Wolfsangel

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The Wolfsangel (German for "wolf's hook") is a symbol originating in Germany. It is also known as the Wolf's Hook or Doppelhaken. The upright variant is also known as "thunderbolt" (Donnerkeil) and the horizontal variant as "werewolf".

Historically, the symbol possibly originated as a mason's mark and was once used as a heraldic symbol in coats of arms. Today, the symbol appears in numerous city coats of arms. It was adopted by several military units of Nazi Germany. Due to this, along with continuing use by Neo-Nazi organisations, the symbol is now sometimes associated with Nazism as are many of the old folk symbols of the Germanic peoples, most notably the fylfot.

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Contents

[edit] Origins

While the actual origins of the symbol appear to have been lost in obscurity, various theoretical explanations, historical traces and folk legends exist.

[edit] Heraldry And Mason's Marks

The symbol was in the coat of arms of Bornheim (now part of Frankfurt). In this function, it may be traced back to 1621, on a seal labeled "S(IGILLM) SCHULTHEIS V(ND) SCHEFFEN Z(V) BORNHEIM". The sign originated as a mason's mark and may be seen out in 13th to 16th century stonework.

The name Wolfsangel first appears in a 1714 heraldic handbook, Wapenkunst, associated with a different symbol:

Wolffs-Angel, frantz. hamecon, lat. uncus quo lupi capiuntur, ist die Form eines halben Mondes und hat inwendig in der Mitte einen Ring.
"Wolffs-Angel, French hamecon, Latin uncus quo lupi capiuntur ("hook with which wolves are caught"), is the shape of a crescent moon with a ring inside, at mid-height"

Below is a selection of German civic coats of arms that bear the Wolfsangel as a charge. The last one, used by the community of Breidenbach in Hesse, has a rather different charge from the rest. Nonetheless, the blazon – which can be seen at the German article about this municipality – clearly describes it as a Wolfsangel.

Mannheim

Linkenbach

Hadmersleben

Halberstadt

Wächtersbach

Ihmert

Wolfschlugen

Breidenbach

Topfstedt

[edit] Wolf Trap

In accordance with the symbol's name, there is an oft-repeated folk legend pointing to the symbol's origins in an iron trap that was used to capture wolves.[1]

[edit] Alleged Runic Origins

While the symbol itself bears a parallel to the Eihwaz rune, the modern symbol now called the Wolfsangel is not historically part of any runic alphabet. The Eihwaz does appear twice in the phrase, "eigi einhamr" which means, "not of one skin" and most of the other runes in the term are also represented within the mark.


The earliest documented claim that the shape is runic in origin can be traced to Guido von List's alleged mental vision of 18 "Armanen runes" in 1902 -- which is to say that it is without historical basis. The figure he calls the "Gibor rune" has a similar shape, and he attributes to it a g sound. However, it should be noted that the shape of Gibor was 'altered' in the 1930's to more closely fit with the idea that the Wolfsangel IS the same as Gibor, when in fact the form of the Gibor rune, as originally envisaged by von List is somewhat different. According to List, it is the 18th and final member of the alleged original rune row (the Younger Futhark has 16 runes). Due to this, the Wolfsangel sometimes appears listed as the 34th rune in Armanen row-influenced esoteric contexts (e.g. [2]), but the Futhorc actually only has 33 runes.

[edit] Literature

[edit] Fiction

In 1910, Hermann Löns published a classic fiction book titled Der Wehrwolf (later published as Harm Wulf, a peasant chronicle and The Warwolf in English) set in a 17th-century German farming community during the Thirty Years' War. The main character of the book, Harm Wolf, adopts the wolfsangel as a badge against the occupying forces of the ruling princes. Some printings of this book, such as the 1940 edition, showcase a very visible wolfsangel on the book cover.

[edit] Modern Use

[edit] Religious Use

Some followers of Asatru, Odinic Rite, and other Germanic paganism and Folk organizations use this mark. The Wolves of Vinland use this mark as an identifier for others of their tribal affiliation. These groups are fiercely against any neo-Nazi use of the symbol as it mars their heritage. As the thunderbolt it evokes Thor, and as the "werewolf" it is a symbol of warriors. Werewolf being the ASPECT of the wolf, not a physical transformation. In the Heathen beliefs gaining the aspect of an animal conveys great power. The hero Sigurð was one such. More recently, the Church of Satan have incorporated this symbol as, "a talisman of power representing nature in perfect balance." Along with the Black Sun it is used on various merchandise in their official emporium of jewelery and ritual accessories.

[edit] Third Reich Use

In Nazi Germany, the Wolfsangel was used by:

  • the 2. SS Division Das Reich
  • the 4. SS Polizei Division
  • the 34. SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland
  • the 60. Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle"
  • the Strumabteilung "Feldherrnhalle" Wachstandart Kampfrunen (Assault Unit--SA--"Warlord’s Hall" Guard Regiment
  • the Hitlerjugend
  • the NS-Volkswohlfahrt

[edit] Neo-Nazi Use

After World War II, the symbol was used by the following Neo-Nazi organizations:

Public exhibition of the symbol is illegal in Germany if a connection with one of these groups is apparent.

In Italy, the neofascist organization Terza Posizione used a modifed wolfsangel as their symbol.

[edit] Music

The wolfsangel is sometimes used by artists working in various forms of media, most notably musical. Various neofolk & martial musicians, related artists and fans have used the symbol for aesthetical approach. The symbol was once used extensively by Boyd Rice and Death In June. The wolfsangel has also appeared in use by Ulver and Neurosis. There are two bands called Wolfsangel, one is a Russian Folk Metal band, the other is a French white power band.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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