The Hidden Banner of the Sons of Wotan
The Sons of Wotan (Söhne von Wotan) was just one of the many radical groups which sprang up around Europe in the 19th century. Despite its radicalism (which in modern times might be termed fascist or far-right, with some anarchist tendencies mixed in), it had no noticeable impact on history. This was no doubt due to the extreme paranoia of its members, who went to extreme lengths not be noticed by the authorities. This had the positive effect of enabling the group to continue for a relatively long time, even surviving the tumultuous formation of the
Deutsches Reich and the Franco-Prussian War. However, the negative impact was that it was almost impossible to recruit new members. As a result, instead of being closed down by the authorities or destroyed in a battle with another opposing group, the Sons of Wotan simply died out - literally - as its members grew old and died.
This banner was discovered by a deceased member's daughter when she was sorting through his effects. The banner was folded and clipped in such a way that it looked just like the national flag of the empire, with the only apparent oddity being that it seemed to be designed to be hung from a horizontal pole instead of being flown from a normal vertical flag-pole. However, when the small, almost invisible, clips were removed, the banner unfolded to show, hidden between the two flags, the red-on-black symbol of the Sons of Wotan (primarily the rune
ansuz - which was apparently a symbol of Wotan, the chief germanic deity, god of battle and war - at least according to the Söhne von Wotan...).
It seems that the group would hang the flag in the room where they were meeting and only unfurl the hidden banner when they were sure there were no 'traitors' amongst them.
The
Fahne der Söhne von Wotan in der Kaiserflagge versteckt ('banner of the Sons of Wotan hidden in the imperial German flag') was put on display in the local museum, part of a display about anarchism and radicalism, but was lost during the Second World War. Only photographs remain of this ingenious, but ultimately futile, 'hidden banner.'
Unfurled:
View attachment 491939 Folded:
View attachment 491940
@Bicentius - this was a fun challenge, thank you!
