Totenkopf

The Totenkopf (‘Deaths Head’ in German) is a skull-and-crossbones symbol used in Nazi Germany. Similar symbols have a long history in Germany and other countries predating the Nazi period; in German, the word ‘Totenkopf’ generally refers to any skull-and-crossbones symbol, while the term in English refers specifically to the Nazi symbol.

The most common Nazi version of the Totenkopf was first used in the mid-1930s by the SS, the Nazi paramilitary organization, and used by other Nazi military units. Since 1945, this symbol has continued to be used by members of far-right and neo-Nazi groups around the world. Use or display of the Nazi Totenkopf symbol is illegal in several countries, including Germany.

Some specific features of the Nazi Totenkopf include a jagged marking on the chin, two fissures on the top of the skull (if exposed) and a semicircle and other markings on the left-hand side of the face.

The Nazi Totenkopf should not be confused with other skull-and-crossbones symbols used in non-hateful contexts. For example, supporters of German football club FC St Pauli, a club known for the left-wing politics of many of its supporters, prominently use a skull-and-crossbones logo.