Wolfsangel

A Wolfsangel (“wolf’s hook”) is a symbol that originated in medieval Germany. With several variants, the symbol was based on a style of medieval wolf traps and frequently used in heraldry and other imagery. Most variants of the Wolfsangel are shaped like the letter “Z” or its inverse, sometimes rotated at different angles and usually with a bar intersecting the middle. 

The Wolfsangel was used and further popularised as a symbol by the Nazis; multiple Nazi German and Waffen-SS divisions, including the 2nd SS Panzer Division “Das Reich” and the 34th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division “Landstorm Nederland”, used the Wolfsangel and its variants in their insignia. The Wolfsangel was also adopted as the insignia of the Nazi “Werwolf” guerrilla organisation. These variants continue to be used by contemporary hate groups.

The Wolfsangel also appears in non-hateful contexts. For example, in Germany, the symbol appears on numerous municipal coats of arms due to its history predating the Nazis. As such, its use should always be identified and evaluated in context.