Black Sun (symbol)
The Black Sun (German: Schwarze Sonne) is a type of sun wheel (Sonnenrad) symbol originating in Nazi Germany and later employed by neo-Nazis and other far-right individuals and groups. It first appeared in Nazi Germany as a design element in a castle at Wewelsburg, remodeled and expanded by the head of the Schutzstaffel (SS), Heinrich Himmler, which he intended to serve as the SS's center. The symbol appeared nowhere else in Nazi Germany. The symbol's design consists of twelve radial sig runes similar to those that made up the SS logo.
Read the full Wikipedia article ↗ 64,675 reads in 60 days
Check the claims
Search independent fact-checkers for this topic:
Action items
- Read the article's evidence and "investigation" or "reception" sections, and open its cited sources.
- Before sharing anything on this topic, run it through the fact-checkers above.
- Notice when a claim blames a whole group for a secret plot. That's a classic sign of hate propaganda.
- Check resources from the ADL, SPLC or national equality bodies.
- Report hateful content on the platform where you saw it.
- If someone you know believes it, ask what evidence would change their mind, and share one good source, not ten.
Prevention steps
- StopNotice a strong emotion (anger, fear, 'they don't want you to know') before you share. Pause first.
- Investigate the sourceWho is making the claim, what's their expertise, and what do they gain if you believe it?
- Find better coverageRead laterally: open new tabs and see what independent outlets and fact-checkers say.
- Trace claims to the originFind the original study, video or document. Check dates and whether quotes are cut.
- Ask what would change your mindReal theories can be tested. If every piece of counter-evidence 'proves' the cover-up, it can't be.
- Count the peopleBig secret plots need thousands of people to stay silent for years. That rarely happens.
- Talk, don't mockWith friends or family, ask questions, listen, share your own sources calmly. Shame backfires.
- PrebunkLearn the common tricks (cherry-picking, fake experts, false dilemmas) so you spot them early.