Symbols
Runes
The runic alphabet appeared for the first time between the birth of the ancient Germaniums of central and oriental Europe around the first century a.C., but it will be necessary to wait the second Century d.C. to find out runic incision in the stone. Some runes have, infect, been created by these people, while others seem to derive from other alphabets, like the Greek alphabet, that Etruscan and the Roman alphabet. At the origin, the rune had meagre rules of writing. They could be carved, indifferently, from left towards right and from right towards left and often they came turned over. Rune and its speculate image, had the same phonetic value. Several runic inscription simply identify the property, the graves, something or someone. The Germanic Runic alphabet comprised 24 characters. The first 6 characters give place to the word "FUTHARK", today used in order to indicate the rune in general terms. Between the V and the VII century d.C., the Anglo, the Saxon and the Juti invaded Britain carrying with them runes. So the alphabet of the Anglo-Saxons (Anglo-Saxon Runes) was extended to 32 symbols. From IX century d.C. the runeswere used practically in every part of Europe. The Viking carried the rune in Island and Greenland. The Viking used them in order to represent the union of blood and race of one family or clan. The following centuries distinguished for the spread in Europe of the Christianity and for asserting of the alphabet Latin-Roman and its changes, in this way the rune went almost in disuse. A more ancient version of the alphabet Latin-Roman, used in Anglo-Saxon England during the period before the Normanconquest, comprised some runic letters like "Þ" (thorn). At the beginning of the last century, in Germany, Nazism has made use of the rune for military sign and the propaganda, contributing to promote the bad reputation of the rune. Himmler, the "head" of the SS, was interested a lot of "esoteric doctrines" and he also was a lot fascinated from the use and from the means of the Rune.
Himmler
It is just from the union of two Sieg (Rune of Victory, which have the shape of a lightning) that Himmler created the symbol of the SS. To the SS a new cult was dedicated, that it sank the roots in the orders of the Knights and Templar, surrounded by runic or pre-Christian symbologies.
Runes used by the Nazis
The Sonnenrads makes stronger the concept of swastika assimilated to the "Wheel of the Sun", an ancient Nordic symbol that representing the star. This symbol was adopted from the V SS Panzer Division "Wiking".
The DrachenAuge "Eye of the Dragon" is a symbol that has been created from one swastika, and therefore has common meaning. It was used in Africa in the Africaner Weerstargsbeweginng.
Sieg is the symbol of "Victory". This Rune was adopted in couple like a symbol of the SS.
Ger is the symbol of the "Common Spirit".
Opfer represents "Auto-sacrifice" and was used for the commemoration of the Nazi members killed during the Putsch of 1923.
Eif represents the "Zeal and the Enthusiasm". It was adopted like ornament for some special assistants selected by Hitler.
Algiz symbolizes the "Protection", was adopted from Society SS Lebensborn, places assigns you to the acceptation of the mothers not married of the sons of the SS.
The Overturned Algiz was used like symbol of "died" (Toten-rune), was used in the graves of the SS, with Algiz (Leben-rune) in order to indicate the date of birth and dead.
Tiwaz is the rune that represents the Germanic God Tyr, "God of war". It was good auspice for the warriors to affect Tiwaz on the blade of their sword and to claim twice the name of Tyr.
The Heilszeichen or "symbols of Prosperity" appears carved on the SS Totenkopfring (Ring with the Skull), that Himmler donated to the selected SS.
Hagal is the symbol of the "Faith".
Othala is the symbol of the "Family" and of those people joined from race and blood. It was adopted from the SS Office "Race and Succession", as well as from VII SS Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division "Prinz Eugen". It is a symbol that passed through generations in the clans. Some persons only use this rune for the only scope to recall the nazi thought, some other use it only because they trust in the Ian Stuart's ideas of Blood & Honour, while many naziskins use it in order to make understand their idea of their political faction.