It so happens that the word “runes” evokes an association with the standing collars of SS black uniforms. This introduces considerable confusion into the emotional tone of any conversation about the sacred writings of the ancient Germans. This happens not at the level of reason, but somewhere at the level of reflexes, brought up from childhood. What is the connection here? Why does a researcher of the history of the Third Reich inevitably encounter the image of a northern warrior looking sternly at him from behind a round shield, and why does one who undertakes to write about the history of runes involuntarily shudder under the transparent blue gaze of an inhabitant of Wewelsburg? To answer this question, it is not necessary delve into the study of the occult roots of the NSDAP ideology or try to talk about dark and light spiritual energy. The reason lies on the surface.