Saturday, February 11, 2012

U.S. Marines use Nordic alphabet with Nazi associations



Runes are a family of old Northern European alphabets derived by some unknown route from early forms of the Latin alphabet. There is still some sentimental attachment to them in Northern Europe (particularly in Scandinavia) and the Nazis may in part have used them for that reason. They long predated the Nazis, however.

Like the original Latin alphabet, they were very simple shapes designed to be suitable for carving into stone and wood. The runic "S" has been compared to a lightning flash and that is probably why both the Nazis and the American troops above used it.
"A US Marine sniper team posed with a flag emblazoned with the symbol of the Nazi SS while on duty in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has admitted.

A photograph leaked onto the internet showed the heavily-armed troops crouching in front of the banner as it hung below the American flag.

The lightning symbol, once worn by the unit tasked with the extermination of Europe's Jews, sparked immediate outrage

A spokeswoman said the icon had been used by the troops to identify themselves as scout snipers, a designation unique to the Marine Corps, and was never intended to have Nazi connotations.

In a statement the Corps said: "Certainly, the use of the 'SS runes' is not acceptable and scout snipers have been addressed concerning this issue. 'SS runes' are prohibited from use as a symbol or any other use."

Source

9 comments:

Stan B said...

I would submit that this is the result of a "public education" in America - they probably were so ignorant of history that they didn't realize the runes had been used by the SS in WWII. They just thought they looked "cool."

Bird of Paradise said...

Wait for the feeding frenzie of liberal leftists media to begin

Dr. No said...

Well, let's see. How many US Marines died fighting for their country today, as compared to how many whining Jews died for their country today, assuming anyone knows what their country really is. Perhaps the professional whiners would be willing to give their lives for what they truly believe in, such as, Communism, Marxism, Socialism, and leftism. And of course, money.

These are our brave and courageous warriors on the battlefield. As for this American, "whatever" they do is fine with me so long as it gets them home, alive.

Anonymous said...

"As for this American, "whatever" they do is fine with me so long as it gets them home, alive."

Let's nuke the mideast then.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs said...

Stan B said "...they probably were so ignorant of history that they didn't realize the runes had been used by the SS..."

Matt said "As for the flag, thats a bad call by the Marines."

I say, Stan B needs to improve his observation skills and Matt needs to head back to Berkely with all his lib friends.


The SS used by the Marine Scout Snipers (Semper Fi!) are different than the ones used by the Nazis in WWII. Google and see for yourself. When the symbol itself is made of only three connected lines and one line is at a different angle, it is a different symbol (think q and g.

But the main point is, it is not a bad call. We are free country and the Marines are putting their lives on the line to protect our freedom to have idiots criticize them. If you do like the symbol they chose, I suggest you pick up a weapon and join the battle. Otherwise the only people who care are the perpetually offended anyway.

Matt said...

Leroy:

Berkeley wouldn't take me; I own too many guns......

The slight difference is rather academic. The point is that the symbol looks nearly identical to the one used by the SS, which is a bad call. Besides, over the course of their existence, the Nazi party varied the way they drew their symbols. For example, you see swastikas oriented on a point (like a diamond), and also on the flat end.

Anonymous said...

As an inactive Marine I'm rather conflicted by this. It was a stupid move to use this as a flag. As much as I an routinely disappointed by history education here I find it hard (though not impossible) to believe that the similarity is totally coincidental. And having lost family to the Nazis in WWII I'm rather cranky about it on a personal level. But this becoming a news story is a bit much. A simple "what we're you thinking?" from the 1st Sgt should have been enough.
Thoughtless, ignorant, and embarrassing to be sure. But investigated and reprimanded? A bit much.

Stan B said...

Leroy:
"The SS used by the Marine Scout Snipers (Semper Fi!) are different than the ones used by the Nazis in WWII."

When people are looking to be offended, the difference you mention is trivial at best. Anyone who has passing familiarity with the WaffenSS would immediately have recognized the similarity between the SS lightning bolts and the SS used by the Marines.

I stand by my assertion that IF the soldiers are ignorant of such NAZI symbols, it is the fault of their primary school teachers....

Unknown said...

Marines are by nature smarter than the other branches, and without doubt would have been very aware of the nature of the "runes."

This is photoshoppped. Your POV is correct and defensible, so please do not either stoop, or fall prey, to such shenanigans.