The Runes of the SS

“For 5,000 years the Nordic Folk have been using Runic Letters to symbolically express a wish or a sacred thought. One of the oldest symbols is the Swastika, which is the sign of the sacred cycle of the Sun and which therefore may be looked upon as the symbol for the ideology of the Nordic Race. Today it is the symbol of our Third Reich.

The SS Officer Corps wear the Sig Rune, Gibor Rune, Tyr Rune, Fa Rune, and Hagall Rune on their Totenkopf – – Death’s Head Rings. The Man Rune and Yr Rune are used as signs for birth and death on announcements, obituaries, and on headstones. The Ing Rune and Odal Rune are signs for the blood (weddings) and the ground (sign on family estates and farms).

“I award you the Death’s Head Ring of the SS.

It is intended to be:

A symbol of our loyalty to The Leader, of our unwavering obedience to our superiors, and our unshakeable sense of bonding and comradeship.

The Death’s Head is the reminder to always be ready to risk one’s own life for the life of the whole.

The Runes across from the Death’s Head are holy symbols of our past, to which we are once again connected through the philosophy of National Socialism.

Both of the Sig Runes represent the name of our Schutzstaffel — Protective Echelon. The Swastika and Hagall Rune are intended to keep our unshakeable belief in the victory of our philosophy in front of our eyes.

The Ring is encircled by oak leaves, the leaves of the old German tree.

This Ring may not be acquired through purchase, and it may never be allowed to fall into unauthorised hands.

This Ring is to be returned to the Reich Leader Of The SS upon your discharge from the SS or upon your death.

The making of imitations and copies are punishable offences. It is your duty to prevent their occurrence.

Wear this ring with honour!”

H. Himmler.

This is the Death’s Head Ring Citation. The Ring is a symbol of the new SS religion. Upon the death of the wearer the ring is kept at Himmler’s Wewelsburg Castle.”

-The Celebrations in the Life of the SS Family