9 white supremacist symbols that you should be aware of

In these polarised times, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the signs of such concerning ideologies, both in the UK, the US and the rest of the world.

In recent weeks you may have seen the Z symbol on Russian tanks invading Ukraine. The meaning behind the symbol is still unclear but it has already been compared to the fascist symbols that were worn by the Nazi regime in Germany and during WWII.

With this in mind here are nine far-right symbols that you may have seen online or elsewhere and what they mean.

(Trigger warning: contains images associated with white supremacy and neo-Nazi ideologies)

1. Kekistan

This flag mimics the German Nazi flag - the kekistan logo replaces a swastika and the green colour replaced the red.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Centre, members"...are particularly fond of the way the banner trolls liberals who recognise its origins."

2. Blood Drop Cross

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the "primary symbol related to the Ku Klux Klan groups is what Klan members may call the MIOAK (an acronym for 'Mystic Insignia of a Klansman')."

This is also referred to as the ‘Blood Drop Cross’ and dates back to the early 1900s when the second Ku Klux Klan emerged.

ADL

3. Deus Vult

'Deus Vult' is Latin for 'God wills it' and is a remnant from the Crusades.

White supremacists have taken up the symbol and its catchphrase to, unsurprisingly, attempt to connect their cause with the will of God.

4. The Valknot

Also called the 'knot of slain', it is an old Norse symbol associated with Odin and the afterlife.

White Supremacists have been known to use the symbol as a way to demonstrate their willingness to give their lives for the cause.

5. Vanguard American

According to the Anti-Defamation League, this organisation uses an English version of the Nazi phrase 'blut and boden' meaning 'blood and soil'.

In the context of white supremacists in the US, it attempts to give credence to the belief that White Americans are more connected to 'American soil'.

6. The Confederate Flag

This is the battle flag of the confederacy and used by the Southern states during the Civil War.

It represents white supremacy and Southern heritage, and has been used during Neo-Nazi rallies as a way of celebrating America's grim past with slavery and racism.

7. The Reichsadler ('Imperial Eagle') of Nazi Germany

This relic from the past features an eagle looking over its right shoulder, and was used during the height of Nazi rule.

The symbol is still used in Neo-Nazi rallies.

8. The National Socialist Movement

The movement can be traced back to the American Nazi Party in 1959.

The group is still active as the largest Neo-Nazi organisation in America.

9. The Sonnenrad, or 'sun wheel'

According to the ADL, this is another Norse symbol adopted by Nazis and used to represent the Aryan/Norse ideal.MORE: Trump’s reaction to what occurred on the US Capitol is heartbreaking - Americans deserve more

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