Sketchycon

Originally a religious symbol among early Christians in Ireland and Britain during the Middle Ages, the square version of it has been widely used by far right movements and is therefore considered as a symbol for white supremacy and / or national socialism.

Public display of the square version without clearly contradicting its far right symbolism is prohibited by law in Germany.

Examples of far right usage

Europe

The symbol was part of the logo of the ENF (European National Front), an alliance of far-right European parties.

Germany

The VSDB (Volkssozialistische Bewegung Deutschlands), a Neo-Nazi movement in West-Germany during the 70ies/early 80ies used it with the eagle alike that from the NSDAP, replacing the swastika with the Celtic cross.

USA

The Celtic Cross ist widely associated with the White Power movement. The Ku-Klux-Klan uses a similar version (the fiery cross).

France

The Celtic Cross was symbol of some organizations in France, e.g. the OAS (Organisation de l’armée secrète), an armed terrorist group which tried to prevent Algeria’s independence from France in the 60ies, or the „Jeune Nation“, a fascist movement in France, active between 1949 and 1958.

Poland

The symbol was registered as a brand by the far-right party of Poland (Narodowe Odrodzenie Polski).

Links

pdf file: Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz – Rechtsextremismus: Symbole, Zeichen und verbotene Organisationen (official handout from German domestic security agency about right-wing extremist symbols, groups and codes).

Last updated: 19.07.2024