Editing Skull and crossbones (section)

== Military use ==
{{main article|Skull and crossbones (military)}}
The skull and bones are often used in military insignia, such as the [[coats of arms]] of [[regiment]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-armoured-corps/royal-lancers/|title=WEARING THE SKULL AND CROSSBONES WITH PRIDE|website=The British Army}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The German Army in World War I (1): 1914–15|last=Thomas|first=Nigel|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|year=2012|isbn=9781780965512}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal, Volumen 32|publisher=National Library of the Netherlands|year=1867|pages=321}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Death's Head - Volumen 1 de The History of Uniform|last=Hølscher|first=Joost|publisher=Editions Chamerelle|year=2013|isbn=9789082032604|pages=33}}</ref><ref>Joost Hølscher (Author, Illustrator): Death's Head, The History of the Military Skull & Crossbones Badge (The History of Uniform). 1st edition: Éditions Chamerelle 2013, {{ISBN|978-90-820326-0-4}}.</ref>

Since the mid-18th century, skull and crossbones insignia has been officially used in European armies as symbols of superiority. One of the first regiments was the [[Frederick the Great]]'s Hussars in 1741, also known as the "{{lang|de|Totenkopfhusaren}}". From this tradition, the skull became an important emblem in the German army. Identical insignia has been used in the Prussian army after the First World War by {{lang|de|[[Freikorps]]}} and in Nazi Germany by the [[Wehrmacht]] and the [[SS]]. The idea of elitism symbolized by the skull and crossbones has influenced sub- and pop culture and has become part of the fashion industry.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Der Totenkopf als Motiv. Eine historisch-kulturanthropologische Analyse zwischen Militär und Moden |trans-title=The skull as a motif. A historical-cultural anthropological analysis between military and fashion|last=Ruda|first=Adrian|publisher=Böhlau/Brill|language=de|year=2023|isbn=9783412528904}}</ref>
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