Sketchycon

Othala (ᛟ) is the 24th and last rune of the old Norse Futhark. It was probably associated to aspects like home or heritage.

Examples of far right usage

Germany

In Nazi-Germany, Othala was used by the SS, the Waffen-SS (armed forces of the SS) and the Hitler-Jugend (Hitler-Youth, the youth organization of the NSDAP) in logos and symbolism.

In Germany, the rune was part of the logos of the today illegal Neo-Nazi organizations Wiking-Jugend (founded 1952, prohibited 1994) and the Bund Nationaler Studenten (founded 1956, prohibited 1961).

USA

Since 2016, the National Socialist Movement uses the Othala on its flag.

South Africa

The NS student organization Afrikaner Studentebond, also called Afrikaanse Studentebond from 1948 used the rune in their logo similar to the swastika flag of the NSDAP, replacing the swastika with the Othala.

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