<p>In 1990 a new and unusual symbol called the “Black Sun” suddenly appeared in German neo-Nazi circles. It was identified with a sunwheel floor inlay said to have been venerated in occult ceremonies during the Second World War at Wewelsburg Castle, the secretive personal retreat of Nazi security chief Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Over the last twenty years the Black Sun has been transformed into a metaphorical comet “blazing in the Northern sky,” particularly among neo-Nazis with esoteric and occult leanings. An Internet search of the terms Black Sun, Schwarze Sonne (German), Sol Negro (Spanish), Soleil Noir (French) and Sol Niger (Latin) reveals the extent of its penetration into everyday aspects of far-right cultural life. The symbol appears on T-shirts, CD covers, flags, decorative household knickknacks, wristwatches, uniform insignia, tattoos, etc. In response to the phenomenal growth of interest in the Black Sun, several previous authors have weighed in on the topic of neo-Nazi occultism. While they have succeeded in producing much-needed general reviews, each author singularly failed when it came to addressing the mystery of the Black Sun itself. What is the origin of the Black Sun mythology? When was the Black Sun first identified with the Wewelsburg Castle sunwheel? What do current-day neo-Nazis believe about the Black Sun? Why have esoteric beliefs found traction among neo-Nazis? What does the Black Sun mythology hold for the future of National Socialism? This groundbreaking study provides answers to all of these questions.</p>

The Black Sun Unveiled: Genesis and Development of a Modern National Socialist Mythos

Religion & Spirituality

Pontolillo, James

New Age & Spirituality

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

From January – August 1942 German U-boats operated with near impunity off the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. It has been called “America’s Second Pearl Harbor” – but the losses inflicted were much worse. During this period, the Germans sank 609 ships totaling 3.1 million tons and the loss of thousands of lives, mainly those of merchant mariners, against a loss of only 22 of their U-boats. The U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) began flying antisubmarine patrols along the Atlantic coast immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Beginning in late 1942, its most experienced personnel were formed into the 1st and 2nd Antisubmarine Squadrons. They were then sent together overseas as the 480th Antisubmarine Group, operating first out of St. Eval, England and later out of Port Lyautey, Morocco. The crews of the 480th Antisubmarine Group were the first to be equipped with the B-24D “Liberator” and the revolutionary SCT-517C radar set. Over the course of its organizational lifetime, the 480th would fly twice as many missions as any other component of the USAAF Antisubmarine Command. They were responsible for one-third of all U-boats sunk and damaged during the height of the Battle of the Atlantic. Equally impressive was the 480th’s ability to suffer grievous losses (50 % of its combat strength and 70% of its original aircraft) while maintaining a high level of morale. Although they have been largely forgotten to history, the 480th played a crucial role in turning the tide against the German U-boats and in winning the Battle of the Atlantic. Drawing on archival records and the testimony of surviving airmen, Across the Dark Waters provides a unique never-before published look at daily life in the 2nd Antisubmarine Squadron. It also examines in detail a previously unreported chain of events that led to the tragic loss of several of the squadron’s most experienced aircrews over a six-day time period in late August to early September 1943. The text is enhanced by the inclusion of original wartime documents, as well as nearly 200 illustrations.

Across the Dark Waters: Life and Death in the U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Antisubmarine Squadron

History

Military

<p>A visit to any well-stocked bookstore should quickly convince the average reader that there is certainly no shortage of books about the Second World War, particularly National Socialism and the Third Reich. </p>More than five decades have passed since the war's end and its massive historiography continues to grow and evolve with seemingly no end in sight. It is probably foolish to think that the examination of and reflection on the 20th century's seminal event will ever reach completion. For example, there is a curious lack of published information concerning the numerous wartime atrocities (i.e., violations of international law such as killing noncombatant civilians, surrendering opponents, and prisoners of war) committed by Nazi Germany's military elite, the Waffen-SS. In fact, there are very few books currently in print that examine the nature and commission of war crimes perpetrated by any of the armed forces participating in the Second World War. Thus, it appears that the nearly forty divisions of the Waffen-SS have not been accorded any special treatment by military historians, but rather have benefited from an insidious and apparently universal form of ethical tunnel-vision. Examining an enemy's wartime behavior holds many potential dangers since our own conduct might then also be scrutinized with the goal of uncovering similar transgressions. This book is not intended to be read from cover to cover as a continuous narrative. Rather it is arranged into well-defined sections to have maximum utility as a reference work. The three main sections -- Atrocities, Unit Histories, and Individuals -- are adopted to guide readers along the most natural paths of inquiry:What happened and where? What was the unit's record of atrocities? What was the individual's involvement in atrocities? This is probably the most comprehensive reference book on the subject.

Murderous Elite: The Waffen-SS and its record of atrocities

Leandoer and Ekholm

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Pontolillo, James. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Pontolillo, James