death in Quebec, with an emblem of a death's head and the words 'Or Glory' chosen in commemoration of him. [2]
• The portuguese Military Police, the lancers, of the Regimento de Lanceiros 2 use the totenkopf in their emblem, similar to the one used by the Queen's Royal Lancers.
• The Kingdom of Sweden's Hussar Regiments wore it in the Prussian Style on the front of the Mirleton.
• The White Russian Kornilov regiment adopted it in 1917.
• The Estonian Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion used the skull and crossbones as their insignia.
• During 1943-1945 the Italian Black Brigades and numerous other forces fighting for the Italian Social Republic, wore various versions of skulls on their uniforms, berets and caps.
• Although not exactly a Totenkopf per se, the Chilean guerrilla leader, Manuel Rodriguez used the symbol on his elite forces called "Husares de la muerte" (Hussars of death).
• Death In June, an experimental musical group, use a modified version of a totenkopf as a sort of logo, flanked by the number 6 since 1982. Although the particular version used by Death In June is a modified, faintly grinning version of the SS insignia, Pearce has stated the symbolism is clear: "The Totenkopf for Death, and the six for the sixth month - June." The totenkopf-6 appears on numerous articles of merchandise and many things relating to Death In June.
• Laibach (band) during their 2003/2004 WAT tour used the SS Totenkopf with a bullet hole in the forehead. The defaced symbol is also on the cover of the CD single Tanz Mit Laibach[3].
• Marilyn Manson used this symbol on clothing during the Golden Age of Grotesque era in a parodying manner.
• Dr. Totenkopf is the name of the supervillain from the science fiction film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), and was played (posthumously) by Sir Laurence Olivier.
• Totenkopf is the name of a boss in the Skulls gang in City of Villains.
• The Totenkopf appears on the cover of Zwanzig Zwolf, the third album by the band Hanzel Und Gretyl.

[edit] See also

• Skull and crossbones
• Jolly Roger
• Fascist symbolism
• 3rd SS Division Totenkopf
• Totenkopfverbände

[edit] References