TheNAZIOCCULTWARHitler’sCompactwiththeForcesofEvil

MichaelFitzGerald

Thiseditionpublishedin2013byArcturusPublishingLimited26/27BickelsYard,151–153BermondseyStreet,LondonSE13HA

Copyright©2013ArcturusPublishingLimited

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise,withoutpriorwrittenpermissioninaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheCopyrightAct1956(asamended).Anypersonorpersonswhodoanyunauthorisedactinrelationtothispublicationmaybeliabletocriminalprosecutionandcivilclaimsfordamages.

ISBN:978-1-78212-703-1

Contents

Introduction

CHAPTERONE

Darkinitiates

CHAPTERTWO

TheVrilSociety

CHAPTERTHREE

AnewreligionforGermany

CHAPTERFOURThenewTeutonicKnights

CHAPTERFIVETheNaziGrailcastle

CHAPTERSIXOccultReich

CHAPTERSEVENInsearchofAtlantis

CHAPTEREIGHTThereal‘RaidersoftheLostArk’

CHAPTERNINE

‘AryanScience’intheThirdReich

CHAPTERTEN

OccultismatwarConclusionBibliography

Introduction

AdolfHitler’simpactontheworldisunprecedentedandunparalleled.Intwelveshortyearsheleftanindelibleimpactonhistoryandtheconsequencesofmanyofhisactionscontinuetoaffecttheworldtoday.Evenduringhislifetimehewasasmuchamythasahumanbeingandwiththeincreasingdistanceofyearshisfigurestillfascinatestoauniquedegree;ifanythinghehasbecomeevenmorelikeacartoonvillainthanarealindividual.FollowingthedefeatofGermanyintheSecondWorldWarmanypeoplewhohadbeenenthusiastic

NazisrushedtodenounceHitlerandtodenyorminimizetheirownpartintheregime.ThesafelydeadHitlerand,toalesserextent,Himmlerwereblamedforalltheexcessesandbarbarityoftheregimeinamassprocessofcollectivedenialofguiltandindividualresponsibilitythatremainsauniquephenomenoninhumanhistory.

TheculminationofHitler’scultofpersonality:AlbertSpeer’s‘CathedralofLight’inspiredafeelingofreligiousaweamongthoseattendingtheNurembergRallyof1936

ThereareseveralwaysofinterpretinghistoricaleventsandprocessesandinparticularthecareerofHitlerandtheextraordinaryperiodoftheNaziascendancy.HitlerhimselfsubscribedtoCarlyle’s‘greatman’theoryandsawhimselfasaheroicfigurewhohadtakenchargeofthedestinyofGermanyandsoughttoplaceitonthepathtogreatness.ManyofhiscontemporariesagreedwiththatestimateandbroadlysawHitlerinthoseterms.AccordingtotheMarxistinterpretationofeventsHitlerwassimplyapawnwhowasmanipulatedinto

powertoservetheinterestsofadesperatecapitalistclassandpreventthepossibilityofaCommunisttakeoverinGermany.HispolicieswerenothingmorethancapitalismappliedwithexceptionalbrutalityandHitlerhimselfnothingmorethanatoolofbigbusiness.ItwaslargelythelevelofunemploymentwithinGermanythatgaveHitlerhischance.ConservativeinterpretationsofHitlerandtheNazistendtostressthesenseofnationalhumiliation

followingtheTreatyofVersailles,theoccupationoftheRuhrandthesharedsenseofnationalfailure.BygivingGermansbackafeelingofcollectiveself-confidence,prideintheirnationandthemselves,arevivedsenseofcommunityandthepromiseofrenewedgreatnessHitlerwontheirsupportandwasabletomakehimselfmasterofGermany.Inrecentyearswhatmightbecalled‘technical’explanationshavebecomemorecommon.These

theoriesstresstheabilityofHitlerandGoebbelstousepropaganda,Hitler’spowerasapublicspeaker,therelativeyouthoftheNazileadershipandHitler’scynicalattempttoprojectanimageof‘sexappeal’towomenvotersastheprincipalreasonsforhissuccess.TherearealsovariouspsychologicalexplanationsforHitler’stemporarytriumph.Hisabilitytotunein

tothecollectivefeelingsofanation,hiscapacityforrousingtheemotionsofamassaudienceandhisuncannygeniusfordiagnosingpeople’sstrengthsandweaknesseshaveallbeenputforwardtoaccountfortheNaziphenomenon.

By1938,thewholenationwasmarchingtoHitler’srelentlessdrumbeat–everyGermanwasexpectedtosacrificehimselffortheFührer’svisionofthefuture

AvariationofthepsychologicalanalysisapproachistherangeoftheoriesputtingforwardanoccultexplanationforNazism.Suchideaswerefirstputforwardasearlyasthe1930s,butitwaswiththeastonishingsuccessofPauwelsandBergier’sTheMorningoftheMagiciansinthe1960sthattheyenteredpopularconsciousnessandbecamefashionable.Anumberofotherwritersfollowedtheirexample,someengaginginaseriousanalysisoftheextenttowhichoccultfactorsdidordidnotplayasignificantpartintheregimeandothersinlittlemorethanfantasticspeculation.ThereisofcoursesometruthinalloftheproposedexplanationsforHitler’sremarkablesuccess.

WithoutthedireeconomicpositionofGermanyfrom1929to1933itisdoubtfulwhetherHitlerwouldeverhavecometopower.ThesenseofnationalhumiliationwithinGermanywasundoubtedlyprofound,butitcouldhavebeenappealedtoequallybyamoreconventionallynationalistpoliticianasStresemanndemonstratedduringthe1920s.TheabilityofGoebbelstomanipulatepublicopinionthroughpropagandaisalsounquestionableasisHitler’spowerasarabblerouserandhisawarenessofandcapacityforappealingtothecollectivefeelingsofanation.AllthesefactorscertainlyplayedanimportantpartinhissuccessandyettheextenttowhichNazismwasauniquephenomenonremains.Stalin,Maoandother

dictatorswereequallyruthlessandhomicidal,butevenattheirworsttherewasacoreoflogicbehindtheiractions.OnlyPolPotamongtyrantsdisplayedthesamedegreeofutterinsanityanddestructiveness,whichisperhapswhyheistheonlydictatorregardedwithsimilarloathing.Hitler’sirrationalitypermeatedeveryaspectofhislife,hisideasandthemannerinwhichNazi

Germanyfunctionedoncehecametopower.Hisobsessionalracismwentfarbeyondsimpleprejudiceandhispoliciesofgenocidecontinueduntilthelastpossiblemomentinspiteofthefarmoreurgentdemandsofthewar.Hitler’sfrequentlyexpressedcontemptforrationalityandsciencewashardlyahelpfulattitudeintermsofrestoringGermanytoapositionofgreatness.HisknownbeliefinHörbiger’sGlacialCosmogonywasatleastpartlyresponsibleforlosingthewarinRussia.DuringthefinalstagesofthewarheandGoebbelsexaminedthehoroscopeofGermanytofindamagicalreprievefromdefeatthroughthepositionofthestarsintheheavens.Manyhistoriansignore,dismissordownplaytheseaspectsofHitlerandtheregime.Whenfacedwith

theexaggeratedclaimsofsomewritersthatHitlerandtheNaziswerepractisingSatanistswhowereoverwhelminglymotivatedbyoccultconsiderationsitisdifficultnottosympathize,butsuchananalysisoftheThirdReichanditsleaderisnotremotelyplausible.Ontheotherhandtoregardtheoccultaspectsoftheregimeasofnoimportanceorevenastotalfabricationsisequallytobeguiltyofaflawed,superficialandinaccuratepicture.OccultfactorsandideasundoubtedlyenteredintothethoughtsandactionsofHitlerandotherNazi

leaders.Theywerecertainlynotthemostimportantconsiderationsindeterminingpolicyanddecisions,butallthesametheyplayedapart.TheNaziOccultWarseparatesfactfromfiction,mythfromrealityandexaminestowhatextentoccult

factorsaffectedHitlerandtheThirdReich.Theresultsofthisanalysismaywellsurpriseboththefantasistsandthedoubters.

CHAPTERONE

DarkinitiatesThetwelveyearsduringwhichtheNaziPartyruledGermanyandmuchofEuropeweresofundamentallygovernedbyirrationalandevenmagicalthinkingthatthewholeperiodhassometimesbeenreferredtoasthe‘occultReich’.Hitler,Hess,Goering,Himmler,Bormann,GoebbelsandRosenbergweresimplythemostprominentbelieversinawayofthoughtthatwasentirelyatoddswiththesecularthinkingthathadcometoprevailinEurope.WhentheThirdReichwasnomorethanasmoulderingruintheAlliedconquerorstookanumberofstatementsfromNaziPartymembersanddiscoveredmanydocumentsaboutthewayinwhicharangeofoccultnotionshadcometodominatethethinkingofthemostpowerfulleaderswithinGermany.TheyweresoastonishedbywhattheydiscoveredthattheevidencewasdeliberatelysuppressedattheNurembergTrialsforfearthatitwouldallowthedefencelawyerstopleadinsanityonbehalfoftheirclients.HowdiditcomeaboutthatGermany,anationmorecloselyidentifiedthanmostwiththe

spiritofrationalityandenlightenment,hadfallenunderthecontrolofagroupofpeoplewhoutterlyrejectedtheseviews,preferringinsteadtofollowthepromptingsofoccultistsandtoespousepseudo-scientifictheoriesofrace,superhumanbeingsandthevirtueofgenocideasameansofpurifyingGermanyandeventuallytheworldofthe‘corruption’of‘inferiorraces’?

HitlerwaspresentedtotheGermanpeopleasamanofmystical,supernaturalpower,abletoreachouttothem

HITLER’SINTRODUCTIONTOTHEOCCULTThetrailbeginssixyearsbeforethecommencementoftheFirstWorldWar.WhentheyoungHitlerwaslivinginpovertyinViennahemadefriendswithanotherdwelleratthehostelforthehomeless,JosephGreiner.HeintroducedHitlertoanumberofmagicalpracticesandshowedhimhowtodevelopthepowertocontrolpeopleandevents.HitlersawthenewvistasthatGreinerhadshownhimasofferingtheopportunitytoescapefromhispresentsituationandtranslatehisgrandiosevisionsandideasintorealitythroughusingthemethodshehadlearnedfromhisfriend.Hitlerbeganstudyinghypnotism,yogaandotherdisciplinesthathebelievedwouldhelptostrengthen

hiswillpower.Heattemptedtomoveobjectsfromadistancebyfocusinghiswillupontheexercise,anddowsedforwaterinthewoodsaroundVienna.Hitlerstudiedastrology,learningtodrawupandcastahoroscope.Healsolearnednumerology,graphology–assessingcharacterfromhandwriting–andphysiognomy–theartofjudgingpeoplebytheirfaceandbodylanguage.Hitlersometimestriedtotestthestrengthofhiswillpowerbyholdinghishandunderaburninggasjet.ThefactthatGreinerintroducedHitlertoanumberofoccultpracticesisconfirmedbyotherswhoknewhimatthetime,particularlyReinholdHanischwho,likeGreiner,sharedafriendshipwithhimatvariousdoss-housesinVienna.

LANZANDARYANHEROESIn1909,attheageof20,HitlermetwithAdolfLanz,theheadofanoccultgroupbasedinVienna.LanzalsopublishedanewslettercalledOstara.Hitlerregularlyboughtthispaperfromalocaltobacconist’sshopandmetLanzonanumberofoccasions,wherehereceivedfurtherocculttraining.Lanz’snewspaperandpamphletsfirstawakenedHitler’santi-Semiticprejudices,thoughtheydidnotbecomefullyformeduntilaround1920.LanzbeganhiscareerasaCistercianmonkbutwasexpelledfromhismonasteryattheageoftwenty-

fivefor‘carnalandworldlythoughts’.HeimmediatelybecameanardentGermannationalistandafierceanti-SemitewhoalsoattackedtheJesuits.LanzalsodiscardedtheplainHerrAdolfLanztowhichhewasentitledandbeganstylinghimselfasBaronJörgLanzvonLiebenfels.Hisoccultgroup,theOrderofthe

NewTemplars,wasconsciouslymodelledupontheCatholicChurch.LanzsetupcentresforhisAryanheroesinvariouscastlesthatheacquiredforhisorder.Bythe1920s

theyownedfourcastles,ahouseinSalzburganda‘cell’inHungary.Hedeclaredthat‘theAryanheroisonthisplanetthemostcompleteincarnationofGodandthespirit’.UnfortunatelyhehadabitterenemyknownastheTschandala,theunderman.TheTschandalapromoteddemocracy,capitalismandmaterialism.ItwasbecausetheAryanheroeshadmixedtheirbloodwithapesthattheirracehaddegenerated.TheAgeofAquariuswouldseethetriumphofthenewlyraciallypurifiedAryanoverthesinofminglinghisbloodwiththatoflesserraces.Theorderlaiddownstrictracialcriteriaformembership,includingnotsimplyblondhairandblue

eyesbutlargeheads,smallhandsandsmallfeet.AllthosewhojoinedhisNewTemplarshadtopromisetomarryraciallypurewomen.Lanzclaimedthat‘throughwoman,sincameintotheworld,anditissooverandoveragainbecausewomanisespeciallysusceptibletotheloveartificesofheranimal-likeinferiors’.Theratherunedifyingsloganofhisorderwas‘racewaruntilthecastrationknife’.

ResearchingtheAmazon’spotentialasafutureGermancolony,JosephGreinervisitedtherainforestin1935butsuccumbedayearlatertofeverandwasburiedthere

AdolfLanz(LanzvonLiebenfels)claimedhehad‘inspired’HitlertoadopttheFinalSolution.AformerCistercianmonk,hebasedtheculthesetupontheCatholicChurch

LanzwasalsoanobsessionaladvocateofnudismanddevotedseveralissuesofOstaratothesubject.HebelievedinalostparadisewherenudeAryansconsortedinraciallypureliaisonswithAryanwomen.TheFallcameaboutthroughAryanfemalesbreedingwith‘theDarkRaces’andJesus(whomLanzcalledFrauja)cametosavethembyissuinganewcommandment‘lovethyneighbourasthyselfifheisamemberofyourownrace’.Healsodenouncedwhathecalled‘inter-racialsexualrelationships’anddemandedforcedlabourandastarvationdietaspunishmentfortheseoffences,callingfor‘theextirpationoftheanimal-manandthepropagationofthehigherNewMan’throughselectivebreeding,sterilization,forcedlabour,transportationto‘theapejungle’andevenmurder.LanzcalledhisbizarresystemofracialmythologyAriosophyanditinvolvedanumberofeccentric

beliefscentredontheideathatwhentheBiblespokeofangelsitmeant‘Aryanheroes’.InhisfantasiessubhumanracesemergedinthedaysofAtlantisandLemuria.Lanzrejectedtheideathathumanshadevolvedfromapes;histheoriesregardedapesasfallenmen.Jews,CzechsandSloveneswerethethreeethnicgroupsforwhomheharbouredparticularhatredandinhiseyestheyhadevolvedthrough‘intermixingblood’betweenAryansandapes.HisAryansweredestinedtobetheMasterRaceandwouldlorditoverinferiorethnicgroups.Itisnotfornothingthatin1932Lanzwroteinaprivatelettertooneofhisstudentsthat‘Hitlerisoneof

ourpupils’.In1934heproudlyclaimedthathisorderwas‘thefirstmanifestationofNationalSocialism’andaslateas1951hewasstillclaimingtobethemanwhohadinspiredHitlertoadopttheFinal

Solution.

THECOSMICCIRCLEOFMUNICHHitlerwascertainlyinfluencedbyLanz’sideasbutitwastobeanothersixyearsorsobeforehebegantoformulateanythingapproachingacoherentideology.WhenhemovedtoMunichin1913HitlersettledintheSchwabingarea,theBohemianquarterofthecity.Aswellasmixingwithotherartists,healsodiscoveredtheideasofAlfredSchulerandLudwigDerleth.Schulerwasconvincedoftheimportanceofwhathecalled‘pureblood’andwasstronglyanti-Semitic.BothmenbelongedtoagroupthataspiredtoturnMunichintothecentreof‘cosmicconsciousness’.Theirgoalwastoreplacetheexistingpolitical,socialandreligiousstructureoftheworldwith‘theUrheimat[originalhome]ofthesoul’.Theyfavouredinstinctiveratherthanrationalthinking,advocatedfollowingthepromptingsoftheunconsciousmindandtriedtobringaboutareturntoamore‘natural’and‘primitive’society.

BurgWerfensteinintheDanubevalley,AustriawasboughtasaruinbyLanzin1907andservedastheheadquartersofhisOrderofNewTemplars

TheswastikawasanauspicioussymbolinTibet.ThisphotowastakenbyErnstSchäferinLhasa,1938/9

SchulerreveredtheRomanEmpireandblamedtheJewsandChristiansforitscollapse.Heengagedinséances,healingritualsand‘astraltravel’.Schulerstressedthe‘sacredness’of‘pureblood’andadoptedtheswastikaashispersonalsymbol.HitlerheardSchulerlectureinViennaand,ashisfriendGreinerrelated,developedanadmirationforancientRomeasaresult.SchuleralsoledHitlertobecomefascinatedbytheswastikasymbol.HemayhavebeenacomparativelyminorinfluenceontheyoungHitlerbuthereinforcedhisracialobsessionsandgavehimthemostpotentemblemofNazism,theswastika.DerlethsubscribedtoanevenmorebizarrebeliefsystemthanSchuler.Hewasconvincedthat

Schuler’sséanceswere‘blackmagicrituals’andhisownmegalomaniasoonledtohisnotoriousProclamations,inwhichhedeclaredtheimminentarrivalof‘ChristusImperatorMaximus’.Thiscomingsaviouroftheworldwanted‘death-hardenedtroopsfortheconquestoftheglobe’.ThelastsentenceoftheProclamationsbecamenotorious:‘soldiers,Ideliveruntoyouforplundering–theworld!’His‘ReichofChristtheking’foundfewdisciplesbuthisideaswerewidelypublicizedinMunichandwerementionedfavourablybytheSchwabingerBeobachter,thenewspaperofthelocalBohemiancommunity.HitlerwasawareofDerleth’sProclamationsandofhisprojectfortheestablishmentoftheRosenburg,

hisvisionofanidealcity.TheRosenburg,thoughnevermorethanadream,wasfavourablycommenteduponbyLanzandotherthinkerswhoinfluencedtheyoungHitler.ItwasalsoanidealthatHimmlerfoundattractivewhenhecametoconsiderhisownvisionoftheUtopianstateoverwhichheimaginedhisSS(Schutzstaffel)rulingintheeventoffinalGermanvictory.Derleth’sfascinationwithalchemy,organicfarming,livinginharmonywithnature,vegetarianism,‘spiritualdevelopment’andan‘order’thatcreatedandruleda‘goldensociety’weredecisiveinfluencesuponHimmler’sconceptionoftheworld.

In1919,theGermanWorkers’Party(DAP)wasfoundedinMunichbyAntonDrexleroftheThuleGroup.AdolfHitlerwasorderedtospyonitbutendedupamember

THREEMENWHOCHANGEDTHECOURSEOFHITLER’SLIFEIn1919HitlermetthreemeninMunichwho,morethananyothers,profoundlyshapedhisthoughtandlaidthefoundationsofhispoliticalcareer.Allthreeweredeeplyinvolvedinoccultpractices.TheinfluenceofGottfriedFeder,DietrichEckartandAlfredRosenbergproveddecisiveintransforminghimintothefutureleaderofGermany.ItbeganwhenHitlerattendedatalkattheGermanWorkers’Partyon12September1919.Thespeaker

wasFederandthesubjectofhistalkwascapitalismanditsevils.Therewereonlyfifty-fourmembersoftheparty,fewofthempresentthatevening.HitlerlistenedtoFeder’stalkwithfascinationandwasstronglyattractedtotheneweconomicideasthatheputforward.Duringthequestionsthatfollowedthespeaker’slectureamemberoftheaudiencedemandedthatthestateofBavariashouldsecedefromtherestofGermanyandrestoreitsformermonarchy.

AntonDrexler(withmoustacheandarmband)atameetingoftheDAP.

Hitler’sDAPmembershipnumberhasbeendoctored–originallyitwas‘555’

HitlerstoodupangrilyandengagedinapassionatedefenceofaGreaterGermanythatincludednotonlythestatesthatalreadybelongedtoitbutalsoAustria,DanzigandalloftheGerman-speakingpeoples.Havingmadehisstatementhewasabouttomakearapidexitwhenthepartyleader,AntonDrexler,rushedafterhimandmanagedtogethisaddress.Heleftthemeetingbutreceivedamembershipcardinthepostthefollowingday.DrexlerandFederwerebothdeeplyimpressedwithHitler’scharisma,speakingabilityandstrengthof

conviction.AsDrexlerremarkedafterhearingHitlerspeak,‘MyGod,he’sgotthegiftofthegab,hasn’the?Wecouldusehim.’AsaresultofthemeetingHitlerbecamethefifty-fifthmemberoftheGermanWorkers’Partyandthe

seventhmemberofitscommittee,givenspecialresponsibilityforpropaganda.BeforelongithadbeenrenamedtheNationalSocialistGermanWorkers’PartyandHitlerbecameitsleader.Hewastotransformitintoamassmovement,usingtoaconsiderableextenttheocculttraininghehadreceivedfromthedarkinitiatesoftheThuleGroupandtheVrilSociety.VeryfewoftheideasthatthefutureChancellorofGermanyputforwardduringhispoliticalcareer

wereoriginal.HiseconomicpolicieswerealmostentirelyderivedfromFederandhisanti-Semitism,stillarelativelyvagueandincoherentprejudicebeforehemetthem,hardenedintodogmaashe

swallowedtheoccult-basedracialtheoriesofEckartandRosenberg.UnlikeHitlerallthreemencamefromwealthymiddle-classfamiliesandtheydecisivelychangedthedirectionofHitler’slifeandasaresultthefuturehistoryoftheworldthroughtheirabilitytoprovideamoresophisticated‘justification’forprejudicesthathoweverdeeplyfelthadperhapsnotbeenclearlyformulatedbefore.

ProgrammeforatalktobegivenbyGottfriedFederin1927–Federwasaneconomistanditwashislecturein1919thatinspiredHitlertojointheDAP

DIETRICHECKART–HITLER’SSPIRITUALFATHEREckartknewthattheGermanWorkers’Party,eventhoughheshareditsbeliefs,wasincapableofeverbecomingamassmovementwithouttherightsortofpersonasitsleader.Hesaidinthespringof1919beforehehadmetHitler,‘weneedamanattheheadwhocanstandthesoundofamachinegun.Thebestmanforthejobwouldbeaworkerwhoknowshowtotalk’.EckartwasobsessedwiththeimminentarrivalofastrongleaderwhowouldnotonlyrestoreGermany

toitsformergreatnessbutwouldmakeitthemostpowerfulnationonearth.HewasimmediatelystruckbyHitler’spotentialandbecameconvincedthattheyoungAustrianex-corporalwastheMessiahforwhomheandthewholeofGermanywerewaiting.Hitlerwasnotfromtheupperormiddleclassessohehadtheabilitytospeaktotheworkingclassesasoneoftheirown.Hischarismaandabilityasapublicspeakerwasbeyondquestion.EckartbelievedthatHitlercouldbemouldedintothefuturesaviourofGermanywithsufficienttrainingbyhimselfandotherswhosharedhisownviewoftheworld.EckartnurturedHitlercarefullyandinitiatedhimintoarangeofoccultideasandpractices.He

introducedhimtothreemagicalorders:theThuleGroup,theArmanenOrderandtheVrilSociety.FromthemHitlerlearnedthetechniquesofoccultconcentration,ofvisualizationandofdevelopingthepowertodirecthiswilltoinfluenceeventsandotherpeople.

Ex-morphineaddictandplaywrightDietrichEckartwasadiscipleofAdolfLanzandperipheraltotheThuleGroup(butnotamember).HewasafounderoftheDAP

Eckartfirmlybelievedthathewasincontactwiththe‘SecretChiefs’,mysteriousbeingswhowerevariouslythoughttoliveintheair,inthemountainfastnessesofTibetorintheverycentreoftheearth.HethoughthehadthepowertosummonthemandsetthemtoworkonbehalfofGermanyandthatHitlerwastheearthlyinstrumentforchannellingtheirpower.KurtLudeckewasaclosefriendofHitlerformanyyearsanddescribedEckartas‘somethingofa

genius,andtoagreatdegreethespiritualfatherofHitlerandthegrandfatheroftheNazimovement’.ForhispartEckarttoldRosenberg,‘Letithappenasitwillandmust,butIbelieveinHitler;abovehimtherehoversastar.’LikeFeder,Eckartwasdeeplyhostiletocapitalism.Feder,atleastatfirst,didnotregardhisanti-

capitalistviewsasbeingnecessarilyconnectedwithanti-SemitismbutEckartbelievedfirmlythattheJewswerethemastermindsbehindcapitalism.ThroughhisnewspaperAufgutDeutschandhisauthorshipofanumberofpamphlets,particularlytheincendiaryToAllWorkers!,hebuiltafollowingamongthethousandsofGermanswhofeltdispossessedandalienatedattheendoftheFirstWorldWar.UnderEckart’sinfluence,firstFederandthenHitlercametolookontheJewsasthesourceofalltheevilsintheworld.

THETHULEGROUPTheverybeginningsofNazismweresteepedinoccultism.TheNaziPartybeganlifeasthepoliticalarmoftheThuleGroup.Thiswasfoundedin1910byFelixNiednerwhoalsotranslatedtheEddasfromOldNorseintoGerman.(TheEddaswerethesacredbooksofScandinavianpaganism.)In1918aMunichbranchwasfoundedandbecameinvolvedinpoliticalactivity.TheThuleGroupwasformedontheancientmythsofHyperboreaandThule.Hyperboreawas

supposedtobealandinthefarnorththatwasdestroyedbyice.Theicesplititintotwoislands,oneofwhichbecameknownasThule.TheThuleGroupmemberswereconvincedthattheirdescendantsweretheancestorsoftheAryanrace.ThegroupwasoneofthemostimportantformativeinfluencesonNazithinking.OnlytheVrilSociety

hadanequallydecisiveimpactontheParty’sleadership.EckartwasalsoobsessedwiththeideaoftheReichskleinodien,thetreasuresoftheHolyRoman

Empire,inparticularthecrownandsceptrethathadbeenpartoftheregaliaofsuccessiveemperors.He

wasparticularlykeenontransferringtheownershipoftheSpearofDestinytothepossessionofaGreaterGermanReich.InspiteofhistotalhostilitytobothChristianityandJudaism,Eckartwasconvincedthatitwas

essentialfortheNazistoacquireasmanyaspossibleofthesacredrelicsofbothreligionsinordertoharnesstheirpower.ItwasalsoEckartwhointroducedHitlertothebizarrewritingsoftheanti-SemiticJewOttoWeininger,whichprovidedadditionaloccultjustificationforAryansupremacismandanti-Jewishattitudes.

OTTOWEININGERTHEANTI-SEMITICJEWWeiningerwasaJewishpsychologistwhowasdeeplyashamedofhisJewishness.Likemostthinkersofhisgenerationhebelievedthatethnicandnationaldifferenceswereinherentratherthanculturallydetermined.InhisbookSexandCharacterWeiningerdividedcountriesintowhathereferredtoas‘masculine’and‘feminine’nations.PeoplefromtheMediterraneanareaswereregardedasfemaleandnorthernEuropeansasmale.Inthesamewayheclaimedthatnationsandracialgroupswere‘active’or‘passive’.Againmasculinenationswereactiveandfeminineonespassive.NaturallyWeiningersawtheGermansasactiveandtheJewsaspassive.

TheemblemoftheThuleGroup,anamalgamationofoccultistswhosebeliefscentredonthecomingofa‘GermanMessiah’,the‘GreatOne’,whowouldrestoreGermanytoitsformergloryafterthehumiliationofdefeatintheFirstWorldWar

Notcontentwiththisdubiousclassificationofnationsandethnicgroups,Weiningeraddedsexismtohisracialprejudices.Womenwerecondemnedutterlyasmaterialistic,passiveandfemininewhilemenwere

spiritual,activeandmasculine.Hissuggestionthatwomenwerelessspiritualthanmenrepresentedacompletereversaloforthodoxattitudestowardsgenderandspirituality.ThecoreofWeininger’sbookwasapolemicagainstfemininevaluesandwomeningeneral.His

notoriousremark‘thebestwomanisinferiortotheworstman’summeduphisattitudetowardsthem.Womenwerenotonlyseenasinferiortomenbutalsoasnotevenfullyhumanatall.Theyhadnovalueinthemselvesandonlyacquiredaninstrumentalvalueintermsoftheirabilitytoservemen.

WolvespursuingSolandMani(fromtheEddas)

NorsemythologytheProseEddainfluencedNazithinking

TheimperialregaliaoftheemperorsandkingsoftheHolyRomanEmpire,datingfromtheMiddleAges,constituteoneofthemostimportantcollectionsofroyaljewelsanywhere.TheywereviewedbytheNazisasasourceofspiritualpower

WeiningerfurtherdeclaredthatJewswereinferioreventowomensincewomenbelievedinmenbutJewsbelievedinnothing.Jewswerecompletelyunabletolivetheirlivesuponspiritualprinciplesandweretheincarnationofthespiritofdecadentmaterialism.ThistendencymadethemthenaturalenemiesoftheGermanpeople.Weiningerwrote:

Thehumanraceawaitsthefounderofanewreligionandthestruggleapproachesitscrucialphase,asinthefirstyearofourera.OnceagainhumanityhasthechoicebetweenJudaismandChristianity,betweencommerceandculture,betweenwomanandman,betweenthespeciesandtheindividual,betweennon-valueandvalue,betweennothingnessanddivinity;thereisnothirdkingdom.

AswithHitlerandmanyotherNazisWeiningersawracenotsimplyinbiologicaltermsbutalsoasrepresentingspiritualvalues.HedeclaredthatJudaismwas‘atendencyoftheintellect,apsychicconditionwhichcouldappearinanymanbutwhosegreatesthistoricalmanifestationwasinhistoricalJudaism’.WeiningeralsobelievedthattheGermanracerepresentedthehighestexpressionofspiritualvalues.Thistormented,self-hatingJewinfluencedthinkersofthestatureofWittgensteinandFreud.Forallthe

irrationalityofhisprejudicesagainstwomenandJewsheroundlycondemnedanti-Semitismandwrote:

ThemostgenuineAryans,thosewhoaremostAryanandmostsureoftheirAryanismarenotanti-Semites.Ontheotherhand,intheaggressiveanti-SemiteonecanalwaysdetectcertainJewishtraitseventhoughhisbloodisfreefromanySemiticstrain.Thatiswhythemostviolentanti-SemitesareJews.

AyearafterconvertingtoChristianityWeiningercommittedsuicide.HisworkSexandCharacterwasapopularandinfluentialbookthatwaswidelypraised.TwoofitsbiggestadmirerswereEckartandAlfredRosenberg,amanwhosedecisiveinfluenceuponHitlerwillbeexaminedshortly.EckartintroducedHitlertoWeininger’sbookandthefutureChancellorwasdeeplyimpressed.InhisTableTalk,HitlerdescribedWeiningeras‘theonlyJewfittolive’.

OttoWeininger:‘theonlyJewfittolive’–Hitler

ALFREDROSENBERG,THENAZIPARTYIDEOLOGISTRosenbergfoundWeininger’sattitudestowardswomenascongenialashisracistfantasies.Hedeclaredthatmenthought‘systematically’whilewomenthought‘lyrically’;malethinkingwas‘synoptic’whilefemalesthought‘atomistically’.Rosenbergbelievedthattheprincipalroleofwomenwas‘topreachthemaintenanceofthepurityoftherace’.InRosenberg’seyesthegrowingemancipationofwomenwasadisastrousmistake.Herejected

absolutelyanynotionoftheequalityofthesexeswhichheidentifiedwithliberalvaluesthatinhisviewhadnearlydestroyedGermany.Rosenbergbelievedthatthewholenotionofhumanrightswasnotsimplyanillusionbutadangerousmistake.Biologyhadcreatedtwogendersandthedifferencesbetweenmenandwomenwereinnateratherthancultural.Womenwereinferiortomenandonlythroughrestoringthenaturalorderofthingswithmaleheadshipandfemalesubserviencecouldtheerrorsoffeminism,‘artificiallycreatedbyanintellectualismofthemostdepravedkind’,beovercomeandreversed.Theroleofawomanwastopreservetherace,tomaintaindomesticvirtueandupholdmorality.Feminismwas‘asymptomofdecay’and‘inventedbytheJewishintellect’totryanddestroytheAryanrace.In1919EckartintroducedHitlertoRosenbergandhisinfluenceuponHitler’sideologywasdecisive.

Rosenbergwasobsessedwithanti-Semitism,anti-Communism,anti-capitalism,anti-Freemasonryandanti-Christianityaswellashavingadeephatredoflesbianismandabizarrecompulsiontocollectmusicalinstruments.HenotonlybelievedintheThuleanoriginoftheAryanracebutwasalsofirmlycommittedto‘thecreationofanewhumantype’thatwoulddominate‘subhumanraces’andmovehumanityontoa‘higherplane’throughoccultmethods.

AlfredRosenbergwasimportantinshapingNaziideology.HerejectedChristianityasbeingaJewishreligionandformalizedahierarchyofraceswithAryansatthetop

BothEckartandRosenbergbelievedinaverystrangekindofreligion.Onthewhole,theancientpaganfaithshadworshippednaturalforcesandhadbelievedfirmlyintheimportanceofmakinglifeonearthashappyaspossible.Thesetwomenwereconvincedthatthematerialworldwasnotsimplyillusorybutevil.Theysawitasthedutyofthehumanracetoseektoevolveintoalevelwhereitwouldbeabletoliveona‘non-materialplaneofexistence’.

THEPROTOCOLSOFTHELEARNEDELDERSOFZIONRosenberghadlivedinEstoniawhenitwasstillpartofRussia.TheBolshevikRevolutionforcedhimtofleeandhelostallhiswealth.WhenhearrivedinGermanyasapennilessrefugeehehadonlyone‘weapon’intheattempttoregainhisformerprivilegedstatus.ThiswasacopyofthenotoriousProtocolsoftheLearnedEldersofZion,aworkthatclaimedtobeanaccountofthesecretproceedingsoftheWorldCongressofJewryheldatBaselin1897andwhichallegedlylaiddownplansforworldJewishdomination.RosenbergknewperfectlywellthattheProtocolswereaforgerybuthealsorealizedtheirpotentially

explosiveeffectiftheywerewidelydisseminated.AfterreadingAufgutDeutschhewenttoseeEckartandpresentedhimwiththemanuscriptoftheProtocols.AtremendouslyexcitedEckartarrangedfortheirpublicationinaGermantranslation.HealsoinvitedRosenbergtojointheThuleGroupandlaterintroducedhimtoHitler.RosenbergarrivedinMunichinNovember1918andjoinedtheGermanWorkers’PartyinJanuary1919.HitlerdidnotbecomeamemberuntilOctober1919.

ThefirsteditionofTheProtocolsoftheEldersofZion,publishedinRussiain1903,wasananti-SemitichoaxpretendingtorevealJewishplansforworlddomination

Rosenbergdidnotpublishhisideasinbookformimmediately.InsteadhebeganbywritingarticlesforEckart’snewspaper.Inlate1919hecompletedhisfirstfull-lengthmanuscript,TheTraceoftheJewThroughChangingTimes.Inthisbizarre,ramblingandoftenincoherentworkheclaimedthatthecoloursofthenewnationalflagintroducedbytheWeimarRepublic(red,blackandgold)representedthreedifferentaspectsofthealleged‘JewishHighCommand’andtheirgoalof‘worlddomination’.InRosenberg’sparanoidimaginationredstoodfor‘JewishBolshevism’,blackfor‘Jewishanarchism’andgoldfor‘JewishHighFinance’.Hesaidthat‘theblack,theredandthegoldinternationalsrepresentthedreamsofJewishphilosophersfromEzra,EzekielandNehemiahtoMarx,RothschildandTrotsky’.HealsodeclaredthatnotonlywasFreemasonryyetanother‘front’fortheconspiracybutthatEngland,‘thelandwhereFreemasonryoriginates’,was‘thecentreofworldJewry’.TheFreemasonshadbeenaccusedofpoliticalinvolvementbyconspiracytheoristsforaroundtwo

hundredyearsbutitappearstohavebeenRosenberg’sparticularcontributiontodeclarefirmlythatitwasaspecifically‘Jewish’conspiracy.Inhissecondbook,TheCrimeoftheFreemasons,heengagedinatiradeagainst‘JewishMasonry’.HesoonconvertedEckartandHitlertohiswayofthinkingandwithinasurprisinglyshorttimeithad

becometheorthodoxviewamongfar-rightmovements.RosenberghimselfwasappointedtothepositionoftheParty’sofficialideologist.Hisjobwastoprovide‘facts’tosupportthevariousclaimsmadebyitsspokesmen.Healsoplayedalargepartinformulatingthebasic‘philosophy’ofNazism.AnothertwobooksfollowedbeforehiseditionoftheProtocolsbecameaninternationalpublishing

sensation.Rosenbergaddedanextensivecommentaryontheworkandpreparedthebookforthepress.AshehadhopedandexpectedtheeffectoftheProtocolswasimmediateandworldwide.They

launchedaninternationalanti-SemiticmovementandeventhoughTheTimes,whichhadbegunbytakingthemseriously,wasablecomparativelyquicklytodemonstratethattheworkwasaforgery,theProtocols

becameanintegralpartofanti-Jewishpropagandaemployedbythefarright.HitlerofcoursebecametotallyconvincedofthegenuinenessoftheProtocolsinspiteofthefactthat

evenRosenbergknewtheywereaforgery.InthefirstGermaneditionoftheworkRosenberghadcarefullystatedthat‘asmattersstandtodayitisimpossibletoadducejuridicallyconclusiveproofeitherfortheirabsoluteauthenticityorfortheirfabrication’.WhenhecametowriteMeinKampfHitlerdeclaredthattheywerenotonlygenuinebutthattheyalsoshowedclearproofofaJewishconspiracyagainsttheworld.

THEMYTHOFTHE20THCENTURYAddingtothehugeinfluencethathisintroductionoftheProtocolstoGermanyhadwroughtuponHitlerandtheNazis,Rosenbergalsoworkedonhismostambitiousbook,TheMythofthe20thCentury.Itfinallysawpublicationin1930andwasthesecondmostpopularNaziworkafterMeinKampf,sellingoveramillioncopies.EvenHitlerdescribeditasthemostimportantformulationofNazipolicyotherthanhisownwork.IthasbecomefashionabletounderrateRosenberg’sinfluenceuponHitler.Certainlyforthelastthree

yearsofthewarhewasrelativelyineffectivebutthatwasfarfrombeingthecaseforthemajorityofhispoliticalcareer.HitlerthoughtsohighlyofhimthatfollowinghisownarrestafterthefailedMunichputschin1923heappointedRosenbergasPartyleader,apositionheretaineduntilHitler’seventualrelease.WhentheNaziscametopowerRosenbergenjoyedauthorityoverawiderangeofactivities,hardlya

signofincapacityorofbeingundervaluedbytheleadership.WhileneverinthesameclassasGoebbels,Himmler,BormannorHeydrichasanadministratorhestillsucceededinhavingmoreofhispoliciescarriedoutthanthemajorityofNazileaders.TheenormousinfluencethatRosenberghadontheFührer’sthinkingisdemonstratedconstantlybyHitlerinMeinKampf,inTableTalk,inmanyofhisspeechesandinthevariousconversationshehadwithotherpeople,particularlythoserecordedbyHermannRauschning,GovernorofDanzig.Rosenbergwassometimesreferredtoas‘thekeeperofthefaith’or‘theconscienceoftheParty’.HoweverincoherentandrepellenthisideasmayappeartodaytheyhadaprofoundinfluenceontheNazisandparticularlyuponHitler.InTheMythofthe20thCenturyRosenbergclaimedthatmaterialismandindividualismweredying

creedsandthattheywouldbecomesubmergedintothegroupidentityoftheVolk.HebelievedthatAtlantislayinthefarnorthandwastheoriginalhomeoftheAryans.RosenbergalsodenouncedCatholicismwithconsiderablevenomandpraisedwhathecalledthe‘martyrsoffreeresearch’.Inhismindtheseincluded‘theAlbigenses,Waldenses,Cathars,Arnoldists,Stedingers,HuguenotsandreformedLutherans’.ThissuspiciouslymiscellaneousassortmentofreligiousdissentershadalmostnothingincommonwithoneanotherbesidethefactthattheyallfellfouloftheCatholicChurch.TheHuguenotsandLutheransdisagreedwitheachotheronalmosteveryissue;theWaldensesattractedpersecutionfortheirattacksonwealthandprivilegeratherthanforanysignificantdoctrinalissueswithCatholicism;theArnoldistsandStedingerswereobscureandofnorealsignificance;andtheCatharswereidenticalwiththeAlbigenses.

HitlercallsonAlfredRosenberg,withWilhelmBrücknerandJuliusSchaub,towishhimahappy45thbirthdayin1938.IreneRosenberg,aged7,watcheson

ItisnotsurprisingthatRosenberg’shatredofmaterialismledhimtolavishhisgreatestpraiseontheCathars.Likethemhesawthephysicalworldasevilandsomethingfromwhichweshouldallseektoescape.InRosenberg’seyesthespiritistrappedinthematerialuniverseandonlythroughtherenunciationoftheworldcanitbecomefree.Tohimthetruepurposeofmysticismwastoenablehumanstoevolvebeyondtheirphysicalbodiesandlifeonearthandtoenterthehigherrealmofthepurelyspiritualexistence.BycontrastRosenbergbelievedtheJewswerethearch-materialists,totallycommittedtolifeupon

earthanda‘worldly’viewofhumanbehaviour.HedenouncedJudaismandtheJewsas‘enemiesofthespirit’andinapassageextraordinaryevenbyhisstandardsdeclaredthat‘tostriptheworldofitssoul,thatandnothingelseiswhatJudaismwants.This,however,wouldbetantamounttotheworld’sdestruction’.InTheMythofthe20thCenturyRosenbergexaminedtheCatharsinconsiderabledetail.Hemadehis

admirationfortheirbeliefsplainandinparticularsawtheirversionofChristianityassuperiortothatoftheCatholicChurch.RosenbergsawCatholicismasacorruptionoftheChristianreligionandbelievedtheCatharsweretheguardiansoftrueChristianity.Inhiseyes,althoughLutherandCalvinhadbeenrighttocondemntheCatholicChurchtheircriticismsofithadnotgonefarenough.BothLutherandCalvinbelievedintheliteraltruthoftheBibleastherevealedwordofGodand

reverencedtheOldTestamentatleastasmuchastheNew.BycontrasttheCatharsrejectedtheentireOldTestamentandmuchoftheNewTestamentaswell.RosenbergsawStPaulasanothertoolofthevastJewishconspiracy.InhiseyesPaulhadrealizedthat

ChristianitywasspreadingandwasthreateningtoreplaceJudaism.Paulwasthereforesentbytherabbistocorruptit.IfithadnotbeenforPaulChristianitywouldhavelostitsJewishelementsandwouldhavebeenananti-SemiticreligionmoreorlessalongthelinesofCatharism.RosenbergdenouncedChristianityforitsfailuretorecognizetheinherentsuperiorityandinferiorityof

theworld’svariousethnicgroups.HerejectedtheideaoforiginalsinanddeclaredthattheGermanswere‘bornnoble’.Healsocondemneditsbeliefinpersonalimmortality.Rosenbergnevermadeentirelyplainwhatalternativeviewheheldonthequestionofhumansurvivalofdeathbutalmostcertainlyhisownpreferencewasforthetheoryofreincarnation.

Catharsbeingburntatthestakeinthe13thcentury:RosenbergfeltaparticularaffinityforthisCatholicsectwhichwaspersecutedbytheestablishedChurch

TheMünchenerBeobachterwasboughtbytheThuleGroupandrenamedtheVölkischerBeobachterinAugust1919.ThiswassubsequentlyboughtoutbytheNSDAP.In1921Hitlerboughtupeveryshareandbecamesoleproprietor

ROSENBERGANDTHEBASISOFNAZILAWAstheParty’sofficialideologistRosenberglaiddownthebasisforGermanstatelaw.HeproclaimedthattheVolk,thepeopleoftheblood,constitutedthestate.ItwasthemembershipofthiscommunityoftheVolkthatdeterminedthethoughtsandactionsofallGermans.Anyconflictingloyaltiescouldnotbeadmitted,whethertochurchesorrivalpoliticalparties.TheunityofthepeopleundertheleadershipoftheFührerdemandedanabsolutedenialofindividuallibertyofconscience.InsteadtheonlypermittedformofthoughtwasNationalSocialism.Societyconsistedsimplyofpeopleofthesameracialtypeandthatalonedefinedtheirplace.TheindividualhadnomeaningorexistenceoutsidetheVolk.TheCatholicChurchcertainlysawRosenbergasaseriousenemy.InthepapalencyclicalMit

brennenderSorge(‘WithBurningConcern’)thePopespecificallydenouncedTheMythofthe20thCentury.ApartfromthecomparativerarityofapapalattackonaparticularbookitwasalsounusualatthattimeforanencyclicaltobewrittenandpublishedinGerman.DuringtheearlyyearsoftheNaziPartyRosenbergbecametheeditorofitsnewspaper,theVölkischer

Beobachter(‘People’sObserver’),andusedhispositiontopromoteandpopularizehisownideology.In1934HitlerrewardedhisyearsofservicebyappointinghimtothepostofBeauftragterdesFührersfürdieUberwachungdergesamtengeistigenundweltanschaulichenSchulungundErziehungderParteiundgleichgeschaltetenVerbände.Thistitleisalmostuntranslatable,theclosestEnglishequivalentbeing‘theFührer’srepresentativefortheoversightoftheentirespiritualandideologicaleducationandinstructionofthePartyandincorporatedgroups’.

HitlerreadsthroughhisVölkischerBeobachterwithobviousrelishathisholidayhome,theBerghof.Nazitriumphswereinevidenceonpracticallyeverypage

ROSENBERGANDMODERNARTRosenbergusedhisnewpositiontointerveneinarangeofareas–schools,youthgroups,politicalideology,socialissues,religion,literatureandthearts.WhenHitlercametopowerRosenbergsetuptheNationalSocialistCommunityofCulture.By1935ithadoveroneandahalfmillionmembers.TheCommunityorganizedcirclesforart,books,theatreandlectureswithamembershipfeeofonemarkpercircle.Thetheatredivisionoftheorganizationreadoverthreethousandmanuscriptsayear.Literature,artandmusicallhadtoreflectwhatRosenbergcalled‘adefiniteviewoftheworld’.Hedemandedanendto‘thephilosophyofdemocraticlevelling’andinsistedupontheprimacyof‘unspoiledinstinctsasagainstthespeculativetheoremsofhollowfancies’.Culturalactivitywasseenasameansoforganizing‘receptivityoftheear,theeyeandtheheartforthegreatmastersofworksofGermanart’whichwouldcreate‘aculturalworkscommunity’.Rosenbergwasbitterlyhostiletowardsmodernartwhichhesawasdegenerateandyetanother

exampleoftheJewishconspiracy.Oneofhisfirstactsonachievingpowerwastodenouncetheworld-famousBauhausanditclosedshortlyafterwards.Rosenbergdemandedthatalltrueartshouldbevölkischandexpressacollectivesenseofcommunityandinparticularcelebraterurallife.In1934heclosedanexhibitionofexperimentalartistsandaspiredtobetheculturaldictatorofGermany.ThisambitionbroughthimintoconflictwithGoebbels.Temperamentally,ideologicallyandintermsoftheirabilitiesthetwomencouldhardlyhavebeenmore

different.Rosenbergwasshy,apoorspeaker,aromantictraditionalist,amanwhofoundithardtorelatetootherpeopleandwascompletelylackinginasenseofhumour.Goebbelswasextroverted,abrilliantspeaker,amodernist,amanwhowasknownforhisbitingwitandwhowasnearlyalwaysabletopersuadepeopletoadopthispointofview.Withbothmensetondeterminingideologicalorthodoxyand

theculturaldirectionoftheReichitwasinevitablethattheywouldclash.GivenGoebbels’abilitytothinkonhisfeet,hisvastlysuperiororganizationalability,hisgeniusforpropagandaandtotallackofscruplesitwasalsoinevitablethattheremoteconservativeintellectualRosenbergwouldlosethepowerstrugglebetweenthem.InspiteofhisoverallfailuretocontroltheculturalsideofGermanlifeitwaslargelyRosenbergwho

wasresponsibleforthewholesalecondemnationofmodernart.GoebbelsandGoeringbothchampionedartisticmodernismenthusiasticallyandHitler,atleastduringthe1920s,hadalsobeensympathetictomanyaspectsofmodernart.UnderRosenberg’sinfluencetheNaziPartycondemneditinitstotalityandthenotorious1937exhibitionof‘degenerateart’wasalmostentirelyhisidea.Itbackfiredspectacularly,drawinghugecrowds,butafteritsclosureartistsfoundthemselvesforcedtofollowtheofficialpartylineofrepresentationalisminart.OnceagainRosenberghadpersuadedHitlertochangethedirectionofpartypolicy.Rosenberg’sprincipalinfluencewasthroughtheeducationalsectionsoftheNaziPartyandhisimpact

bothonthecontentandstyleofthetrainingforfuturePartyleaderswasundeniable.AnimpressivevarietyofliteraturewaspreparedbyhisofficeincludingtheBulletinontheDoctrinalSituationandIdeaandDeed.Thelatterpublicationcontained‘teachingmaterialsfortheentiredoctrinaleducationoftheNSDAP’anda‘bibliographyfortheworkofdoctrinaleducation’.AnotherimportantRosenbergpublicationwastheNationalSocialistMonthlywhichwastheprincipalpoliticalandculturaljournaloftheParty.RosenbergwasalsogivenresponsibilityforcreatingtheLebensfeiern–theceremoniesdesignedtoreplacereligiousritesofbaptism,marriageandfunerals.

GOTTFRIEDFEDERANDNAZIECONOMICPHILOSOPHYIfRosenberg’sinfluenceonHitlerhasbeengrosslyunderrated,particularlybefore1941,Federisanalmostforgottenfigurenowadays,tendingtoattractnomorethanabriefmentioninfootnotesoratbestaparagraphortwo.InspiteofhispresentobscurityFeder’sinfluenceuponHitler’sthinkingwaseverybitasprofoundasthatofRosenbergorEckart.LikethemFederbelongedtotheThuleGroupandtheVrilSociety.ItwasFederwhospokeatthefirstmeetingofthefutureNaziPartythatHitlerattended.FederintroducedHitlertoEckartandFeder’seconomicideascaptivatedHitlerandbecamePartypolicy.ItwasFederwhodrewupthe‘unalterable’25-pointprogrammeoftheNaziParty.WhenthesocialistwingofthePartyrebelledagainstHitler,Federwasthemanchosentoputdowntherevolt.

BavarianGottfriedFederwasamemberoftheThuleGroupandafounderoftheDAP.InFebruary1920,hewasarchitectofthe‘25points’,astatementoftheoriginalNaziagenda

Fromthemomenttheymet,FederbecamenotsimplyanadvisertoHitlerbutaclosepersonalfriend.HewassoexcitedbyHitler’sbriefinterventionatthePartymeetingthathetoldEckarthebelievedthemovementhadfoundtheleaderitwaslookingfor.ItwasFederwhoconvincedHitlerthatanationalistformofsocialismwaspossibleand,atleastindirectly,wasresponsibleforthechoiceofthename‘NationalSocialistGermanWorkers’Party’.WritingaboutthetalkbyFederwhichsethimonthebeginningofhispoliticalcareer,Hitlerremarked:

AfterhearingthefirstlecturedeliveredbyFeder,theideaimmediatelycameintomyheadthatIhadfoundawaytooneofthemostessentialprerequisitesforthefoundingofanewparty.IunderstoodimmediatelythatherewasatruthoftranscendentalimportanceforthefutureoftheGermanpeople.InFeder’sspeechIfoundaneffectiverallyingcryforourcomingstruggle.

FederwastheleastinclinedtowardstheoccultofallHitler’smentors,possiblybecauseofhisbackgroundasanengineer.Hewascertainlyashostileto‘materialism’asHitlerorEckartandRosenbergandtoaconsiderableextenttheypersuadedhimthat‘highfinance’–whatwouldnowadaysbereferredtoas‘globalcapitalism’or‘financialcapitalism’–wasbeingmastermindedbytheJews.Federsaidon27June1920thatit

wasnotaquestionofrace.ObviouslyhowevertheJewishquestionisconcernedwiththesolutionoftheproblem,forrepresentativesofJewrystandinthefirstlineofattack .

Evenin1933whentheNaziswereinpowerFederdeclaredthat‘Jewry’represented‘thespiritofmaterialism’andthatwaswhyitwasdirectlyopposedtotheabolitionof‘interestslavery’.

ForallhisintensehatredofmaterialismandhisfrequenttiradesagainsttheJewsFederdidnotsubscribetotheglobalanti-SemiticviewsofhisleaderandthemajorityofhiscolleaguesintheNaziParty.Allofthesemenwerepartoftheintellectualinfluencesthathelpedformtheessentialthinkingofthe

futureFührer.HitlerhadbeenexposedtoarangeofmagicalandoccultviewsfromtheageofnineteenuntilthedayhebecameGermanChancelloranditishardlysurprisingthatoncehecametopowerhesetouttoputasmanyofhisesoterictheoriesintopracticeaspossible,withconsequencesthataffectedthesubsequentdevelopmentofthewholeworldandinmanyrespectscontinuetodosotothepresentday.

CHAPTERTWO

TheVrilSocietyFollowingGermany’sdefeatintheFirstWorldWarthecountryeruptedintorevolution.TheKaiserfledabroad,seekingsanctuaryinneutralHolland.TherewasahugeswingtotheleftpoliticallyandtheSocialDemocraticPartyprovidedthenewrepublicwithitsPresidentanditsfirstChancellor.Inthistimeofcrisispoliticalextremismflourishedandthreatenedtopushthecountryinto

full-scalecivilwar.InspiredbyLenin’ssuccessinRussia,theGermanCommunistsattemptedtoinstallasimilarregimeintheirowncountry.Disillusionmentwiththepoliticalestablishmentwassointensethatordinaryideologicalboundariescollapsedorbecameatleastblurred.Onlythearistocratsandthewealthystillbelievedinthemonarchyandtheruleofanelite.Largenumbersofdemobilizedsoldiersroamedaimlesslyacrossthecountry.Theyfound

themselvesdespisedandhatedbythepopulationandbecameresentfulandbitterasaresult.Manyex-soldiersjoinedtherevolutionariesandformed‘Soldiers’Councils’.OthersjoinednationalistparamilitarygroupsknownasFreikorps–FreeCorps.

FreikorpsRossbachduringtheKappputschinBerlin,1920,anattempttooverthrowtheWeimargovernmentthatonlylastedfourdaysafterageneralstrikearoseagainstit

AtthistimeofupheavalwithinGermanytwoofthemenwhoweretocreateandshapethedestinyoftheThirdReichchoseverydifferentcoursesofaction.CaptainErnstRöhmformedoneofthemosteffectiveFreikorpsunits.CorporalAdolfHitlerbycontrastjoinedtheMarxistrevolutionariesandwasanactiveandenthusiasticsupporterofthebriefbutviolent‘SovietBavaria’regime.Hewasevenelectedasamemberofoneofthe‘Soldiers’Councils’inMunich.Aswellasthepredictablepoliticalgroupingsofcommunists,socialists,liberalsandconservatives,

somemoreeccentricattemptstoremouldsocietyalsosprangupandflourishedbriefly.Therewasanastonishingoverlapofideasandpersonnelbetweenmanyofthesegroups,particularlytheradicalrightandthefarleft.Federobservedthepoliticalandfinancialruinofhiscountryanddevelopedhisownideasfora

solutiontoitseconomicproblems.HebeganbyapproachingGermanbankerswithhisproposalsbutwasrebuffed.Hisnextstepwastopresenta‘Manifestofortheabolitionoftheinterest-slaveryofmoney’totheMarxistgovernmentofSovietBavariaon20November1918.ItishighlysignificantthatFedersawnoinherentcontradictionbetweenapproachingbankersandCommunistswithidenticalproposalsforeconomicreform.ThefollowingyearFeder,afterreadingAufgutDeutsch,metwiththepaper’seditorandchiefwriter,

Eckart.TheybecameclosefriendsandbeforelongEckarthadrecruitedFederintotheThuleGroupandtheVrilSociety.

RudolfvonSebottendorfwasthealiasofAdamGlauer.HeestablishedtheThuleGroupandpractisedesotericarts,includingastrology,numerologyandalchemy

TheVrilSocietyhasbeenmentionedbrieflyalreadybutitisworthyofextendedconsideration.UnlikeFeder,whosepoliticswerealwaysessentiallyontheleft,Eckart’sviewswereconfused,contradictoryandirrational.WhereFedersawthehandof‘highfinance’Eckartsaw‘aninternationalJewishconspiracy’.Federwantedareturntospiritualvalues;Eckartbelievedthatthiscouldonlybeachievedthroughadeterminedoppositionto‘Judah’.

VictoryparadeatNurembergin1933,featuringHitlerandhisheadpitbullErnstRöhminSAuniform.RöhmwasahyperactivememberoftheFreikorpsmovement

TheoriginalVrilSocietyhadbeensmallandineffective.TheMunichbranch,foundedbyRudolfvonSebottendorf,wasaverydifferentorganization.Asearlyas9November1918,twodaysbeforethewarendedandwhiletheKaiserstillsatonthethroneofGermany,Sebottendorfdenouncedwhathecalled‘arevolutionmadebyalowerracetocorruptGermans’,adding‘wearenowconfrontedbyourmortalenemy–Judah’.

THEBEGINNINGSOFTHENAZIPUBLISHINGEMPIREInJuly1918Sebottendorfboughtapublishinghouseandanewspaper.Thepublishers,FranzEherVerlag,laterissuedmanyNazibooks.ThenewspaperwasrenamedtheMünchenerBeobachterundSportsblatt.LateritwasrebrandedastheVölkischerBeobachterandbecametheofficialorganoftheNaziParty.InhisnewspaperSebottendorfcalledforacounter-revolutionagainsttheleft-wingregime.Healso

foundeda‘workers’ring’inNovember1918totryandcounterMarxistideasamongtheworkingclasses.Membershipofthering–thePolitischerArbeiterzirkel(Workers’PoliticalCircle)wasderisory.OtherthanSebottendorfhimself,theonlyregularmemberswereKarlHarrer,asportsreporter;AntonDrexler,arailwayworker;andtwoofDrexler’sfellowrailwaymen.By5January1919thecirclehadshownitselfincapableofreachingawideraudience.Onthatdayit

dissolveditselfandformedanewpoliticalorganization,theDeutscheArbeiterpartei(GermanWorkers’Party).Whilestillatinygroupitdidatleastmanagetoacquireatotalofforty-fourmembers.Drexlerbecametheleaderofthenewparty.Itsmemberswerealsoablethroughtheirwidercontactswithinthe

VrilSocietyandtheThuleGrouptobeginplottingactivelyagainstSovietBavaria.AtthisstageofitsexistencetheVrilSociety’spoliticalobsessionspredominatedoveritsoccult

fantasies.Sebottendorfandhisco-conspiratorsbecameinvolvedinasuccessionoffutileandineptattemptstooverthrowtheMarxistgovernment.SebottendorfhimselfwasprimarilyinvolvedwiththeThuleGroupbuttheVrilSocietywasaninner

circlewithintheorganizationthateventuallymergedwiththelargergroup.OftheVrilSociety’scouncilofleadersnoneweremoreinfluentialthanEckartandKarlHaushofer.InspiteofthesmallnumberofmemberswhobelongedtotheVrilSocietyitsimpactwasoutofall

proportiontoitssize.ItplayedadecisivepartintheascentofHitlerandtheNazistosupremepowerwithinGermany.

THESOCIETYOFTHEGREENDRAGONTheVrilSocietyoriginallyderivedfromaJapanesegroupknownastheSocietyoftheGreenDragon,itselfanoffshootofaTibetanorder.Therewereexactlyseventy-twomembersoftheGreenDragonandtheaimofthesocietywassaidtobefomentingwars,revolutionsandgeneraldestruction.Itsoriginsaredisputed,withsomesourcessuggestingitwasfirstformedbytheninth-centuryJapaneseBuddhistmysticKukai.HebecameenlightenedbytheGreenDragonTempleinXianandhistrainingconsistedofoccultandsexualmagictraditionsthatfirstoriginatedinTibet.AnothertheoryisthatitwasoriginallyaTaoistorderformedinChinaduringtheseventeenthcenturypractising‘Taoistalchemyandimmortalisttechniques’.OthersourcessuggestthatthesocietyoriginatedinTibetwhereagreendragonsymbolizes‘theGodofthunder,braveryandall-conqueringforce’.ItisknownthattheJapanesemonkEkaiKawaguchivisitedTibettwicebeforetheFirstWorldWarandattheverytimethatHaushoferwasinTokyo.YetanothersuggestionisthatitwasanoffshootoftheBlackDragonSocietywhichfirstsurfacedin1901andtookitsnamefromtheBlackDragonRiver–betterknownastheRiverAmur–thatseparatedManchuriafromSiberia.TheGreenDragonRiver–theQinglong–separatesManchuriaandChina.IthasbeensuggestedthattheGreenDragonSocietyaroseoutoftheBlackDragonorganization.ThemainobjectiveofthemembersoftheGreenDragonSociety,towhichHaushofer(picturedright)

belonged,issaidtohavebeentocontrolthevitalforceswithinthehumanbodyandbecomelordsoftime.Throughtheuseofthoughtenergytheybelievedthattheypossessedthepowertofullyactivateallthechakraswithinboththephysicalandtheastralbodyofhumans.Theyalsodeclaredthattheearthitselfhadanastralbodyandthatbothhumanandcosmicevolutionweregovernedbythevitalcentresoftheearth,whichoperatedinasimilarwaytothechakrasinthehumanbody.ThefallofAtlantisandtheriseoftheAryanracewerekeymomentsinthehistoryoftheplanetandthetwentiethcenturywasdestinedtoseeasimilarlydecisivenewcivilizationemerging.

TIBETANINFLUENCESONTHEVRILSOCIETYTherewerefourmainschoolsofreligionwithinTibetatthetimeHaushoferdiscovereditssecretteachings.ThemostorthodoxweretheGelug-pas,theYellowCaps,whoseheadwastheDalaiLama.Anotherschool,theKargyuptas,‘followersoftheApostolicSuccession’,believedinanunbrokenlineofgurustransmittingdivinegrace.TherewasalsotheAdi-YogaschoolknownastheRedCapsortheUnreformedChurch.TheywereconnectedwiththeYellowCapsbutwereregardedashavingsuperiorknowledgeandpowersintheareaofoccultism.FinallythereweretheBons,knownastheBlackCaps,whobelievedinthepre-Buddhistanimistreligionsandwereconsideredpowerfulmagicians.TheKargyuptasdidnotbelieveinGodbutonlyin‘thelawofcauseandeffect’.Theirnearestapproach

totheideaofGodwastheconceptoftheAdi-Buddhawhichwassaidbythemtobethe‘lifeprinciple’andwasidentifiedwithamorehighlyevolvedtypeofhumanbeing.Duringtheirinitiationceremoniesthe

teachertransmittedaformofthislifeprinciplewhichthedisciple‘drawsoff’,becoming‘endowedwithpower’asaresult.Manycomparativereligionistshavebeenstruckbythesimilaritiesbetweensomeoftheteachingsof

theKargyuptasandGnosticism.TheGnosticswereanearlyChristiangroupofhereticswhobelievedthatthematerialworldwasevilandhadbeencreatedbySatan,whomtheyidentifiedwiththeGodoftheOldTestament.AlthoughtheKargyuptasnomorebelievedinSatanthantheydidinGod,theysharedwithGnosticismtheideathattheworldwasastateofbeingfromwhichhumansshouldattempttoescapeandthatknowledge,bywhichtheymeantspiritualenlightenment,wasthepaththroughwhichtheworldofmattercouldbeovercome.TheGnostics,liketheKargyuptas,believedthatthiswouldleadtotheemergenceofamorehighlyevolvedtypeofhumanwhowouldbeasemi-divinebeing.AlloftheseideasappealednotonlytoHaushoferbutalsotoEckart,Rosenberg,Hess,HimmlerandHitler.Itwasonereasonwhytheirownracistideaswentfarbeyondthesimpleprejudicesoftheirtimesandtookonametaphysicaldimension.BiologywasdestinyintheireyesandthetaskofraisingtheAryanracetothenextlevelofhumanevolutionwasseenasanurgentnecessity.

InTheComingRace,LordLyttonwroteaboutasuperiorsubterraneanmasterraceandanenergyformcalledvril.Thisbroughthimtotheattentionofthetheosophists

HaushoferwasamemberofboththeJapaneseandtheTibetansocietiesandin1919hedecidedtofoundaGermanbranch.HesetupthesocietyinMunich,originallycallingittheBrothersoftheLight.ItwasalsoknownastheLuminousLodgebutbeforelongitsnamewaschangedtotheVrilSociety.

LORDLYTTONANDTHEORIGINSOFVRILThename‘vril’camefromanovelwrittenin1871bytheEnglishwriterLordLytton.InadditiontobeingapopularnovelistLyttonwasalsoaFreemason,aRosicrucianandadabblerinmagicandtheoccult.

Lytton’snovelTheComingRacewassetinaworldwhereanadvancedspecieslivedbeneaththeearthinlargecaverns.Theyhaddevelopedtheuseofanenergyformcalledvrilwhichenabledthemtobenotjustsimplyhumanbutequaltothegodsthemselves.Oneday,Lyttontoldhisreaders,theywouldemergefromthebowelsoftheearthandruletheplanet.Hisnovelpaintsadisturbingpictureofatotalitarianandracistsociety.Hewroteabouthis

subterraneandwellers:

Iarrivedattheconclusionthatthispeople–thoughoriginallynotonlyofourhumanracebutdescendedfromthesameancestorsasthegreatAryanfamily–hadyetnowdevelopedintoadistinctspecieswithwhichitwasimpossiblethatanycommunityintheupperworldcouldamalgamate.Andthatiftheyeveremergedfromthosenetherrecessesintothelightofday,theywoulddestroyandovercomeourexistentvarietiesofman.

Lytton’snovelendswiththegloomyconclusion,‘Ipraythatagesyetelapsebeforethereemergesintosunlightourinevitabledestroyers.’Inspiteofhisneglectnowadays,inhistimeLyttonwasnotonlyahighlypopularnovelistbutwas

deeplyinvolvedintheoccult.HeexercisedenormousinfluenceuponthefoundersofthemodernoccultandmagicalrevivalbegunbyEliphasLeviinFrance,theTheosophicalSociety,theGoldenDawnandofcourseHaushofer,oneofHitler’sprincipalmentors.Lytton’snovelprovedparticularlyinfluentialamongGermanoccultgroups.TheVrilSocietywas

namedinhonourofhisbookanditsmembersbelievedthatthesemi-divinebeingsthatlivedundertheearthcouldmakecontactwithhumansandemergeontothesurfaceoftheplanetthroughvarious‘openings’.These‘undergroundMasters’astheSocietyreferredtothempossessedhigherlevelsofknowledgeandwisdomthanordinaryhumans.SomemembersoftheVrilSocietybelievedthattheyhadestablishedcontactwiththeseMastersandhadacquiredknowledgethatcouldbeusedbythemtodominatethehumanworld.EckartandHaushoferwantedtousevrilpowerforpoliticalends.

HAUSHOFERFOUNDSTHEVRILSOCIETYTheSocietybelievedthatthebasisofallpowerwasvril,themysteriouslifeforcefromwhicheverythingelseemanated.ThosewholearnedtomasterandcontrolvrilpowerwouldbecomeLordsoftheEarth.VrilisessentiallythesameastheenergyreferredtobyHindusas‘prana’,bytheChineseandJapaneseas‘chi’andbytheearlyhypnotistsas‘animalmagnetism’.InDecember1919theVrilSocietymetatahousenearBerchtesgaden.ACroatianmediumnamed

MariaOrsitschandanotherknownsimplyasSigruntransmittedaseriesofmessagesallegedlyfromthe‘SecretChiefs’.Itwasatthisparticularséancethattheannouncementwasmadeoftheimminentarrivalofthelonged-forsaviourofGermany.Themediumdeclaredthathewas‘hardbythedoor’andthathewouldbethenextowneroftheSpearofDestiny,partoftheImperialRegaliaofAustriacurrentlyhousedintheHofburgMuseuminVienna.InadditiontoholdingséancestotryandpredictthefuturetheSocietyalsoengagedinritualsto

‘summon’and‘control’thevrilpower.Meditationandvisualizationexerciseswerepractisedforhoursatatimeinanattempttodevelopandmasterthevrilenergy.

IsitpossiblethatthelegendofAtlantis,reinforcedbythesupremacistideasofLordLyttonandasdevelopedandexpandedbytheVrilSociety,helpedleadtotheNazis’racialtheoriesand,therefore,ultimatelygenocide?

HITLERJOINSTHEVRILSOCIETYNotlongafterwardsEckartinvitedHitlertojointheVrilSociety.Underitsinfluencehebegantochangeintoaconfident,powerfulspeakeranddevelopthecharismathatwonhimsomanyfollowers.Thethirty-year-oldHitlerseizedontheopportunitytodevelophis‘willpower’anddirecttheforceofhispersonalityoutwardsinanattempttoinfluenceevents.Eckartbecameaclosefriendandmentor,asdidRosenberg.LatermembersoftheSocietyincludedHess,GoeringandHimmler.HitlerlearnedthattheundergrounddwellerssharedacommonancestrywiththeAryanraceandthatthe

‘vril-ya’(asLyttonnamedhissubterraneanpeople)consideredthemselvessuperiortoallotherraces.Thevril-yanotonlybelievedthatthestrongshouldruleovertheweakandonlythefittestshouldsurvivewhilethelessfitshouldbecrushedbuttheyalsobelievedintheunqualifiedrightoftheirownbranchoftheAryanracetodominatetheworld.Democracy,freedomandcompassionweredespisedamongthevril-ya,whoseleaderenjoyedabsolutepowerandauthority.Thefinalgoalofthisrulerwhoemployedvrilpowertocontrolallnaturalandhumanactivitywas‘toattaintothepurityofourspeciesandsupplantalltheinferiorracesnowexisting’.InthissinglesentenceofLytton’sbookcanbetracedthesubsequentdevelopmentofNaziracismandtheseedsofgenocide.AswellastheirobsessionwithmasteringvrilpowertheSociety’smembersalsoconductedextensive

researchintothelegendofAtlantis.Theybecameconvincedthatthelostcontinentwasanorthernland,inthevicinityoftheArctic,andthatsurvivorsfromitsdestructionwerethedistantancestorsofthe‘Nordicrace’.

AGHARTIANDSHAMBALLAHItwasnotonlyAtlantisbutalsothesubterraneanworldsofAghartiandShamballahthatinterestedtheVrilSociety.ThelandofShamballahdatesbacktotheseventeenthcentury,whenitwasfirstmentionedbyaJesuitmissionary.HeheardthestoryfromTibetanmonkswhoclaimedthattheentrancetoShamballahlayinMongolia.ApparentlyShamballah,likethe‘WorldTree’ofNorseandTeutonicmythology,wasaplacewithbothaworldonthesurfaceoftheearthandasubterraneankingdomunderneath.TheundergroundworldofShamballahwasknownasAgharti.Perhapsbecauseofthepowerful

influenceofLytton’sTheComingRaceonawholegenerationofoccultthinkers,Haushofer,alongwithsomeRussianexilesofamysticalinclination,cametoseeAghartiasthedwellingplaceoftheSecretChiefs.

HaushoferclaimedthathefirstheardofAghartiandShamballahin1905whilehewasinCentralAsia.ItwasavastundergroundrealmbeneaththeHimalayasinhabitedbyaraceofsuperiorbeings.ThekingdomitselfwasknownasAghartiandShamballahwasitscapital.HaushoferdescribedAghartias‘aplaceofmeditation,ahiddencityofgoodness,atempleofnon-

participationinthethingsoftheworld’.BycontrastShamballahwas‘acityofviolenceandpowerwhoseforcescommandtheelementsandthemassesofhumanity,andhastenthearrivalofthehumanraceattheturningpointoftime’.HaushoferclaimedthathisinitiatorshadrevealedtohimthatafterthefallofAtlantismanysurvivors

hadtravelledthroughEuropeandAsiabeforeeventuallysettlinginlargeundergroundcavesbeneaththemountainsinTibet.Hedeclaredthatcavedwellingadeptsstillflourishedandcontinuedtodirectthecourseofworldcivilizationfromtheirundergroundsanctuaries.HaushoferdidnotbelievethattheundergroundworldofAghartilayinMongoliaandinsisteduponitsTibetanlocation.HisinfluenceuponHitlerledtoanumberofexpeditionstoTibetbytheNazisfrom1926to1942.Themostimportantofthesevisitstookplacein1938.Shamballah’sfulltitlewasChangShambhala,anamethatmeans‘northernquietness’.Ithasa

connotationsimilartothewordHyperboreanwhichmeans‘atthebackofthenorthwind’.ShamballahplaysaconsiderablepartinTibetantraditionbutitisoverwhelminglylocatedoutsideTibet,inMongoliaorSiberia.HeretheroleplayedbytheBonsinpreservingmanytraditionalbeliefsandpracticesfromoutsidethecountryalmostcertainlyaccountsfortheentryofalegendthatoriginatedelsewhereintheTibetanmythos.

InBuddhistthought,Shamballah(seenabove)isafabulouskingdomwhoserealityisasvisionaryorspiritualasitisgroundedinanygeographicalreality.Earlyproto-Nazisseemtohavebeenattractedtoavarietyofmyths,whichtheythenusedasthebasisfortheirideology

ItwasthroughtheBons,combiningBuddhistteachingswitholdertraditions,thattheKalachakraschoolofLamaismcameintoTibet.ThenameofthesystemmeanstheWheelofTimeanditlookstotheskyabovewithasunaroundwhichsevenplanetscircle.Kala,whichmeans‘time’,drivesachariotwithsevenwheelsandcontrolsitthroughtheuseofsevenreins.TheTibetansstressthattheoriginofthisschoolofLamaismlayoutsidethecountry,generallysuggestingMongolia.Shamballahwasdescribedbyalmosteverywriterasanearthlybuthiddenparadise.Ithasbeencalled

‘theholyplacewheretheearthlyworldlinkswiththehigheststatesofconsciousness’.Itextendsupwardsintotheskyanddownwardsintoasubterraneankingdom.ThispartoftheShamballahlegenddefinitelyoriginatedinMongoliaandtheundergroundworldwasknownasAghartiorAgartha,awordmeaning‘inaccessible’.TherulerofAghartiwasoftenreferredtoastheKingoftheWorldandwassaidtobeabletoexerttelepathicinfluenceoverpeopleonthesurfaceoftheearth.AtsomestagetheKingoftheWorldandthepeopleofAghartiwouldemergeandconquertheworld.

ShamballahandAghartiwouldbecomethefountainheadofpower.Itwassaidthat:

theprophecythattheKingofShamballah,whoissometimescalledtheChiefoftheSecretTibetanBrotherhoodofInitiatesoftheOccultSciences,shallgovernmankind,impliesthecomingofagoldenageandtheenthronementofDivineWisdomonearth.

THERUSSIANCHARLATANBADMAEVAnotherpossibleconnectionbetweenAghartiandHaushoferistheRussiancharlatanBadmaev.Hiscareerhasbeendescribedasfollows:

OneofthemostcuriousphenomenaoftheRussianImperialCourtwasthe‘doctorofTibetanmedicine’,Badmaev.ShamzaranBadmaevaffirmedthathehasacquiredanexactknowledgeofthesecretdoctrinesof‘Tibetanmagic’andmedicalscienceinhisfather’shouse(Transbaikalia),astheknowledgewasanancienttraditioninthefamily.Inthecourseoftimemedicineandpoliticsand‘lotusessences’becamemoreandmoreinvolvedineachother,resultinginafantasticpoliticalsorcerythathaditsoriginintheBadmaevsanatoriumandthatdecidedthedestinyofRussia.

BadmaevappearstohavebeenaBuryatSiberianbuthecertainlyvisitedTibetandlearnedthelanguage.HetranslatedtheTibetanmedicaltreatiseZhud-shiintoRussian.Badmaevalsodevelopedanumberofherbalremedies.Inthe1860sBadmaevconvertedtoChristianityandwasbaptizedintotheRussianOrthodoxChurch.

Heexplainedhisdecisionasfollows:

IwastheLama-Buddhist,deeplybelievingandconvinced,knewShamanismandShamans,beliefsofmyancestors.IhavelefttheBuddhism,withoutdespisingandwithouthumiliatingtheirinsightsbutonlybecausethedoctrineofChristtheSaviourhasgotintomyfeelingswithsuchclearnessthatthisdoctrineofChristtheSaviourhaslitupallmybeing.

BadmaevchangedhisnamefromTsultimtoPeterbutcontinuedtopractisehisTibetanmedicine.HealsorevisitedChina,MongoliaandTibetwherehemetwithmembersoftheBons,Lamas,KargyuptasandRedCaps.Hismedicaltreatmentsincludedpowdersandgrasses.Badmaevcertainlysetouttocreatemythsabouthislifeandhewasallegednotonlytohavebeen113yearsoldwhenhediedbuttohavefatheredadaughterattheageof100!

Ungern-Sternberg,akathe‘lamawiththeMauser’,claimedtobefromanoldGermanfamily,workedfortheTsarinRussiaandendedupasawarlordinOuterMongolia

ThecrucialfactaboutBadmaevistheclearconnectionbetweenRussianShamanismandmagicaltraditionsandpracticesfromMongoliaandTibet.HewascertainlyfamiliarwiththestoriesofAghartiandShamballahanditisinconceivablethatamanaswellknownashimwouldnothaveattractedtheinterestofHaushofer.

MONGOLIANINITIATESAnothersourcefortheNazipreoccupationwithAghartiwasthroughRussianémigrés.RomanvonUngern-SternbergcameoriginallyfromEstoniaandclaimedtobedescendedfromtheTeutonicKnights.FollowingtheRussianRevolutionhejoinedupwithAdmiralKolchak’santi-BolshevikarmiesandfoughtinSiberia.HistroopsheldoutagainsttheRedArmyuntil1920,whenheretreatedintoMongolia.HeconvertedtoBuddhismandannouncedthathewasareincarnationofGenghisKhanandwouldleadtheMongolstoasimilardestinyofworldconquest.AfterfightingthreebattleswiththeMongoliandictatorhecapturedthecapitalandmadehimselfruler

ofthecountry.Ungern-Sternbergpromptlyinstalledelectricityandradiointhecityanddeclaredhimselftobe‘theGodofWar’.HeproclaimedthathewastheprecursorofthecomingKingoftheWorldandwasalliedtothesecretleadersofAgharti.Ungern-SternbergpromisedtofoundaGreaterMongoliastretchingasfarnorthasLakeBaikalaswellasrestoringthemonarchyinRussiaandChina.Hewasafanatical

anti-SemitewhoclaimedthatallCommunistswereJews.AssoonashecapturedtheMongoliancapitalheorderedapogromagainstwhatmusthavebeenaverysmallJewishpopulation.AfterninemonthsasrulerofthecountryheledabandofMongolwarriorsintoSiberia.Following

severalbattleswithCommunistforceshewasdefeated,capturedandexecuted.

MEN,BEASTSANDGODSItwasthepublicationofahighlycolourfulbookin1923thatnotonlybroughtUngern-Sternberg’snameintoprominencebutalsointroducedtheideaofAghartitoawideraudience.Men,BeastsandGodsbecameabestsellerandoncemorestimulatedGermaninterestinTibet,MongoliaandtheFarEast.FerdinandOssendowskiwasanaturalstorytellerandhisbookMen,BeastsandGodsisamixtureof

fact,sensationalism,speculationanddownrightinvention.InspiteofhisclaimsitiscertainthatOssendowskineverwenttoTibet.OntheotherhandhewasinMongoliaanddidmeetwithUngern-Sternbergandanumberofotherlarger-than-lifecharacters,someofwhomwereTibetan.InMongoliahealsometaSiberianbythenameofTushegounLama.TushegounclaimedtobeapersonalfriendoftheDalaiLamaandtoldOssendowskimanythingsaboutTibet.Healsomadeanintriguingreferencetothe‘KingoftheWorldinAgharti’,claimingthathewastheonlylivingmanwho‘waseverinAgharti’,arevelationthatfascinatedandintriguedOssendowski.LaterhemetotherTibetanexilesinMongoliawhogavehimmoredetailsthanthereticentSiberian

informant.Oneofthemtoldhim‘thesubterraneanpeoplehavereachedthehighestknowledge.Nowitisalargekingdom,millionsofmen,withthe“KingoftheWorld”astheirruler’.TheothermantoldOssendowskithat‘thekingdomiscalledAgharti.Itextendsthroughoutthesubterraneanpassageofthewholeworld’.LaterstillanotherTibetanexileinMongoliatoldhimthatthegypsieshadlivedinAghartiformanycenturiesandwhentheyemergedtheybroughtwiththemthepsychicpowerstheyhadlearnedfromtheSecretChiefsoftheundergroundkingdom.OssendowskimetUngern-Sternbergandbecamefascinatedbyhisvision.HealsomettheTashiLama

whowasexiledtoMongoliafollowingafeudwiththeDalaiLama.TheTashiLamaclaimedthatinhisoldmonasteryofShigatsetherewasamessagefromtheKingoftheWorldwrittenontabletsofgold.Noonehadbeenabletodecipherthewritingonthemwhichwasinanunknownlanguagebutinastateofenlightenmentthemeaningofthetablets‘penetratedtheLama’sbrain’.TheTashiLamaclaimedthathehadbeenKingofShamballahinapreviousincarnation.DuringhisexilehefoundedmanyKalachakraschoolsinMongoliaandnorth-westChina.TheTashiclaimedtobeindirecttouchwiththeMastersofShamballah.Ossendowski’saccountseemshighlyfancifulandevenonthepublicationofhisbookitwasdenounced

bytheSwedishexplorerSvenHedinasafabrication.ThereiscertainlynodoubtthatOssendowski’sclaimtohavevisitedTibetisfalseasHedin,whohadmadeseveralpreviousexpeditionstothatcountry,demonstratedclearly.HealsopointedoutthatthestoryofAghartiwasprobablyliftedwholesalefromanineteenth-centuryFrenchwriter.Ontheotherhand,thestoryofAghartipredatesthesourceHedingivesbyatleasttwentyyears.Itwas

alsoclaimedbytheauthorcitedbytheSwedishexplorerthathehadheardof‘Agartha’(ashecalledit)fromanIndianadept.InadditiontheMongolianpartofOssendowski’sadventuresringstrue.InparticularhisaccountofUngern-Sternberg’sattitudesandbehaviouriscorroboratedfromindependentsourcesincludingadistantrelative,CountHermannKeyserling.TheaccountshegivesofShamballahandAghartiarealsosupportedbyotherMongoliansources.ThereislittledoubtthatOssendowskiwasaromancerwhofrequently‘improved’uponthestorieshe

wastold,aplagiaristofotherwriters’workandonewhoinventedsomeofhismaterialoutofwholecloth,buttheprobabilityremainsthatthecoreofhisbookistrue.Aghartimayormaynotbeanaccountof

anactualplacepastorpresentbutthereisnodoubtthat,perhapsbecauseofitsassimilabilitywithLytton’sfictionalraceofvril-ya,themythattractedconsiderablesupportwithintheVrilSociety.

NAZIATTITUDETOFACTSManyNazis,includingHitler,hadacuriousattitudetowardsfacts.WhenforinstancehewastoldbluntlybyRauschningthattheProtocolsoftheLearnedEldersofZionwasacrudeforgery,Hitler’sresponsewasstrange.HedidnotdisputeRauschning’sstatementbutsimplyrepliedthathedidnotcare.WhatHitlerfound‘appalling’aboutthemwaswhathedescribedastheir‘intrinsictruth’.InthesamewayHaushoferandotherinitiatesoftheVrilSocietywerenotconcernedwiththeabsolute

veracityoftheAghartistory.Whatconcernedthemwasits‘intrinsictruth’,whichintheireyesmeantthegenuineexistenceupontheplanetofasuperiorraceofsubterraneanbeings.Legendsofundergrounddwellersareveryancientandcanbefoundinstoriesdatingbackatleastasfaras3000BC.ThegeneraltendencynowadaysistoregardthemasmythicalorsymbolicbuttheVrilSocietytookthemliterally,asmanyreligiousbelievershaveforthousandsofyears.

NAZIEXPEDITIONSTOTIBETHaushofer’sconvictionthatAghartiandShamballahlayinTibetratherthanMongolialedtoanumberofNaziexpeditionsinsearchofthesefabledlands.AswellasexploringTibettheyalsorecruitedteamsof‘spelunkers’todescendintocavesandminesinGermany,ItalyandSwitzerland.TheyweredirectedbytheAhnenerbetoseekouttunnelsandotherpossibleentrancestothe‘subterraneankingdom’ofthevril-ya.AGermanarmycolonelwasevenorderedtoresearchLytton’slifetotryanddiscoverthelocationofthecaveshehadmentionedinhisnovel.

UNDERGROUNDTUNNELSINCZECHOSLOVAKIAIn1939twoGermanexpeditionsweresenttoCzechoslovakiatoinvestigatetunnelsandminesthatmightbelinkedtoanundergroundworld.OneofthesitesonwhichtheyworkedwaslaterfoundbyaCzechresistancegroupinOctober1944.Thegroup’sleaderDrAntoninHorakdescribedhowthepartisanscameacrossatunnelwhileshelteringinalargeundergroundcavern.Horakexploredthetunnelforsomedistancebeforehecameacrossasectionthatappearedtoberecentandwasclearlyman-made.

LightingsometorchesIsawthatIwasinaspacious,curved,blackshaftformedbycliff-likewalls.Thefloorintheinclinewasasolidlimepavement.

Itwasclearthatthetunnelextendedfarbeyondtheareathathecouldseebythelightofhisflickeringtorches.Attemptingtoextractsamplesofmaterialhediscoverednotonlythathispickaxefailedtoloosenthelimepavementbutthatevenfiringhispistolatthewallhadnoeffect.ThefrustratedHorakhadtoabandontheattempttoobtainsamples.Hewrote:

Isattherebythefirespeculating.Howfardiditreachintotherocks,Iwondered.Who,orwhat,putitintothemountain?Wasitman-made?Andwasitatlastproofofthetruthinlegends–likePlato’s–oflonglostcivilizationswithmagictechnologieswhichourreasoncannotgrasporbelieve?

Whateversecretsthetunnelwithinthecavemayhaveheldremainamysterytothisday.AllthatHorakcoulddowasabandonhisattemptandthensomeyearslatergiveanaccountofhisstrangediscovery.

ERNSTSCHäFER’SEXPEDITIONTOTIBETErnstSchäfertookpartinthreeexpeditionstoTibet,onein1931–2,anotherin1934–6andhismost

importantonein1938–9.SchäferledthislastexpeditionunderthesponsorshipoftheAhnenerbeatatimewhentheNaziswereseekingtorecruitAsianalliesintheeventofwar.Hepublishedanaccountofhisjourneyina1950book,InFestderWeissenSchieler:eineForscherfahrtdurchTibetnachLhasaderheiligenStadtdesGottkönigtums(FestivaloftheWhiteScarves:aresearchjourneythroughTibettoLhasa,theholycityoftheGodKings).Schäfer’sreceptioninTibetwasamixedone.ThepowerfulNechungoracleissuedawarningthat

Germany’sleaderwas‘likeadragon’.Tibetwasinadifficultpositionwithpro-Chinese,pro-Japaneseandpro-Britishpartieswithinthegovernmentanditsprincipalconsiderationwastoavoidbecominginvolvedinanysortofmilitaryconflict.Theoutbreakofwarmadefull-scaleexpeditionssuchasSchäfer’simpractical.AfurthervisittoTibet

issaidtohaveoccurredin1942–3butthedetailsaresosketchythatitisimpossibletoformanyconclusionsuponthematter.TheNazidesiretodiscoverandharnessvrilpowerremainednomorethanadream.

WHATISVRILPOWER?WhatexactlyisthismysteriousvriloverwhichtheNazisexpendedsomuchtime,effortandmoney?Lytton,inhisnovel,remarks:

ThereisnowordinanylanguageIknowthatisanexactsynonymforvril.Ishouldcallitelectricity,exceptthatitcomprehendsinitsmanifoldbranchesotherforcesofnature,towhich,inourscientificnomenclature,differentnamesareassigned,suchasmagnetism,galvanism,etc.Thesepeopleconsiderthatinvriltheyhavearrivedattheunityinnaturalenergicagencies,whichhasbeenconjecturedbymanyphilosophersaboveground,andwhichFaradaythusintimatedunderthemisleadingtermofcorrelation.These subterranean philosophers assert that, by one operation of vril, which Faraday would perhaps call ‘atmospheric

magnetism’, they can influence the variationsof temperature– inplainwords, theweather; that byotheroperations, akin tothoseascribedtomesmerism,electrobiology,odicforce,etc,butappliedscientificallythroughvrilconductors,theycanexerciseinfluence overminds, and bodies animal and vegetable, to an extent unsurpassed in the romance of ourmystics. To all suchagenciestheygivethecommonnameofvril.

Lyttonwaswritingaworkoffictionbutdidadmittoafriendthathebelievedvrilpowerreallyexisted

thoughhegavenoreasonforhisbelief.Otherswerelessreticentorhesitantandidentifiedvrilwithallkindsofotherformsofenergy.TheVrilSocietybelievedthatvrilwasaforcewhichifcontrolledcouldbeusedasameansof

acquiringspiritualenlightenment,tohealpeopleortodominatethewillsofothers.Theyalsobelievedthatvrilcouldbeusedtoinfluenceeventsonthematerialplanebyconcentratingthewillpowerwhileitwasfocusedintoakindoflaserbeamthroughacombinationofvisualizationanddirectedemotion.ThefinallinkinthechainwasestablishingameansofcommunicatingwiththeSecretChiefsandharnessingtheirpowers.

TheErnstSchäferExpeditiontoTibetatGangtok,1938:ErnstSchäferisfourthfromtheleftandtheexpeditionwassponsoredbyHeinrichHimmlerandtheSS

THESOCIETY’SMETHODSOFRAISINGVRILPOWERTheSocietyemployedtwomethodsthatitbelievedwouldenabletheinitiatetocontrolandmanipulatevrilpower.Thefirstwasknownasthe‘scientificway’andinvolvedchemicallyisolatingparticlesofaprotonfoundwithinleadafterwhichtheyhadtobe‘captured’in‘thephotonicmagnetismofSaturn’orplacedinlavafromanactivevolcano.Achemicalprocesswasthenallegedtofollowthatwouldmaketheinitiateamasterofvrilpower.Thealternativemethodwasknownasthe‘mysticway’andinvolvedtheinitiatestandingbeforea

symbolrepresentingAghartiwithcolouredlightsandsonicvibrationsinthebackground.Itwasthensupposedto‘effectasymbolicregressionoflife’afterwhichhewouldbefilledwithvrilpower.Hitlerhadnoscientificbackgroundatallandwouldcertainlyhavebeentrainedinthe‘mysticway’.

HoweffectivealltheseritualsactuallywereisopentoquestionbutthereisnodoubtthatHitler’spersonalityandabilitytoinfluenceotherpeopledevelopedenormouslyasaresultofhistrainingintheVrilSociety.AstheNaziPartygrewandHitlerbecameafull-timepoliticianhisdirectinvolvementwiththeSociety

decreasedandbecamesporadic.InspiteofthatthemerepresenceinhisinnercircleofmenlikeRosenberg,HessandHimmlermeanthattheethosofvrilwasconstantlyinthebackground.

ROCKETSCIENTISTWILLYLEYREVEALSTHESECRETSOFTHEVRILSOCIETYTheveryexistenceoftheVrilSocietyremainedasecretuntiltheendoftheSecondWorldWar.AttheNurembergTrialssomedefendantsmentionedAghartiandShamballahbuttheirtestimonywasdismissedorignored,largelybecausetheprosecutionwantedtoavoidinsanitypleas.ItwastheGermanrocketscientistWillyLeywhofirstintroducedtheworldtotheVrilSociety.Ina1947essayentitled‘Pseudo-sciencesundertheNaziregime’heexplainedthattheSocietywasfoundedonthebeliefthatLytton’ssubterraneanworldwasliterallytrueandthatvrilpowercouldhelptocreateanAryansuperrace.TibetanswerealsoinvitedtojointheSocietybecauseofHaushofer’sbeliefthatAghartilaywithintheircountry.TheSociety’smembersbelievedthattheyhadacquiredknowledgeofvrilpowerandcouldbecomeas

powerfulastheundergrounddwellers.Leyrevealedthattheyhaddeveloped‘awholesystemofinternalgymnastics’bywhichthecontrolofvrilpowercouldbeachieved.HedescribedhowtheSocietyinvitedmembersfromacrosstheworldtoassisttheminresearchinganddevelopingAryansupermen.

Fromtheleft:HansHaber,WernhervonBraunandWillyLeyinastillfromtheDisneyfilmManinSpace:Leyplayedabigpartinpopularizingrocketscienceandspacetravel.Justasimportantly,herevealedtheexistenceoftheVrilSociety

TheseincludedanumberofTibetanLamaswithknowledgeofAgharti.ThesemonkslivedinBerlinandworkedwithHaushoferandtheAhnenerbe.Theirleaderwasknownas‘theManwithGreenGloves’andhemadeanumberofsuccessfulpredictionsaboutHitlerandtheNazis.In1945,asSoviettroopsenteredBerlin,theywereastonishedtodiscoveranumberofTibetancorpsesdressedinGermanuniformbutbearingnobadgesorinsigniaofrank.Thebodieslayonthegroundinorderlyranks,aritualknifebesidethemwhichtheyhadusedtocommitsuicidebypiercingtheirstomachsratherthanfacetheindignityofcapture.ItwasatragicendforthedarkinitiatesofAgharti.

HimmlerenvisagedWewelsburgCastleastheNaziCamelot,centrepieceofaReichthatwouldlastathousandyears.Intheevent,theNazisonlyheldpowerfortwelveyearsandWewelsburgprovedacostlyfolly

SuchwasthementalatmosphereinwhichHitlermovedbetween1919and1923.Tosomeextenttheeffectsofhistraininglastedfortherestofhislife.Certainlyheremainedconvincedoftheabilityofwillpowertomanipulateeventsuntilthebitterend.Smallinnumber,fullofbizarreandunscientificnotions,theVrilSocietyneverthelesswieldedapower

andinfluenceoutofallproportiontothesizeofitsmembership.ThemillionssquanderedonWewelsburgCastleandavastnumberofpseudo-scientificandoccult‘projects’,andthepoisonousracialfantasiesthatendedingenocide,allhadtheiroriginsintheritualsanddoctrinesthatHitlerimbibedfromtheVrilSociety.

CHAPTERTHREE

AnewreligionforGermanyAttheheartoftheNaziappealtothenationwasitsconsciousattempttopresentitselfasanewreligion.InthiscreedHitlerwasopenlyhailedasthesaviourofGermany,MeinKampfwasaccordedequalstatuswiththeBibleasa‘holybook’andnumerousactivitiesweredevisedtocelebratetheParty,thenationanditsleader.ThesewereallconsciouslymodelledonChristianceremoniesandtraditions.

NAZIHOSTILITYTOCHRISTIANITYManyNaziswerefiercelyanti-ChristianbutinpublicatleastHitleradoptedamoderateandplacatorytone,particularlytowardsCatholicism.InprivatehisviewswereeverybitasextremeandhostiletowardsChristianityasthoseofRosenberg,HimmlerandHess.RauschningsummarizedaconversationinwhichtheFührerhadremarked:

Whenthetimecame,Hitlerwouldbringtheworldanewreligion.Theblessedconsciousnessofeternallifeinunionwiththegreatuniversallife,andinmembershipofanimmortalpeople–thatwasthemessagehewouldimparttotheworldwhenthetimecame.HitlerwouldbethefirsttoachievewhatChristianitywasmeanttohavebeen,ajoyousmessagethatliberatedmenfromthethingsthatburdenedtheirlife.Hitlerwouldrestorementotheself-confidentdivinitywithwhichnaturehadendowedthem.

NAZISMASASUBSTITUTERELIGIONNationalSocialismspecificallysetouttoactivatethereligiousimpulsewithintheGermanpeopleandtotransferthatsentimenttothePartyandabovealltoitsleader.Hitlerwaspresentedastheproperfocusofworship,hisidealsasthetruereligionofthenationandhispartyasthetrueChurchtowhichalltrueGermansshouldbelong.Everyattemptwasmadetogivethepeopleasubstitutereligionwithceremonies,dogmasandobjectsofworship.Ofcoursethedegreetowhichsuchthingswerepushedvaried,withHitleralwaysbeingfarmorecautiousinpublicthanhislieutenants,butthegeneraldriftofNazismwasclearandtheeffectofthisconstantattempttosupplantChristianitywithitsownideaswaspervasive.

Bytheendofthewarover10millioncopiesofMeinKampfhadbeenprintedinGermany.Itwasgivenfreetonewlymarriedcouplesandsoldiersfightingatthefront

InMeinKampfHitlerspokeoftheneedforaninwardreligiouslongingatthemomentwhenoutofthepurelymetaphysical/unboundedworldofideasaclearlyboundedfaithformsitself.Assuredly,thisfaithisnotanendinitself,butonlyameanstoanend;yetitistheindispensablenecessarymeanswhichalonemakesitpossibletoattaintheend.Thehighestidealsalwayscorrespondtothedeepestvitalnecessity.Inhelpingtoraisemanfromthelevelofmereanimalsurvival,faithreallycontributestothesecuringandsafeguardingofman’sexistence.Takeawayfrompresentmankindourreligious-dogmaticprincipleswhichareupheldbyitseducationandwhosepracticalsignificanceisthatofethical-moralprinciples,byabolishingreligiouseducationandwithoutreplacingitbysomethingequivalentandtheresultfacingyouwillbeagraveshocktothefoundationsofmankind’sexistence.Onemaythereforestatethatnotonlydoesmanlivetoservehigheridealsbutthat,conversely,thesehigheridealsalsoprovidethepresuppositionofhisexistenceasman.Sothecirclecloses.

InspiteofthecharacteristicallyturgidprosethemeaningofHitler’swordsisclear.NationalSocialism’sdogmasandceremoniesweredesignedtoreplacereligionjustasthePartyitselfwastobethesubstitutefortheroleofchurches.InhisTableTalkHitlerannouncedhisintentiontodestroyallreligiousbodiesoncehehadwonthe

war.Hedeclaredthathehadbecomeconvincedof‘thefallacyofallreligions’andthatonlythesurvivaloftheracemattered.FormostofitsexistencetheWeimarRepublicgrappledwithhugepracticalproblemsandonthewhole

failedtosolvethem.Itsleaderswereforthemostpartwell-meaningintellectualswhowereoutoftheirdepthwiththesuccessivecrisesthatgrippedtheircountryandaboveallhadneithertheabilitynorthe

desiretoreachouttotheordinaryGermansandofferthemapositivevision.Thatiswhythebroadmassofthecitizensturnedawayfromthedemocraticpartiesindespairandvotedinsteadforapartypromisingthemnationalsalvation.

Withnear-religiousfervour,atorchlitprocessioninhonourofthenewlyelectedChancellor,AdolfHitler,passesalongWilhelmstrasse,Berlinon30January1933

HitlerspeakstomassivecrowdsintheLustgarten,Berlin,inhisself-appointedroleof‘newMessiah’

HITLERASTHESAVIOUROFGERMANYJustashetriedtomaketheNaziPartyreplacethechurchessotooHitlerconsciouslysetouttopresenthimselfasthenewMessiahforGermany.Hedemandedofhisfollowersthecharacteristicallyreligious

qualitiesofobedience,self-sacrificeandfaith.OntheveryeveningofHitler’sappointmentasChancellorGoebbelsorganizedahugetriumphalparadeinBerlin.ThousandsofNazisupportersdonnedtheiruniformsandmarchedtotheChancellerytopaytributetoHitler.MassedbandsplayedmartialmusictoaccompanythetorchlitprocessionofSA(Sturmabteilung)andSSmemberswelcomingthetriumphoftheirleadertothebackgroundofaliveradiobroadcastontheevent.

‘Leader!Weallfollowyou!Everybodysaysyes!’CarefullychosenwordsfromaNaziposterofthe1930s,whichnotsosubtlycastsHitlerasHeWhoMustBeObeyed

TheconstantandrelentlessbarrageofpropagandaundertheregimereiteratedtheideaofHitlerasthesaviouroftheGermannationandastheleaderchosenforthecountrybyGod.InaveryrealsenseHitlerwaselevatedtothesamestatusasChristanditbecameincreasinglycommonforhimtobeseenasasemi-divinebeingratherthansimplyapolitician.NothinglikeithadbeenseensincethetimeoftheDivineRightofKingsandeventhepersonalitycultofStalinwasnotquiteonthesamelevelofexaltation.

NAZISMASRELIGIOUSRITUALThroughouthispoliticalcareerHitlerconductedhispublicmeetingsintheformofrituals,almostofchurchservices.Healwaysspokeintheeveninganddeclaredthatonlythencouldtheappropriateatmosphereofexpectationbeproperlycreated.HitleralwaysbeganhisspeechesbygivingahistoryofthePartyfollowedbysomepolicyannouncementsandthenaviolentdenunciationofGermany’senemies.Heconcludedbyannouncinghisabsoluteresolvetostandfirmandmaintainandextendthenation’sgreatness.TheenemieshesingledoutforblamemostoftenwereofcoursetheJews.Toanextenttheveryactof

praisingorblaminghasreligiousovertonesandtohisaudiencesandreadersHitler’sconstantinsistencethathestoodforgoodnessandpositivevalueswhiletheJewsrepresentedevilandnegativityseemedanentirelyacceptabledenunciationofsin.AsHitlerputitinMeinKampfinanextraordinarypassage(evenbythestandardsofthatbook)

IbelieveIamactingaccordingtotheintentionoftheAlmightyCreator:byresistingtheJewsIamdoingtheworkoftheLord!

HardlyanyoftheNazileadersbelievedinChristianity.Hitlerprivatelyclaimedtobeanatheistinspiteofthemanymuddledoccultbeliefsheheld.GoebbelsandGoeringalsoexpressedsimilarviews,withinallthreecasestheideasof‘BloodandSoil’andtheAryanraceformingthenearestthingintheirworldviewtoanykindofgenuinelyreligioussentiments.RosenbergandRobertLey(headoftheLabourFront)subscribedtoanessentiallyGnosticviewoftheworldandbothHimmlerandBaldurvonSchirach(leaderoftheHitlerYouth)wereoutspokenadvocatesofarevivedpaganism.

Anti-Semiticposter,1937,whichaccusestheJewsofritualmurderwhenChristdiedontheCross.ThedrawingwasbyinfamousDerStürmercartoonistFips(PhilippRuprecht)

JackbootedmembersoftheSAfixasigntoashopwindowwarningpassers-bynottoshopatJewishbusinesseslikethisone,1933

THECONCORDATWITHTHEVATICANAlthoughHitlerhadbeenraisedasaCatholichisdecisionon3July1933tosignatreatywiththeVaticanwasanactionmotivatedentirelybyrealpolitikratherthananykindofvestigialCatholicism.TherewerethreemainreasonswhyhechosetocometoanarrangementwiththeChurchratherthanfightitopenly.

ThefirstwasadesiretopersuadetheCatholicCentrePartytovoteitselfoutofexistenceinreturnforaconcordatwiththeVatican;andtwodaysaftertheagreementwassignedtheCentrePartydiddissolveitself.ThesecondreasonwasadirectcomplaintbyPaulvonHindenburgtoHitlerabouttheaggressivelyanti-ChristianrhetoricofsomeNazileaders.HindenburgremainedPresidentforthefirsteighteenmonthsofHitler’sChancellorshipandwasdeeplyconcernedabouttheconfrontationalnatureoftherelationshipbetweenthegovernmentandthechurches.ManyofhisCabinet,includingtheVice-Chancellor,Papen,wereCatholicsandtheyfoundtheanti-

religiousbiasoftheNazisdistasteful.WiththesituationinthecountrystilltenseHindenburgaskedHitlertotonedownhiscampaignandreluctantlyheagreed.ThethirdandperhapsmostimportantreasonwastoneutralizethepoweroftheChurchoverGermanCatholicsandmakethemmorewillingtoco-operatewiththeregime.

RELIGIOUSDIVISIONSINGERMANYGermanyhadsufferedfromreligiousdivisionforhundredsofyears.DuringtheMiddleAgesithadproducedmorehereticsthananyotherEuropeancountrywiththepossibleexceptionofFrance.GermanywasparticularlypronetoexplosionsofapocalypticandMessianicmovementsandwhentheReformationpolarizedEuropebetweenProtestantismandCatholicismthecountrywassplitdownthemiddle.DuringthehorrificThirtyYearsWar(1618–48),GermanywasdevastatedasFrance,Spain,Austria,Sweden,Denmarkandvariousbandsofmercenariesravagedthecountryinthenameofreligion.WhenGermanywasfinallyunitedunderBismarckitwasessentiallyasaresultofawarofconquest,whichsawProtestantPrussiadefeatCatholicAustriaandexcludeitfromthenewGermany.CatholickingdomslikeBavariawereforciblyincorporatedintothenewProtestantReich.WhenBismarckinstitutedhisKulturkampf(culturalstruggle)againstCatholicismthePopemobilizedGermanCatholicstoresistandtheresultwasthebirthoftheCentrePartywhichtriedtodefendCatholicinterestsonthepoliticallevel.

TheThirtyYearsWarleftGerman-speakingregionsofEuropewithapermanentsenseofinsecurityandthecountrywasonlyunitedin1871undertheKaiser

‘WasJesusaJew?’In1927ArturDinterfoundedtheSpiritualChristianReligiousCommunity(latertheGermanPeople’sChurch)withtheintentionof‘de-Judaicizing’Christianity.LaterhefelloutwithHitler

ThereligiousdivisionswithinGermanyneverreallyhealedandallformsofChristianitybegantodeclineasagrowingtendencytodisbelieveintraditionalreligionspread.GermantheologianshadbeenamongtheleadingfiguresintheattempttocreatearationalistversionofChristianitybuttheireffortstendedtodestroyratherthanrenewreligiousfaith.Ironicallytheirworkhelpedtofuelagrowinganti-SemitismwithinGermanybyvirtuallyabandoningtheOldTestamentandthusimplicitlyseparatingChristianityfromitsJewishorigins.

PAGANREVIVALISMANDVÖLKISCHCHRISTIANITYInaddition,notonlydidromanticneo-paganmovementsbegintorevivewithmenlikeWagnerandGuidovonListastheirmostprominentexponentsbutagrowingtendencytocreateavölkischChristianitybegantodevelop.Theanti-Semitismofthisnewtrendvariedbutbecamemorepronouncedfromthe1890sonwards.LeadingexponentsofvölkischChristianitywereJuliusLangbehn,PauldeLagardeandErnstvonBunsen.ThetrendamongvölkischChristiansbecameoneofdenyinganyconnectionbetweenChristianityandJudaism.TheabsurdsuggestionbythephilosopherFichtethatJesuswasnotevenJewishbutactuallyanAryanwasenthusiasticallyadoptedbythisschoolofthought.BunsendeclaredthattheBible’srealreligionwasoneofAryansunworship.AdamofcoursewasanAryanandtheSerpentintheGardenofEdenwasaJew.WagnerdescribedtheJewsas‘thedevilincarnateofhumandecadence’andcalledfor‘aFinalSolution’to‘theJewishproblem’.LagardewasafanaticalracistwhodescribedtheSlavsas‘theburdenofhistory’,as‘materialforuse

inconstructingnewGermanformations’,andexpressedtheopinionthat‘thesoonertheyperishthebetteritwillbeforusandforthem’.HesawJesusasamanunfortunateenoughtobebornamongtheJewsbyaccidentandwhosegreatnessconsistedintheallegeddesireof‘notwantingtobeaJew’.LagardedescribedGermanProtestantsascarryingon‘therottenremainsofChristianity’andtheCatholicChurchas‘thebornenemyofallStatesandnations’.Hecalledfortheimmediateabolitionofallsynagogues.Lagardecalledforanew‘Germanfaith’whichwouldbeinstitutedbyamanwith‘apureandstrong

will’.InhisbookTheReligionoftheFuturehewrote:

Wewantliberty,notliberalism;Germany,notJudaeo-CeltictheoriesaboutGermany;piety,notdogmatics;wewantourownnaturetobeacknowledged,educatedandtransfigured;wedonotwanttobedrivenbyaRussiancoachmanholdingFrenchreins,orfloggedbyaJewishwhip.

TheNazis’virulentanti-SemitismmadeitinevitablethattheywouldwanttoattackChristianity.HitlerputRosenberginchargeofkeepingGermanchurchesinline

Hecalledfor‘thedestructionofJudaism’anddeclaredthat‘theJewswillceasetobeJewstothesameextentthatwebecomeourselves.EveryJewisaproofoftheweaknessofournationallifeandofthesmallworthofwhatwecalltheChristianreligion’.LagardealsoproposeddeportingtheJewsofEuropetoMadagascar.ThisideawasseriouslyconsideredbytheNazisforawhile,whowereundoubtedlyundertheinfluenceofhisphilosophy.

THEBEGINNINGOFTHEGERMANCHRISTIANMOVEMENTBy1917threeleadingexponentsofwhatbecameknownbyitsadvocatesas‘GermanChristianity’putforward95thesesinimitationofLuther’soriginal95thesespostedin1517.Theauthorsofthetheses

believedthatreligionshouldbebasedupontheirnewinterpretationofChristianity.Theydenounced‘theJewishreligion’andwantedtoremovethewholeoftheOldTestamentfromtheBibleandmostoftheNewTestamentaswell.By1921theLeagueforGermanChurcheswasfoundedandinitsbi-monthlymagazineitspokeofJesus

as‘atragicAryanfigure’.ItcalledfortheOldTestamenttobereplacedwith‘aGermanmyth’.WiththegrowingsuccessoftheNaziPartytheLeagueandsimilargroupsbegantocometogetherto

workwithandsupporttheNazis.ManyseniorNazistriedtoinfluencethe‘GermanChristians’togoinamoreovertlyracistandnationalistdirection.Rosenbergwastheprimemoverinthisattemptedliaison.TheNazistriedtouse‘GermanChristianity’asavehicleforNazifyingthechurches,butultimately

theirownbeliefswerebitterlyhostiletoevensuchapaleshadowofChristianity.HitlerdescribedtheentireChristianreligionasa‘Jewishswindle’andHimmlerconsideredit‘utterlyunGerman’.Attemptsweremadetosetupa‘GermanChurch‘forProtestantswheretheseviewswereliterallypreachedintothemindsofworshippers.

THENAZICRUSADEAGAINSTTHECHURCHESWithHindenburg’sdeathin1934HitlerandhisgovernmentwerefreetoresumetheirattacksuponChristianity.Thereweregenuineideologicalreasonsfortheirattitudes,mostnotablythefactthatChristianityofferedsalvationtoallbelieverswhilefortheNazisonlytheAryanracecouldbesaved.HimmlerandRosenbergalsohadtheirownstrangereligiousideasandweredeterminedtoimposethemupontheGermanpeople.Onthewholetheywerefarmoresuccessfulintheactofrepressionthantheywereingeneratingasignificantdegreeofsupportfortheirviews.ThemostimportantsinglereasonforthecrusadeagainstthechurcheswasexpressedbyMartin

BormanninhisOrderof6–7June1941totheGauleiters,whichsaid:

AllinfluenceswhichmightrestrictorevendamagetheleadershipofthepeopleexpressedbytheFührerwiththeaidoftheNSDAP[NaziParty]mustbeeliminated.Neveragainmustthechurchesbeallowedanyinfluenceovertheleadershipofthepeople.Thismustbebrokentotallyandforever.OnlythenwilltheexistenceofnationandReichbeassured.

HitlerleftRosenberginchargeofmakingtheGermanchurchesfallintolinewithNationalSocialistphilosophy.Rosenberg’sconfrontationalapproachmademanyenemiesandevendrewthecondemnationofthePope.SeriousproblemswerecreatedbytheattempttoNazifythechurchesandparticularlytheProtestantones.TheCatholicshadbeenrelativelycriticalwhilePiusXIwasPopebuthissuccessorPiusXIIwasfarmoreaccommodatingtotheNazis.HewasthemanwhoasacardinalhadbeenlargelyresponsibleforsigningtheconcordatbetweentheVaticanandtheNazis.EventheHolocaust–ofwhichhewaswellaware–didnotstirhimtocondemntheregime.AtnopointdidheattacktheNazisinpublicanditwaslefttoafewbraveindividualCatholicclergymentotryandupholdChristianvaluesinthefaceofasustainedcampaignthatoftenemployedbrutalviolenceandevenmurderwhendealingwithreligiousbelievers.

PopePiusXI(right)celebratesthe10thanniversaryofhiselectionatStMichael’sChurchinBerlin:hewasnopushoverwhenitcametotheNazisandtheirbullying

THEGERMANEVANGELICALCHURCHTheGermanEvangelicalChurchwasheadedbythepro-NaziBishopLudwigMüllerandwasatfirstregardedasameansofunifyingProtestantsbehindHitler.Itcalledfora‘people’schurch’withmembershiprestrictedtothoseof‘goodGermanblood’.MüllerwasanarmychaplainandhisfirstactiononbecomingtheleaderofGermanProtestantismwastospeakinmilitaristictermsofChristiansoldiersfightingacrusadeagainsttheforcesofevil.HealsointroducedtheHorstWesselchant‘bannersup,closetheranks,freethestreetsfortheBrownbattalions’intochurchritual.WhenhepreachedheworehistwoIronCrossesoverhiscassockandheemployedcavalrytrumpeterstoplaymilitaryfanfaresduringhisservices.MüllerandhissupportersdismissedclergywithJewishancestorsandeventhosewhoweremarriedto‘non-Aryans’.TheyexcludedfrommembershipJewswhohadconvertedtoChristianityorwhoseancestorshaddoneso.

The‘GermanChristians’wereaProtestantgroupalignedwiththeNazisandtheirideology.TheideawastomakeindividualProtestantchurchesintoasingle,pro-Hitlerbody

Alectureon‘ChurchandPeople’byFatherPeteroftheGermanChristians:thebannerproclaims‘TheGospelintheThirdReich

The‘GermanChristians’calledfortheOldTestament‘withitstalesofcattlemerchantsandpimps’tobeabandonedcompletelyandregardedasanentirelynon-Christianbook.EventheNewTestamentintheireyesneeded‘revision’tomakeJesus’teachings‘conformentirelywiththedemandsofNationalSocialism’.TheydemandedthatallChurchleadersshouldpledgefullloyaltytoHitlerandexcludeconvertedJewsfromtheircongregation.Theirsloganbecame‘onepeople,oneReich,onefaith’.TheNazisintendedoratleasthopedthatthemajorityofProtestantsinGermanywouldbecomepartof

Müller’sChurch.ThatattemptwasneversuccessfulandmostGermanProtestantsremainedwithinthe

mainstreamLutheranChurches.TheattackontheindependenceofthechurchesandtheattempttoimposeNaziracialideasuponthemandmakethemanintegralpartoftheirdoctrineactuallyrousedfierceopposition.

ROSENBERGANDPOSITIVECHRISTIANITYRosenbergspokegliblyofwhathecalled‘positiveChristianity’,whichinessencemeantaChristianitythatwasnotonlystrippedofitsJewishheritagebutwhichalsodeniedtheessentialChristianvaluesandreplacedtheminsteadwithamish-mashofracistandvölkischideas.HewastoomuchofaremoteintellectualtounderstandthatsuchaconceptcouldneverhavesucceededingainingtheloyaltyandallegianceofgenuineChristians.Rosenbergdrewupaprogrammefora‘NationalReichChurch’duringtheearlystagesoftheSecond

WorldWar.HisproposalswereapprovedbyHitlerandrepresentedanattempttosuppressutterlytheChristianreligioninGermany.HadthewargonedifferentlyChristianitywouldhavefacedalevelofpersecutionithadnotexperiencedsincethetimeoftheRomanEmpire.ItwouldhavebeenreplacedbyRosenberg’sbizarre‘ThirtyArticles’amongwhichwere:

5 TheNationalChurch isdetermined toexterminate irrevocably… the strangeand foreignChristianfaithsimportedintoGermany…

13 TheNationalChurch demands immediate cessation of the publishing and the dissemination of theBibleinGermany…

18TheNationalChurchwillclearawayfromitsaltarsallcrucifixes,Biblesandpicturesofsaints.19OnthealtarstheremustbenothingbutMeinKampf(totheGermannationandthereforetoGodthe

mostsacredbook)andtotheleftofthealtarasword.30Onthedayofitsfoundation,theChristianCrossmustberemovedfromallchurches,cathedralsand

chapels…anditmustbesupersededbytheonlyunconquerablesymbol,theswastika.

THEGERMANFAITHMOVEMENTFarmoremoderatethanRosenberg,HimmlerorevenMüller,WilhelmHauerwasascholarandanexpertonIndianculture,religionandhistory.In1933hepublishedabookthatbecamethe‘foundationdocument’ofthe‘GermanChristians’.Anti-SemitismisnotoneoftheprincipalplatformsofHauer’sbookandhestressesthatChristianityisanirrelevantalientraditionratherthanbeingdirectlyopposedto‘Aryanism’.TheworkisfullofcomparisonsbetweenNorsemyth,Hindumythology,philosopherslikePlatoandHegel,mysticslikeJakobBoehmeandMeisterEckhartandwriterslikeGoethe,allthrowntogetherinascholarlybutultimatelypolemicalmannerforthe‘freeing’oftheGermanpeoplefrom‘Jewishinfluence’.

WotanhealsBalder’swoundedhorseasthreegoddesseswatchon.TheNazistookancientNorseandTeutonicmythsastruearticlesofGermanfaith

ForHauer‘Germanculture’hasitsown‘gospels’,theancientNorseandTeutonicmyths.WotanisthetrueGodoftheGermansandnottheChristianGod.Germanvirtuesarejustice,nobilityandcapacityforsacrificeasopposedtoChristianoneslikecompassion.HauerdeclaredthatthemodernrejectionofChristianitycamefromanewbeliefin‘theinviolabilityofthenobleman’swill’andhebelievedthatitwas‘thesolegroundfromwhichagenuineandadequatefaithmayarise’.Inhiseyes,therebirthofa‘Germanfaith’wasimminentbecauseHitlerandtheNazishadcreatedasituationwhereitcouldbecome‘anhistoricalreality’.ThisbizarrebutinfluentialworkattractedahighlyfavourablereviewfromthepsychologistCarlJung,

whoannouncedthatit‘cannotbereadwithoutprofoundemotion’.InJung’seyes,

therearerepresentativesoftheGermanFaithMovementwho,bothintellectuallyandinhumanterms,arefullyinapositionnotmerelytobelievebutalsotoknowthattheGodoftheGermansisWotanandnottheuniversalGodoftheChristians.

HITLERSTANDSAPARTFROMTHESTRUGGLEHitlerhimselfonthewholetriedtostandapartfromthestruggle.HimmlerandRosenbergwerethemostvocallyanti-ChristianmembersofhisCabinet,butHessdeclaredthat‘atheists’had‘modified’theteachingsofChristianity;Goeringspokeof‘findingawaybacktotheprimevalvoicesofourrace’;andvonSchirachannouncedhisintentionto‘overcome’Christianity.CountReventlowtoldacrowdof15,000peoplethatthe‘ancientdeities’werestillaliveintheheartsofeveryGermanwhowastruetohisorher‘bloodandsoil’.In1938carolsandnativityplayswerebannedinschoolsandeventhewordChristmaswasofficiallyreplacedbyYuletide.

CATHOLICOPPOSITIONTOTHENAZISFromtheverybeginningoftheNazicampaignagainstthechurchestherewasopposition.TheCatholicsrefusedtoacceptthatHitlerpossessedgreaterauthorityoverthemthanthePopeandtheheadofCatholicActionwasmurderedbytheNazis.FollowinganagreementbetweentheVaticanandHitlertheworstexcessesweretoneddown.IndividualCatholicbishopsandpriestsmadebraveandlonelyprotestsbuttheChurchasawholeremainedsilentthroughouttheNaziera.Oneofthefewwhospokeoutwas

CardinalFaulhaber,whometwithHitleron9November1936andcondemnedtheraciallawsandthesterilizationprogramme.HitlerlosthistemperandinformedFaulhaberthattheChurchhadnobusinessinterferinginaffairsofstateandthathewouldnottolerateanysuchattempts.WhenfivemonthslaterthePapalencyclicalMitbrennenderSorgewaspublishedandreadfromthepulpitsofchurchesthroughoutGermanyHitlerexploded.GoebbelsorchestratedasmearcampaignagainsttheChurchinthemediaandalsoarrestedhundredsofpriestsandnunsonchargesofsexualimmorality.Theywerequicklyconvictedandsenttoconcentrationcamps.

THECONFESSIONALCHURCHRESISTSTHENAZISJehovah’sWitnessesrefusedtoserveinthearmedforcesortoco-operatewithmanyotherNazipolicies.Theywerearrestedandheldinconcentrationcampswheremanydied.ThemajorityofProtestantchurchesopposedtheattacksonChristianityandoftenspokeoutonspecificissuesbutonthewholetheiroppositionwasmuted.AnhonourableexceptionwasPastorMartinNiemöllerwhowassohostiletothe‘AryanChristianity’

ofMüller’schurchthathefoundedanewreligiousorganization,theConfessionalChurch.Niemöllerwasacomplexandcuriouscharacter,aformerU-boatcommanderintheFirstWorldWarandamanwhowaspoliticallyanextremenationalistandanardentreactionary.HedescribedthetimeoftheWeimarRepublicthatprecededHitler’srisetopoweras‘yearsofdarkness’andactuallyjoinedtheNaziPartyinthelate1920s.NiemöllerwelcomedHitler’sappointmentasChancellor,declaringthatitofferedhopetoGermanyat

lastandwouldbringabouta‘nationalrevival’.AlesslikelyopponentofNazismisdifficulttoimagineandyetitwasNiemöllersomeeighteenmonthslaterwhobrokewiththe‘GermanChristians’andsetuphisownchurch,declaringittobetheonly‘legitimate’ProtestantchurchinGermany.On8November1934NiemöllerheldarallyatDahlem,asuburbofBerlin.Twentythousandpeople

attendedtohearhimandotherConfessionalChurchleadersspeak.TheauthoritieshadrefusedpermissionforthemeetingtotakeplacebutNiemöllerandthecrowddefiedtheban.Onespeakerdeclared:‘WearefightingagainstthedefamationofChristandtrueChristianity.Thereare

falseprophetsabroadinthislandpreachingthedoctrineofbloodandsoilandracialmysticism,whichwereject.’AmanifestodenouncedandrejectedMüller’s‘GermanChristians’andthemeetingendedwithadefiantstatementbyNiemöller.‘Forus,’hesaid,‘itisaquestionofwhichmastertheGermanProtestantsaregoingtoserve.Christoranother.’Everyonepresentknewthat‘another’referredtoHitler.Thiswasthelargestanti-NazirallyeverheldundertheThirdReich.Shakenbytheopenrebellion

shownatthemeetingtheGestapobeganarrestingpastorsofthechurch.Niemöllerwasleftaloneforthetimebeingbutfromthatmomentonwardstheregimehadhimandhisfollowersintheirsights.OverthenexttwoyearsthousandsofConfessionalChurchministerswerearrestedandthechurchhaditsfundsseizedandwasforbiddentomakecollectionsfromthecongregation.InspiteofthesedifficultiesandtheopenpersecutionhischurchfacedNiemöllerrefusedtoabandonoreventonedownhisoppositiontotheNaziattitudes.BynowNiemöllerhadmovedfromadefenceoftheindependenceofthechurchesandoppositiontothe

anti-Christianpropagandaoftheregimetoanoutrightcondemnationofanti-Semitism.Thisbroughtmorearrestsandacounter-statementbyHannsKerrl,whohadreplacedtheincompetentMüllerasheadofthe‘GermanChristians’.Kerrldeclaredthat:

ThePartystandsonthebasisofPositiveChristianity,andPositiveChristianityisNationalSocialism.NationalSocialismisthedoingofGod’swill.God’swillrevealsitselfinGermanblood.

Respondingtotheclaimthat‘ChristianityconsistsinfaithinChristastheSonofGod’,Kerrlscornfullyreplied:

Thatmakesmelaugh.TrueChristianityisrepresentedbytheParty,andtheGermanpeoplearenowcalledbythePartyandespeciallybytheFührertoarealChristianity.TheFühreristheheraldofanewrevelation.

SimilarstatementsweremadebytheMayorofHamburgwhodeclaredthat‘wecancommunicatedirectlytoGodthroughHitler’;byagroupof‘GermanChristians’whostatedthat‘Hitler’swordisGod’slaw’;andbyBaldurvonSchirach,headoftheHitlerYouth,whoclaimed:

theserviceofGermanyappearstoustobegenuineandsincereserviceofGod;thebanneroftheThirdReichappearstoustobeHisbanner;andtheFührerofthepeopleistheSaviourwhomHesenttorescueus.

Niemöllerwouldhavenotruckwithsuchstatementswhichheunderstandablyregardedasblasphemous.InafinalshowofpublicdefianceonSunday27June1937hepreachedhislastsermon.ThechurchwaspackedtotherafterswithworshippersandNiemöller,knowingoratleastguessingthatthiswouldbehisswansong,concludedhissermonwiththedefiantwords:

WehavenomorethoughtsofusingourownpowerstoescapetheauthoritiesthanhadtheApostlesofGod.Nomorearewereadytokeepsilentatman’sbehestwhenGodcommandsustospeak.Foritis,andmustremain,thecasethatwemustobeyGodratherthanman.

ThreedayslaterNiemöllerwasarrestedandimprisoned.AftereightmonthsofincarcerationhewastransferredtoSachsenhausenconcentrationcampwhereheremainedforthenextsevenyearsbeforebeingliberatedbyAmericantroops.AnothereighthundredleadingministersandmembersoftheConfessionalChurchwerealsoarrested

andsenttothecampswheremanyofthemdied.ThedangerousresistancetotheregimeshownbyNiemöllerandhisfollowerswasatanend.Anxioustopreservetheremnantsofthemovement,aleadingbishopissuedapublicstatementthat‘theNationalSocialistconceptionoflifeisthenationalandpoliticalteachingwhichdeterminesandcharacterizesGermanmankind.Assuch,itisobligatoryuponGermanProtestantsalso.’ThebishopalsoorderedhispastorstotakeavowofallegianceandobediencetoHitler.By1938theProtestantresistancetotheNazishadbeenutterlycrushed.

DIETRICHBONHOEFFERJOINSTHEGERMANRESISTANCEWiththearrestandimprisonmentofNiemöller,activedefiancebyGermanProtestantstoHitlervirtuallyceased.AnotableexceptionwasDietrichBonhoeffer,generallyconsideredoneoftheoutstandingtheologiansofthetwentiethcentury.BonhoefferwasinNewYorkaswarapproachedandcouldeasilyhaveremainedthereforthedurationoftheconflict.Hewasurgedtodosobymanyofhisfriendsandcolleaguesbutrefused.InsteadhereluctantlymadethebravedecisiontoreturntoGermany.Heexplainedtohiscolleague,theAmericantheologianReinholdNiebuhr:

ChristiansinGermanywillfacetheterriblealternativeofeitherwillingthedefeatoftheirownnationinorderthatChristiancivilizationmaysurvive,orwillingthevictoryoftheirnationandtherebydestroyingChristiancivilization.IknowwhichofthosealternativesImustchoose.

Bonhoeffer,alongwithhisbrotherandbrothers-in-law,becameactiveintheGermanResistancetoHitler.Hemanagedtosurviveuntil1943inspiteofhisincreasinginvolvementinplotsagainsttheFührer.PossiblyhisorganizationhadbeeninfiltratedbytheSSbecausehecertainlyspokeonavisittoSwedenin1942aboutHimmlerbeingintheprocessoflaunchingarebellionagainstHitler.WhetherthiswasdeliberatedisinformationbytheSS,whetherHimmleratthatearlystagewasconsideringacoup(hecertainlydidsoatalaterstageofthewar)orwhetheritwasasimplemisunderstandingofhisintentions,

theresultwasthesame.BonhoefferwasarrestedandsenttoBuchenwald.InApril1945hewasexecuted,aswerehisbrotherandbrothers-in-law.Itwasasadendtothelifeofabrave,brilliantandutterlyprincipledman.

HIMMLERANDNEO-PAGANISMHimmlerwasoneoftheleadingsupportersofthepaganrevival.TheworshipofWotanandotherGermanicgodswasapassionofhisandotherheathen-mindedGermans,boththroughouttheyearsbeforetheNaziPartycametopowerandonceitbecamethegovernmentofthecountry.HimmlerdescribedChristianityas‘thegreatestpestilencewhichcouldhavebefallenusinhistory’.Asearlyas1934attemptsweremadetoestablishthesummerandwintersolsticesastheprincipalreligiousfestivalsinplaceoftheexistingChristianceremonies.Christmaslightswerespokenofassymbolizingthevictoryoflightoverthedarknessandtheprocessofperpetualrenewalinnaturethroughtheseasons.Ratherthansimplylightsshiningfromatree,thesymboloflightburningfromlargepyrestocelebratethesolsticebecamecommon.TheVölkischerBeobachterdeclared‘holyfireswelighttocelebratetheturningofthesun,firesthataresymbolsofthedecadentandthebad;firesthataresymbolsofthenewascenttothelight,whichmeanslife’.AtRuhlsdorfnearBerlinmembersoftheGermanLabourFrontconductedaYuletideceremonyinvolvinglightingalargepyrewhilethememberslinedupbeforeitwithblazingtorches,aneventdescribedbytheVölkischerBeobachterasa‘wonderfulknightlyscene’.

Afterabusyperiodtravellingonhisprivatetraintovisitfar-flungmilitarybasesinthefirstfullflushofwar,HitlercelebratesChristmasin1939inthetraditionalGermanway,thesymbolismofwhichgoesbacktopre-Christiantimes

AbovealltheNaziswereconcernedthattheirsymbolsofpowershouldbeobeyedratherthanthoseofanyotherorganization,andtothatendtheyworkedtirelesslyondisplaysofstrength

WilhelmKube,GovernorofBrandenburg,wroteinDerDeutsche:

TheChristmascelebrationinGermaniclandsisnotaninventionoftheChristianchurchbutourforefathers.ThedayofthewintersolsticewasholytoourancestorsandtheperiodaroundthewintersolsticewasfilledwiththefairylandmagicoftheNordicsoul.Inthisperiodgiftswereexchangedwithoutanindecenthind-thoughtofgettingarewardfromheaveninreturn.TheNordicmandidnotthinkofarewardfordecentdeeds.Forus,therefore,eventheChristianChristmasremainsafestivalofGermaniclove,GermanicwaysandGermanicbenevolence.

Childrenweretaughttopray,‘Führer,myFührer,bequeathedtomebytheLord,protectandpreservemeaslongasIlive’.IntheHitlerYouthvonSchirachwaseagerlyinculcatingpaganprinciplesintotheimpressionablechildrenunderhiscommand;LeywasturningMayDayintoaritualforthecelebrationoftheritesofnature;andatEaster1936pagancelebrationsofOstermondwereorganizedasadeliberatecounterweighttotheChristianEaster.AlargepaganrallywasalsoheldatBurgHunxeintheRhinelandandvariouspaganbookshopsandmagazineswereflourishing.Onthewholetheseneo-paganfantasiesweregenerallyregardedeitherasharmlesspiecesoftheatreorassourcesofamusementbuttheywereamongtheaspectsoftheNaziregimethatarousedthefiercestcriticismfromthechurches.

SAVITRIDEVIANDHINDUINFLUENCESONNEO-PAGANISMOneofthemostinterestingNazifellow-travellerswasSavitriDevi,actuallyaGreekwomannamed

MaximianiPortas.DeviwasacomplexcharacterwhoconvertedtoHinduismandadoptedanextremeandracistformofthatreligion.AtnostageinherlifedidsheeverexpressanyreservationsaboutNazismandlateinherlifeshebecameaHolocaustdenier.ShewroteinherarticleNationalSocialismandNeo-Paganismaboutthe‘positiveChristianity’proposedbyRosenberg,Federandothersbeforegoingontomakeherownpositionentirelyclear.Devisaid:

Itiscertainthat,underallthetalkabout‘positiveChristianity,’therewas,fromthebeginning,ineverythoughtfulNationalSocialist,thefeelingthatGermanyinparticularandtheAryanworldatlargeneedanewreligiousconsciousness,andthattheNaziMovementmustsoonerorlaterhelpittoawakeandtoexpressitself.

Bormann,likeRosenberg,didnotsharetheneo-paganbeliefsandattitudesofHimmlerandDevi.HisprincipalconcernwaswiththeideologicaldominanceofNationalSocialismoveranycompetingbeliefsystemsorrivalpowercentres.ToaconsiderableextentthatwasalsoHitler’sprimarypurposeinwaginghiswaragainstthechurchesalthoughtheFühreralsohadanentirelygenuinehatredofChristianitywhichwaslargelyemotionalbutpartlyideological.AsalapsedCatholicHitlerhatedProtestantsmorethanhehatedCatholicismwhilewithBormannthereversewasthecase.BormannsawthePopeasarivalclaimantforpowerandallegiancewhowasaninherentthreattotheprimacyoftheFührerwhereastoHitlertheProtestantclaimforthelibertyoftheindividualconsciencerepresentedagreaterdanger.ForRosenbergandHimmler,althoughtheperceivedthreattotheauthorityoftheNaziswasverymuch

apointonwhichtheycriticizedthechurches,theirmainoppositionwasrootedingenuineideologicaldisagreement.Himmler’sconsciousneo-paganismandthestrangeinvertedsenseofethicshepossessedledhimtoconsiderChristianityasmorallywrongaswellasmistaken.Rosenberg,withhisvisionoftheworldasinherentlyevilandaplacefromwhichweshouldallseektoescape,regardedChristianityasa‘worldaffirmingcreed’.Inhisviewitpreventedtheindividualfromachievinghisorherultimatedestinyofsurrenderandextinction.AgainstthefierceintegrityofmenlikeNiemöllerandBonhoeffertheNazishadnothingofcomparable

weighttoofferasavision.Rosenberg’sgloomyviewofworldrenunciationwashardlyaninspiringprospect;Himmler’sneo-paganfantasieswerenoteventakenseriouslybyHitler.TheuseofbrutalforceandevenmurderdidcowChristiansinGermanyintosilencebutthefatalflawthatlayatthedarkheartofNazismdoomeditsattempttoreplaceafarmoreancientcreedwithitsowndelusions.InasensetheNazimovementwasalwaysdominatedbyaninnernegativity.Naziideologywasgovernedbyitsobsessionswiththethingsithatedfarmorethanthethingsitprofessedtoadmire.BothNationalSocialismandChristianitydemandedloyalty,faithandadherencetocertainethical

principles.TheNaziattempttosupplantChristianbeliefintheheartsandmindsoftheGermanpeoplewasconscious,deliberateandaggressive.AquestionnairetotheleadersoftheBundDeutscherMädel–theLeagueofGermanGirls–actuallyaskedifGodorHitlerwas‘greater,morepowerful,andstronger’.InaveryrealsensetheNaziPartyanditsinstitutionsweredesignedtoreplacethechurchesascentresofworship.IntheplaceofGodstoodHitler;inplaceoftheDevil,theJews.AsfortheethicalsideofNationalSocialismitsmoralcodewaslittlemorethananinversionof

Christianvalues.Inplaceofkindnessitexaltedhardness;inplaceofauniversalsenseofhumanityitofferedavisionof‘Aryans’astheMasterRaceandGermansasthenaturalleadersofAryanism.TherewasnopromiseofsalvationforallinthisbarrencreedbutatbestaneternalsubserviencetoGermanyasslavesandfortheJewsandgypsiesphysicalextermination.Thatsuchattitudescouldbeconsideredaworthyfoundationforanykindofpoliticalidealisastonishingenough;thattheycouldseriouslyberegardedasreligiousimperativesdefiesbelief.Thegreatreligionsoftheworldall,inoneformoranother,offertheprospectofsalvationtoalltrue

believersregardlessofgender,ethnicityorskincolour.Nazism,withitsracialexclusivenessandutter

fixationuponGermandominance,couldneverbemorethanapaleshadowoftheChristianfaithitsoresolutelydenounced.WhatdidNationalSocialismhavetooffertonon-Germans,stillmorenon-Aryans?Ableak

nothingnessandthepromiseofenslavementorextinction.Howcouldsuchcrudenotionswingenuineallegiancefromthosenot‘fortunate’enoughtobelongtotheprivilegedgroupforwhomalonesalvationwasreservedinNazieyes?AsChristianitytriumphedoverthepersecutionoftheRomanemperorswhodemandedworshipas

livinggodssotooitultimatelyprovedvictoriousoverHitler’sattempttosethimselfupintheplaceofGod.

CHAPTERFOUR

ThenewTeutonicKnightsTheoriginalTeutonicKnightsflourishedduringtheMiddleAges,leadingcrusadesagainstthepaganSlavsinPrussiaandevenasfareastasRussia.TheysawthemselvesaswarriormissionariesspreadingChristianitybyfireandsword.TheSSasvisualizedbyHimmlerwasdesignedasaconsciousrevivaloftheearlierorderexemplifyingNaziidealsandhelpingtodisseminatethemthroughouttheworld.HimmlergenuinelysawtheSSasanorderofknightsmotivatedbytheNazi‘codeofchivalry’.

ManyoftheSSleadership,includingHimmler,imaginedtheywerethelatestinalonglineofNordicknights

NAZISAPPROPRIATETHEIMAGEOFTHETEUTONICKNIGHTSFromtheverybeginningoftheNaziPartythepowerofthesymbolicassociationsofknighthoodingeneralandtheTeutonicKnightsinparticularbecameadeviceusedbytheleadershiptoattractsupport.Asearlyas1920,duringtheNazis’firstelectioncampaign,apictureofaTeutonicKnightwasdisplayedrepresentinghispatrioticdesiretoprotecttheeasternregionsofGermanyfromBolshevistRussia.Theknightwasrepresentedasbeingswordlessasasymbolofthecountry’sextensivedisarmamentfollowingitsdefeatintheFirstWorldWar.Themessageoftheposterwasthatalthoughtheknightstillwishedtodefendhisnationhewasnolongerabletodosoeffectively.MeinKampfsawtheprocessofmythologizingcarriedmuchfurther.Hitlerarguedthatitwasthe

historicdestinyoftheGermanpeopletoexpandtotheeastandtheknights,whohadconqueredPrussiaandotherpartsofEasternEurope,wereheldupasimagesofcourage,duty,honourandpatriotism.

Clockwisefromtopleft:mercenarysoldiersbelongingtotheOrderofTeutonicKnightsfromtheMiddleAges;Tannhäuser,knight,MinnesängerandpoetofAncientGermanyasdepictedintheCodexManesse;theCruxOrdisoftheOrderofTeutonicKnights(andinspirationfortheIronCross);alternativecrossoftheTeutonicOrder

FOUNDATIONOFTHESSTheSSwasoriginallyfoundedasasmallunitdesignedtobeHitler’spersonalguard.AtthetimetheSAwasseenashismainpowerbasewithinthePartyandtheSSwasregardedaslittlemorethanadecorativeadditionpurelyforhispersonalprotection.InthebeginningitwassubjecttotheauthorityoftheSAandlookeduponasverymuchajuniororganizationwithnorealsignificance.

PosterforaspeechinMunichbyHimmler

AlessthandelightedHermannGoeringhandscontroloftheGestapoovertoHimmler(andHeydrich)in1934

TheappointmentofHeinrichHimmlertothepositionofdeputyleaderoftheSSchangedthatperceptiondramatically.HimmlerwasnotamanwithacommandingpresenceandwascertainlyphysicallyanythingbutanadvertforthesupposedAryanracialidealsoftheParty.Whenhetookpartinthe1923Munichputschhehardlydistinguishedhimself.HewaspartofapicketoutsidetheWarMinistrywhosememberswerearrestedafterthepolicebrokeitup–withthenotableexceptionofHimmler.Evenwithaloadedgunhewasnotconsideredimportantenoughtoarrest.Hecaughtthetrainhomeandbroodedoverthefailure.AsaresultofthefailedputschtheSAwasbannedbytheauthoritiesandonhisreleasefromprison

HitlersetuptheSStoreplaceit.AtthetimeitwasseenasapurelytemporarymeasurebutHimmler,who

hadbecomesecretarytoGregorStrasser,soonchangedthat.StrasserwasarisingmaninthePartyandwidelythoughtofasapossiblealternativeleadertoHitler.TheSShadlimiteddutiesatthattime.AswellasbeingHitler’sbodyguardtheyalsosoldadvertising

forthePartynewspaperandgatheredinformationaboutpoliticalopponents.Himmlerfiled,co-ordinatedandanalyzedthisinformationtosuchgoodeffectthatheattractedattentionatlast.In1925hewasappointeddeputydeaderoftheSS.

HIMMLERTURNSTHESSINTOANELITECORPSHimmlertookhisnewpositionveryseriouslyandwithinashortspaceoftimehehadturnedhissmallgroupintoaneliteforceofmenwhoweresmartlyturnedout,totallydisciplined(instarkcontrasttotherowdybrawlersoftheSA)andcompletelyloyaltothePartyanditsleader.Hitler’sopinionofHimmler’scharacterwasnohigherthanbeforebuthecertainlyrealizedthathehadunderestimatedhisabilities.TheresultwaspermissiontoexpandhisSScontingentdramaticallyandtomakehimthecustodianoftheBloodFlagoftheNaziParty.Himmlerregardedthisasanhonourandasacredtrustandby1929hehadturnedhisunit,ofwhichhewasnowtheundisputedleader,intothemostreliablesectionoftheentirePartymechanism.By1931ithadbecomeaseriousforcewithintheParty.OnceHitlercametopoweritsnumbersexpandedconsiderablyandin1934itwasentrustedwiththejobofpurgingtheunrulySA.FromthatmomentonitbecamethedominantforceinGermanyandHimmlerthesecondmostpowerfulmaninthecountry.

TheNazisparadethroughNuremberg,1935–NurembergwasconsideredtostandattheveryheartofGreaterGermanyandwasthusthefittingplaceforrallies

ToHimmlertheSSrepresentedfarmorethanabodyguardorevenanelitefightingforce.HesawitasaknightlyorderdevotedtotheidealsofNazismandasmuchachivalricorderastheancientmedievalknightshadbeen.WhenHimmlerbecametheleaderoftheSSheaddedanextralayerofmythologicalandoccultfantasiestotheexistingmedievalromanticdreamsofGermannationalists.HeconflatedelementsoftheKnightsTemplarwiththeTeutonicKnightsaswellasaddingotheraspectsderivedfromvarioussecretsocietiesandmagicalgroups.HimmlersawhisnewknightlyorderasthehighestexpressionofNazivaluesandhis‘newTeutonicKnights’asamodernreplacementforthearistocracythatcombinedthefunctionsofwarriors,scholars,educators,priestsandrulers.Theywouldbetrainedinaclosed‘order’andworkthrough‘creativeaction’todominateandgoverntheworld.Himmler’sobsessionwithmedievalGermanyledhimtoseetheSSasaninstrumentofarevived

feudalismwiththeFührerplayingtheroleofkingandthemembersofhisdarkorderasfeudallords,owingallegiancetohimbutwithextensiveauthorityovertherestofthepopulation.TheSSwasdividedintosquadrons,eachbearinganamewithsomekindofknightly‘association’.Himmler’sviewoftheSSasaknightlyorderwaswidelyshared.Theorganizationwasperceivedby

themajorityofGermansasanelitebodywhosemembersrepresentedthebestofNaziideals.Duringtheprobationaryperiodbeforeacceptancemanycandidateswereweededoutasunsuitable.Himmlerwasparticularlyanxiousnottohavehomosexualsoralcoholicsinhisranks,astarkcontrasttothefarmoreopenmembershipoftheSA.IftheycompletedthetrainingsuccessfullySSapplicantssworetheSippeneid–the‘kithandkinoath’.ThemottooftheSSwas‘MeineEhreheisstTreue’–myhonourisloyalty.Thiswasalsoinscribedonthedaggerstheywore.RudolfHöss,aleadingmemberoftheSSandlatercommandantofAuschwitz,declared:

Weweretoldallthetimeweweretheelect,weweretobetheFührer’sandHimmler’sspecialinstrumentsforcreatinganewReich.Theybecameourconscience,welostourpersonalmoralself-determination.

PRINCIPLESANDTRAININGOFTHESSTheprinciplesgoverningthe‘order’wereexpresslystatedtobecourage,loyalty,obedienceandhonour.Inthedistorted‘idealism’oftheNaziethosmassmurderwasseenasa‘sacredduty’andequatedwith‘self-sacrifice’and‘martyrdom’.LiketheirmedievalprecursorsthenewTeutonicKnightsoftheSSmadewaragainsttheSlavstotheeastofGermany.TheblackclothesoftheSSarousedmoreterrorthanany

otherNaziorGermanuniform,eventhatofthehatedGestapo.Himmlerwasproudofthefeartheblackuniformofhisorderinspiredandworkedhardtoincreasethedegreeofterrifiedrespectinwhichitwasheld.TheSScandidatehadtospendayearwinninghissportsbadgebeforeenteringtheLabourServiceand

thenspendingtwoyearsinthearmy.Followinganintensivecoursedesignedtoreinforcehisindoctrinationandloyaltyhewouldbeadmittedtofullmembership.TheceremonyofhisinductionintotheSSalwaystookplaceon9November.OnthatdayhewenttotheFeldherrnhalleinMunichandat10pmtookpartinhisjoiningritual.AtthisceremonyhesworeanoathofperpetualandunconditionalloyaltytoHitler.OneSSmandescribedthescene:

Tearscametomyeyeswhen,bythelightofthetorches,thousandsofvoicesrepeatedtheoathinchorus.Itwaslikeaprayer.

TheLeibstandarteAdolfHitlerattheirbarracksinBerlinLichterfelde–thiseliteSSdivisionwasHitler’spersonalbodyguard.AttheNurembergTrialstheywerefoundcollectivelyguiltyofwarcrimescommittedacrossEurope

BadTölzwastheSSequivalentofSandhurstorWestPointandthecurriculum,featuringlotsofsport,wasdesignedtoturnstudentsintorelentlessNazikillingmachines

THEBLACKHUNDREDInspiteoftherelentlessconditioninganddepersonalizationHimmlerwasalwaysconcernedaboutpossibledisloyalty.AspecialinnercirclenicknamedtheBlackHundredhadthetaskofseekingoutanypossibledoubtersortreasonabletendencieswithintheSS.RobertLeywarnedthemthat:

HewhofailsoractuallybetraysthePartyanditsFührerwillnottherebymerelybedeprivedofanoffice,buthepersonally,togetherwithhisfamily,hiswife,andhischildren,willbedestroyed.

WhentheAustralianacademicStephenRobertsquestionedsomeSSmembersabouttheBlackHundredhewastoldthatloyaltymatteredaboveallelseandthatitwasnecessaryforanypotentialtraitorswithintheorganizationtobeweededoutanddealtwith.EvenallowingforanunderstandablereluctancetoexpressdoubttoaforeignwriteritisalmostcertainthattherewerefarfewerinstancesofdisloyaltyorevendisillusionmentamongthemembersoftheSSthanthoseofanyotherNaziorganization.Himmler’sbrainwashingwasextremelysuccessful.

THESSASANARISTOCRACYOFRACEAllroadswithintheNaziPartyeventuallyledbacktowhatHitleroncedescribedasthebedrockofhisfaith,theracialdoctrine.OtherprinciplesofthePartymightbejettisonedaltogetherorsuspendedperiodicallybeforereturningbuttheoverridingprimacyofanti-SemitismandtheexaltationofAryanismwasone‘principle’thatHitlerneverabandonedormodified.ThedemonizationofJewsreachedsuch

levelsofabsurditythatitisincrediblethattheywereeverbelievedandyetthenotionofthemassubhumancartoon-likevillainsdevoidofallredeemingfeatureswasrelentlesslydrummedintotheheadsoftheGermanpeople.AgainstthesemythicaldemonsstoodthenobleAryan.InthesamewaythattheoriginalTeutonic

KnightsrequiredcandidatesseekingadmissiontotheirordertoprovideproofofpurearistocraticbloodforeightgenerationsonbothsidesoftheirfamilysowithintheranksoftheSSitwasnecessaryformemberstoprovideproofof‘pureAryanblood’goingbackthreegenerations.TheSSmayhavesubstitutedanaristocracyofraceforaliteralnobilityofbloodbutinessencetheprincipleremainedthesame,anelitegoverningthemajorityofthepopulation.Himmlerknewexactlywhatheexpectedofhisblack-coatedknights.ThefactthatthearistocraticprinciplewithintheSSresteduponraceratherthanclassofferednew

opportunitiesforsocialmobility.Lowermiddle-classandworking-classpeoplebegantojointheSSpartlyasameansofadvancingtheirstatusandcareers.CandidateswishingtojointheSShadtoundergoarigorous,brutaltrainingprogrammeoftwoyearsbeforetheywereadmittedtothe‘knightlyorder’anduponjoiningtheyhadtoswearasolemnoathofloyalty,unquestioningobedienceandfidelity.Asaresultofthetwo-yearprobationaryperiodbeforetheywereacceptedintotheordertheyhadalreadybecomedeeplyimbuedwithitsideologyanditsvaluesandhaddevelopedthetypeofcharacterandadoptedthestyleofbehaviourexpectedofthemasmembersbythetimetheyfinallyjoined.

THEDESTRUCTIONOFINDIVIDUALITYTheSSoffereditsrecruitsavisionofagoldenfuturewiththeracialaristocratsrulingtheworld.Tobecomepartofthisutopiaitwasnecessarytoabandonindependenceofthoughtandactionorevenallindividuality.Thissacrificeoftheselfwasjustifiedonthegroundsthatitledtothedevelopmentofthe‘newman’.OtheraspectsoftheSSmentalitywereanidealizedconceptofnatureandcontemptforrationality.The

SSmanwasexpectedto‘thinkwithhisblood’ratherthanusinghisbrainandtheexistingmoralcompasswasturnedonitshead.NietzschespokeinanentirelydifferentcontextandwithameaningfarremovedfromthesenseinwhichtheNazismisappropriatedhisphrase,‘thetransvaluationofallvalues’.IntheethicaluniverseinhabitedbytheSSsucha‘transvaluation’reallydidtakeplace.Compassionwasdespisedasweakness;crueltywasglossedoveras‘hardness’;thenotionofhumandignitywasreplacedwithtotalcontemptfor‘inferiors’;and‘comradeship’wasvaluedaboveloveorfamilyties.Thesemenwerebroughttothisstateofmindthrougharelentlessandbrutaltrainingprogramme.Their

ownpsychologicalandphysicalbullyingatthehandsoftheirinstructorsdestroyedtheirpersonalityandturnedthemintodesensitizedrobots,incapableofasinglespontaneoushumanemotion.TherewasevenatermcoinedforthementalstateoftheSSman:Kadavergehorsam–‘corpseobedience’.Menweredrilledforhoursonend,compelledtocrawlthroughpipesandnarrowspaces,madetonavigateobstaclecoursesandforcedtomarchforlongdistanceswithoutfoodorwater.Theyweretaughttobesilent,tofightoffdogswithoutanyweaponsandtobalanceontheirhelmetsagrenadefromwhichthepinhadbeenremoveduntilitexploded.Therewasalsothepsychologicalconditioning,arelentlessmixtureofracialmythology,meditationson

the‘racesoul’,thestudyofgenealogy,ofGermanhistoryandvariousformsofvisualizationthatwereadaptedfromLoyola’sSpiritualExercises.Underthetriplepressuresofpsychologicalbrainwashing,physicalabuseandadesperatedesiretobecomepartofaknightlyordercreatingaracialutopia,thecharacteroftheSSmanwasformed.Hecommittedhimselfunconditionallytotheserviceoftheorderfortherestofhislife.AnSSmanabandonedanysenseofselfhoodtobecomepartofthewider‘knightly’communityoftheorganization.TheNazileaderRobertLeywhenaddressingsomeSSrecruitscommented

‘externallyyoualreadylookalikeandinashorttimeyouwillbealikeinsideaswell’.

PHYSICALREQUIREMENTSOFSSMENThephysicalsimilaritiesofthemenwerenotaccidental.Himmlerlaiddownextremelystrictcriteriaforadmissiontotheorderrequiringthatcandidatesmustbeatleast1.7metrestall(5feet7inches)althoughiftheywereover1.8metres(5feet11inches)theirheighthadtobeproportionatetotheirbodymass.Thesizeofhandsandthighs,thewaytheywalked,thedegreeofbodyhair,eventheextenttowhichtheysweated,wereallassessedfortheindividual’ssuitabilityforadmissiontotheorder.BeforetheyevenreachedthisstageofevaluationHimmlerpersonallystudiedthephotographsofthecandidates.Iftheypassedthisinitialscreeningtheyweretestedphysically,psychologicallyandintermsoftheir

politicalsoundness.Theyhadtoshowproofthattherewerenogeneticdefectsintheirfamilytreeandtosubmittoanexaminationfor‘racialpurity’byapanelof‘raceexperts’,doctorsandSSofficers.

ENGAGEMENTANDMARRIAGEDECREETheracialrequirementsdemandedofSSmendidnotendevenwhentheywereapprovedasmembersoftheorganization.Himmler’svisionofthemasanaristocracyofraceledhimtocontroleveryaspectoftheirlives.Thenotorious‘EngagementandMarriageDecree’of31December1931requiredeverymemberwhowishedtomarrytoobtainconsentfromtheRaceOfficeoftheSS.Article4ofthisdecreestatedexpresslythat‘marriageconsentwillbegrantedanddeniedsolelyandexclusivelyonthecriteriaofraceandhereditaryhealth’.Therequirementsfortheapprovaloftheproposedmarriagemeantthatnotonlythemenhadtobe‘raciallyhealthy’.Prospectivebrideshadtodemonstratetheirownphysicalandmentalhealth,givetheirfamily’smedicalhistoryandsubmittoamedicalexamination,assessmentandmeasurementsinordertoestablishtheirconformitytotheAryanidealofwomanhood.

TheperfectNazimarriage?FollowedcloselybyHitler,MagdaandJosefGoebbels(plushersonfromapreviousmarriage)headforthechurch,Mecklenberg,1931

Inadditiontotheserequirementswould-bebrideshadtoprovideafamilytreeshowingnoJewish,

Slavonic,blackorAsiaticancestors,ifpossibleasfarbackasfivegenerations.Allofthesenamesaswellasthoseofthebrideandgroomwerethenenteredintothe‘TableofAncestors’whichwasthenplacedintherecordoftheRaceOffice.InspiteoftheoverwhelminglymaleandmilitaristicethosofhisorderHimmlerwasdeeplytroubledby

theexcessivelymasculinenatureofGermansocietyingeneralandtheSSinparticular.‘Wemilitarizeimpossiblethings,’hesaidinanaddresstohisGruppenführerson18February1937.Thisextraordinarytiradedenouncedhomosexuality;logicalthinking–especiallywithregardtowomen;theoppressionandundervaluationofwomen;Christianity,whichheequatedwithhomosexuality;thewitchcraze;and‘femaletyranny’,whichhebelievedexistedthroughouttheUnitedStates.

EGALITARIANISMOFTHESSInspiteoftheopenlyfeudalnatureoftheSStherewasparadoxicallyafierceegalitarianismwithinitsranks.Officersenjoyedabsoluteandunquestionableauthorityover,andobediencefrom,themenundertheircommandbuttheywerestrictlyforbiddentoabusetheirpowerorderivepersonalgainfromtheirposition.NaturallysomeSSmendidbreaktheserulesbutiftheirtransgressionscametoHimmler’sattentiontheguiltyindividualwasdemoted,expelledorevensenttoaconcentrationcamp.ThestrangescaleofvalueswithintheorganizationwasclearlyexemplifiedbyHimmler’sindifferencetothesufferingofothersandyethisindignationatfinancialcorruption.Inhisdistortedschemeofthings,theSS‘knights’hadasacredtrustto‘purify’theworldthrough,amongotherthings,themurderof‘inferiorraces’buttheyalsohadtodisplayatotalresistancetotheordinarytemptationsoftheirpositionsuchasfinancialgain.TheNazipolicyofSchein–appearance–meantthatideals,ceremonies,traditionsandtrainingwere

employedextensivelytocommandabsolute,unquestioningandinstinctiveallegiancetothedoctrinesandinstructionsoftheNaziregimeanditsideology.InnoareaofGermanlifewasthisprocessmorefullyrealizedthanamongtheranksoftheSS.Himmlertaughtthemthattheywereaknightlyorderchargedwithasacredmissionandthatonlybyfollowingtheir‘quest’tothebitterendcouldtheyachievethebizarre‘redemption’thatNazivaluesaffordedtosomeonewho‘didtheirjobwell’.WhattheNazisingeneralandtheSSinparticularsoughttoachievewastheutterdestructionof

individualityandanentirelycollectivesenseofconsciousness.Thenationandtheracewereofprimaryimportanceandtheindividual’sdutywastobeanunquestioningcogwithinavastmachine,playinghisorherallottedpartwithinthewiderwhole.Theconceptofan‘organic’societywasputforwardasasuperiormodeltothe‘fragmented’and‘atomized’modelthattheNazisclaimedwastheresultofliberalism.Theyfocusedtheirattentionupondevelopingatypeofmemberwhowasessentiallyanefficientbutwhollydepersonalizedunitwithinateam,utterlyincapableofindependentthoughtoraction.

THESSINNERCIRCLETheinnercircleofleadershipwithintheSSwasmadeupoftwelveindividuals.TheywereKarlWolff,PersönlicherStabReichsführerSS;GottlobBerger,SSHauptamt;HansJüttner,SSFührungshauptamt;RichardWaltherDarré,Rasse-undSiedlungshauptamt;PaulScharfe,HauptamtSS-Gericht;WalterSchmitt,SS-Personalhauptamt;ReinhardHeydrich,Reichssicherheitshauptamt;KurtDaluege,HauptamtOrdnungspolizei;OswaldPohl,SS-Wirtschafts-undVerwaltungshauptamt;AugustHeissmeyer,DienststelleSS-Obergruppenführer;WernerLorenz,HauptamtVolksdeutscheMittelstelle;andUlrichGreifelt,HauptamtReichskommissarfürdieFestigungdeutschenVolkstums.Thesemen,togetherwithHimmlerhimself,madeuptheinnersanctumofthirteen,afigurethatmanyspeculatewasnotchosenarbitrarilybutpreciselybecauseofitsanti-Christianassociations.CertainlyHimmlerregardedwitchesasGermanheroineswhohadbeenmartyredbytheCatholicChurchandwhodeservedtobehonouredratherthancondemned.Hemaywellhaveconsciouslydeterminedonthetraditional

numberforawitches’covenwhenestablishinghisowninnercircleofinitiates.TheNaziemphasisontradition,publicfestivalsandacommunalapproachtolifewasparticularly

pronouncedwithintheSS.InadditiontoTeutonicandNorsemythstheArthurianlegendsandparticularlythestoryoftheHolyGrailprofoundlyinfluencedHimmlertothepointofobsession.TheyplayedakeyroleindrawinguptheritualsfortheSSandtheinsigniatheyworeandHimmler’spursuitofholyrelicsbecameamania.HeattemptedtodesigntheheadquartersofhisorderindirectimitationoftheRoundTableandasaconscioushomagetotheArthurianlegends.

JesusontheCrossandtheSpearofDestiny:HimmlerwasobsessedwiththestoryoftheHolyGrailandthepursuitofholyrelicsbecameamaniaforhim

THESSANDPUBLICFESTIVALSDeliberateattemptsweremadetomythologizeasmanyareasofGermanlifeaspossibleandtoassociatethemineveryconceivablewaywiththeNaziParty.From1924onwardstherewasanannualcelebrationofthefailedMunichputschin1923duringwhichthe‘BloodFlag’waspresentedforanalmostreligiousveneration.In1925HimmlercommissionedareplicaoftheSpearofDestinywhichheinsistedonkeepingbyhis

bedsideasheslept.ItwaslatertransferredtoWewelsburgCastle.Keydatesintheyearwerefocusedoncelebratingspecifically‘Nordic’orNazieventsorsymbols.The

Nazi‘year’beganon30JanuarywhenHitlerwasappointedChancellorandmadeanannouncementof‘whatI[Hitler]tookoverandwhatIhavedonewiththepowerentrustedtome’.Thedayconcludedwiththeinductionofeighteen-year-oldHitlerYouthmembersintofullmembershipoftheParty.On24

Februarythe‘annunciation’–awordwithdeliberatelyreligiousovertones–ofthetwenty-fivepointprogrammeoftheNaziPartywascommemorated.Thenon18MarchtherewasamemorialceremonyforthosewhohaddiedduringtheFirstWorldWar,includingaperformanceofthesecondmovementofBeethoven’sThirdSymphony.On20AprilHitler’sbirthdaywascelebratedandthedayclosedwithanarmyparadethroughtheBrandenburgGate.Thiswasfollowedby1May,Workers’Day,whenthePartyemphasizedits‘oneness’withtheworkingclasses,Hitler’swelfarestatepoliciesandthesocialistaspectsofNationalSocialism.ThesummersolsticefestivalwasanimportantdateintheSScalendarandontheneo-paganwingoftheNazisbutitattractedmuchlesspublicinterest.

NurembergralliestookplaceinthefirstweekofSeptember–eachonewasstage-managedtotoppreviousevents:in1933,therewasagianteagleandHitlerontherostrum

TheSeptembercelebrationwasdifferentandwasperhapsthemostpopularofalltheNazifestivals.Itwastheweek-longPartyRallyatNurembergthattookplaceduringthefirstweekofSeptember.Aroundhalfamillionpeopleattendedtherallyonaverageandin1938almostamillionwerepresent.HansFrankwrote:

Inthatweek-longhymnofjubilation,colours,lights,musicandfestivitiesnobodythought‘ideologically’.‘programmatically’or‘objectively-politically’.

TheendofSeptembersawtheHarvestFestivalwhere50,000agriculturalworkersandfarmersmarchedtotheBückerbergandplacedagiantwheatsheafintheshapeofacrown.Thenbetween8–9NovemberthefailedMunichputschof1923wascommemorated,aneventas

solemnastheSeptemberrallywasjoyful.Alltheseeventswereturnedintopublicfestivitieswithovertlyreligiousovertones.ThesolsticeceremonieswerecelebrationsparticularlyclosetoHimmler’sheart.Throughhisinfluence

theybecameanintegralpartoftheSSyear.ThesummerfestivalincludedprizesforthewinnersoftheSSsportingcontest,girlsdancingandgamesforbothboysandgirls.Atthewintersolsticetheemphasiswasonthepastanduponhonouringancestors.Himmlerstatedthat‘aVolkthathonoursitsancestorswillalwayshavechildren;onlythoseVölkerwhoknownoancestorsarechildless’.

BAPTISMSANDWEDDINGSAmongtheSSitselfbaptismsandweddingswerecarriedoutfollowingtheceremonieslaiddownbyHimmler.His‘newTeutonicKnights’wereindoctrinatedwithNazi‘values’ateverypossibleopportunityandthrougheverystageoftheirlife.RaceandsexwerefrequentlyblendedtogetherinHimmler’sobsessionalfantasiesabout‘selective

breeding’.HispursuitofthechimaeraoftheMasterRaceledhimtomakeahugenumberofspeechesonthesubject.Oneofthemorebizarreexamplesishisaddresson8November1936toseniorSSleaders.Inthisextraordinaryspeechheremarkedthatamanmightfeelobligatedtowardsagirlhehadbeenseeingforafewmonthsbutsimpleaffectionwasnotenoughtomakeherasuitablepartner.Himmlerdeclaredthatshemighthaveabrotherorunclewhosufferedfrommentalillness.Headded:

TheSSmanmayneveractwithoutdecency,onthecontrarywemustsayopenly,‘Iamsorry,Icannotmarryyou,becausetherehavebeenmanymajordiseasesinyourfamily.’

Himmlerwentontoassertthatbecauseof‘thefalseandstupidviewsofthreecenturies’,themarriagepermissionwasnecessary.Newlymarriedcoupleswereeachgivenasilverbeaker.Atthebirthceremoniesthattooktheplaceof

baptismswithintheSSandwithwhichHimmlerultimatelyintendedtoreplaceallchristeningsthechildreceivedasilvertankardandaLebensband–the‘lifeband’–whichwasalargeribbonofbluesilkthatwaswrappedaroundhimorherattheceremony.HisorhernamewasthenenteredintothebirthbookandtheFamilyBookoftheSS.Themotherthenreceivedasilverspoon.Finallythebirthringwasproduced,ceremonialwordswerespokeninanactofblessingtheringandthechildwasnamed.Theparentsandsponsors–Himmler’sversionofgodparents–wereinstructedtoraisethechildwitha‘true,brave,GermanheartaccordingtothewillofGod’.

ALebensbornbaptismwiththreeSSmenandaphotoofHitleraboveatablebedeckedwithaswastika:theLebensbornbreedingprogrammetookNaziideologytoits(il)logicalconclusionwithunhappinessguaranteedforallparties

THELEBENSBORNHimmler’smostambitiousattempttobringtogetherhisviewsonsexandracewastheLebensborn(fountainoflife)project.ThiswasinstitutedinDecember1935andinitiallyplacedundertheRaceOfficeoftheSS.Itwasanorganizationthatoriginallysetouttocareforunmarriedmotherswith‘pureblood’whohadbeenmadepregnantbySSmenorpoliceofficers.TheintentionwastoallowthemtogivebirthinprivateandtheneithertoplacethechildrenwithanSSfamilywishingtoadoptorputpressureonthefathertomarrythegirl.ThefirstLebensbornhomeopenedin1936atSteinhöringnearMunich.Itwassoonservingother

clientsbesidesitsintendedoriginalbase.Beforelongaristocraticwomenwenttothehomesurreptitiouslytogivebirthtounwantedchildrenthatwerethenadopted.SSmenalsobegantouseitasaplacetoconductaffairswithsuitablyAryanfemalesandevenwivesofSSofficersbegantouseitasamaternityhome.BothfathersandmothersweresubjectedtorigorousinvestigationbytheRaceOfficeandonlyallowed

toentertheLebensbornprogrammeiftheyfulfilleditsstrictracialcriteria.HimmlerbecameinvolvedineverydetailoftheorganizationoftheLebensborn.Heplacedrunicsymbolsonitsstationery,concernedhimselfwiththedecorationofthehomesandthedietofthegirls–hewasparticularlykeenthatthedayshouldbeginwithporridge–aswellasthedurationoftheirconfinement.In1938heremovedthe

LebensbornfromthecontroloftheRaceOfficeandtookitunderhisdirectsupervision.Himmlerbelievedthatprocreationcouldnolongerbethoughtofasamatterofprivatechoicebutwas

insteadanactivitythatneededtobedirectedandregulatedbythestate.Pregnanciesoutsidemarriagewerepositivelyencouragedbothasawayofboostingthebirthrateandasameansofprovidingmoremalechildrentobecomefuturesoldiers.InlinewiththisphilosophytheLebensbornorganizationlookedafterunmarriedmothersandfosteredoutillegitimatechildren.Himmlerbelievedthiswouldradicallydriveupthebirthrateandtosomeextentitdid.SSofficerswerecompelledtojointheLebensbornorganizationandsupportitfinanciallythroughdeductionsfromtheirpay.

MembersoftheBundDeutscherMädelwereencouragedtojoinLebensborn–Himmlerdescribedthisprogrammeas‘thebasisofthelatestadvanceoftheGermanrace’

HimmlerencouragedhisSSdisciplestoparticipateintheprogramme,declaredthatitwastheirdutyas‘valuableandraciallypuremen’toactas‘conceptionassistants’andthusbecome‘thebasisforanewadvanceoftheGermanicrace’.Addingnewlayersofbizarreoccultfantasy,heannouncedthatbabieswhowereconceivedinan‘Aryancemetery’wouldbefilledwiththeancestralspiritsof‘thedeadheroeswholaytherein’andactuallypublishedlistsofsuitablecemeteriesinDasSchwarzeKorps,theSSmagazine.GirlswerepositivelyencouragedtojointheLebensbornprogramme,boththroughexhortationand

benefits.Theyweregivenfinancialinducementsof1,000ReichsmarkstobecomemothersandwerealsoexemptedfromLabourServiceduty.Theslogan‘presenttheFührerwithachild’wasconstantlypresentedtoGermanwomenasanhonourableidealandapracticalwayofdemonstratingtheirpatriotismandloyalty.MembersoftheBundDeutscherMädel(LeagueofGermanGirls)wereparticularlyexhortedtojointheprogramme.AftertheconquestofPolandtheLebensbornprojectwasexpandedbykidnappingchildrenofracially

suitablePoles.OncetheinvasionoftheUSSRbeganthesameprocesstookplacewithSovietchildren.IntheseactivitiestheSSwasdeeplyinvolvedandjustasithadturnedtheoriginalconceptionofthe

LebensbornorganizationfrommaternityhomesforunmarriedmothersintoastudfarmsotooitbecameinvolvedinkidnappingandmurdertoperpetuateHimmler’sracialmythology.

HIMMLER’SATTITUDETORELIGIONItisironicthatthefirstquestionaskedofanSScandidatewaswhetherornothebelievedinGod.Ifhewasunwiseenoughtogiveanegativeanswerhisapplicationtojointheorderwasrefusedimmediately.AsHimmlertoldagroupoffarmersinNovember1935:

beassuredonecannotbeincorporatedbetweenancestorsandchildreninan–accordingtohumanideas–eternalpastandthe–forhumancalculationsolongasthisstarEarthexists–eternalfutureofourpeopleifonedoesnotbelieveindeepesthumilityinaGodlyrulerandaGod-givenorderforman.

Himmlertappedintoanddivertedthereligiousimpulsesoftheseoverwhelminglyyoungandidealisticpeople.HemadethembelievetheywereaknightlyorderleadingthefrontlineofthecrusadeforthesalvationofGermany.Theyhadaprofoundsenseofpurpose,dutyandbelongingwhichdeservedaworthiercause.TheSSmengladlysacrificedtheburdensoffreedomandindividualityforthefalsegodsofnation,raceandNaziideology.ToagreaterdegreethananyotherpartoftheThirdReich’smachineryofstatetheSSwereincapableofindependentthoughtoraction.Theyhadbeensothoroughlydehumanized,brainwashedandindoctrinatedthattheyhadcompletelylostanykindofcapacitytoquestion,stilllesstodispute,thethingstheyweretaughtandthosethattheywereeventuallycommandedtodo.Theirinnercoreofsteelydeterminationmadeitimpossibleforthemtofeelanysenseofhorrororshameattheatrocitiessomanyofthemcommitted.AsatypicalSSmanansweredonbeingquestionedbytheAllies,‘Ihavenoopinion;Iobey.’OneofthequestionsintheSS‘catechism’wasthefollowing:

Q:Whydoyouobey?A:Frominnerconviction,frombeliefinGermany,intheFührer,intheMovementandintheSS,andfromloyalty.

Withsuchamindsetwhererigidity,dogmatismandtunnelvisionwereenshrinedtoadegreethatmadetheseverestmilitarydisciplineappearalmostliberalitisnoaccidentthatHimmler’s‘newTeutonicKnights’became,liketheirmedievalprecursors,apostleswhospreadtheirbeliefsthroughmurderanddestruction.Himmler’sdarkneo-paganvisionsandoccultfantasiesledtothemental,emotionalandspiritualcorruptionofanentiregeneration.

CHAPTERFIVE

TheNaziGrailcastleManymythshavegrownuparoundWewelsburgCastleanditsassociationswithHimmler.Someareeasilydisproved,othersimplausiblebutinspiteofthemostrigorousscepticalinvestigationasmallbutundeniablekerneloftruthremains.ThegapbetweenHimmler’sconceptionofthecastleanditsrole,asopposedtotherealityofwhathecouldandcouldnotdoinhisfortress,wasundoubtedlyatopicthatvexedhim.InaveryrealsensethecreationofWewelsburgrepresentedthefulfilmentofhisdreams–onemightaswellsayfantasies–tothesameextentthatthecastleofNeuschwansteinsymbolizedtheromanticvisionofthemadKingLudwigofBavaria.Neuschwansteinsurviveditsfounderandcontinuestobeatouristattraction;WewelsburgdidnotanditwasmanyyearsbeforeHimmler’sonceproudfortresswasrestoredandopenedtothepublic.

Wewelsburgasitlookstoday;

EARLYHISTORYOFWEWELSBURGCASTLEWewelsburgCastleliesinthehillsoftheNorthRhine-WestphaliaprovinceofGermanynearthetownofPaderborn,withthenearestlargecitybeingHanover.AcastlehasstoodonthesitesincethetimeofCharlemagnebutthepresentstructurewasbuiltintheearlyseventeenthcenturyforthebishopsofPaderborn,whohadowneditsince1301.TheearliestcastleonthesitewasusedbyCharlemagneandtheHolyRomanEmperorswhosucceeded

himasadefensivefortificationagainsttheHungarians.AtthistimethecastlewasknownasWifilisburgbutbythelatetenthcenturyithadfallenintodisuseastheHungariansnolongerposedathreat.In1123EarlFriedrichvonArnsbergbuiltanewcastleonthesitebutbecausehewasunpopularwithhistenantfarmersitwasdestroyedbythemonhisdeathin1124.In1301GrafvonWaldecksoldthelandtothePrinceBishopofPaderbornandatthattimethereweretwofortifiedbuildingsonthesite,theBürenscheandtheWaldecksche-haus.IntheearlyseventeenthcenturythebishopsofPaderborncombinedthetwofortressesintoasingletriangularcastle.DuringtheThirtyYearsWarSwedishtroopsdestroyeditanditwasnotuntil1654thattheprogrammeofrebuildingbegan.Thistimenewfeatureswereaddedwiththethreetowersofthecastlebeingcrownedwithdomesinthebaroquearchitecturalstylethatwasfashionableatthetime.

Asceneofpastoraltranquillitywiththecastleloomingbehind

ThesitealsohadadarksidewitharoomformerlyusedbytheInquisitionstillsurvivinginthebasement.Thousandsofwitcheswereheldinthecastleandtorturedandexecuted.Twotrialsofwitchesareknowntohavetakenplacetherein1631butbecauseaconfessionwassaidtoremovetheneedforcourtproceedingsmostofthecondemnedwitchesneverreceivedatrialatall.Evenafterthepersecutionofwitchesfinallyendedthecastlecontinuedtohouseaprisonanditwasnotuntil1802thattheprisoncellsfellintodisuse.In1802thecastlepassedintothehandsoftheKingofPrussia.HeneglecteditandinJanuary1815the

NorthTowerwasstruckbylightningandvirtuallydestroyed.Onlytheouterwallssurvivedthefire.In1924itpassedintothehandsofthedistrictofBürenwhoturneditintoaculturalcentreandlocalmuseum.Thenewbuildingincludedarestaurantandayouthhostel.TheNorthTowercontinuedtoneedrepairworkandduringthewinterof1932–3itwasnecessarytosupportitwithguywires.Asocietyforthepreservationofthecastletookchargeofitsupkeepbutwithgrowingeconomicdifficultiestheywerelessandlessabletocarryoutthedegreeofrenovationthatwasnecessary.

Wewelsburgin1938,fouryearsafterrestorationworkbegan:theinteriorwasinscribedthroughoutwithrunesandGermanicsymbolsatthebehestofHimmler

WEWELSBURGASTHEHEADQUARTERSOFHIMMLER’SKNIGHTLYORDERFromthemomenthebecameleaderoftheSS,Himmler’sconceptionoftheorganizationwasasfarmorethanabodyguardorevenanelitepoliceforce.‘Neverforget,’hesaid,‘weareaknightlyorder.’HisfascinationwithGermanhistory,theArthurianlegendsandthemedievalnotionsofchivalrywasmostclearlyexpressedinthe‘GrailCastle’thatbecametheheadquartersfortheeliteofthenew‘knightlyorder’.HimmlerhaddreamedofcreatingsuchacentreforsomeyearsbeforetheappointmentofHitleras

Chancellorin1933madeitpossibleforhisvisiontobeturnedintoreality.Fromthatmoment,usinghisnewauthorityasGermany’spolicechief,hetravelledacrossthecountryinsearchoftheideallocationforhis‘GrailCastle’.

HIMMLER’S‘RASPUTIN’,KARLMARIAWILIGUTIn1933thecastlewasdrawntoHimmler’sattentionandheimmediatelybecameintriguedbyit.Itwason3November1933thatHimmlerpaidhisfirstvisittoWewelsburgCastle.HewasaccompaniedbyKarlMariaWiligutwhoforsixyearsbecameoneoftheReichsführer’smostinfluentialgurus.WiligutdrewHimmler’sattentiontoanineteenthcenturypoem,AmBirkenbaumbyFerdinandFreilingrath.ThepoetdescribedabattlebetweeninvadersfromtheeastandtheGermans,whosuccessfullydefendedtheirhomelandagainsttheenemy.WiligutsuggestedthatthesettingforthebattlewasintheregionofWewelsburg,anideathatattractedHimmlergreatly.

AftermeetingHimmler,KarlMariaWiligutjoinedtheSSin1933andthendevotedhimselftorestoringWewelsburgCastle

WiliguthadbeenintroducedtoHimmlerearlierthatyearandhetooktheSSleadertothecastle,whichwasnowdeterioratingafteryearsofneglect.HepointedoutanumberofreasonswhyhefeltitwouldbetheideallocationfortheheadquartersofHimmler’sorder.Inthefirstplace,astheformerseatofthebishopsofPaderbornithadmysticalassociationswithGermany’sChristianheritage.Secondly,thebishopshadbeenactiveandenthusiasticpersecutorsofwitchesduringtheseventeenthcenturyandwereresponsibleforthedeathsof100,000accusedwomenintheirareaalone.Manyofthemhadbeenexecutedwithinthecastleitself.

THEEXTERNSTEINENearbystoodtheExternsteine,anaturalrockformationthathadbeenaplaceofworshipfromaslongagoasthetimeoftheStoneAge.MostimportantlyofallitstoodintheregionoftheTeutoburgForest,siteofthegreatbattleinwhichtheGermantribesundertheirleaderHermannhaddefeatedtheRomanlegionssenttoconquerthemandhadslaintheircommander.TheExternsteinehasbeendescribedasGermany’sequivalentofAyersRock.Itisactuallyarock

formationthatconsistsofaseriesofpillarsthatprotrudeoutofthesurroundingforest.Therearefivepillarsinallwiththetallestbeing37.5metres(123feet)highandtheyformanaturalwallseveralhundredmetreslong.Stonetoolshavebeendiscoveredonthesitedatingbacktoatleast10000BC.Ithaslongbeenregarded

asanimportantreligiouscentrealthoughthereisnoactualproofofanykindofpaganactivitybeforetheearlyChristianera.TheheathenSaxonscertainlydidconductsomekindofritualsatthesceneandafterheconqueredtheminAD772CharlemagneforciblyconvertedthemtoChristianity.HecutdowntheIrminsul,alargetreethatwasacentreofworshipforthepagansandwhosepreciselocationremainsunknown.ThemostprobablesiteforitisObermarsberg,formerlyknownasEresburg.ThisisahilltothesouthoftheExternsteineandtraditionassertsthatachurchdedicatedtoStPeterwasbuiltwheretheIrminsulhadpreviouslystood.From1920onwardsWilhelmTeudtbeganresearchingGermancultureinDetmold.Hecametothe

conclusionthattheIrminsulwassituatedclosebytheExternsteine.TeudtjoinedtheNazisin1933andurgedthattheExternsteinebeturnedintoasacredgrovetocommemoratetheTeutonicancestorsoftheGermannation.HimmlerwasimpressedbyTeudt’sideasandfoundedanExternsteineFoundationinthesameyear.TheAhnenerbesoondevotedconsiderabletimeandefforttoresearchingtherocks.TheExternsteinealsocontainsanumberofChristiancarvings,mostnotablytheDescentfromthe

Cross.ThisshowsJesusattheCrosstogetherwiththeVirginMary,JosephofArimatheaandNicodemus.God,thesunandthemoonareallpicturedaboveJesuswhilebelowtheCrossabenttreewassaidbythepaganstosymbolizetheIrminsul.OnHitler’sbirthdayandatthesummerandwintersolsticestheHitler

YouthgatheredattheExternsteinetosingpaganchants.

TheExternsteine,fivelargesandstonepillarsthat,someclaim,wereoncethesiteofpaganrituals,werelabelledasa‘sacredgrove’bytheNazis

TheDescentfromtheCrossontopofabenttree

Theholeinthestone,alsoattheExternsteine

Ontheleft-handsideoftheChurchofStPeterisastoneneartheconfessional.ItislabelledIrminsulandwas‘discovered’onthesitein1938.ThereisnodoubtthatthiscannotbetheoriginalIrminsulasitismadeoutofstonewhilethesacredobjectcutdownbyCharlemagnewasatree.ItishoweverclaimedthatinasmallchapelunderneaththealtartheoriginalIrminsuloncestood.Whatisvirtuallycertainisthatthe1938‘discovery’wasafraudperpetuatedonbehalfoftheAhnenerbetoreinforcethesite’spaganassociations.Wiligutisconsideredthemostlikelyauthorofthisparticulardeception.AswellasitsreligioussignificanceforbothChristiansandpagansthereisalsoclearevidencethat

partoftheExternsteine’sfunctionwasasanastronomicalcalendar.Therockscontainatwenty-inchwindowwhichatthetimeofthesummersolsticealignswiththesunatthemomentofsunrise.AswellastheExternsteineitselfthesurroundingTeutoburgForestwasalsoofconsiderableinterestto

HimmlerandhisAhnenerbe.Itisarangeoflow,denselywoodedmountainsintheNorthRhine-WestphaliaregionofGermany.InAD9itwasthesceneofabloodybattlebetweentheGermanchiefHermann(calledArminiusbytheRomans)andtheRomanlegions.TheGermanswonthebattleandduringtheNapoleonicWarsthevictorybecameasignofGermanresistancetoforeigninvasionandasymbolofnationalidentity.AstatueknownastheHermannsdenkmal(HermannMonument)waserectedtocommemorateHermann’striumph.In1875KaiserWilhelmIdedicatedthemonumenttothenationandaddedastatueofhimselftothenorthoftheforest,ataplaceknownasPortaWestfalica.ItwassituatedontheWittekindsberg,ahillintheWiehenHillsmountainrange,tocommemorateWilhelm’sstatusasthefirstrulerofaunifiedGermany.

AmasscelebrationofallthingsGermanicin1925nearthemonumenttoHermannwhodefeatedtheRomansinthebattleoftheTeutoburgForestnearWewelsburg

Thecombinationofhistorical,legendaryandmysticalassociationscaptivatedHimmlerandwhenWiligutalsosuggestedthatthecastlemusthavebeenthesiteofthebattlementionedinFreilingrath’spoemhewasconvinced.

HIMMLERTAKESOVERWEWELSBURGThecastlewasimmediatelytakenoverbytheSSonahundredyearleaseatanominalrentofonemarkayear.Himmlerimmediatelyinstitutedaprogrammeofextensiverebuildingandrenovation.HelaidthefoundationstoneofWewelsburghimself.Asworkbeganthecastleslowlyevolvedandbecamebothareconstructedmedievalfortressandaplaceofspiritualcommunion.Wewelsburgincludedachapel,aprivatemeditationcloisterandalibraryofovertwelvethousandbooks.Himmleralsoplannedavasttriptychpaintingtodemonstratehisideasontheroleoftheorder.

HimmlerseemedtoseehimselfasthereincarnationofHeinrichtheFowler,seenherewiththebannerofArchangelMichael,foundingEurope’sfirstcastle,Albrechtsburg

Hisinstructionstothepainterintendedtocarryoutthiscommissionaskedhimtodepict:

a)TheattackofanSStroopinwar,inwhichIenvisagetherepresentationofadeadormortallywoundedSSman,whoismarried,toshowthatfromdeathitselfanddespiteitnewlifesprings

b)Afieldinanewlandbeingploughedbyadefence-corpsfarmer,anSSmanc)Thenewlyfoundedvillagewiththefamiliesandnumerouschildren.

EveryroomwithinWewelsburgwasfurnishedinacompletelyindividualstylewithnotasinglepieceoffurniture,ornamentordecorativefeaturebeinguniform.Frischauerdescribeshow:

Notevenasingledeskwasduplicated.Onlyleadingcraftsmenofeverybranchhadbeenemployedtoproducefinetapestries,solidoakfurniture,wrought-irondoorhandles,candlesticks.Pricelesscarpetswereacquired,curtainsofheavybrocadeflankedthehighwindows.Doorswerecarvedandembellishedwithpreciousmetalsandstones.BuiltintheoldGermanicstyleonatriangularfoundationtheburg’stowersrosehighoverthesurroundingforest.

HIMMLERANDGERMANHEROESHimmlerlaiddownthateachroomshouldbenamedafterandassociatedwithGermanicheroesofthepastandinsomewayreflecttheirlivesandachievements.TherewereroomsdedicatedtoCharlemagne,HeinrichtheFowler,OttotheGreat,HenrytheLion,PhilipofSwabia,FrederickBarbarossa,FrederickofHohenstaufen,ConradIVandotherfamousGermanrulers.TheBarbarossaroomwasreservedforHitlerandtheHeinrichtheFowlerchamberforHimmler.IntheHeinrichtheFowlerroomHimmlerkeptthereplicaoftheSpearofDestinylyingonafadedcushionofredvelvetandenclosedwithinacaseofantiqueleather.Himmlerfrequentlyheld‘conversations’withwhathebelievedtobethespiritof

HeinrichtheFowleranddeclaredthathereceived‘advice’fromthemanhebelievedtobehisownancestor.Hewasfondofsaying‘inthiscaseKingHeinrichwouldhaveactedasfollows’.

HimmlerleadsaserviceatQuedlinburginhonourofHeinrichtheFowler–amongtheofficersbehindhimisHeydrich

HimmlerremainedobsessedwithHeinrichtheFowlerthroughouthisperiodinpower.In1936hecelebratedthethousandthanniversaryoftheking’sdeathwithafestivalofremembranceinQuedlinburg,whichwasatownfoundedbyHeinrichthatnestledintheHarzMountains.ThefollowingyearHimmlerdisinterredtheking’sbonesandreburiedtheminthecryptofQuedlinburgCathedral.In1938hefoundedtheKingHeinrichMemorialFoundationforthepurposeofreviving‘thespiritanddeedsofthekinginourtime’.On2JulyeachyearHimmlerheldamidnightritualinthecrypttocommemoratethebirthoftheking.HimmlerfeltaparticularidentificationwiththismonarchashehadcheckedtheprogressofSlavinvadersandmadeGermanystrongenoughforhissonOttotobecomeHolyRomanEmperor.Likehishero,Himmlerconsciouslysawhimselfasresistingthe‘Asiatichordes’andastheleaderofa‘CrusadeforGermanexpansionintheEast’.NoexpensewassparedintheworkofreconstructingandrenovatingWewelsburg.Therooms

containedjewels,suitsofarmour,shields,swordsandevenclothesthathadbeenassociatedinsomewaywitheachofthefigurestowhomtheywerededicated.Thewallsweredecoratedwithrichtapestriesandhungwithpaintings.HimmleralsotoldthearchitectsthathewantedaGobelintapestry‘withthefigureofafullydevelopedvirginalgirl,afuturemother’andonthefacingwalltobecarvedinstone‘thefigureofamotherwithahalf-grownladwhoisbecomingaman’.

INITIALPLANSFORWEWELSBURGHimmler’sinitialplanwastoturnWewelsburgintoa‘ReichschoolforSSleaders’,whereofficerswouldreceiveadvancedideologicaltraining.Thecoursesthatwereoriginallydesignedtobetaughtatthecastlewerearchaeology,prehistoryandmythology.AllthesesubjectsweregivenaheavilyGermanorientation.UndertheinfluenceofWiligut,Himmler’svisionforWewelsburgchangedandhecametolookuponitasthecentreofhis‘knightlyorder’andthespiritualfocusforallAryans.InhisminditwasasitethatwouldbecomeassacredasRome,GlastonburyorJerusalem.InWewelsburgCastleseniorSSofficerscametogethertodiscussandsharetheirdarkideals.

Sometimesanewcandidatewouldbeinitiatedinwhatwasnicknamed‘theceremonyofthestiflingair’,fromthechargedpsychologicalatmosphereinwhichittookplace.ThediningroomatWewelsburgmeasured30.5by44metres(100by145feet)andaroundtheoak‘roundtable’theSSofficerssatonhigh-backedchairscoveredinpigskinwitheachofficer’snameengravedonasilverplatethathungfromthebackofthechair.WhentheystayedatWewelsburg,theSSofficersweredeliberatelygivenadifferentroomeachtimein

ordertoenablethemtobecomefamiliarwiththeatmosphereofthecastleasawhole,theindividualhistoryofthehistoricalfigurestowhomeachroomwasdedicatedandthepartthattheSpearofDestinyhadplayedinthelifeofeachman.

AsacredspaceinWewelsburgdesignedtoholdservicesinmemoryofhigh-rankingSSofficerswhohadfalleninbattle–HimmlercametolookuponWewelsburgasthecentreofhis‘knightlyorder’andthe‘spiritualfocusforallAryans’

UnemployedGermanworkersbeganexcavatingthemoatofthecastlebutbeforelongtheywerereplacedbyconcentrationcamplabourers.Atotalof3,900ofthemworkedontheproject,1,285ofthem

dyingduringitsconstruction.Originallytheywereprofessionalcriminalswhohadbeensettoworkbutwiththeoutbreakofwargypsiesweresenttolabourontheproject.FollowingthestartofhostilitiesagainsttheSovietUnionRussianprisonersofwarwerealsoforcedtoworkonthebuildingofWewelsburg.Theyweretreatedwithappallingcrueltybecauseoftheirsupposedracialinferiorityandmostdiedafteronlyafewmonthsoftheirforcedlabour.Theirbodieswereburnedinthecampcrematoriumandtheirashesscatteredandusedasfertilizerforthecampgarden.Himmlertooknoaccountofthehumancostofbuildinghisgranddesign;allthatmatteredtohimwastherealizationofhis‘vision’.ThearchitectinchargeofrenovatingWewelsburgmadethemainfocusofhisdesigntheNorthTower.

Helaidoutthegroundfloorintheformofanisoscelestriangle,resultingintheWewelsburgareabeingshapedlikeaspear.HimmlerofcoursesleptinhisroomatthecastlewithareplicaoftheSpearofDestinyathisbedside.Furtherevidenceofthemysticalfunctionofthecastleisdemonstratedbythefactthateventhearchitectsworkingontheprojectdescribeditas‘thecentreoftheworld’.Italsostoodonanexusofleylines,whichwasanotheroccultpreoccupationofHimmlerandthe

‘OccultBureau’thatheran.InthecryptofWewelsburg,underaseriesofarches,stoodablackmarblealtarwiththelettersSSengraveduponitinsilver.ThereHimmlerandhisdisciplesgatheredtocarryoutanumberofoccultceremonies.Theymeditatedonhonour,thepowerofraceandtheimminentarrivalofthe‘NewMan’.Inthecryptwassetacircularvaultwithtwelveseats,oneforeachofthetwelveSSinitiateswhocame

here.TherewasatablewhichwasconsciouslyintendedasananalogywiththeRoundTableandinitscentrewasaflame.Theceilingofthecryptdisplayedaswastikadesignsetinsideasunwheel;theemblemhasbeenoftenreferredtoasa‘blacksun’.TherewasagoldendiscinthecentreofitbutthatwasremovedwhenHimmlerorderedWewelsburgtobedemolishedattheendofthewar.TheSSTotenkopfring(Death’sHeadring)wasdesignedbyWiligutwhoadvisedHimmlerextensivelyonthe‘correct’ritualsandpracticestobecarriedoutatthecastle.WhenanSSofficerdiedhisTotenkopfringwastakentoWewelsburgandburiedwithinthecastle.Himmlerandhisacolytescarriedceremonialdaggers,woresilversignetringsanddressedinblack

uniforms.‘Experts’fromtheAhnenerbedrewupcoatsofarmsforHimmlerandtheSSleaderseventhoughhardlyanyofthemhadtheslightestdropofaristocraticbloodflowingthroughtheirveins.ThecastlewastheplacewhereHimmlerlikedtogotoescapefromtheadministrationoftheGestapo,thepolice,theSSandtheconcentrationcamps.InhisinnersanctumofWewelsburghecouldconcentratefullyonthe‘spiritual’sideofhis‘mission’,surroundedbylike-mindedinitiatesofhisdarkorder.

THEDEVELOPMENTOFHIMMLER’SIDEOLOGYATWEWELSBURGAnentire‘philosophy’wasevolvedbyHimmlerduringhisvisitstoWewelsburg.Notonlydidhisracialmythologyhardenintostonebuthisinnerconvictionsaboutsecret‘energies’thatlaywithintheearth,whichifmasteredcouldleadtothedominationoftheworld,alsogrewmoreandmorepronounced.Heandhisinnercircleatthecastlespenthourspursuing‘magical’methodsofcontrollingpeopleandevents.AswellasHimmlerhimself,oneoftheprincipalfiguresintheNazieraofWewelsburgwasManfred

vonKnobelsdorff,captainofthecastle.HewasafriendofWiligut’sandhenotonlyrepeatedlycarriedoutvariousritualsdesignedtoinvokethespiritoftheIrminsulbutalsomorenormalceremoniessuchasabaptismattendedbyHeydrich.JustastheSSwasseenasanorderofchivalrysoWewelsburgwaslookedonasthecentreofthe

rituals,ceremoniesandtheologyoftheorder.Thecastlewasdeliberatelylaidoutlikeatempleandthecryptbecamethe‘holyofholies’whereonlythemostprivilegedSSleaderswereallowedtovisit.Intimeitwouldalsobedesignedtoholdtheirashesandcoatsofarms.Thecentreofthecryptwasintendedtoholdan‘eternalflame’intheirmemory,thoughthepressuresofwarmeantthatthisparticularpartof

theprojectwasnevercompleted.Wewelsburgrapidlybecamenicknamed‘BlackCamelot’byotherNaziPartymembers.Itwasnever

entirelycompletedlargelybecauseofthewarbutby1939ithadbecomethevenueformanyofthemoresecretiveritualsandbizarreceremoniesofHimmlerandtheSS.

PUBLICCEREMONIESINTHECASTLEAnumberofpublicceremoniestookplaceinthecastleincludingSSweddings,baptismsofchildrenbornintheLebensbornbreedingprogrammeandthewintersolsticefestivalwithwhichHimmlerwantedtoreplaceChristmas,aswellasthemidsummersolsticecelebrationthathewishedtobethemaineventoftheannualcalendar.ThemysticalritesanddoctrinesthathetriedtoinculcateintotheSSweremorethanmereemptyphrasesorgestures.Participatinginthemmadethosewhotookpartfeelevenmoreprivilegedandpartofamysticalfraternitywithspecialdutiesandresponsibilities.Theyinducedastateborderinguponmysticalraptureinthedevoteeswhoparticipated,theceremoniesbeingakindofactofconsecrationwhichgaveamysticalsenseofpurposetotheir‘community’.ThemidwinterfestivalofYuletidewasconsciouslyintendedtoreplaceChristmas.AnSSmanualdescribeditasthe

greatestfestivalofourforebears.TheyadvancedtowardstheYule-nightwithfirebrandstoliberatethesunfrombondageofwintrydeathandthoughtofitasayoungherocometorouseandfreethemfromtheirdeath-likesleep.OnChristmasEvethemainingredientsoffestivefaremustbecarp,roastgooseandwildboar–drawnrespectivelyfromthesphereofwater,airandearth.Inviewofthefactthatthisisthegreatestclanfestival–itisbecomingcustomarytoexchangeideasaboutthesuccessofthesteadilydeepeningresearchintofamilygenealogy.

THEELITENATUREOFTHOSEWHOVISITEDTHECASTLEThosewhowenttoWewelsburgwerenolongerboundbyordinaryhumantiesbuthadtheirownloyaltytothebrotherhood,anall-consumingpassiontoserveitandtocherishandfollowitsideals.Wewelsburgwasthecathedralwherethesenior‘priests’ofHimmler’sdarkreligioncametoengageintheirworshipandbeindoctrinatedmoredeeplyintothemythologicaluniverseheinhabited.Theyattemptedtoachieveastateof‘rapture’inwhichtheycouldcommunicatewiththeSecretChiefs,ofwhosewisdomtheybelievedthemselvestobetheguardians.Thiswasfarmorethansimplyafeelingofprivilege;itledtoafeelingofexaltationthatremainedwith

themevenaftertheyhadpassedoutoftheimmediateambienceofthecastle.EvenatthelowerleveloftheSS,thepreoccupationwithdoctrine,ritualandthesearchforthismysticalsenseofahigherpurposedrovethemonandnotonlyenabledthemtoendurethehardshipsoftheRussianFronttoagreaterextentthantheregulartroopsbutalsotobecomehardenedtothesufferingofothers.ThemenwhocametoWewelsburgandsharedintheritesandceremonieswithHimmlerweretrue

believers.Theirmissionwastoestablishwhattheysawasanearthlyparadise.Theywereutopianswhotrulybelievedthattheywerepartofbringingaboutanewworldwhereanaristocracyofracialsupermenwouldruleandbringtheperfectsocietyintobeing.Theindividualwasseenaspossessingnointrinsicworth;onlyasapartofthewholeinanorganic

societywashecapableofachievingvalue.ItwasthedutyofthemenwhogatheredatWewelsburg,theSSgenerallyandultimatelyeveryhumanbeing,torenouncetheirindividualpersonalitiesandsubsumethemwithinthetaskofbecomingoneofthe‘newmen’thatitwasthefinalobjectiveofalltheirtrainingtoproduce.

ROSENBERGANDLECTURESATTHECASTLERosenbergprovidedanumberoflecturerstogivetalksatWewelsburg.Someofthemwereonordinarysubjectssuchaspolitics,foreignpolicy,artandculture,prehistory,racialtheory,philosophyand

mysticismaswellasmoreesotericsubjects.Someofthemoreexotictopicsdealtwithweresymbolism;runes;mythology;alternativemedicine;andtheideaof‘eternalreturn’,whichwasnotsimplyabeliefinindividualreincarnationbutalsointhenotionthatthepatternsofhistoryitselfrecurredandthatnationsrepeatedanendlesscycleof‘deathandrebirth’.ThatparticulartheorywaswovenoutofwholeclothbytheFreiherrStromervonReichenbach,whoessentiallystolehisideasfromtheGermanphilosophersFriedrichNietzscheandOswaldSpengleraswellasborrowingheavilyfromHindureligion.Stromer’s‘work’wasdescribedbyoneofHimmler’s‘experts’as‘anewexpressionofthetrulyNordictheoryoftheeternalreturn’.HealsocultivatedareputationasaprophetandwasoneofHimmler’smostinfluential‘intellectual’influences.AlthoughStromerwasanimportantinfluenceonHimmler,particularlyintermsofhisgrowing

obsessionwithWewelsburg,Wiligutwashischief‘adviser’onoccultmatters.AtWiligut’ssuggestionHimmleraddedtotheexistingdesignplanstherequirementtoinstallaplanetariuminthecastle,nodoubttoenablehimtofurtherhisastrologicalinterestsanddrawuppredictionsaboutthefutureofGermanyandhisowndestiny.Inadditionherequestedthatthecastleastheheadquartersofanorderofchivalryalsoneededastrongroomtoholdthe‘treasure’heplannedtoplacewithinit.NeitherprojectwasevercompletedasthenecessitiesofthewarpreventedthevastexpenditureuponWewelsburgofwhichHimmlerandWiliguthaddreamed.

HIMMLERANNOUNCESTHEFINALSOLUTIONINWEWELSBURGIn1941thecastleservedamoresinisterpurposeasHimmlerconvenedaconferenceinMarchattendedbyHeydrichandvariousseniorNaziministersandmilitaryleaders.AtthatconferenceheannouncedthatGermanywouldbeinvadingtheSovietUnioninthenearfutureandthatnotonlywouldtheinvadingforcesberequiredtosmashCommunismbuttheywouldalsobeorderedtoreducethenativepopulationbythirtymillion.HealsodeclaredthatRussianfoodsuppliesmustbedivertedtotheserviceoftheReichandthatJewswereamongthehighestprioritytargetstobeeliminatedinordertomakewayfortheenvisagedGermansettlers.AlthoughhedidnotquitespellouttheFinalSolutionindetail(thatcamelater)therewasnomistakingthesinisterintentionbehindhisspeech.NotawordofprotestcamefromthemenseatedaroundthetableatWewelsburg.Himmlerpreachedtohisdisciplesatthecastleandengagedinlongsessionsofsilentmeditationduring

whichtheyalltriedtomakecontactwithandstrengthentheirtieswiththe‘RaceSoul’.Heinstilledinthemallthesenseofagreatercommonpurposethanthatoftheindividual:theachievementofthetriumphoftheAryanraceandinparticulartheGermansoverthe‘lesserbreeds’.Himmlerdemandedfromthemablindobediencetoorders,aninnerhardness,strengthofpurposeandacommitmenttobringabouttheimminentarrivalofthe‘NewMan’.HesawJews,Freemasons,ChristiansandCommunistsasallrepresentingindifferentwaystheoppositeapproachtohisdarkvision.Whereheplacedhisfaithwasinthepowerofhisnewreligiontotransformtheworld.CommunistsandmanyFreemasonswereeitheratheistsoratleastweddedtoaviewthathappinessonearthwasachievable.TheJewsandChristianshesawasbeinggovernedbytheirfixationupontheindividual.ToHimmlerthedestinyofasinglepersonwasunimportant;itwasthesurvivalofthevaluesofthegroupthatmattered.Asheonceremarkedinanextraordinaryconversationwithhismasseur:

Amanhastosacrificehimself,eventhoughitisoftenveryhardforhim;heoughtn’ttothinkofhimself.Ofcourseit’spleasantertoconcernyourselfwithflower-bedsratherthanpoliticaldust-heapsandrefuse-dumps,butflowersthemselveswon’tthriveunlessthesethingsareseento.Itrytohelppeopleanddogood,relievetheoppressedandremoveinjusticeswhereverIcan.

Bizarrethoughthisoutburstappears,HimmlermadeanevenmoreextraordinarystatementtohisSSofficerson4October1943:

Itisabsolutelywrongtoprojectyourownharmlesssoulwithitsdeepfeelings,ourkindheartedness,ouridealism,uponalienpeoples.OneprinciplemustbeabsolutefortheSSman:wemustbehonest,decent,loyal,andcomradelytomembersofourownbloodandtonooneelse.WhathappenstotheRussians,whathappenstotheCzechs,isamatterofutterindifferencetome.Whethertheotherpeoplesliveincomfortorperishofhungerinterestsmeonlyinsofarasweneedthemasslavesforourculture;apartfromthatitdoesnotinterestme.Whetherornot100,000RussianwomencollapsefromexhaustionwhilediggingatankditchinterestsmeonlyinsofarasthetankditchiscompletedforGermany.WeGermans,whoaretheonlypeopleintheworldwhohaveadecentattitudetoanimals,willalsoadoptadecentattitudetothesehumananimals,butitisacrimeagainstourownbloodtoworryaboutthemandtobringthemideals.

Hegoesontosay,speakingofwhathefranklydescribesas‘theexterminationoftheJewishpeople’,inatoneofmanifestadmiration:

Mostofyouknowwhatitmeanstoseeahundredcorpseslyingtogether,fivehundred,orathousand.Tohavegonethroughthisandyettohaveremaineddecent,thishasmadeushard.

Suchwerethe‘ideals’impressedupontheSSleaderswhovisitedWewelsburgandimbibedthisdistortedvisionof‘decency’,‘kindheartedness’and‘chivalry’.

THEENDOFWEWELSBURGAlthoughworkonthereconstructionofWewelsburgcontinueduntil1943itcametoanabruptendthatyear.ThepressingneedsofGermany’smilitarymeantthatfundscouldnolongerbedivertedtoHimmler’sgrandioseproject.BythatdateonlytheNorthTowerofthecastlehadbeencompleted.Eternallyoptimisticanddwelling

indreamsthatsomehowvictoryfortheGermanswasstillpossible,HimmlerchosetoregardtheendofworkonWewelsburgasasuspensionratherthantheterminationofhisproject.InFebruary1944hewrotetothecommandantinchargeofthecastleinforminghimofhowoftenhis

thoughtsturnedtowardsWewelsburgandhowheplannedtoresumeworkontheprojectattheendofthewar.ByMarch1945evenHimmlerrealizedthatthewarwaslost.ThatmonthsawAlliedforces

surroundingWewelsburg.Himmlerbecameconsumedwiththedesirethathiscastleofdreamsshouldnotfallintoenemyhands.RatherthanhanditovertotheAllieshepreferredtodestroyit.AteamofSScommandoswassenttoWewelsburgtoblowupthecastle.OnEasterSunday31March

1945theyplantedexplosivesandsucceededindestroyingmostofthebuilding.OnlytheNorthTowersurvivedalmostundamagedwhichimmediatelyledtowildspeculationaboutitspossible‘magicalpowers’.On2April1945theAmericanscapturedWewelsburg.Theywereinitiallybaffledbytheimportance

thatHimmlerattachedtothecastlebutasmembersoftheSSbegantorevealtheirsecretsitstruesignificancefinallybecameclear.In1949workonrebuildingthecastlebegan,thetaskofreconstructioncontinuinguntil1979.Ithas

sincere-openedasatouristattraction,housingayouthhostelandamuseum.In2010theformerSSguardhousewasconvertedintoanexhibitioncentredescribinglifeatWewelsburgduringtheelevenyearsthatitbecamethefocalpointofHimmler’soccultfantasies.Photographs,SSregaliaandHimmler’steapotwithrunicinscriptionsuponitareamongtheitems

showinghowhetriedtoexemplifyhisdarkvisionthroughthecastle.WewelsburgshowsmostcompletelyhowfarremovedfromeverydayrealitytheworldoftheNazileadershipreallywasandtheextenttowhichtheirdreamswerebuiltuponoccultandmagicalthinking.

CHAPTERSIX

OccultReichItwouldnotbetruetodescribeNaziGermanyasastateprimarilygovernedonoccultprinciples.Ontheotherhanditisequallyuntruetoignore,dismissordownplaytheextenttowhichsuchideasdidplayanimportantpartinsomeareasoflife,sometimesinvolvingkeypolitical,socialandevenmilitarydecisions.

Hitler’sfavouriteclairvoyantErikJanHanussenwithclient–whentimeswerehard,heranasidelineinblackmail

IMPORTANCEOFOCCULTIDEASINTHEEARLYYEARSOFNAZISMTheearlytwentiethcenturysawGermanyawashwitharangeofmysticalandoccultideas,atendencythatincreasedsharplyafterthenation’sdefeatintheFirstWorldWar.Hitler’sinvolvementwithaspectsoftheoccultdatedbacktohisyearsasadrifterinViennaandwhenhejoinedtheGermanWorkers’Partyhewasactuallybecomingpartofamagicalorder.ThemenhemetthroughthesmallgroupthatheturnedintotheNaziPartywereallsteepedinoccultism–Eckart,Rosenberg,Harrer,Federandmanyothers.ItwastheThuleGroupleaderSebottendorfwhofoundedwhatwastobecomethePartynewspaperandwhoalsotookoverwhatwastobecometheNazipublishinghouse.HimmlerandHesswereinvolvedinalmosteveryconceivableoccultactivityandseemedtobelievevirtuallyanythingwhichwasrejectedbyconventionalscience.Goeringbelievedthattheearthwashollowandthathumanslivedontheinsideofit.ResearchintoAtlantisandmythologyattractedlargeamountsofgovernmentmoneyevenduringtheSecondWorldWar.BothHitlerandGoebbelsweresufficientlyskilledinastrologytobeabletocompareandinterprethoroscopesthemselves.TheGermanNavywastedhugesumsofmoneyon‘mapdowsers’totryandidentifythepositionofBritishships.Theexamplescouldgoonalmostindefinitelyandwhattheypointtoisnotacountrywhereoccultism

ruledassuchbutonewhere‘magical’thinkingpermeatedeverylevelofthePartyandinfluencedallaspectsoflife.ItmaybeanexaggerationtosuggestthatNaziGermanywasdominatedbytheoccultbutcertainlynonationsinceatleasttheeighteenthcenturyhadbeensoreceptivetoandsoinfluencedbyirrationalideas.ItwasnoaccidentthatHitler’sappointmentasChancellorlednotonlytopredictableattacksonJews,

Communists,socialistsandliberalsbutalsotoaperhapslessexpectedcampaignagainstoccultism.Therewereavarietyofreasonsforthisattack,somepersonalandothersideological.OnewasadesiretocontroleveryaspectoflifewithinGermanyeveninsuchperipheralareasasastrologyandtheoccult.Theotherwasagenuinefearofthesupposedpowerofthesefields.InSeptember1919HitlermetaMunichphysiciancalledDrWilhelmGutberletwhoremainedfriendly

withhimuntilhisdeath.AsSchellenbergputit:‘HitleravailedhimselfofGutberlet’smysticpowerandhadmanydiscussionswithhimonracialquestions.’Gutberletbelievedthatthroughusing‘thesidereal

pendulum’hewasableto‘detect’JewsorpeoplewhosimplypossessedsomeJewishancestors.HewasalsoakeenastrologerandmayhavehelpedtodevelopHitler’sskillatinterpretinghoroscopes.Sebottendorfwasalsoanastrologerandwroteseveralbooksonthesubjectaswellaseditingamagazine.Healsoaskedthequestion‘whethertheGermansespeciallymustgivetotheworldanewspecies?’.

HANUSSEN–HITLER’SCLAIRVOYANTOneofthemostinfluentialoccultpractitionersthroughoutthe1920sand1930swasanastrologer,fortuneteller,clairvoyantandvaudevilleentertainerwhowentundertheprofessionalnameofErikJanHanussen,althoughhisrealnamewasHerschelSteinschneider.Atvariousperiodsofhislifeheworkedasastableboy,folksinger,trapezeartistandliontameraswellasenjoyingabriefspellasanoperasinger.Hehadasidelineinblackmailingpeopletosupplementhisresourceswhentimeswerehard.Aftercompletinghismilitaryserviceheaddedhypnotism,telepathy,dowsingandstagemagictohis

listofaccomplishments.HanussenalsobelongedtoanastrologicalgroupinMunichandsomeofitsmemberswereinregularcontactwithHitler.Hewrotetwobooks,onebeforetheFirstWorldWarcalledTheRoadtoTelepathy:ExplanationandPractice.AfterthewarhepublishedanotherbookknownasThoughtReading:APrimerforTelepathy.Inadditiontohiswritinghewasamasterofcreatingatmosphereamongthemembersofanaudience,manipulatingtheirexpectationsandusingphysicalandpsychologicaldeceptiontoimpressthem.ThroughtheastrologicalgroupHanussenmetHitlerandimmediatelyattractedtheNazileader’s

attentionbytellinghimhecouldimprovehisskillasapublicspeaker.InsteadofbeingoffendedHitlerwasinterestedandaskedHanussentotrainhim.HeshowedHitlerhowtousegestureandbodylanguageaswellassimplyhisvoicetocreateagreaterimpactupontheaudience.TheeffectswereundeniableandsoonHanussennotonlyjoinedtheNaziPartybutbecameacloseconfidantofHitler.HanussenproceededtoexerthimselftosecurethevictoryoftheNazis.Hisownnewspaperwasedged

withswastikasandfullofastrologicalpredictionsofgoodfortuneforthePartyanditsleader.HanussensetupaPalaceofOccultismwherehegavepublicséancesthatwereattendedbymanyprominentNazis.

Hitlerconsideredhimselfagreatorator,buthiswordsseldomstooduptoscrutinyinthecoldlightofday.Itwashispersonalityandstyleofdeliverythatswayedthecrowd

On26February1933hemadehismostfamousprediction.HeannouncedthattheReichstagwouldbeengulfedinflamesandtheverynextdaythebuildingwasonfire.TheReichstagfirestillarousescontroversyandeventodaythereisnoagreementamonghistoriansoverwhatreallyhappenedorwhowasresponsiblefortheconflagration.ThethreemaintheoriesinthefieldarethattheNazisstartedthefirethemselves,thattheCommunistsstartedthefireorthatitwastheworkofalonearsonist.ThereisactuallyfarmorereasontosuspecttheCommunistsofsettingtheblazethanisgenerallyrealizedandtheNaziswerecertainlycapableofanything;buttheoverwhelmingbalanceofprobability,supportedbythetestimonyofindependentandanti-Nazieyewitnesses,isthatthefirewastheworkofasingleperson.MarinusvanderLubbewasaserialarsonistwhohadalreadytriedtoburndownotherbuildingsthesameday.Hewasobservedbyanti-Naziwitnessesenteringthebuildingwithincendiarymaterialandeventhepolicebelievedthathehadactedalone.Hanussen’spredictionwasoneofthemainreasonswhypeoplejumpedtotheconclusionthattheNazis

musthavebeenresponsible.MorebafflingisthequestionastowhyHanusseneverhadanythingtodowiththeNaziParty,letaloneadvisingHitlerandworkingtosecurehisvictory.HewasJewishandcouldhardlyhavebeenunawareoftheanti-SemitismthatstoodattheveryheartofNazithinking.Whateverhisreasonstheydidhimnogood.SixweeksaftertheReichstagfirehewaskidnapped,

murderedandhisbodydumpedinthewoodsnearBerlin.Hewasnotkilledbecauseofany‘secretknowledge’aboutNaziplansalthoughofcourseconspiracytheoristshaveputforwardthatsuggestion.

Thetruthisrathermoreprosaicandsordid.HehadlentmoneytoanSAleaderwhopreferredtomurderhimratherthanrepayhisdebt.EvenallowingfortheextenttowhichHanussenandothershelpeddevelopthepresentationalsideof

Hitler’spublicperformanceshisdramaticsuccesswasfarmorethansimplytheresultoftechnicalvirtuosity.Hitlerhadaninstinctiveabilitytoinfluencepeoplenotonlythroughhispublicspeakingbutevenatclosequartersandinprivate.

HITLERANDCROWDSTherelationshipbetweenHitlerandacrowdwasacomplexandunusualone.Hitlerundoubtedlyconsideredhimselfagreatoratorbuthisspeechesappeartoalatergenerationtobeemptyofcontent,deliveredinaharshandoccasionallystammeringvoiceandonthefaceofitunlikelytoimpressanyonewhowasnotalreadyadisciple.ThereisnodoubtthatmillionsofpeopleeveninGermanyremainedentirelyimmunetohispowersofpersuasion.OntheotherhandneutralsandevenopponentsadmittedthatwhentheyheardHitlerspeakitaffectedthemprofoundlyanddrewthematleastmomentarilyintobecomingpartofhisdarkvision.Hitlerpossessedthepowertoinduceastateofecstasywithinacrowd.Hiseffectwasequallymarked

onmenandwomen,oldandyoung.WilliamShirer,authorofTheRiseandFalloftheThirdReich,describedaNazirallyin1934.HewasirresistiblyremindedoftheHolyRollers,areligioussectwhosemembersrolledaroundinecstasyforhours,andhenotedthatthewomenintheaudiencegazedatHitlerinastatealmostofsexualarousal.Ananti-NaziEnglishmanwhospokenoGermanfoundhimselfatarallywhereHitlerwasspeaking.Tohisamazementhefoundhimselfshouting‘HeilHitler’withtherestoftheaudienceandgivingtheNazisalute.

DutchCommunistMarinusvanderLubbe(inhandcuffs)wasexecutedforstartingtheReichstagfire.In2008,hewasposthumouslypardonedbyaGermancourt

GoebbelsheardHitlerspeakinMunichinJune1922andwassocaptivatedthathewrotetotheNazileaderdeclaring:‘Youexpressedmorethanyourownpain…Younamedtheneedofawholegeneration,searchinginconfusedlongingformenandtasks.’

HitlerwasinhiselementataNurembergrally,whenvastcrowdswerechoreographedtodemonstratetheirsubserviencetohiswillandtherewasnochanceofanyheckling–theFührerlikednothingbetterthantofeelhewasincontrol

TheBritishChristianErnestineBullerdescribedaNurembergrallysheattendedasfollows:

IwassittingsurroundedbythousandsofSAmenandasHitlerspokeIwasmostinterestedattheshoutsandmoreoftenthemutteredexclamationsofthemenaroundme,whoweremainlyworkmenorlower-middleclasstypes.‘Hespeaksforme,hespeaksforme.’‘AchGott,heknowshowIfeel.’Manyoftheseseemedlosttotheworldaroundthemandwereprobablyunawareofwhattheyweresaying.

EvenasateenagerHitlerwasfascinatedbythepowerofwordsandtheeffectofmassmeetingsonpeople.InViennahewatchedspellboundastheSocialDemocratsusedthesetacticstowinconvertstotheircause.HetoldhisfriendAugustKubizekaftertheyhadattendedaperformanceofWagner’soperaRienzithatonedayhewouldhavethepowertomovecrowdsasRienzihaddone.

HitlerlooksoutfromthepodiumatNurembergtobegreetedbyendlessserriedranksofNaziswhoseundividedattentionfallsdirectlyuponhim.Fewhumanbeingshaveeverexperiencedsuchafeelingofpersonalpower

Hitlerconsciouslyworkedonovercomingoppositionwithincrowdsbywhathecalledanappealto‘hiddenforces’.ParticularlyinhisearlyyearsasPartyleaderoppositionfromCommunists,socialistsandconservativenationalistswasextremelycommon.Hismethodofdealingwithcrowds,particularlyhostileones,wasdescribedvividlybyOttoStrasser.

Hitlerrespondstothevibrationofthehumanheartwiththedelicacyofaseismograph,orperhapsaradio-receivingset,enablinghim,withacertaintywithwhichnoconsciousgiftcouldendowhim,toactasaloudspeakerproclaimingthemostsecretdesires,theleastadmissibleinstincts,thesufferingsandpersonalrevoltsofawholenation.Speakingasthespiritmoveshim,heistransformedintooneofthegreatestspeakersofthecentury.

Inessencewhattookplaceatthesepublicmeetingswasacuriousinteractionofemotionalenergybetweenthespeakerandtheaudience.Hitlerwasabletoenterintotheunconsciousmindsofthosehearinghimandsomehowappealtotheirfears,theirneedforreassurance,theirdreamsandlongingsandtheirdesireforsecurityandwholenessandwassomehowabletopersuadethemonanentirelynon-rationallevelthatheheldthekeytoprovidingthemwithinnerpeace.Inaveryrealsenseheactivatedthe

deepdesirewithinmillionsofGermansforaMessiahtoleadthemintothePromisedLand.

HITLERANDPERSONALMAGNETISMItwasnotonlyuponcrowdsthatHitlerwasabletoexerthisinfluence.Eveninsmallgroupsoronaonetoonebasishepossessedthepowertoconvincepeoplewhowereanythingbutweak-willedorhesitanttogoalongwithhisideas.Menaspowerful,self-confidentandstrong-willedasGoering,Goebbels,Himmler,vonBlombergandSchachtfoundthemselvescompletelyunabletowithstandhim.AsAlanBullockputit:

Untilthelastdaysofhislifeheretainedanuncannygiftofpersonalmagnetismwhichdefiesanalysisbutwhichmanywhomethimhavedescribed.Hitler’spowertobewitchanaudiencehasbeenlikenedtotheoccultartsoftheAfricanmedicine-manortheAsiaticshaman;othershavecomparedittothesensitivityofamediumandthemagnetismofahypnotist.

Whatwasthenatureofthisundoubtedpoweroverothers?Wasitmediumship,hypnotismorsomethingelsethatenabledhimtocommandothersmoregifted,moreintelligent,morecapablethanhimselfandeverybitasstrong-willed?MediumshiphasoftenbeensuggestedasanexplanationbutitdoesnotreallytallywithhowHitler

behavedorwithitseffectuponothers.Mediumsareessentiallypassiverecipientsofdata,sensationsandintuitionsandnomatterhowattunedtheymaybetotheiraudiencestheydonotproducethehystericalstateofrapturethatHitlerwasabletoevoke.Hypnotismisamoreplausiblesuggestionbuteventhatiscontradictedbyboththephysicaland

psychologicaleffectsthatHitlerhadonotherpeople.Ahypnotistputshisorhersubjectintoastateofdeeprelaxationinordertomakethemmoreamenabletomentalsuggestion.NooneeverfeltrelaxedinHitler’spresenceeitheraloneoramongacrowd.Thatparticularsuggestionalsofailstoexplainhispoweroverothers.

MESMERISMCloselyrelatedto,butanentirelyseparatetypeofattempttoinfluencepeople,istheold-fashionedpracticeofmesmerism.ThiswasfoundedbytheAustriandoctorFranzMesmerintheeighteenthcenturyandwashugelypopularforaroundahundredyearsbeforefallingoutoffavourinthelatterpartofthenineteenthcentury.

ErikJanHanussen(inraincoat)standsbehindHitlerwhoisgivinganimportantspeechinBerlin’sLustgarten.Twosmallboysobservetherantingfigurewithfascination

ThepatientsofMesmerandhisdisciplesbehavedinaremarkablydifferentwayfrommodernhypnoticsubjectsandalsoreportedstrikinglydifferentphysicalsymptoms.Farfrombecomingrelaxedtheyappearedtogointoastateofnervousexcitementandevenhysteria.Thephysicalsymptomswerealsodifferent,withpatientsreportingthatfeelingsofextremecoldandheatoftenalternatedwitheachother.Curiously,boththephysicalandpsychologicaleffectsofmesmerismresembleexactlythosedescribed

bymembersoftheaudienceatHitler’spubliceventsandthosewhometwithhiminprivate.Mesmerismclaimedtoproduceitseffectsthroughtheagencyofaforceitdescribedas‘animalmagnetism’.FromanalysingthedescriptionsofthisallegedformofenergyitisclearlythesameasthevrilpowerthatHitlerlearnedfromtheVrilSocietyintheearly1920s.OnceagaintheextenttowhichoccultismplayedasignificantroleinHitler’slifeandthewholeNaziregimeisdemonstratedclearly.

ASTROLOGYANDTHENAZISAnaspectofoccultismthatwastoplayaconsiderablepartintheNaziregimewasastrology.TheattitudetowardsitundertheNaziswasalwayscomplexwithHitler,Himmler,HessandotherstruebelieversandthoselikeGoebbelsandBormanntotallycontemptuous.AstheastrologerGerdaWalther,whowasbrieflyarrestedandinterrogatedbytheNazisin1941,said,therewasa‘completelackofunity’onthesubjectofoccultactivities:‘Oftentherearedifferentandevenopposingpointsofview.’WhatalltheNazisagreeduponwhatevertheirattitudetowardsthecredibilityofastrologywasthatit

neededtobebroughtfirmlyunderthecontrolofthegovernmentandcouldnotbeallowedtocontinueitsindependentexistence.SomeoftherootsofthisattitudedevelopedoutofthestrangeastrologicalcivilwarthattookplaceinGermanyduringthe1920sandearly1930s.

THEASTROLOGICALCIVILWARIn1923abodydesignedtorepresenttheinterestsofastrologerswasformed,theCentralAstrological

Office(CAO).Almostimmediatelyitwasrockedbypersonalityclashesanddoctrinaldisputes.Theresultwastheformationofarivalorganizationin1924,theAstrologicalSocietyinGermany(ASiG).WithintheCAOtheleadingfigureswereDrHubertKorschandDrWilhelmMrsic.ThemainmoversintheASiGwereHugoVollrathandTheobaldBecher.TherewasanimmediateandprolongedfeudbetweenKorschandhisrivalswhichwaspartlyabattleofegosandpartlygenuinedisagreementoverthenatureandfutureofastrology.Korschbelievedthatastrologywasagenuinescienceandneededtocleanseitselfofitssuperstitious

baggageandshakeoffitsreputationasadubiousbranchoffortunetelling.VollrathwasaconfidencetricksterwhohadbeenexpelledfromtheTheosophicalSocietyandalsohadatleasttwoaliaseswhichheusedtoextractmoneyfromnaivepeopleinreturnforworthless‘diplomas’.HewasexactlythesortofcharlatanKorschdetestedandVollrath’sadditionaltendencytoutterpretentiousclaptrapatgreatlengthinfuriatedhim.Becherwasnotpersonallydisreputablebuttooktheviewthatastrologyshouldbeallowedtocontinueonitstraditional‘amateur’basisandthattherewasnorealneedtoimposestandardsandtestingproceduresuponitspractitioners.TwofactorscomplicatedthepositionofastrologyinGermanyduringthisperiod.Onewasthe

emergenceofacompletelynew‘system’knownastheHamburgSchool.ThissystemwasfoundedbyAlfredWitteandwasbasedontheideathataplanetbeyondNeptuneexistedwithinthesolarsystem.Witte’sdisciplesweredulyexultantatthediscoveryofPlutoin1930.TheotherfactorwasofcoursetheriseofHitler’smovement.Astrologerswerenomoreimmunefromtheinstabilityoftheircountrythananyothergroupwithin

Germany.Manybecamedirectlyinvolvedinpoliticstoagreaterorlesserdegree.Somewerefiercelyanti-Naziwhileothersbecamesupporters.Probablythemajorityofpro-Naziastrologerschangedtheirorientationforpracticalreasonsofself-interestandadesireforsurvivalbutmanyreallydidsubscribetotheNaziracialmythsandwerethereforecompelledtoevolvea‘Nordic’astrologytojustifytheirbeliefs.

ELSBETHEBERTIN’SHOROSCOPEFORHITLERBeforeturningtotheNordicastrologersandtheconsequencesoftheriseofNazismupontheirmovementandonastrologyinGermanygenerally,itisnecessarytoexaminethecareeroftheleadingGermanpractitionerElsbethEbertin.ShewasalreadyfirmlyestablishedasoneoftheprincipalastrologersinGermanybeforeapredictionthatshegavein1923turnedherovernightintothemostfamousexponentinthecountry,ifnottheworld.EbertinwasapproachedbyafemalesupporteroftheNazisandaskedtocastahoroscopeforan

unnamedindividualandpredicthisfutureonthebasisofhischart.UnfortunatelythewomanwasunabletofurnishEbertinwiththetimeofhisbirthsotheastrologeremployedatechniqueknownas‘rectification’wherevariousdifferentchartsaredrawnupandtheonethatseemsthelikeliestfitwiththeclientisselected.Hercalculationsweremadeduringthespringof1923andpublishedinJulyofthesameyearinherannualalmanacEinBlickindieZukunft(AGlimpseintotheFuture).Ebertin’spredictionwas:

Amanofactionbornon20April1889,withsunin29degreesAriesatthetimeofhisbirth,canexposehimselftopersonaldangerbyexcessivelyuncautiousactionandcouldverylikelytriggeroffanuncontrollablecrisis.Hisconstellationsshowthatthismanistobetakenveryseriouslyindeed;heisdestinedtoplaya‘Führerrole’infuturebattles.ItseemsthatthemanIhaveinmind,withthisstrongAriesmovement,isdestinedtosacrificehimselffortheGermannation,alsotofaceuptoallcircumstanceswithaudacityandcourage,evenwhenitisamatteroflifeanddeath,andtogiveanimpulse,whichwillburstforthquitesuddenly,toaGermanFreedommovement.

Hitler’sbirthchart–born6.22pm20/4/1889:thisisthehoroscopeofamangiftedatpublicexpression,yetwhofindsithardtolistentoothers

HimmlerisamongthemobtakingpartintheMunichputsch,1923,undertheleadershipofHitlerandErichLudendorff.ItcatapultedHitlertonationalprominence

LaterthatyearthefailedMunichputschtookplace.TheresultwastocatapultHitlerfromtheleaderofafringemovementinBavariatonationalprominenceandtoestablishhimandtheNazisasaseriouspoliticalparty.ItalsodidnoharmtoEbertin’scareerasanastrologer.Inearly1924sheco-authoredabookcalledTheStarsintheirCoursesandWorldEventswhichsold70,000copies.Itrevealedthatduringthesummerof1923shehadsentacopyofheralmanactotheVölkischerBeobachterandthatHitlerhadbeenmadeawareofherwarning.ShealsodiscoveredthecorrecttimeofHitler’sbirthandsowasabletodrawupamorecorrectchartandinterpretationofhisdestiny.HitlerlaterreferredmorethanoncetoEbertin’spredictionanddeclaredthatithadhelpedboosthiscareer.Shewasleftunmolested

throughouttheThirdReichthoughthelasteditionofheralmanacappearedin1937.

NORDICASTROLOGYTheNaziinvolvementintheastrologicalcivilwarbeganwiththeentryofaPartymembercalledMartinPfefferkorn.HisfirstattempttogaincontrolofastrologywastosetupanorganizationofhisownknownastheArbeitsgemeinschaftDeutscherAstrologen(ADA)in1932,whichheclaimedwouldreflectNationalSocialistactivities.HetriedtoaffiliatehisgroupwiththeASiGbutwasturneddownbyVollrathandBecher.Hitler’sappointmentasChancellorradicallytransformedboththepoliticalsituationandPfefferkorn’sprospects.HeaspiredtobecometheFührerofGermanastrologyandasaNaziPartymemberhesuddenlyacquiredweightandinfluence.KorschhadfoundedanastrologicalmagazineknownasZenitin1930whichwasfarsuperiortoanyof

itscompetitorsinthefield.UnfortunatelyforhimanarticlebyoneofhiscontributorsinNovember1932wasconsideredpoliticallyincorrectbyPfefferkornwhopromptlybeganafeudwithKorsch.VollrathandBecherjoinedtheNaziPartytotryandprotecttheirownposition.Seizinguponthechance

tosupplantKorsch’spredominantpositioninGermanastrologytheyjoinedforceswithPfefferkorn.TherefollowedanattempttodestroyKorschandhisCAOthroughsuggestionsthathewasJewishandthathispoliticalloyaltiesweresuspect.KorschwasabletodisprovetheclaimsabouthisancestrybutassomeonewhohadonlyjoinedtheNazisinMay1933hewaswidelydistrusted.ItwasironicthatPfefferkorn’sapproachtoastrologywasclosertoKorsch’sthanitwastocharlatanslikeVollrath.On12June1933PfefferkornbecamethenewpresidentoftheASiGwithBecherashisvice-president

andVollrathasaseniorcommitteemember.ForthemomentPfefferkorn’sdreamofbecomingtheastrologicalFührerappearedclosetobeingrealized.KorschwasundersuspicionandPfefferkornfeltsurethathisrivalwouldsoonbeeliminated.

NAZISUPPRESSIONOFASTROLOGYThepoliticalwindbegantochangeduringtheautumnof1933.InspiteofPfefferkorn’snewstatustherewasagrowingdesireamongthehigherechelonsoftheleadershiptocontrolorevensuppressastrologyaltogether.TherewasaninternalpowerstrugglewithinthePartyonthewholequestionaspartoftheongoingprocessofGleichschaltung–integration.OntheonesidestoodthoselikeHess,HimmlerandRosenberg,whobelievedthatastrologyenshrinedessentialtruthsandonlyneededtobecontrolledandregulatedintheserviceofthestate.AgainstthemstoodGoering,GoebbelsandBormannwhoregardedtheinherent‘universalism’ofastrologyasincompatiblewithNationalSocialistideologyandlookedonallofitspractitionersaspotentialenemiesofthestate.SlowlybutsurelythesecondviewbecamethedominantonewithintheParty.Intheautumnof1933the

processofsuppressionbeganwhenthepolicechiefsofBerlin,HanoverandCologneissuedadecreethatallnewspaperswithintheirjurisdictionmustrefuseanyadvertisementsbyastrologers.Thespringof1934sawtheBerlinpoliceissueabanonallkindsof‘fortunetelling’formoney.Thisnotonlyforbadeastrologersfromchargingfeesfortheirservicesbutalsomadeitillegalforthemtosellalmanacsandmagazines.ByOctober1934PfefferkornendedhisfeudwithKorschandhandedoverinfavourofBecher.Hehad

realizedthattherewasnofutureforaprofessionalastrologerinNaziGermanyandconcentratedinsteadonhisPartyactivities.KorschmayhavemistakenthissignalandbeenemboldenedbythenewdevelopmentbuthecertainlytookadvantageofittolaunchanattackonVollrathinDecember1934.HeshowedthatVollrathhadfakedhisdoctorateandforgedhisdissertation.Allthisgrandstandingsoonbecameinconsequentialasthepolicebegantoenterbookshopsand

confiscateallastrologicalliterature.Thisbroughtpublishers,booksellersandauthorsintoanunwelcome

alliancewiththeastrologersagainsttheauthorities.Ataconferenceon27–8OctoberinBerlinanattemptwasmadetocreateabodythatcouldnegotiatedirectlywiththeauthoritiestoprotecttheinterestsofallthethreatenedparties.Korschopposedtheplanandwasassaultedbyarivalastrologer.Eventuallyacommitteewasformedthatnegotiatedwiththeauthoritiesandacompromisesolutionwasfound.Underthetermsoftheagreementacensorshipofficeforastrologicalliteraturewassetupunderthe

leadershipofKarl-FriedrichSchulze.NaturallySchulzewasaNazibuthewassodiplomaticthatevenKorschdidnotopposehisappointment.InJuly1935astrologerswereincorporatedintotheGermanLabourFrontas‘independentprofessionals’andcameunderthecontrolofSchulze.Nowthatthecivilwaramongtheastrologerswasfinallyoveraprocessofslowattritionwas

employedtowearthemdown.Onebyonetheirpublicationsceasedandtheiractivitieswentunderground.Evenbeforetheopencrackdownin1941independentastrologershadallbutvanishedfromGermany.Onlythosewhoweretolerated(likeEbertin)orthoselikeWilhelmWulffandKarlKrafftwhowereusefulservantsoftheregimecontinuedtopractisetheirartinobscurity.MostofthosewhosurviveddidsobyworkingforHimmler’sAhnenerbe.Himmlerexplainedthemotivationbehindthesuppressionasfollows:

IntheThirdReichwehavetoforbidastrology.Wecannotpermitanyastrologerstofollowtheircallingexceptthosewhoareworkingforus.IntheNationalSocialiststateastrologymustremainaprivilegiumsingularum.Itisnotforthebroadmasses.

Itwasnotonlyastrologythatwasbannedorharnessedtotheserviceofthestate.Alloccultorganizationssoonfoundthemselvesbeingsuppressed.Evenpro-NazionesliketheThuleGroup,theVrilSociety,Lanz’sNewTemplarsandtheGermanenOrderfellfoulofthebanandwereforbiddentooperate.Thisdecisionwasnottakenoutofarationalistdesiretocombatsuperstitionbutfromfearofthe‘power’thattheNazisbelievedoccultismtopossess.Thatiswhydowsers,astrologers,clairvoyants,mediumsandnumerologistssoonfoundthemselvesworkingfortheNazisinspiteoftheirofficialsuppression.HimmlerwassoobsessedwithastrologythatHeydrichremarkedsarcasticallythat:‘Goeringisworriedaboutthestarsonhischest[hismedals],Himmleraboutthestarsinhishoroscope.’

RUNESAswellasastrologyruneswereanotherobsessionwithHimmler’sAhnenerbebutpeople’sinterestinthemlongpredatedtheNaziera.ThefirstsuggestionthattheypossessedmagicalpropertieswasmadebytheRomanhistorianTacitusinthefirstcenturyAD.HedescribedtheTeutonictribesusingmarkscarvedontreebranchesasameansofforetellingthefuture.TheancientVikingsagasalsorelatehowspellswerechantedoverrunicsymbolscarvedonwood.IntheeighteenthcenturyrunesbecameafashionableinterestamongGerman,ScandinavianandBritishwritersandantiquarians.BythenineteenthcenturytheyhadbecomeassimilatedintoGermanvölkischthought.GuidovonListfirstfashionedthegeneralizedrespectforrunesintoasystematicwayofinterpretingthe

pastinanewlight.Evenhedescribedhisworkas‘archaeologicaloccultism’anditcertainlyprovidedahighlyidiosyncraticuseforaninterpretationofrunicinscriptions.Ancientburialmounds,coatsofarms,völkischart,symbolsinchurches,patternsinthelandscapeandthesignoftheswastikawereamongtheareasheresearchedandasaresultheclaimedtohavediscoveredthesecretsacredlanguageoftheAryanreligiousleaders.VonListbelievedthatthesecretmeaningoftheruneswasconcealedinahiddencodecontainedwithin

thestainedglasswindowsofGothicchurches.Bydecipheringthecodeitwaspossibletounlockthemysteriesofalchemy.CluestothemysticalsignificanceoftherunescouldalsobefoundinthewritingsofMeisterEckhart,ParacelsusandJakobBoehme,withrunicdivinationmakingitpossibletodecodetheirhiddenmeaning.

VonListalsobelievedthatwordshadpowerinthemselvesandprovidedtheconnectinglinkbetweenthematerialworldandtheworldofthought.Certainwordsofpowercouldbringaboutchangesonthephysicalplaneiftheywereutteredcorrectly.Thealphabetitselfcamefromprehistorichumanity’sstudyoftheheavensandeachletterwassomehowrelatedtoaparticularstarorplanet.Thesunandmoonweretheprincipalmoversofhumandestinyandtheultimatesourcesoflanguageandthealphabet.VonListmademuchofthefactthattheGothicwordruna–theearliestformoftheword‘rune’–means

‘secret’.HealsoclaimedthattheKabbalahwasnotaformofJewishmysticismbuthadoriginatedamongtheVisigothicGermansinSpain.ThetheoryaboutanassociationbetweenrunesandtheKabbalahwasfirstproposedintheseventeenthcenturybyJohannesBureus.

EmblemoftheAhnenerbe,theNazis’‘occultbureau’aimedatpromotingideasofAryansuperiority

TheKarleviRunestone,Öland,Sweden,completewithitsversetoaproudNordicwarriorfalleninbattlewholiesburiedinthemoundbelow

In1908vonListpublishedasetofeighteensymbolswhichhedescribedas‘Armanenrunes’.LaterWiligutcreatedanothersetofrunesthatwerepartlyderivedfromvonList’s.WiligutdesignedtheSS-Ehrenringwhichincludedseveralofhisownrunicsymbols.From1933onwardsHimmleraddedtheSigrunestoSSinsignia.

THENAZISANDLEYLINESAnotheraspectoftheoccultthatfascinatedmanyNaziswastheideaofleylines.HimmlerwasthemostenthusiasticseniorNazionthesubjectandlaidoutWewelsburginaccordancewithitsprinciples.ThetheoryofleyswascreatedoriginallybyaBritishwriternamedAlfredWatkinsbutsoonfoundmanydisciplesinGermany.ItsleadingGermanexponentwasDrJosefHeinsch.

Anglo-Saxonrunesfromatimewhenhumanitylivedmuchclosertotheearthand‘wealth’and‘cattle’werealmostsynonymous:runesfittednicelyintoNazitheoriesaboutatimewhenpureNordicpopulationsruledtheworld

HeinschadoptedWatkins’theoryofleylinesbutradicallytransformedit.UnliketheBritishwriterhedidnotbelievethatleyswereancientroadsandsawtheminsteadasanearlyformoftownplanningwithsacredsitesprovidingthefocusaroundwhichtheleylineswerecreated.Heinschclaimedthattherewasanexactcorrespondencebetweenthepatternsonprehistoriclandscapesandtheproportionsofbuildingsandmonumentsfoundinsacredsites.AccordingtoHeinschstonecircles,pagantemplesandChristianchurchesalldemonstratedthesamenumericalrelationship.Heinschdeclaredthatprehistoricpeopleemployedthemetreastheirunitofmeasurementwhen

calculatingtheleysandthesacredsiteswithwhichtheywereconnected.Inhisviewthechoiceofthisunitwas‘cosmicallydefined’byitsstatusas‘aten-millionthoftheEarth’squadrant’.Hemadenoattempttoexplainhowitisthatotherunitsofmeasurementhavebeenfoundamongprehistoricpeopleorhowitwasthatthe‘Imperial’systemofmeasuringwasamorecommonchoiceofunit.HeinschgaveexamplesrangingfromStonehenge,Solomon’sTemple,NotreDameandtheTempleof

AmunatKarnakinEgypt.Hebelievedthatthenumber42possessedsomekindofcosmicsignificancewhichledtoitsemploymentasanaspectofwhathecalled‘sacredgeometry’.HeclaimedthatNotreDame,aSumeriantempleandastonecircleatOdryinCzechoslovakiaallexemplifiedthefactorof42.HeinschpointedoutthatintheGrímnismál,apoemwithintheNorseEddas,therewas‘a42-stageascentandre-ascentfromtheheavenlytotheearthly’.Hewentontoclaimthattheprinciplesof‘sacredgeometry’ledtothedevelopmentof‘sacredengineering’beforedigressingintoramblingsabouttheVehm(speltVemebyHeinsch)anddragginginvariousfestivalsandfolkcustoms.SpeculationsonplacenamesandtheetymologicalrootsofvariousGermanwordsfollowed.Heinschdidnotconfinehimselftoabstractthinkingbutwasabletoputhisideasintopractice.

Himmler’sbackingledtoHeinschbecominginvolvedin‘ageneralhousingplan,withitsfunctionaldivisionsintoareas,provisionforgreen-belts,transportationcorridors,extensionoftheroadsystem,etc.,

forthesecondlargestoftheGermanruraldistrictsthenundergoingindustrialdevelopment’.HimmleradoptedHeinsch’stheoriesandattemptedtomakethemthebasisofarchitectureandcivil

engineeringthroughoutGermany.Speerhaddifferentideasandasaprofessionalarchitectwasmoresuccessfulinseeinghisvisionsrealized.Allthesame‘sacredgeometry’and‘sacredengineering’wereprojectsonwhichHimmler’sAhnenerbespentconsiderabletimeandmoney.Duringthecourseoftheirresearchestheydecidedthattherewasarelationshipbetweentheearth’s

magneticradiationandthe‘sacredmeasurements’usedbyprehistoricpeople.Thewarmadeitimpossibleforthistheorytobeworkedoutfullybutitbecamethebasisofthelatertheoriesof‘telluricforces’and‘earthenergies’.

SYMBOLISMSymbolismmoregenerallyplayedahugepartinNazithoughtandpropaganda.Aswellastheswastikathe‘death’s-head’symbolwasparticularlyassociatedwiththeSSandofcoursehaditsownmacabreandchillingeffectonthosewhoviewedit.EventheIronCrosshaddouble-edgedovertoneswiththeCross–anancientsymbolofChristianity–associatedwithwarratherthanpeace.RosenbergalsotriedtoassociatethesymbolismoftheswordwiththeNaziregimeinaconsciousattempttoassimilateitsmedievalandchivalricconnotationswiththeNationalSocialistphilosophyoflife.HewantedaswordtobelaidonthealtarofeverychurchinGermanyandplacedalongsideMeinKampf.

TheIronCrosshadassociationswithChristianityaswellasmedievalandchivalricconnotations

ThemembersoftheArmanenSocietyintroducedthe‘heil’greetingwhichtheytookfromancientTeutonicpagancustom.VonListclaimedthattheswastikawas‘theholiestsymbol’ofhismythicalancientArmanenpriesthood.TheThuleGroupalsoadoptedtheswastikaastheirsymbolofchoice.SebottendorfdeclaredthatitwastheruneofWalvater(theAll-Father)andrepresentedthesun,theelementoffire,theeagleandofcoursetheAryanrace.LanzalsochosetheswastikaasthesymbolforhisNewTemplarOrder.Theswastikawasregardedasbothasymbolofthesunandofthelifeforce,thevrilpower.Itwas

believedtohaveelectromagneticpropertiesandattheannualsolsticeceremoniesthesunwasimaginedtobestowoccultwisdomaswellasitsmoreobviousphysicaleffects.VonListdeclaredthatitheldthekeytowhathecalled‘secretscience’andhadthepowertostrengthenGermanbloodanddevelopthefacilityofclairvoyance.AccordingtovonListthehumanraceoriginatedonthemoonandtheswastikawas‘oneoftheholiestsecretsigns’.Althoughtheswastikaisaveryancientsymbolofthesunthathasbeenusedbypeoplealloverthe

worldsinceprehistorictimesavölkischauthornamedErnstKrauseappearstohavebeenthefirsttoclaiminhisbookTwiskoland,publishedin1891,thatitwasaspecificallyAryansymbol.Ungern-SternberguseditonthestampsofhisbriefMongolianempire.Rosenbergclaimedthatitwasan‘ancestralmemory’ofanArcticsun.

THENEWMAN–THENEXTSTAGEINHUMANEVOLUTIONTherewasconsiderableactivitywithintheoccultfieldinNaziGermany,evenifmostofitdidtakeplaceunderground.Himmleractuallyremarkedthat‘science’wouldsoonbereplacedby‘geheimwissenschaft’–‘occultscience’.TheultimategoaloftheilluminatedNationalSocialistswentfarbeyondthesimplemilitaryandpoliticaldominationoftheworld.InthesamewaytheirobsessionwiththecreationofanAryanMasterRacewentfarbeyondsimpleracismandintoareasthatreadliketheimaginingsofasciencefictionnovelist.ThewholefocusoftheoccultaspectsofNazismwasgearedtowardsrealizingwhattheysawasthe

nextstageofhumanevolutionandthecreationofthe‘NewMan’whowouldbeasfarabovetheAryansasintheireyestheywerealreadyaboveallotherhumans.HitlerandHimmlerworkedtirelesslytowardsachievingthetriumphofthe‘NewMan’toagreaterdegreethananyotherNazileaders.AsHitlersaid:

Creationisnotyetcompleted.Allcreativeforceswillbeconcentratedonanewspecies.Thetwotypesofman,theoldandthenew,willevolverapidlyindifferentdirections.OnewilldisappearfromthefaceoftheEarth,theotherwillflourish.ThisistherealmotivebehindtheNationalSocialistmovement.

Hitleralsoclaimedthat:‘ManisbecomingGod–thatisthesimplefact.ManisGodinthemaking.’AllthevariousocculttechniquesthatHimmlerinparticularemployedcreated

afanaticalautohypnosiswhichconvinceddisciples,succumbingtothetotalitariandisciplineinthepromiseofreachingatranscendentreality,thattheywerethenewmentheagewaswaitingfor,thattheywereendowedwithasecretenergywhichwouldenablethemtotakeoverGermanyandtheworld.

The‘NewMan’visualizedbyHitlerhaddevelopedhispsychicpowerstotheirfullestextent.Hewouldnotonlybephysicallystrongerandintellectuallysuperiorbuthispsychicandspiritualdevelopmentwouldraisehimtothelevelofadivinebeing.TheNewManwouldhavemasteredthesecretsoftimetravelandbeabletovisitthedistantpastandtheremotefuturewithequalease.Hewouldpossessanenhancedimaginationthatallowedhimtoperceiveandunderstandeverythinginstantlywithouttheneedforrationalthoughtoracarefulevaluationoffacts.His‘superclairvoyance’wouldenablehimtoseeeverythingandknowtheinnermostthoughtsofeveryone.Thepowerof‘magicalspeech’wasgiventohimandthispowerwouldenablehimtocontrolalllesserbeings.Otherhumans,evenspirits,theweatherandtheatomsoftheuniversewouldallbesubjecttohiscontrollingwill.These‘newmen’weredescribedbyHitleras‘thefinalstateinhumanmutation–theManGod!’AswellasallofthesepowerstheNewManwouldalsobephysicallydifferentfromexistinghumans.

Hewouldbeagiantinsizeandstrengthandhispinealglandwouldbesohighlydevelopedthatitwouldbevisibleasaliteralthirdeye.Hitlerreferredtoitasthe‘Cyclopseye’anddeclared:

Anewageofmagicinterpretationoftheworldiscoming,ofinterpretationintermsofthewillandnottheintelligence.Thereisnosuchthingastruth,eitherinthemoralorinthescientificsense.TheNewManwouldbetheantithesisoftheJew.

AsimilarlybizarreremarkwasmadebyHitlerinhisTableTalkwherehedeclared:‘IimaginetomyselfthatonedaysciencewilldiscoverinthewavessetinmotionbytheRheingoldsecretmutualrelationsconnectedwiththeorderoftheworld.’EveryaspectoftheNaziendeavourwasultimatelydedicatedtotherealizationofthisdarkvision.

Himmler’sprogrammesofselectivebreedingweredesignedtoachieveitonthebiologicalleveljustashistrainingprogrammefortheSSattemptedtobringitaboutonapsychologicalandspiritualplane.OnawiderscaleavarietyofothermethodswereemployedtohastenthearrivalofthisnextstepinevolutioninwhichtheNaziinnercirclebelieved.TheobsessionwithracialpurityandthesuperiorityoftheNordicGermanvarietyofhumanbeingwasrelentlesslydrummedintotheheadsofGermansjustastheinferiorand‘subhuman’statusofotherethnictypeswasfashionedintoahypnotichymnofhatred.Thecompulsory

sterilizationof‘inferiorracialtypes’andthecompulsoryeuthanasiaofmentalpatientsallaimedat‘improving’the‘stock’oftheGermanpeopleeventhroughmurderandbrutality.TheFinalSolutionwhichsawthedeliberateexterminationonpurelyracialgroundsofJewsandgypsieswasalsoimplementedwiththesameobjectivesinmind.Behindthefacadeofrationalismandthecalculateduseofmoderntechnologytoprovidethedriving

forcefortheregimelaythistwistedvisionofaraceofsuperhumanbeings.ItwasinordertobringaboutaworldinwhichsuchlifeformscoulddominatetheremainderofthehumanracethatHitler,HimmlerandotherleadingNazissacrificedthelivesofmillions.Theseideasstrikeusnowastheravingsofamadmanorthedarkimaginationofawriterofhorror

stories.Theywereofcoursefantasiesandmercifullynevercameclosetobeingrealized.Thefactthattheywerecrazy,impracticalandrepellentdidnotmeanthatHitlerandhisinnercircledidnotgenuinelyseektobringthemaboutorthattheybelievedthemtobeunrealistic.Onthecontrary,theystrovetoachievethempreciselybecausetheygenuinelythoughttheywerebothdesirableandpossible.Thegreattragedyisthatfortwelveyearspeoplewhobelievedintheseideashadthepowertoputthem

intopracticeandasaresulttobringabouttheneedlessdeathofmillionsofotherhumanbeings.AnalmostequaltragedyisthatsomanyGermanswelcomedtheirutterdehumanizationatthehandsoftheNazis.Asoneexpresseditinthe1930s,‘weGermansaresohappy.Wearefreeoffreedom’.Asadepitaphindeedforaregimethatpromiseditspeoplesomuchanddeliveredsolittle.

CHAPTERSEVEN

InsearchofAtlantisThestoryofAtlantiswasfirstwrittendownbyPlatointhefourthcenturyBCanditimmediatelycapturedtheimaginationoftheworld.HedescribedanessentiallyBronzeAgecivilizationthatallegedlylaybeyondthePillarsofHeracles–theGreeknamefortheStraitsofGibraltar–andwasamightyempirethatdominatedtheworlduntilitwasoverthrownbyacombinationofGreekwarriorsdefendingtheirhomelandandacosmiccatastrophethatsoundedverymuchlikeanearthquake.AccordingtoPlatotheislandcontinentsankbeneaththegroundandwasneverseenagain.

TherehasalwaysbeenfiercedebateoverwhetherPlato’s‘lostcontinentofAtlantis’everexistedatallandthereisstillmoredisagreementoveritslocationamongthosewhoacceptthathisaccountwasbasedonmemoriesofarealsunkenland.Abewilderingvarietyofplaceshavebeensuggestedasthe‘true’siteofAtlantisandtothisdaynounequivocalconclusionhasbeenreachedbyresearchersinthefield.Broadlyspeakingthetheoriesfallintothreemaincategories.OneschoolacceptsPlato’saccountasliterallytrueandthereforebelievesthatanadvancedcivilizationexistedsomewhereintheregionoftheAtlantic.AnothergroupbelievesthatPlato’sstorywasbasedonrealeventsbutthathisdatesand

geographyaremistakenandthe‘true’Atlantisflourishedsomeninethousandyearslaterthanhesaidandwasafarsmallerandlessimportantlandthanhepresentsitasbeing.ThethirdviewisthatPlato’sstoryistrueinessentialsbutisacompositeofseveralmythicalandlegendarysourceswhichheconflatedintoasinglemyth.ThisthirdviewisprobablythecorrectexplanationoftheAtlantisstory.WhatevertherealitythereisnodoubtthattheGermanswerefascinatedbythelegendofAtlantislong

beforetheNaziscametopower.ItisalsobeyonddisputethatatnotimeinhumanhistorydidanygovernmentspendasmuchmoneyandeffortuponresearchingthestoryastheNazisdevotedtothelostland.

‘HowIFoundtheLostAtlantis’wastheheadlinethatwentwiththismapintheLondonBudget,anow-defunctnewspaper,in1931.MankindhaslongbeenobsessedwithAtlantis,buttheNazisturneditintoanideologicalgoldmine

HimmlerandRosenbergwereparticularlyinterestedinprovidingthetruthofthestoryeventhoughtheyassociateditwithanorthernland.IntheireyesthelostAtlantisexistedeitherintheregionoftheArcticorsomewhereintheNorthAtlantic,inthevicinityofIcelandandGreenland.ThemajorityofGermanresearchintoAtlantiswasfoundedbyHimmler’sAhnenerbe.

THEGERMANOBSESSIONWITHESTABLISHINGANEXALTEDPREHISTORYTheNazidesiretoestablishamoreexaltedoriginfortheGermanpeopleandthewishtoidentifythemwithanantiquitygreaterthanGreece,RomeorevenEgyptledtoanobsessionwithanAtlanteanoriginfortheAryanrace.EvenamongtheNazistherewerenumerousideasaboutthe‘true’locationofAtlantis.Throughoutthe

1920sanumberofGerman‘experts’onthesubjectpublishedbooksthatallsuggestedadifferentsiteforthe‘real’Atlantis.Someofthematleastattemptedtobescholarlywhileotherswereclearlywrittenbypeoplewithatbestaminimalgrasponreality.OlofRudbeckclaimedin1675thatAtlantislayinSwedenandthatallsubsequentcivilizationderived

fromaSwedishsource.HecalledhisAtlantisAtlandanddeclaredthatitwasthe‘Manheim’–theoriginalhomeofmankind.RudbeckbelievedthatScandinaviawasthefirstpartofEuropetobecolonized

bysurvivorsfromAtlantis.TheseearlyScandinaviansbroughtcivilizationtothelessadvancedpeoplethroughoutEurope.HealsodeclaredthatSwedishwastheoriginallanguageofmankindandhadbeenspokenbyAdamandEve.TheeighteenthcenturyFrenchwriterJean-SylvainBaillybecameconvertedtoRudbeck’sviewsand

suggestedthattheremnantsofAtlantiscouldbefoundontheislandofSpitsbergeninNorway.InthenineteenthcenturyRudbeck’snotionofAtlandwastakenupbutidentifiedwithyetanother‘lostland’thatwasnotthesameasPlato’sAtlantis.ManyNaziswerealsoattractedbyRudbeck’sidea,includingamanwhoforawhilebecameacloseadvisertoHimmlerandheadoftheAhnenerbe,HermannWirth.Atlantishasbeen‘found’onnumerousoccasionsandin1926theGermangeologistPaulBorchardt

declaredthathehad‘discovered’itinAlgeriaandTunisia.AlbertHermann,aGermanarchaeologistandgeographer,exploredTunisiaandannouncedthathehad‘found’thesiteofAtlantis.HermannappearstohavebeenthefirstAtlantologist–peoplewhostudytheproblemofAtlantis–tosuggestthatPlato’sdatesandmeasurementswereoutbyafactoroften.HeclaimedthatthedestructionofAtlantisreallytookplacearound1400BCratherthanninethousandyearsearlierandthatitinvolvedamuchsmallerlandmassthanthatdescribedinPlato’saccount.HermannalsodeclaredthathisTunisianAtlantiswasonlya‘colony’ofagreatGermancivilizationbasedaroundFriesland,whichhaddominatedWesternEuropeandbuiltStonehenge.Its‘colony’inTunisiawasthebeginningof‘Mediterraneancivilization’.AdolfSchultenproposedadifferentlocationfor‘his’Atlantis.Hebelievedthatitlayonthe

GuadalquivirestuaryinSpainandcorrespondedwiththeancientPhoeniciancolonyofTartessosorTartessus.SchultenalsodeclaredthatthisSpanishAtlantiswasa‘colony’oftheGermancivilizationthathaddominatedWesternEuropeatthetime.LeoFrobeniusclaimedtohave‘discovered’AtlantisinNigeriaandheassociateditwithGerman

sources.TheswastikaandvariousothervölkischsymbolsweretracedbackbyhimtothisregionandofferedasevidenceofaGermanconnectionwithAtlantis.Allofthesewritersmadeexaggeratedclaimsandwereobsessedwiththeideaofsomehowfittingthe

legendofAtlantisintotheirnotionsofGermansuperiority.Theydidatleastattempttoresttheirtheoriesuponsomedegreeofevidenceandtriedtoargueinfavourofthemrationally.WiththeAtlantologistswhoseviewsfoundmostfavourwiththeNazisitwasanentirelydifferentstory.

VÖLKISCHTHEORIESOFATLANTISWirthwaschosenbyHimmlerastheoriginalheadandprimemoveroftheactivitiesoftheAhnenerbe.HeclaimedthatAtlantislayintheregionoftheNorthPoleandhadspreadoutfromitsArctichomelandtocolonizeandbringcivilizationtotherestoftheworld.TheAtlanteansnotonlysettledinEurope,hesaid,buttravelledasfarafieldasPolynesia.WirthclaimedthattheAtlanteanswerea‘Nordic’peoplewhospread‘Germanic’cultureacrosstheworld.Hecombinedpseudo-historywiththeworstexcessesofoccultfantasiesandbelievedthat‘theoriginal

Aryancivilization’camefromhispolarAtlantisandincorporatedtheideaofan‘eternalrecurrence’.Wirthalsowroteextensivelyon‘Atlanteansymbolism’andhisdiscipleAlfredBäumlerdeclaredthat‘towhomeverperceivedthistrailthereappearsanewdimensionofreality’.Wirth’scombinationofsurfacelearningwithAryanfantasiessoonbroughthimtotheattentionof

Himmler.AswellashiscrankyideasonprehistoryWirthalsodisplayedaconsiderabledegreeofpersonaloddity.Hewasavegetarianwhowasfirmlyconvincedthathiswifewasagiftedclairvoyant.Visitorstohishomeweregreetedbyasignreading‘Pleasewalksoftlyanddonotsmoke;adeepbreatherliveshere’.The‘deepbreather’washiswifeand(atleastinpublic)shehardlyeverspoke.Guestsobservedhersittinginsilencewithagoldenfilletaroundherbrow.Wirththenreadherthoughtstelepathicallyasshebreatheddeeplyand‘interpreted’themtohisvisitors.

TheBohuslänpetroglyphsinSwedenarethelargestconcentrationofrockcarvingsinScandinavia–Wirthcreditedthe‘Arcticsun’asinspiration

WirthwasplacedinchargeoftheAhnenerbeexpeditiontoBohusläninSweden.Hestudiedthestoneengravingshefoundthereandinterpretedmostofthemassymbolsofan‘Arcticsun’.Wirthdeclaredthattheideaofaresurrectedgodcamefromthelongperiodsofnortherndarknessandtheireventualreplacementbyaperiodwhenlightwasprevalent.

TheOeraLindaBook wassupposedtohavebeencompiledbetween2194BCandAD803.Thefactitwasafakedidn’tstopitfrombeingtranslatedintoseverallanguages

ATLANDInadditiontohisideaofanAtlantisattheNorthPole,Wirthalsopopularizedtheclaimsfortheexistenceofyetanother‘lostland’.Atland(anameusedearlierbyRudbeck)wassaidtobeacolonyofAtlantisthathadsurvivedthedestructionofitsparentlandandhadspreadcivilizationinitsturntothenon-Nordiccountriesonearth.ItwasallegedtoliebetweenGreenlandandtheScottishHebrides.TheideaofAtlandwasbasedonanineteenth-centuryforgerycalledtheOeraLindaBook.Thiswork

claimedthatthegreatcultureheroesofEuropeduringthesemi-mythicaltimesofCrete,earlyGreeceandotherlandswereactually‘Friesians’.TheseFriesianswerethebringersofTeutoniccivilizationtothenon-Nordics.Inspiteofitsbeinganobviousforgery(notevenRosenbergbelievedinitsauthenticity),Himmlerwasfirmlyconvincedthattheworkwas‘anAryanintellectualtreasure’.WhenaGermanprofessordaredtopubliclydenounceitasafakeHimmlersenthimasternrebukethatterrifiedhimintosilence.WirthhatedChristianityandspokeoutagainstitconstantlytosuchanextentthatpro–NaziChristians

begantocomplain.AnothersourceofconflictwasWirth’sbeliefthattheAryanracehadoriginallybeenamatriarchalratherthanpatriarchalsocietyandthatGermanyshouldbeattemptingtoputwomeninmostofthepositionsofpower.ItwasprobablytacticalreasonsofretainingChristiansupportandmakingtheNazisappearmorerationalthantheyreallywerethatledHitlertocondemnWirthpubliclyata

NurembergPartyrallyin1936.HimmlerstillregardedWirthhighlybutrealizedhecouldnolongerallowhimtobetheprincipalmoverintheAhnenerbe.HequietlyeasedWirthoutofpositionsofresponsibilityandmadeWolframSieversthenewheadofhisorganization.RosenbergalsotookadvantageofthesituationtodenounceWirthforwhathedescribedashis‘chthonicfeminism’whichheclaimedwasentirelyincompatiblewiththe‘patriarchalstructure’of‘Aryansocieties’.

RUDOLFSTEINERANDATLANTISRudolfSteinerwasalwaysregardedasamortalenemybytheNazisbutmanyofhisideasweresufficientlysimilartotheirstobecomeincorporatedintotheiroccultmythology.Thesourceofthe‘acceptable’aspectsofSteiner’sideaswasnevercreditedbutastherewasconsiderableoverlapbetweentheviewsofmanyGermanoccultistsitwasnothardtoadoptanideafromone‘thinker’andassignitsorigintoanother.Steiner’saccountofAtlantismadenopretensionstobeingbaseduponhistoryorarchaeology.His

occultfantasieswerealmostentirelyderivedfromhis‘highlydevelopedclairvoyance’.AccordingtoSteinerthekingsofAtlantiswereinstructedbywhathecalled‘MessengersoftheGods’.

Therewerealsodiscipleswhocarriedtheteachingsofthe‘messengers’withthemastheycolonizedEurope,Asia,AfricaandAmerica.SteinerclaimedthatwhenAtlantissankbeneaththewavesitalsodrainedtheGobiDesert.Asaresult

muchofthelostwisdomofthecontinentfounditswaytoTibetwhereitwaspreserved.ThesurvivorsofAtlantisgraduallytransmittedtheirsuperiorwisdomtotheAryans,whoeventuallyproducedtheirfinestfloweringintheTeutonicpeople.AccordingtoSteinertheAtlanteansalsopossessedhighlyevolvedpsychicpowers.Theywereableto

communicatetelepathicallyratherthanthroughspeechandcouldcontrolnaturalforcesthrough‘etherictechnology’.HealsoclaimedthattheAryansweredescendedfromAtlanteansurvivorsandwerelinkedto‘present-daycivilizedhumanity’.ThisstatementshowsclearlyhowmuchSteinerwasinfluencedbyvölkischthinking.ItisnoaccidentthatSteinertriedtorecruitEckartasoneofhisdisciples.Eventhoughthetwomenfelloutinsteadofco-operating,manyoftheirideaswerenotsignificantlydifferent.

ATLANTISANDTIBETThroughoutthe1920sreportsofmysterioushiddencivilizationsinMongoliaorTibetbecamemorefrequent.TheChinesedoctorLao-TsindescribedajourneyamongthemountainsofTibetwhichledtohisdiscoveryofasecretvalleywhereheclaimedtherewasa‘towerofShambhala’containinglaboratoriesandmanyscientists.Thedoctoralsoobserveddemonstrationsoftelepathyacrossconsiderabledistances.TheLamasofTibetclaimedthat‘northernShambhala’wasonceanenormousoceanthatcontainedan

island.Thenaneventwhichsoundsratherlikealargemeteoriteorplanetoidcrashingdownonearthledtoitsdestructionsothatonlysand,saltlakesandmountainsnowremainedoftheformerparadise.

NicholasRoerich(seenherewithsonYuriinMongolia)wasanarchaeologist,theosophistandpainter,whosetravelsacrossAsiawereasourceoffascinationtotheNazis

OneofHimmler’sfavouriteanthropologists,AlbertGrünwedel,translatedaTibetanbookcalledThePathtoShambhala.NicholasRoerichalsomadejourneystoTibetwhereheheardstoriesofsubterraneankingdoms,secretwisdomandlosttreasuresfromanimmemorialantiquity.

ROSENBERGANDATLANTISRosenbergwasasobsessedwithAtlantisasHimmlerandmadeitoneofthekeymotifsofhisMythofthe20thCentury.HeusedthebooktodeclarethatAtlantiswastheoriginalhomeoftheAryanrace.

AndthosewavesofAtlanteanpeopletravelledbywaterontheirswananddragonshipsintotheMediterranean,toAfrica;bylandovercentralAsiatoKutschka,indeed,perhapseventoChina,acrossnorthAmericatothesouthofthecontinent.

Rosenbergwasconvincedthatthe‘true’locationofAtlantislayinthenorthofEurope.Heexplainedsuchsymbolsastheswastikaasbeing‘racialmemories’ofanArcticsun.Allnon-Aryanracesderivedfromamixtureof‘Atlanteanblood’withthatofother‘primitivepeoples’.

Rosenberg’svisionofAtlantiswaspartofaconcertedattemptbytheNazistoformulatearadically(andracially)differentviewofworldhistory

Rosenberg’svisionofAtlantiswaspartofanattemptbyhimself,HimmlerandotherNazistoformulatearadicallydifferentviewofworldhistory.TheysawtheAtlantismythaspartofamissionto‘reclaim’whattheyregardedasa‘lost’Germanpast.TherealitywasthattheywereinventingamythicalprehistorytoglorifytheirancestorsandcreatetheillusionthatGermanshadalwaysbeentheprimemoversinworldcivilization.TheGermanshadnotbeenprimitivebarbariansbutinsteadhadledtheworldinbringinghumanityoutofitsformerlybackwardcondition.Rosenbergexpressedhisviewsasfollows:

Fromanortherncentreofcreationwhich,withoutpostulatinganactualsubmergedAtlanticcontinent,wemaycallAtlantis,swarmsofwarriorsoncefannedout,inobediencetotheever-renewedandincarnateNordiclongingfordistancetoconquerandspacetoshape.

RosenbergclaimedthathisnorthernmasterracehadoriginatedinAtlantisandhadbeenawarriorpeopledwellinginthenorthduringprehistorictimeswhentheclimatewasverydifferentfromwhatitwasinhisday.HeclaimedthattheAtlanteansmigratedasfareastasRussia,IranandIndia.HistheoriesdeclaredthattheGermanswerethepurestdescendantsoftheancientAtlanteansandhethrewtogetherhighlyselectiveexcerptsfromtheHinduVedasandtheZoroastrianZend-Avestatosupporthisclaims.InhisopiniontheOdinistpaganreligionofpre-ChristianGermanyandScandinaviaalsorepresentedasurvivaloftheoriginalreligionofthepeopleofAtlantis.

TheHouseofAtlantisinBremendesignedbyBernhardtHoetgerintheartdecostyle,c.1935:largelydestroyedinthewar,itsportedasolardiscrecallingtheNorsegodOdin

Rosenberg’sownoccultinstitutewascalledAmtRosenberg.ItwasalwayslesswellfundedandinfluentialthanHimmler’sAhnenerbebutwasalsolesspronetocompletelyirrationalideas.Rosenbergsawworldhistoryasacontinualstrugglebetweenthepure-bloodedGermanswhowerethesoleauthenticsurvivorsofAtlantisandtheirdeadlyenemiestheJews.

THEHOUSEOFATLANTISAGermanwhowasanallyofRosenbergactuallycreateda‘HouseofAtlantis’toliterallybuildhisfantasiesintothelandscape.LudwigRoseliuscreatedthissiteintheBöttcherstrasseinBremenandannounced:

TheHouseofAtlantisisintendedtomakeeveryGermanaskhimselfthequestion:whatdoyouknowabouttheproudpastofyourancestors?HaveyouthoughtbacktothetimeofRome,GreeceandEgypt;doyouknowthatthesethreegreatcultureswereoriginatedbythemenofthenorth,yourancestors?

AnotherAtlantologisttofindfavourwithHimmlerwasEdmundKiss.WirthhadplacedAtlantisbetweenIcelandandtheAzores.Kissappearedtoplaceitoverafarwiderrangeofgeographicalareas–EastAfrica,SouthAmericaandtheNorthPole.KissandhisfriendArthurPosnanskyexaminedtheruinsofTiahuanacoinBoliviaandclaimedthatthe

sitehadbeenconstructedbyAryansurvivorsoftheAtlantiscataclysm.Hebelievedthathehaddiscoveredastonecalendarwhichdatedbackmillionsofyears.Another‘find’onthesitewasasculptureofaman’sheadwithAryanfeatures.KissannouncedthattheTiahuanacorelicswere‘thecreationofNordicmanwhoarrivedintheAndeanhighlandsasrepresentativesofaspecialcivilization’.

TheGuancheKings,Tenerife:GuanchewasthenamegiventotheaboriginalinhabitantsoftheCanaries–theyweresaidtobetallandmuscularwithmanyblondsamongthem

TheGuanchesareanabidingsourceofmystery.Wheredidtheycomefrom?HowdidtheygettotheCanaryIslands?Inevitably,someconnectedthemwithAtlantis

TherewasdisagreementbetweenWirthandKissoverhowAtlantishadmetitsfate.WirthbelievedthatapolarshiftwasresponsiblewhileKissclaimedthatthecollapseofapreviousmoonuponearthhaddestroyedAtlantis.In1936KisswassenttoEthiopiabyHimmlertofindevidenceforhistheorybutnothingwasdiscoveredduringhisexpedition.

PerhapsthemostextremeofallGermanAtlantologistswasKarl-GeorgZschaetzsch.HeclaimedthatthepeopleofAtlantiswereblondAryansandthat‘fieryrain’haddestroyedtheirland.OnlyWotan,hisdaughterandhissisterremainedofthetrueAtlanteanstock.Howeversomenon-AryanhumanshadalsosurvivedandbecausetheAryansintermarriedwiththese

lesserbreedstheybecame‘raciallyimpure’.Evenworsewasthefactthatthewickednon-NordicsalsotaughtthevirtuousAryanstoeatmeatanddrinkbeer.AsifallthiscloudyfantasywasnotridiculousenoughZschaetzschconcludedhisbookbyclaimingtobeadirectdescendantofZeusanddeclaredthathissurnamewassimplytheGermanformoftheGreekgod’sname!

NoonequiteknowswhobuiltthepyramidsonTenerife,butsomesaytheGuanchesbroughtknowledgeofhowtobuildthemfromadistantpartoftheworld

FRANCOFAVOURSTHECANARYISLANDSTheCanaryIslandswereanothersuggestedlocationforAtlantisoratleastremnantsofthecontinent.ThistheorywasfavouredbyGeneralFrancoandfollowinghisvictoryintheSpanishCivilWarheapproachedtheAhnenerbetoconducttheresearch.TheoutbreakoftheSecondWorldWarmadeitimpossibleforGerman‘experts’toparticipatebutaSpanisharchaeologistnamedJulioSantaOlallawasappointedtocarryoutinvestigations.SantaOlallawasafriendofFranco’sandhisprojectwasapproved.TheSpanishexcavationswerefundedbyHimmlerandmanyaerialphotographsweretakenofsitesthatinterestedtheresearchers.SantaOlallaliaisedcloselywithOttoHuthwhowastherelevantAhnenerbeofficial.TheypublishedtheresultsofSantaOlalla’sresearchandallowedhimtovisitGermanyandgivetalksonhisfindings.Nothingofanyconsequencewasdiscoveredduringthecourseoftheseexplorations.OneofthereasonswhybothFrancoandHimmlerweresointerestedintheCanaryIslandswasthe

presenceofphysicaldifferencesbetweentheGuanchetribesoftheCanariesandthepeopleofmainlandSpain.UnliketheSpanishtheGuancheshaveprominentcheekbonesandforeheadsthatarepronouncedandsmooth-shaped.ThesimilaritiesbetweentheGuanchesandtheprehistoricCro-MagnonpeoplewhoenteredEuropeanddominateditforcenturiesledtothesuggestionthattheyhadmadetheirwayfrom

AtlantistotheEuropeancontinent.WhentheSpanishdiscoveredtheCanariesinthefifteenthcenturyadtheyfoundthreedistinctethnic

groupsontheislands.Onetypewasolive-skinned,anotherhadlighterskinandhairandthepeopleinthewesternpartoftheislandsweredescribedasbeingfair-skinnedand‘verystrong,withfairhairandblueeyes’.TheGreekhistorianPlutarchactuallyreferredtotheinhabitantsoftheCanariesasAtlanteans.Other

strikingfeaturesoftheGuanchesaretheiruseofa‘whistlinglanguage’thathasbeencomparedtobirdcallsandwhichtheyusedtocommunicatewithoneanotherovergreatdistances;theirmummificationofhumanbodies;thesimilaritiesbetweentheirwritingandEgyptianhieroglyphs;thestrangeundergroundstructurestheybuiltonGranCanariaandthepresenceontheislandsofruinsexcavatedfromvolcanicrockresemblingthoseofZimbabwe,SardiniaandJericho.

TheCenobiodeValeroncavesonGranCanariawereoncepartofaspectacularcommunalgrainstoredatingbacktobeforetheSpanishconquest.TheybearacloseresemblancetoruinsfoundinZimbabwe,SardiniaandJericho

TheGuanchesoftheCanaries,theancientEgyptiansandtheAraucanianIndianswholivedinTiahuanacowerealsostrikinglysimilarphysically.ThesandalsonthefeetofastatueofChacmolatChichenItzaare‘exactrepresentationsofthosefoundonthefeetoftheGuanches,theearlyinhabitantsoftheCanaryIslands’.OnHierroandLasPalmasintheCanariesstoneshavebeendiscovered‘bearingsculpturedsymbolssimilartothosefoundontheshoresofLakeSuperior’.AthanasiusKirchersuggestedin1678thattheCanariesandtheAzoreswerethelastremainingpartsof

Atlantis.AdolfSchultenagreedthattheywerepartofAtlantisbutinhisviewtheywereonlyoutlyingareasratherthanapartofthemaincontinent.

THEBASQUESANDATLANTISTheNazisalsoconsideredtheBasquestobepossiblesurvivorsofAtlantis.TheirlanguagehasanaffinitywithsomeCentralAmericantongues.LiketheAztecstheBasquesworshippedaserpentandtheBasquegameofjaialai(alsoknownaspelota)issimilartotheMayangamepok-a-tok.TheseandothersimilaritiesledtothesuggestionthattheBasqueswereatleastrelatedtotheCro-

MagnonsandthatbothwereprobablyremnantsofthelostAtlanteancivilization.Someoftheircustoms

andreligiousbeliefswerealsofoundamongtheEgyptiansandtheIndiansofCentralandSouthAmerica.TheyarecertainlycompletelydifferentfromanyotherethnicgroupwithinEuropeandtheirlanguageistotallyunrelatedtoanyotherEuropeantongue.LinguistshavehoweverdiscoveredmarkedsimilaritiesbetweentheBasquelanguageandCentraland

SouthAmericanlanguages,thetonguesoftheBerbersandTuaregsofNorthAfricaandevensomewordsintheancientGaulishofFrance.Thisofcoursehasanumberofpossibleexplanations,aslanguagescanmigratewithoutanycorrespondingracialmigration,butthefactsareinterestingallthesame.AsF.W.Farrarwrote:

Whatiscertainaboutit[theBasquelanguage]is,thatitsstructureispolysyllabic,likethelanguagesofAmerica.Likethem,itformsitscompoundsbytheeliminationofcertainradicalsinthesimplewords,sothatilhun,thetwilight,iscontractedfromhill,dead,andegun,day;andbelhaur,theknee,frombelhar,front,andoin,leg.Thefactisindisputable,andiseminentlynoteworthy,thatwhiletheaffinitiesoftheBasquerootshaveneverbeenconclusivelyelucidated,therehasneverbeenanydoubtthatthisisolatedlanguage,preservingitsidentityinawesterncornerofEurope,betweentwomightykingdoms,resembles,initsgrammaticalstructure,theaboriginallanguagesofthevastoppositecontinent(America)andthosealone.

AtonetimetheBasqueswereawidespreadandpowerfulpeople.TheycolonizedItaly,France,theBritishIslesandScandinavia.TheGreekhistorianStrabodescribedthemas‘themostcultivatedofalltheIberians[Spanish];theyemploytheartofwriting,andhavewrittenbookscontainingmemorialsofancienttimes,andallpoemsandlawssetinverse,inwhichtheyclaimanantiquityofsixthousandyears’.IthasalsobeenpointedouthowmanyofthechantsreportedbytheInquisitionasbeingusedbywitcheswereintheBasquelanguage,whichisunquestionablytheoldestofallEuropeantongues.

ANTARCTICA,ATLANTISANDTHENAZISOtherNaziAtlantologistsbecameinterestedinthepossibilitiesofAntarctica.In1938CaptainAlfredRitscherledanexpeditiontothecontinentontheMSSchwabenland(Swabia).Theshipwascapableofcarryingandlaunchingaircraftfromitsdecks.Therewerethirty-fivemembersoftheexpeditioninadditiontothetwenty-four-manship’screw.TheyleftHamburgon17December1938andarrivedatPrincessMarthaCoastinAntarcticaon19January1939.TheexpeditionmembersbeganchartingandsurveyingtheregionandplantingNaziflagsontheice

alongthecoast.TheynamedtheareaNeuSchwabenlandandsetupbasecampbeforewalkingalongthecoastandstaking‘claims’onvariouspartsoftheAntarcticlandscape.Thecrewsofthetwoseaplanesthathadtravelledwiththeshipalsomadeanumberofaerialsurveysandtooknumerousphotographs.AswellaschartingtheareatheaircraftalsodroppedadozenaluminiumarrowswithswastikastoclaimthelandforNaziGermany.

TheresearchvesselMSSchwabenlandchartedAntarctica,itsseaplanesdroppingadozenaluminiumarrowswithswastikastoclaimtheterritoryforNaziGermany

‘Racialresearcher’BrunoBegertakes‘anthropologicalmeasurements’duringavisittoTibet–hedeclaredtheTibetansandtheSikkimesepeopletobe‘hybridraces’

Ritscher’sexpeditionfoundmanyice-freepartsofAntarcticaandanumberoflakeswheretheicewasthin.Vegetationwasalsofoundandaerialphotographyrevealedsignsofwhatappearedtobe,theteamexcitedlydeclared,‘roads’beneaththeice.Cavesoficewerealsodiscovered.Thesearefactsuponwhichthereisgeneralagreement,butsomepeoplegoontomakemoreradical

claims.Intheice-cavesitisallegedthatevidenceofanadvancedancientcivilizationwasdiscovered.TheNazisarealsosaidtohaveconstructedanundergroundbaseinAntarctica.EvenmoreextravagantassertionsaremadeconcerningthefateofaGermansubmarine.Accordingto

officialrecordsU-2015disappearedinApril1945somewhereintheareaofDenmark.OtherssuggestthatshesmuggledtheGermantreasuryoutofthecountryandintoArgentina.Itisallegedthatgoldandsilver,lootedartworks,the‘bloodflag’oftheNaziPartyandeventheSpearofDestinyallfoundtheirwayintothesubmarineandeventuallytoSouthAmerica.ForreasonsthatarenotmadeclearleadingNazisarealsosaidtohavetravelledontoAntarcticaandtohavesetuptheirnewheadquartersattheundergroundbaseallegedlyconstructedbyRitscher’sexpedition.ConspiracytheoristshavealsoclaimedthatHitler,BormannandvariousotherNazileadersescapedto

theSouthPoleafterthefallofGermany.Somebelievetheywentontodevelop‘miracleweapons’andevenflyingsaucersfromtheirAntarcticbase.Allofthesewildclaimsrestuponalackofevidence.ThemembersofRitscher’sexpeditiondidsurvey

thecontinentbylandandairbutnosupportfortheideathattheydiscoveredanykindofpreviousadvancedcivilizationtherehaseverbeenproduced.NorisitprobablethatanykindofNazi‘base’inAntarcticawouldhavebeenleftunmolestedafterthedefeatofGermanyin1945.

TIBETANDATLANTISTibetwasalsoassociatedwithAtlantisbysomeGerman‘researchers’.TherehadbeenanumberofGermanexpeditionstoTibetunderNazileadershipsince1926.Thebestknownandmost‘successful’ofthesetookplacebetween1938and1939.MuchoftheNaziinterestinTibetstemmedfromHaushofer’stheoriesontheAryanrace’soriginsin

whathecalled‘theheartland’.ThisareaincludedtheGobiDesert,TibetandtheHinduKush.AnothersourcewasFriedrichHielscherwhowasafriendofWirth’sandalsoworkedfortheAhnenerberesearchingrunes,thesymbolismoftheswastikaandtheoriginsoftheAryans.HielscherbelievedthatTibetheldthekeytothe‘lostknowledge’oftheNordicrace.WirthwasalsoconvincedthatTibethadsomekindofconnectionwithAtlantisandtheotherrelated‘Aryan’factorswereenoughtoconvinceHimmlertosponsoraresearchexpeditiontothecountryonbehalfoftheAhnenerbe.ErnstSchäferwastheleaderinthisventure.HehadtakenpartinpreviousexpeditionstoTibetandwas

wellrespected.Histeamincludedthe‘racialresearcher’BrunoBegerwhobelievedthata‘Northernrace’existedinTibetandcentralAsia.BegermeasuredtheskullsofTibetanandSikkimesepeopleanddeclaredthattheywerea‘hybrid’racewithbothEuropeanandMongoloidfeatures.Schäferlaterwroteanaccountofhisexpeditionwhichgaveacautiousdescriptionofwhathadtakenplace.ManyquestionsabouthistripremainunansweredandcertainlynotraceofAtlantisseemstohavebeendiscoveredinTibet.

IMPORTANCEOFATLANTISTOTHENAZISHowandwhydidthemythofAtlantisbecomesoimportanttotheNazis?ThroughoutthenineteenthcenturyithadbeenwildlypopularinGermanyandtheearlytwentiethcenturysawmanyGermanresearchersbecominginvolvedinexpeditionstodiscoveritsremains.AlthoughbothHimmler’sAhnenerbeandRosenberg’sAmtdevotedtime,effortandmoneytotheir

researchintofantasiestheycouldalsopointtosomemoreseriousconstructivework.BeforetheNazis

cametopowertherewasalmostnointerestinGermanprehistoryandcertainlynosignificantpublicfundingforarchaeologicalresearchinthatfield.BothorganizationsdidgenerateanewinterestintheGermanpastandbothsponsoredarchaeologicaldigs.IfHimmlerandRosenberghadbeenconventionalpoliticiansthatwouldhavebeenenoughtosatisfythem.Sadlytheywerebothdreamersinpursuitofavisionthatcouldneverberealized.WhentheresultsoftheirexcavationsproducednothingremotelycomparablewiththesplendourofGreece,Rome,Egypt,Mesopotamia,IndiaorChinatheysimplyclungtothedelusionthataGermanAtlantishadtakenthefruitsofcivilizationtoalltheseotherpeopleandnations.Rejectingthegenerallyacceptedviewthathumanityhadevolvedslowlytowardsahigherlevelof

civilization,thevölkischAtlantologistsdeclaredindignantlythatthereversewastrue.InthedimdistantpastofprehistorytheAryanshadfoundedthegreatestandmostadvancedcivilizationeverseenuponearth.WiththecomingoftheIceAgeorsomekindofcosmiccatastrophethisAryanAtlantiswasdestroyedandonlyremnantsofitssurvivorswereabletopreservetheirknowledgeandlearning.Eventwentiethcenturyhumanswereapaleshadowoftheirancestorsandwereonlyslowlybeginningtoapproachtheexaltedleveloftheirformergreatness.EvenHitlermadeoccasionalremarkssuggestingthathetoohadswallowedtheseracistfantasies.

Perhapsthemostabsurdofhiscommentsalongtheselineswashisstatementthat‘athousandyearsbeforeRomewasbuilt,theGermanictribeshadalreadyreachedahighculturallevel’.Thatpronouncementclearlypointstoadatearound1750BC,whenMinoanCrete,MycenaeanGreeceandAsiaticTroyallflourishedwithaninfinitelyhigher‘culturallevel’thananythingtheGermansofthatperiodcouldofferinthewayofcompetition.NodoubtthecomfortingdelusionthatalloftheseplaceshadreceivedtheirowncivilizationfromGermansurvivorsofAtlantisallowedhimtobelievesuchobviousnonsense.PerhapsthefinalwordontheNaziobsessionwithAtlantisshouldbelefttoRauschning.Hesaid:

AtbottomeveryGermanhasonefootinAtlantis,whereheseeksabetterfatherlandandabetterpatrimony.ThisdoublenatureoftheGermans,thisfacultytheyhaveofsplittingtheirpersonality,whichenablesthemtoliveintherealworldandatthesametimetoprojectthemselvesintoanimaginaryworld,isspeciallynoticeableinHitlerandprovidesthekeytohismagicsocialism.

SopotentwastheAtlantismythfortheNazisthateventheGermanNavybecamecaughtupinitandbuiltanauxiliarycruisercalledAtlantisin1937.DuringtheSecondWorldWarittravelledoverahundredthousandmilesandsankorcapturedtwenty-twoAlliedshipsbeforebeingfinallysunkon21November1941.The‘AryanAtlantis’inwhichHitler,Himmler,RosenbergandmanyotherNazileadersbelievedmay

havebeenafantasybutit‘validated’theirracialprejudicesandmadetheirworstexcessespraiseworthyintheireyes.TomenpursuingthevisionofaresurrectedAtlantisthemythofthelostNordicparadisewaswellworthkillinganddyingfor.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Thereal‘RaidersoftheLostArk’OneofthegreatestironiesinhistoryisthatamovementwhichhatedChristianityandJudaismbecameobsessedwiththesacredrelicsofbothreligions.AsayoungmaninViennaHitlerbecamefascinatedbytheLanceofStMauriceintheHofburgMuseum.Thisartefactisbetterknownas‘theHolyLance’or‘theSpearofDestiny’andisallegedtohavebeentheweaponwithwhichtheRomancenturionLonginuspiercedthesideofJesusashehungontheCrossatCalvary.

RommelandhisAfrikaKorpscameclosetofittingtheimageofRaidersoftheLostArk ,buttherealNaziswerelookingforarchaeologicalartefactsfarclosertohome

THESPEAROFDESTINYAnumberofdifferentweaponsareclaimedtobethe‘true’spear.OneisheldintheVaticanandwasfirstdescribedinAD570byapilgrimtoJerusalemwhosawitintheBasilicaofMountZion.OthervisitorsofthesameperiodalsomentionitspresenceinJerusalem.HowauthenticarelicitwasisopentoquestionasevenatthiscomparativelyearlystageinChurchhistorythefakingofsacredobjectstoattractdonationswasalreadyagrowingproblem.DuringthewarsbetweentheByzantineandPersianempiresPersiantroopscapturedJerusalemandtookitstreasuresbacktoIran.ThepointofthelancewasbrokenoffandcarriedbacktoConstantinople.InthetwelfthcenturythispointwassoldtoKingLouisIXofFrancewhoplaceditintheSainteChapelleinParis.ItdisappearedduringtheFrenchRevolutionandhasneverbeenseenagain.Theshaftofthelanceisallegedtohavefaredratherbetter.ApilgrimclaimedtohaveseenitinAD670

attheChurchoftheHolySepulchreinJerusalem.VisitorstoConstantinopleintheeighthcenturyalsoclaimedtohaveseenthelanceinavarietyofdifferentchurches.AfterthecitywascapturedbytheTurksitwassentbySultanBeyezidIItothePopeandhasremainedintheVaticaneversince.TheCatholicChurchmakesnoclaimseitherwayabouttheauthenticityofitsstatusasaholyrelic.AlanceheldinArmeniaisalsoclaimedtobethespearthatpiercedthesideofJesusandisondisplay

inamuseumwithinthecountry.ItisallegedthattheapostleThaddeustookittothecountryalthoughthereisnorecordofitsexistencebeforethethirteenthcentury.

THEHOLYLANCEINTHEHOFBURGMUSEUMThemaincontenderforauthenticstatusistheHolyLanceheldbytheHofburgMuseuminVienna.Itisthislancethathasbecomeknownasthe‘SpearofDestiny’andisassociatedwithHitler.ThefirstunambiguousmentionofthisrelicisintheearlytenthcenturyadwhenitwasinthepossessionoftheHolyRomanEmperorOttoI.AtvarioustimesitwashousedinPragueandNurembergbutfrom1796itwaskeptinVienna.ItremainedthereuntiltheAnschlusswithGermanyin1938,whenitwashousedin

NurembergbeforebeinghiddenasAlliedtroopsinvadedthecountry.SomeAmericansoldiersdiscovereditshidingplaceanditwasreturnedtoAustriaaftertheendoftheSecondWorldWar.

ThewhereaboutsoftheSpearofDestinywasanothermysteryoccupyingthemindsofNazis.ItwasthelanceusedbytheRomansoldierLonginustowoundChrist

ItishighlyprobablethatthelanceinViennaistheoldestofthethreeclaimantsalthoughneitherofitsrivalshasbeenexaminedbyexperts.TheHofburgspearhasbeenscientificallytestedbythemetallurgistDrRobertFeatherandhedatedittotheseventhcenturyAD.ThatisofcoursefartoolateforittohavebeenthelancethatpiercedthesideofJesus.Howeveranintriguinganomalywasfoundduringthecourseoftesting.ItwasdiscoveredthatanironpinwithinthebladecouldbefromthefirstcenturyAD.ThetraditionhasalwaysbeenthattheHofburgLanceincorporatedanailfromtheCrucifixion.Ifthatclaimistruethenhowdidafirstcenturynailsurviveandcometobehammeredintoaseventh

centuryspear?TheanswerappearstoliewiththerulersofItalyatthattime.IntheseventhcenturythecountrywasruledbytheLombardkingswhosecoronationceremonyinvolvedgraspingaceremoniallance.TheLombardcapitalwasMilanandtheRomanEmperorConstantine’smotherisknowntohavebroughttothecitywhatwasallegedtobeanailfromtheCrucifixion.ThekingsmighthavewantedtogivetheirroyallineadditionalsanctitybyincorporatingwithinthelanceanailfromtheCross.WhenCharlemagneconqueredtheLombardsintheeighthcenturyhetookpossessionofthelancewhicheventuallybecamepartoftheHolyRomanEmpire’sregaliaandsopassedintothepossessionoftheAustrianroyalhouse.WhateverthetruefactsthereisnodoubtthattheHolyLanceexercisedapowerfulfascinationupon

manypeople.OneofthemwasHitler’sfavouritecomposerRichardWagner.InParsifalWagnerequatesthelancewiththespearthatwoundstheFisherKingandislostbytheknightsoftheGrailbeforebeingrecoveredbyParsifal.

HITLERANDTHEHOLYLANCEThereisnoquestionbutthatHitlersawthespearintheHofburgMuseumduringhistimeinViennabuttheextenttowhichhisdiscoveryofitinfluencedhisattitudesandbehaviourhasbeenfiercelydisputed.

AccordingtoTrevorRavenscroftthespearhadaprofoundeffectuponhimandrepresentedthebeginningofhispathintooccultismanddarkness.ThereisnodoubtthatHitlerwasawareofthereligiousassociationsoftheobjectanditishighlyprobablethatoncehebecameGermanChancellorhisthoughtsturnedtowardsacquiringitforGermany.ManyconquerorsthroughouthistoryhavesoughttogainpossessionofsacredobjectsfromrivalreligionsandHitler’sundoubteddesiretoownthespearwouldhavebeeninthesametraditionofneutralizingthe‘power’ofsuchanobject.OntheotherhandthereareseriousproblemswithacceptingRavenscroft’saccountofHitler’s

involvementwiththespearduringhisyouthinVienna.TobeginwithhisassertionsaboutHitlerrestsolelyuponthetestimonyofDrWalterStein,soheisreportinganaccountrememberedmanyyearsaftertheevent.Insuchcircumstancesallkindsofmistakesandexaggerationscancreepintoastory.WhatRavenscroftgivesusisanaccountofwhathesaysSteintoldhimaboutwhatHitlersaidanddidmanyyearsbefore.AnadditionalproblemisthatpartsofRavenscroft’sstoryhavebeenshowntobequestionable.There

isnorecordinViennaofabookshopbelongingtoanErnstPretzsche.ThedescriptionRavenscroftgivesofPretzsche’sshopisalsosufficientlysimilartooneinLytton’soccultnovelZanonitoraisefurtherdoubts.IthasalsobeensuggestedthatSteinandHitlerwouldneverhaveformedthecloserelationshipthat

Ravenscroftdescribedthemashaving.SteinwasJewishandHitlerwasofcourseafanaticalanti-Semite.Thatparticularobjectionholdslittlevalidity.TobeginwithSteinwasamandeeplyimmersedinvölkischandoccultfantasies.Hewroteextensively

onAtlantis,mythologyandtheideaofanancientcivilizationattheNorthPole.Steinalsoappearedtosharetheideaof‘racialsouls’,sothementaluniverseinwhichheoperatedwascertainlyonewhichHitlercouldeasilyhaveshared.Moreimportantlythereisnoevidenceofanyanti-SemiticattitudesorremarksbyHitlerearlierthan

1919.ThosewhoknewhimbeforethatperiodagreethathisfavouriteactorsandcomedianswereJewishandthatalthoughhelovedWagner’smusicbestofallhealsoenjoyedlisteningtoMendelssohn,LehárandMahler.OneofhisfewfriendsduringthistimewasJewishandthefirstgirlhefellinlovewithwasJewish.HewasalsoanactiveandenthusiasticsupporterofKurtEisner,theJewishleaderof‘SovietBavaria’.HitlerwasamemberofaSoldiers’CouncilinMunichandattendedEisner’sfuneral.EvenduringhisdaysasGermanleaderhenevercondemnedEisnerandoneofhisfirstactsasChancellorwastoarrestthemanwhoassassinatedhim.TheideathatHitlerwasanti-Semiticbefore1919isflatlycontradictedbytheavailableevidence.NoneofthesethingsmeanthatRavenscroft’saccountsofthevariousmeetingsbetweenSteinandHitler

areliteraldescriptionsofwhatmayhavetakenplaceandmayhavebeensaidbetweenthem.HoweveritisentirelypossiblethattwomenassteepedinvölkischfantasiesasSteinandHitlerdidmeetinViennaandmaywellhavediscussedthe‘mystical’significanceofthespear.ItwouldbedangeroustogobeyondthatbutwhileitisentirelyprobablethatmuchifnotmostofRavenscroft’saccountisimaginativereconstructionitisalsohighlylikelythatitcontainsacoreoftruth.Hitler’sfirstactonenteringViennawastoremovethespearfromtheHofburgMuseumandtakeitbacktoNuremberg,soitclearlyheldaspecialsignificanceinhiseyes.AsafinalnoteonthequestionofHitlerandthe‘SpearofDestiny’ithasbeenclaimedthatPicasso’s

GuernicacontainscodedmessageswhichdescribeapsychicbattlebetweenHitlerandtheSpanishartist,involvingthelance.Itisallegedthatthesehidden‘messages’describeeventsinHitler’slifeaswellasreferringtoaspectsofWagner’sParsifal.Theideaofa‘Picassocode’seemshighlyimplausiblebutitiscertainlyanewadditiontothecorpusofmythsurroundingthe‘SpearofDestiny’.

THELOSTARKOFTHECOVENANTThelostArkoftheCovenantwasoncethemostsacredrelicinJudaism.AccordingtotheBookofExodusitwasachestcontainingthestonetabletsonwhichtheTenCommandmentswerewrittenanditdatedbacktothetimeoftheIsraelites’captivityinEgypt.ExodusclaimsthatMoseswasdirectedtoconstructitwhenGodspoketohimonMountSinaiandthatduringthejourneyoutofEgyptthepriestscarriedtheArkinfrontoftheIsraelitesastheypassed.OncetheArkhadbeenbuiltGodwasabletocommunicatedirectlywithMoses‘frombetweenthetwocherubim’thatdecoratedthechest.

ReliefontheArchofTitus,Rome(erectedAD82):theGoldenMenorahandtheArkoftheCovenantarecarriedthroughRomeasbootyinTitus’triumphalprocession

TheArkoftheCovenantwhentheLordcommandedMosestoputuptheTabernacle(Exodus40:17-19).IllustrationbyGerardHoet,1728

TheArkwasmadeofshittimwoodandplatedwithgold.Acrownofgoldwasalsoplacedallarounditwithfourgoldenringsattached,twooneitherside.Thewoodenstaves–themselvesplatedwithgold–weretheninsertedforthepurposeofcarryingtheArk.GoldencherubimweresetinacoverofgoldthatwasplacedontopoftheArk.Finallythechestwascoveredwithaveil.DuringitstimeinIsraelitwasmovedtoanumberoflocations.Atonepointitwascapturedbythe

Philistinesbutreturnedaftersevenmonths.WhenSolomonbuilthisTempleitcontainedaninnerroomcalled‘theHolyofHolies’withinwhichtheArkwasplaced.

WhentheBabyloniansconqueredJudahin586BCtheydestroyedthecityofJerusalemandtheTemple.FromthatpointonwardstheArkvanishesfromthepagesofhistory.BoththeJewishapocryphalbooksandtherabbinicaltraditionsdisagreeoveritsfinaldestiny.TheFirstBookofEsdrassaysthattheBabylonians:

tookalltheholyvesselsoftheLord,bothgreatandsmall,andtheArkofGod,andtheking’streasures,andcarriedthemawaytoBabylon.

SomerabbisagreewiththisinterpretationwhileothersdeclarethattheArkwashiddentopreventitscapture.TheapocryphalbooktheSecondBookofMaccabeesalsotakesthatview,declaringthatJeremiahremovedtheArk,thetentandthealtarofincenseto‘themountainofGod’wherehesealedthetreasureswithinacave.Jeremiahthenannounced:

theplaceshallremainunknownuntilGodgathersHispeopletogetheragainandshowsHismercy,andthentheLordwilldisclosethesethings,andthegloryoftheLordandthecloudshallappear,astheywereshowninthecaseofMoses,andasSolomonaskedthattheplacebespeciallyconsecrated.

TheSiegeofJericho:theArkoftheCovenantwasalwayswrappedinaveilwhentransportedanditslightconcealedfromtheeyesofthepriestswhocarriedit

‘TheHolyArk’inprocessioninEthiopia:theCopticChurchclaimstheArkoftheCovenanthassecretlybeeninitscustodyforhundredsofyears

ThegeneralbeliefisthattheArkcontainedonlythetabletsofstoneuponwhichtheTenCommandmentswerewrittenbuteventheBibleisnotconsistentinitsdescriptionofthecontents.ExodusandKingsagreewiththatdescriptionbutNumbersclaimsthatitalsoheldAaron’srod,thefirstTorahscrollandajarofmanna.IntheNewTestamenttheEpistletotheHebrewssaysthatitcontained‘thegoldenpotthathadmanna,andAaron’srodthatbudded,andthetabletsoftheCovenant’.IntheBookofRevelationitisstatedthatboththeTempleandtheArkareinheaven.ThereisnodoubtthattheArkdisappearedduringtheBabyloniancaptureofJerusalem.Abewildering

varietyoflocationshavebeensuggestedasits‘true’restingplace.TheearliestproposedsitefortheArkisgivenintheSecondBookofMaccabees.ThatplaceditwithinacaveonMountNeboinJordanbutnoevidenceofitspresencetherehaseverbeenfound.TheCopticChurchinEthiopiaclaimsthatitrestswithinatreasuryneartheChurchofOurLadyMary

ofZioninAxum.ThisassertiondatesbacktothetwelfthcenturyadanditsbestknownexpressionisintheKebraNagastwhichwaswrittenaroundahundredyearslater.TheEthiopiansclaimthattheirmonarchywasdescendedfromSolomonandtheQueenofShebaandthatthearkintheirpossessionisthe‘true’ArkoftheCovenant.ThearkwhichremainedbehindinSolomon’sTemplewasonlyacopy.PeriodicallypatriarchsoftheCopticChurchannouncethattheywill‘unveil’theArkoftheCovenantbutsofarnoneofthesepromiseshavebeenfulfilled.ThetruedateoftheEthiopianarkremainsunknown.AnotherfavouredlocationisZimbabwewheretheLembapeopleclaimthattheirancestorsbroughtitto

thecountryandhiditwithinacaveintheDumgheMountains.AccordingtoLembatraditionstheArkwasferriedoverseasfromYemenataroundthetimetheZimbabweancivilizationwascomingtoitsclose.Thetribememberssaythatsoonafteritsarrivalinthecountryit‘self-destructed’.Theybuiltareplacementarkusingacorefromtheoriginalobject.ThereplicaarkisnowintheMuseumofHumanSciencesinHarareandhasbeencarbondatedtoAD1350.ThisdatecorrespondswiththefalloftheZimbabweancivilization.SomeCatholicsclaimthattheArkishousedintheBasilicaofStJohnLateraninRome.Otherauthors

believethattheKnightsTemplardiscovereditintheHolyLandafterwhichitwasmoved.Locationssuggestedforitsnew‘home’includeChartresCathedral,Rennes-le-Château,WarwickshireinEngland

andevenAmerica.SomeBritishIsraelitessuggestthatitwastakentoIrelandbyJeremiahandisburiedunderahillatTara.AlloftheselocationsarehighlyspeculativeandthetwomostprobableonesarethateithertheArkwas

lootedbytheBabyloniansandsubsequentlydestroyedorthatitwashiddenintheregionofMountNebo.ItiscertainlyhardtoseehowitcouldhavetravelledallthewaytoYemenorEthiopiagiventheurgentmilitarysituationatthetimeofitsdisappearance.InthefilmRaidersoftheLostArktheheroattemptstopreventtheNazisgainingpossessionoftheArk

oftheCovenant.EventhoughthisisaHollywoodadventurefilmthestorywasnotspunoutofwholecloth.TheNazisreallydidspendtimeandmoneyontryingtotrackdownsacredrelicsandlegendaryobjectssuchastheArkandtheHolyGrail.Therewasacertainamountofoverlappinginboththese‘quests’whichweremainlyfundedbythe

Ahnenerbeandatleastoneofwhichinvolvedthesameindividual.OttoRahnwasprimarilyassociatedwiththequestfortheGrailbutitisallegedthathealsobecameinvolvedinsearchingfortheArkoftheCovenant.ThepossibleconnectionofbothwiththemedievalhereticsknownastheCatharswasthebasisonwhichakindofmissionofdiscoverywithtwopossible‘targets’wasundertaken.BothHimmlerandRosenbergsharedanobsessionwiththeCathars,sofundingforanyresearchwithallegedconnectionstothemwouldalwaysbeforthcoming.

THENAZISTRYTOFINDTHEARKWhenMussoliniconqueredEthiopiain1936hewasaskedtodiscoverthetruthabouttheArk.TheAhnenerbe’sEdmundKissvisitedthecountryandaddedthesearchfortheArktohisotheroccultpreoccupations.ItisclearthattheobjectwhichtheCopticChurchclaimstobetheArkdidnotfindfavourwiththeNaziresearchersandtheyturnedtheirattentiontootherpossiblesites.TheydonotseemtohaveconsideredIrelandalikelylocationbuttheycertainlyinvestigatedFrance

andSpain.IraqwasalsoregardedasapossibilitybutsurprisinglynoattentionappearstohavebeengiventotheZimbabweanark.AllofthetheoriesplacingtheArkinEuroperestonthebeliefthateithertheCatharsortheKnights

Templarwereinvolvedinitsremovalorconcealment.ItisjustpossibletoimaginetheTemplarshavingaconnectionwithsuchanenterpriseastheyhadlived,foughtandexcavatedintheHolyLand.TheyalsopossessedasizablefleetsotheycouldconceivablyhavecarriedawaytheArktotheirmainpowerbaseinFrance.Althoughitisaremotepossibilityitishighlyunlikelythattheydidso.ThesuggestionthattheymighthavebeenresponsibleiscomparativelyrecentandneithertheirdefendersnortheirdetractorseverallegedanyconnectionbetweentheTemplarsandtheArk.ItisevenlessplausibletoassociatetheCatharswiththeArkoftheCovenant.Theywereaviciously

anti-SemiticsectwhobelievedthattheJewswereliterallychildrenoftheDevilandthattheyworshippedSatan.InadditionthemajorityofCatharswerepoorandwouldnothavepossessedtheresourcestodiscover,transferandconcealsuchanimportantobject.

OttoRahnbecameobsessedwiththeNibelungenlied,theepicpoeminwhichdragon-slayerSiegfried(above)meetsKriemhild,whodreamtofafalconkilledbytwoeagles

RahnappearstohavefailedtoeitherlocatetheArkduringthecourseofhisresearchesorestablishanyconnectionbetweenitandtheCathars.HebelievedhehadbeenmoresuccessfulintermsoftheHolyGrail.BeforeturningtotheNaziGrailquestitisnecessarytoconsiderbrieflytheclaimsmadebyHoward

BuechnerthattheSSColonelOttoSkorzenyrecoveredtheArkandtheGrailfromthesouthofFrancein1944.ThereisnoevidenceforthisclaimandSkorzenynevermentionedthisparticular‘exploit’eitherinhisbooksorprivately.Althoughitisanentertainingtheoryitisalmostcertainlymistaken.

OTTORAHNANDTHEQUESTFORTHEHOLYGRAILMostoftheNaziGrailquestinvolvesOttoRahninsomerespect.AsachildhisfavouritereadingwasGerman,Scandinavian,GreekandRomanmythology.Rahn’sniecealsoclaimedthathepossessed‘secondsight’.BeforelonghebecameobsessedwiththeNibelungenliedandthestoriesofLohengrinandParsifal.AtuniversityhedevelopedanewinterestintheCatharswhichhedescribedas‘asubjectthatcompletelycaptivatedme’.Rahnbelievedthatthethirteenth-centuryGermanpoemParzivalwasconnectedwiththeCathars’

beliefs.HeconcludedthatthesecthadbeeninpossessionofasacredrelicandthattheGrailCastleofMunsalvaeschedescribedinthepoemwasbasedupontheCatharstrongholdofMontségur.Rahn

regardedtheCatharsasthelastcustodiansoftheGrailandbecameobsessedwiththesect.HeplannedtowriteadissertationonGuyotofProvence,aTroubadourwhoisgenerallyregardedastheoriginoftheauthorKyot,onwhoselostpoemabouttheGrailWolframvonEschenbachbasedhisParzival.Wagner’soperabroughtWolfram’spoemfirmlyintothepubliceyeandRahnbecameconvincedthattheearlierworkheldvitalcluestotheGrailquestonwhichhehadembarkedandwhichdominatedtherestofhislife.RahnbecamesodeeplyimmersedinhisresearchesintotheCatharsthatheendedupsharingtheir

religiousviews.InspiteofthefactthatalltheevidencepointstoanentirelydifferentconclusionhewasconvincedthattheCatharbeliefswerederivedfromDruidism.ItiscertainlytruethattheGraillegendhaselementsofDruidicthoughtwithinitbecauseofitsCelticorigins,butthereislittlesimilaritybetweenthelife-affirmingteachingsofDruidismandtheworld-denialoftheCathars.HissubsidiaryclaimthattheTroubadoursandtheMinnesingerswereheavilyinfluencedbyCatharism

orwereevenactivemembersofthesectisrathermoreplausible.ThereisnodoubtthattheTroubadourswereexposedtoarangeofunorthodoxideasvianorthernSpainandtoalesserextenttheCrusades,ItalyandevenEasternEurope.OneofthereasonswhytheCatholicChurchdevotedsevencenturiestothepersecutionofhereticswaspreciselybecauseitfeltitsgriponpowerloosening.TheTroubadourswereparticularlyinfluencedbyunorthodoxideasfromSpanishandItaliansourcesandmanyofthoseultimatelyderivedfromtheMiddleEastviatheWesternMuslimEmpireinSpain.TheTroubadourswerefamousfortheircourtlylovepoetrybutthereisconsiderabletruthintheview

heldbyRahnandtheItalianfascistfellow-travellerJuliusEvolathatmuchoftheirlovepoetrywascodedreligiousversewithSophia,theallegedfemaleprincipleofDivineWisdom,beingthetrue‘beloved’ofthepoets.CertainlythePersianmysticOmarKhayyamusedwineandloveinasimilarwaytosymbolizehisSufireligiousbeliefs.RahnagreedwiththeCatharsthattheworldisacontinualstrugglebetweengoodandevil.Astheysaw

theworldasevilitcouldnothavebeencreatedbyGodbutmusthavebeentheworkoftheDevil.ThebeliefthatGodhadcreatedtheworldmadeChristiansDevil-worshippersintheeyesoftheCathars.TheCatharsdenouncedChristiansfornotunderstandingthatitwasnotonlypossiblebutdesirabletotrytoescapefromlifeandreturntotheprimevalunionwithGodwhichhadexistedbeforeCreation.

Aknight’scrosscarvedintoarockatMontségur;

Rennes-le-ChâteauinFrancewasvisitedbyRahnandisalsoalludedtoinDanBrown’sTheDaVinciCode

TheruinsofMontségurCastleinsouth-westernFrance.Itwasoncethesiteofmassivebloodletting

RAHNLOOKSFORTHEGRAILINFRANCERahn’sidentificationwiththeCatharswasalreadyalmosttotalwhenhevisitedFrancein1929.HesettledinthevillageofLavelanetandbeganasystematicexplorationofMontségurandthecavesinthevicinity.RahnalsovisitedthecityofCarcassonneandthechurchofRennes-le-Château.HebelievedthattherewasasacredgeometrywithinMontségurthatwasconnectedwiththerisingof

thesunanditsrelationshiptonearbysacredsites.HealsodiscoveredanumberofsecretundergroundtunnelsandbecameconvincedthatsomewherewithinthemtheCathartreasurewaslocated.HelearnedtospeaktheProvençaldialectofFrenchandtalkedwithmanylocalpeople.

GermanresearcherKarlRinderknechtdemonstratesthesizeofapentagramcarvedintoarocknearMontségurCastlebutsofarnoCathartreasurehasbeendiscovered

OneofhismostimportantcontactswasMauriceMagre.Hewastheauthorofanumberofworksonthe

sectofwhichthebest–perhapsbecauseitisnotsolelyconcernedwiththem–isReturnoftheMagi.ThereisnodoubthoweverthathisTreasureoftheAlbigensiansfiredRahn’sheavyimaginationmore

thananyotherbook.RahnbecameconvincedthatWolfram’sMunsalvaesche(Wagner’sMonsalvat)wassimplyacoded

namefortheCatharcastleofMontségur.HealsobelievedthatWolfram’spoemexpressedCatharideasalthoughmostscholarsdisagreewithhim.FromanotherCatharenthusiast,AntoninGabal,Rahnadoptedtheideathatthesecthadretreatedintosubterraneanchurches.RahnexploredthecavesofSabarthestothesouthofMontségurandpaidparticularattentiontothe

Lombrivescavern,whichthelocalsnicknamed‘thecathedral’.Hewasdeeplyimpressedbythecaveandgavethefollowingdescriptionofit:

Intimeoutofmind,inanepochwhoseremotenesshasbeenbarelytouchedbymodernhistoricalscience,itwasusedasatempleconsecratedtotheIberianGodIllhomber,GodoftheSun.Betweentwomonolithsoneofwhichhadcrumbled,thesteeppathleadsintothegiantvestibuleofthecathedralofLombrives.Betweenthestalagmitesofwhitelimestone,betweenwallsofadeepbrowncolourandthebrilliantrockcrystal,thepathleadsdownintothebowelsofthemountain.Ahall200feetinheightservedasacathedralfortheheretics.Deeplystirred,Iwalkedthroughthecrystalhallsandmarblecrypts.Myhandsputasidethebonesoffallenpureonesandknights.

RahnclaimedthatEsclarmonded’Alionwasthe‘keeperoftheGrail’andwhenMontségurwasabouttofallshe‘threwthesacredjewel[theGrail]intothedepthsofthemountain.ThemountainclosedupagainandinthismannerwastheGrailsaved’.HeconfusedEsclarmonded’AlionwithherauntEsclarmondedeFoixwhobuiltMontségurbutwasalreadydeadwhenthefortressfell.WithinthecavesofSabarthesRahnfoundmanyhiddenchamberswherethewallswerecoveredin

TemplarandCatharsymbols.Hewasconvincedoftherelationshipbetweenthetwomovementsalthoughmosthistoriansdisagree.Onthestonewallofonepartofacavewasthedrawingofalance.Rahnimmediatelyleapttotheconclusionthattheimagerepresentedthewounded‘FisherKing’ofGraillegendbutamoreprobableexplanationisthatitwasasymboloftheTemplarknightsforwhomalancewassimplyaweapon.VölkischoccultistswereconvincedthattheGrailwasassociatedwiththeTemplarsandthatKing

ArthurrepresentedtheArcticCircle.TheyusedthisasafurtherargumentinfavouroftheirbeliefinanorthernAtlantis.

MONTSÉGURCASTLEMuchofRahn’squestcentredonMontségur.Thecastlestoodonthehighestpointinthevicinity,abovethevalleyswhichthemselveswerehoneycombedwithrocksandabovethepineforestsandmountainwaterfalls.DuringthelongwarsinthesouthofFrancewheretheCatholicChurchgraduallydestroyedthepower

ofCatharismthefortressofMontségurheldouttothebitterend.Itcontainednotonlytheleadingnoblesandclergyofthereligionbutalsoitstreasure.IntheendMontségurwastheonlyremainingCatharstronghold.Anarmybesiegeditfortwoyears

beforeallbutahandfulsurrendered.TheremnantsescapeddownanarrowpathwayandtookrefugeinacavetowhichsomesaytheyalsomovedtheCathartreasure.InsomestoriesthisisallegedtohavebeenburiedinthecaveofOrnolhacontheedgeoftheforestofSarrelongueintheregionofSabartez.Theentrancetothecavewashalfwayupthemountainsideandtheirsecrethidingplacewassofar

beneaththegroundthatthetroopsoftheInquisitionwereunabletoenter.UsingladderstheCatharswithdrewtoanevendeeperandmoreremotecave.UnabletoeithercapturetheCatharsorrecovertheirtreasurethetroopssealedofftheentrancetothecave.Theinhabitantsdiedinsidethedeepcavernandwiththemperishedthesecretoftheirtreasure.

THELOSTTREASUREOFTHECATHARSOverthecenturiesthatfollowedthistragiceventmanypeoplesearchedinvainforthehiddencaveanditslosttreasure.RahnhadapassionatedesiretouncoverthefinalrestingplaceofthelastadherentsofCatharismandifpossiblerecovertheirhiddensecrets.WhatwasthemysterioustreasureoftheCathars?Wasitgold,jewelleryorsimilarlyvaluableitems?

Wasitaholybookorbooks?Wasitasacredobjectofsomedescriptionorwasitsomethingnon-material,ahiddenknowledgethathadsomehowsurvivedthepersecution?Inthe1930sthereweremanyCatharenthusiastsinFranceandeachoneseemedtohaveadifferent

theoryaboutthetruenatureofthetreasure.Somebelievedthatitwasabowl,aplate,acup,abook,ajewelorastone.WolframclaimedthattheowneroftheGrail‘wouldhaveeternallifeandwouldbehealed’.RahnmetwithawomanknownasMiriamdePujol-Murat,acountesswhoownedtheChâteauof

LordatandclaimedtobeadirectdescendantofEsclarmondedeFoix,thefounderofMontségur.VariousarchaeologicalexcavationstookplacewithinhergroundswiththeobjectsofthedigrangingfromthetombofthefounderoftheRosicrucianOrdertothealleged‘lost’GospelofStJohn.Rahn’sprincipalactivitiestookplaceinthecavesanditwasinthegrottoofFontanetthathediscoveredsomemeteoriteswhichwereallegedlysacredtotheancientMotherGoddessCybele.Heidentifiedthemwiththe‘lapisexillis’spokenofinWolfram’spoemanddescribedasa‘hard,darkstone’.Rahn’sfellow-enthusiastGadalcalledthemthe‘PyreneanGrail’.In1932anenigmaticletterfromtheFrenchauthorIsabelleSandydeclaredthat‘avaluabletreasurehas

beenreturnedtous,withoutdiplomatsandwithoutfussandthatistheresultofanincomparablesuccess’.AsRahnwasstayingwithSandyatthetimemanypeoplebelievethatRahnhadfoundtheGrailandgivenittoGadal’sneo-Catharsecretsociety.ThisseemsunlikelyasRahn’squestfortheGrailcontinuedandin1933hevisitedGermelshauseninGermany,theallegedbirthplaceofthefounderoftheRosicrucianOrder.ThenhewenttoSpainwherehevisitedthemonasteryofMontserrat,whichisalsoacandidateforthelocationoftheGrailcastle.AsSandygavenohintofwhatitwasthathadbeenrecoveredandasRahnhimselfimpliedinhisfirstbookthattheGrailwasameteoritethestoryseemshighlyimprobable.

TheBlackMadonnaatMontserrat,Catalonia:legendhasitthatBenedictinemonksbuilttheabbeyroundthestatuewhichtheycouldn’tmovebecauseitwassoheavy

HespentthenextfewyearsinFranceresearchingtheCatharsbeforereturningtoGermanyin1933.Thepublicationin1934ofhisfirstbookonthesubjectbroughthimtotheattentionofHimmler.HewasrecruitedintotheSSandpromptlydespatchedtocarryoutAhnenerberesearchinFrance,ItalyandIceland.Asaresultofhistravelshepublishedasecondbookin1936summarizingtheresultsofhiswork.SomebelievethatOttoRahnfoundtheGrailandtookitbacktoGermany.Othersthinkhefounditbut

kepthisdiscoverysecret.Mostlikelyofallisthathefoundnothingatallinspiteofhisyearsofsearching.Whateverthetruthishewasfoundfrozentodeathonamountainin1939andhadalmostcertainlycommittedsuicide.

MONTSERRATABBEYIn1940HimmlervisitedanabbeyinSpainwhichhasalsobeensuggestedasapossiblecustodianoftheHolyGrail.LikeMontségurinFrancetheabbeyofMontserrathasbeenidentifiedbysomewiththeMunsalvaescheCastleofParzival.Montserratiscertainlyafascinatingplace,withtheabbeynestlingamongtherocksofthehighMontserratmountainandnotedforitsBlackMadonna.SpainatthattimehadmanyTroubadoursandalsomanysympathizerswiththeCatharfaith.BeyondthatitisimpossibletoestablishanykindofconnectionwitheithertheGrailorthelostCathartreasure.Himmlercametothe

abbeyandinvestigatedtheclaimsbutleftempty-handed.AtsomeunspecifiedpointduringtheSecondWorldWarlocaltraditionspeaksofaNaziU-boatthat

saileduptheRiverClydenearGreenockinScotlandinsearchoftheHolyGrail.ManysuggestthatRahnwasonboardbutashehaddiedin1939hisinvolvementwouldhavebeenimpossible.TherearecertainlylocalassociationswithboththeTemplarsandArthurianlegend,inadditiontoamedievalwellallegedtopossesshealingpowers,andthesefactorsmayhaveattractedtheinterestoftheAhnenerbe.ThislocallegendhasneverbeenverifiedbutitaddsanotherlayerofmysterytotheNaziquestfortheHolyGrail.ConsideringtheoverwhelmingassociationoftheGrailwithBritainitissurprisingthattheAhnenerbedidnotattempttocarryoutresearchinthecountryatleastbeforethewar.InsteadtheyweremesmerizedbyallegedCatharconnectionsintoinvestigatingFrance,Spain,ItalyandevenIceland.OfcoursetheGrail–ifiteverexisted–waslostasahumanobjectlongagoandalltheeffortthattheNazisdevotedtosearchingforitwasutterlywasted.

MontserratAbbeyinitsspectacularlybeautifulsettinghighupinthemountains,buthasiteverbeenthelocationoftheHolyGrail?

CHAPTERNINE

‘AryanScience’intheThirdReichThroughoutthenineteenthcenturyGermanscientistsandmathematicianswereworldleadersinresearch,developmentanddiscovery.Theydidasmuchasthescientistsofothercountriestoseparateoutauthenticfieldsofstudyfromareasof‘pseudo-science’.WiththecomingofHitlertopowerthatchangedradically.Anactivecampaignagainst

Jewishscientistsledtothemajorityofthemleavingthecountryandthetheoryofrelativitycameundersustainedattack.Awholerangeofpseudo-scientificideasthathadbeenquietlyrelegatedtothefringescamebackintofashion.ItwasnotsimplythatorthodoxsciencewasbadlyaffectedbythehostilitytowardsJewishscientists,andeventowardsthoseareasofsciencesuchasrelativityorquantumphysicswhereJewshadcontributeddisproportionatelytotheircreationanddevelopment.Ideasthathadeitherlongsincebeendiscardedasunscientific,ornewonesthatweredubiouslyscientific,becamenotsimplyfashionablewithinNaziGermanybutwereevenregardedasbeingmorescientificthanthetheoriesthattheyhadreplaced.

OneofthenurseriesfromtheLebensbornexperiment:therewasastartlinglackofhumanityaboutNaziscientificprojects

RACESCIENCEThemostdominantoftheseundertheNaziswas‘racescience’.ThisparticularsubjectwasinventedinthenineteenthcenturybyDarwin’scousinSirFrancisGalton.WhatGaltoncalled‘eugenics’spreadrapidlyandwasparticularlypopularinGermanyandAmerica.BoththehorrorsoftheFinalSolutionandtheselectivebreedingprogrammeoftheLebensbornwerefirmlybaseduponeugenicprinciplesandtoanextentwereimplicitwithinitsphilosophy.Galton’sbeliefthat‘racialimprovement’couldbeconductedonthesamebasisasbreedingplantsoranimalsinspiredawholenewgroupof‘racialresearchers’.GeoffreyFielddescribeditthus:

scoresofresearchers,clutchingcomplicatedcallipers,craniometers,spirometers,andothersundrygaugesthatmeasuredscientificingenuitymorethananatomy,scouredthecountrysideweighingskulls,examiningbones,classifyinghairandeyecolourandskinpigmentation,andmeasuringnoses,ears,heads,andeveryotherattributeofthephysicalframe.Fromthedataaccumulated,largenumbersofracialtaxonomieswereinvented.

Itwassoon‘clear’totheseresearchersthatthecolourofaperson’sskin‘determined’their‘biologicalsuperiority’.Thewhiteraceswere‘clearly’the‘fittest’andnon-whiteswere‘weaker’.Inadditiontothis

nonsensicalelevationofskincolourintoacriterionofsuperioritythe‘racescientists’alsodeclaredthatsuchqualitiesascourage,competitivenessandself-assertionwere‘desirable’,whilealtruism,

compromiseandcompassionwere‘biologicallyundesirable’.Thisphilosophywasbestexpressedinanotorioussayingofthetime,‘theweakestgotothewall’.Galtonbelievedthatthe‘fittest’shouldbeencouragedtohavechildrenandthe‘lessfit’shouldbe

activelydiscouraged,ifnecessarythroughaprogrammeofcompulsorysterilization.HisfriendKarlPearsonarguedthatnationswere‘organicwholes’andthattheycouldonlysurviveifthepeoplewholivedtherewere‘thefittest’.Classconflicthadtoberuthlesslydestroyedandreplacedwithasocialiststatewhereallco-operatedforthegreatergood.Pearson’stheorieswerenicknamed‘nationalsocialism’andlikeGalton’sviewsgreatlyinfluencedNazi‘racescientists’.

SETTLEMENTARCHAEOLOGYBothpseudo-historyandracesciencewerecombinedinthetheoriesofGustafKossinna.Hewasthemostfamousprehistorianofhistimeandcreatedadisciplinehecalled‘settlementarchaeology’.KossinnabelievedthattheearliestAryanswerenorthGermansintheregionofSchleswig-Holstein.Histheoryofsettlementarchaeologyclaimedthattheartefactsfoundduringtheexcavationofasite

demonstratedtheethnicmake-upofitspopulation.Kossinnadeclaredthat‘sharplydefinedarchaeologicalculturalareascorrespondunquestionablywiththeareaofparticularpeopleortribes’.HebelievednotsimplythatallGerman-speakingpeopleformedaunifiednationalidentitybutthatanyareathathadbeenoccupiedbytheirancestorsalsobelongedtoGermansbyright.KossinnanotonlyclaimedthattheAryanracewassuperiortoallothersbutalsothattheoriginal

AryanswereGerman.HistheoriesdeclaredthatthetruehistoryoftheancientworldwastheGermangiftofcivilizationtolesserraces.Inhisviewculturedevelopedthrough‘aprocesswherebyinfluences,ideasandmodelswerepassedonbymoreadvancedpeoplestothelessadvancedwithwhichtheycameintocontact’andthatthissuperiorityderivedfromtheirNordicorigins.InKossinna’saccountofhistorytheGermanpeoplestoodsupreme.Hedeclaredthat‘Germanicpeople

wereneverdestroyersofculture,unliketheRomans–andtheFrenchinrecenttimes’.InsteadheclaimedthattheGermanshadgivencivilizationtotheGreeksandtheRomansmainlythroughtheirmigrationsacrossEurope.AllthisfantasticrewritingofhistoryfromtheviewpointofGermanvölkischimperialismmade

Kossinna’sideasenormouslypopularwiththeNazis.UnsurprisinglyhewasastrongsupporterofHitlerandbothRosenbergandHimmlerwereprofoundlyinfluencedbyhismythologizedracialaccountofagloriousGermanpast.

MADISONGRANTANDNORDICFANTASIESThereweremanyotherinfluenceson‘racescience’buttherealityisthatideasofthistypewerenotonlyintellectuallyrespectableintheWestrightacrosstheotherpoliticaldividesbutwerealsoactivelypractisedinmanycountries.TheUnitedStatesproducedtwo‘thinkers’–MadisonGrantandMargaretSanger–whowerenotonlydirectinfluencesonHitler’sracismbutalsosucceededinintroducingvarious‘programmes’and‘experiments’usingprisoners,African-Americansandwomenasguineapigstotesttheirtheories.

MadisonGrantwasanAmericanlawyerandwriter,bestknownforhisworkasaeugenicistandconservationist

Grantwasbestknownforhis1916bookThePassingoftheGreatRace.LikeKossinna,whoseideasinfluencedhimgreatly,Grantinterpretedhistoryandanthropologyalongraciallines.HedeclaredthatracewastheprimaryfactorintheemergenceandestablishmentofcivilizationandthatwhathecalledtheNordicracehadessentiallybroughtthisgifttotherestoftheworld.Grantdemandedthecompletesegregationofallracialtypes,theplacingofinferiorracesintoghettos

andultimatelytheeliminationof‘worthlessracetypes’.Hewrote:

Arigidsystemofselectionthroughtheeliminationofthosewhoareweakorunfit–inotherwordssocialfailures–wouldsolvethewholequestioninonehundredyears,aswellasenableustogetridofalltheundesirableswhocrowdourjails,hospitalsandinsaneasylums.Theindividualhimselfcanbenourished,educatedandprotectedbythecommunityduringhislifetime,butthestatethroughsterilizationmustseetoitthathislinestopswithhim,orelsefuturegenerationswillbecursedwithaneverincreasingloadofmisguidedsentimentalism.Thisisapractical,mercifulandinevitablesolutionofthewholeproblem,andcanbeappliedtoaneverwideningcircleofsocialdiscards,beginningalwayswiththecriminal,thediseased,andtheinsane,andextendinggraduallytotypeswhichmaybecalledweaklingsratherthandefectives,andperhapsultimatelytoworthlessracetypes.

Grantwasnotcontenttodeclarethatthewhiteracewasthepinnacleofsuperioritybutinsistedthattherewerethreesub-groupswithinit,withtheNordicpeopleofnorthernEuropeatthetopofthetree.BelowthemcametheMediterraneansfoundinsouthernEurope,theMiddleEastandNorthAfrica.AttheverybottomofGrant’spileweretheAlpines,dwellersincentralEuropeandwesternAsia.GrantbelievedthattheoriginalhomeoftheNordicshadbeenPoland,RussiaandeasternGermanyandthattheyhadspreadoutfromtheseregionstocolonizeScandinavia.HedescribedNordicsas‘araceofsoldiers,sailors,adventurersandexplorersbutaboveall,rulers,

organizersandaristocrats’.BycontrasttheAlpineshadan‘essentiallypeasantcharacter’.IronicallyHitlerwasacharacteristicallyAlpinetype,afactoftenjokedaboutbymanyGermans.Inspiteofhisunfortunateinabilitytoliveuptohisownracialideals,Hitlerwasobsessedwiththis

sortofracialmythology.Grant’sideasspreadlikewildfireamongvölkischGermanthinkersalthoughwiththeexceptionofRosenbergtheytendedtousethetermAryanratherthanNordic.HisclaimthattheNordicswereonthepointofcommitting‘racesuicide’bymixingwithinferiorracesandallowingthemtooutbreedthesuperioroneswasonethatHitlerechoedrelentlesslyinhisownpropaganda.HitlerwassoinspiredbyGrantthatwhenhebecameChancellorThePassingoftheGreatRacewasthefirstnon-GermanbookorderedtobeprintedbytheNazis.HewrotetoGrantandtoldhimthat‘thebookismyBible’.

MargaretSanger(standing)wasanAmericanbirthcontrolactivist,sexeducatorandnurse.Shewasalsoagreatsupporteroftheeugenicsmovement

MARGARETSANGERANDEUGENICSMargaretSangerisbestrememberedtodayasafierceadvocateofbirthcontrol.UnlikeGrant,whoseideashavelongceasedtobetakenseriously,SangerhasbeensanitizedandreinventedasafeministiconinratherthesamewaythattheNazifeministLydiaGottschewskihasbeentransformedinto‘aGermanpoliticalactivist’.OfcourseSangerwasastrongsupporterofbirthcontrolbutshealsostoodshouldertoshoulderwithGrantandotherracialscientists.Shedespisedblackpeopleandherprincipalreasonforadvocatingcontraceptionwasherbeliefthatitwould‘assisttheracetowardstheeliminationoftheunfit’.Sangerbelievedthatpreventingthereproductionofunfitbreedingstockwouldimprovehereditarytraitsinhumanbeingsbygraduallyeliminatingdefectivegenes.Herproposalsforachievingthisgoalwerestringentimmigrationcontrol,extensivepromotionofbirth

controlandcompulsorysterilizationfortheunfit.Shedidatleastdisagreewiththoseeugenicistswhowantedtheunfittobesubjecttocompulsoryeuthanasiabutherobsessionwith‘racialbetterment’andherdeterminationtoexcludeimmigrants‘whoseconditionisknowntobedetrimentaltothestaminaoftherace’ratherspoilttheeffectofhercondemnationofkilling.Sangerassertedthatfair-skinnedpeoplewereinherentlysuperiortothosewithdarkerskin.Sheevenwroteinaletter‘wedonotwantthewordtogooutthatwewanttoexterminatetheNegropopulation’.AstheAmericanBlackPowerleaderAngelaDavispointedout,thisquote,alongwithotherevidenceaboutSanger’sattitudestoblackpeople,meansandcanonlymeanthegenocidebystealthofanentirerace.EveninBritainsuchplanswerefollowedthrough,thoughtoalesserextentandforashorterperiodof

time.HitlerpraisedSangerandsaidprivatelythatshehadbeenoneofhisinspirationsfortheFinalSolution.AlthoughtheNazistook‘racescience’tonewdepthsofabsurdityandbrutalityitisonlyfairto

saythatintheirideasonracetheylargelyreflectedthedominantprejudicesoftheirtime.

GEOPOLITICSANDLEBENSRAUMGeopoliticswasapseudo-scienceinventedbytheBritishwriterSirHalfordMackindertoprovideanideologicaljustificationforBritishimperialism.HisideasbecamepopularinGermanywheretheywereturnedontheirheadtosupportaprogrammeofGermanexpansion.TheleadingGerman‘expert’ongeopoliticswasHaushofer,whosetermLebensraum–living-space–becameakeyconceptinGermanmilitaryandforeignpolicy.Perhapssurprisinglyforamemberofanationwhosesurvivalhadalwaysdependedonitsmasteryof

thesea,Mackinderpaidmoreattentiontoland-basedwarfare.HishighlyselectiveanddubiousinterpretationofhistoryledhimtoconcludethataswatheoflandstretchingfromtheRhineinthewesttoTibetandMongoliaintheeastrepresentedthe‘heartland’andwhoevercontrolledthatterritorydominatedtheworld.IftheyhadcomeupagainstMackinder’stheories,AlexandertheGreat,JuliusCaesarandmanyotherrulersofvastempiresmightwellhavewonderedhowtheyhadmanagedtodominatetheknownworldwithoutcontrollingtheheartland.Mackinderbelievedthatgreatnationswereforcedbytheincreaseintheirpopulationtoseeknewterritorytosettletheirexcesspeopleandconquernewterritoryfortheirempires.

KarlHaushoferwithGerhardWagner,theNazidoctors’leaderresponsibleforeuthanasiaandsterilizationforJewsandthedisabled,RudolfHessandPrinzzuWied,1935

Haushofer’sconceptofgeopoliticswasevencruderandmoresimplisticthanMackinder’s.HesswastotallyconvincedofboththetruthofLebensraumanditsvitalimportanceforthefuturedirectionofGermany.WhileHitlerandHesswereinprisonHaushofercametovisitthemandhefiredHitlerwithenthusiasmforageopoliticalstrategy.

GERMANFOREIGNPOLICYEversinceGermanyhadbecomeanationtherehadalwaysbeenthreeschoolsofthoughtaboutthedirectionitsforeignpolicyshouldtake.InspiteofhavingfoughtthreesuccessfulwarsBismarck

advocatedapeacefulapproachtoforeignrelationsand,crucially,apolicyoffriendshipwithRussia,whiledisplayingalackofinterestinexpandingGermanterritoryeitherwithinEuropeoroverseas.ThesecondschoolwasrepresentedbyBismarck’ssuccessorasChancellor,LeovonCaprivi,andfavouredGermanexpansionoverseasandacquiringcoloniesforthenation.ThethirdschoolwasrepresentedbyTheobaldvonBethmann-Hollweg,ChancellorattheoutbreakoftheFirstWorldWar,andfavouredapolicyofexpansioneastwardsandacquiringterritoryfromRussiaandthecountriesofEasternEurope.Hitler’sownpreferenceinforeignpolicywasforBethmann-Hollweg’sapproach.Hehadlittlereal

interestinrecoveringtheGermancoloniesinAfricaandAsiathathadbeenlostaftertheTreatyofVersaillesbutwasdeterminedtowrestvastterritoryfromRussiaandtobecomemasterofthewholeofEasternEurope.ThisobsessionmeantthatwarwiththeSovietUnionwouldinevitablycomeandeventhetwo-yearNazi–SovietPactwassimplyatacticalmanoeuvreratherthan–asmostGermanForeignOfficeministershoped–representingagenuineshiftinpolicy.WhenHitlerbecameChancellorhemadeavailablevastsumsofpublicmoneytoHaushofer’sInstitute

ofGeopoliticsinMunich.Haushoferusedhisinstitutetoresearchthestrengthsandweaknessesofothercountries,in-depthpsychologicalprofilesofleadingpoliticalandmilitaryfiguresandevenclimaticconditions.Heemployedastaffofoverathousandhistorians,psychologists,meteorologists,economists,physicists,geographersandmilitaryexpertstoevaluatethedatahisinstituteprocessed.

HAUSHOFER’SGEOPOLITICALPREDICTIONSAsaresultofthisresearchHaushoferadvisedHitleronthe‘correctcourseofaction’anditslikelyresults.In1938armychiefswereconvincedthatBritainandFrancewouldgotowaroverCzechoslovakia;HaushoferassuredHitlerthattheywouldnotfight.In1939thegeneralswereconvincedthattheirtankswouldbecomestuckinthemudiftheyinvadedPoland;HaushoferassuredHitlerthatitwouldnotrainandthatPolandwouldfallwithineighteendays.ThesameyearsawthegeneralsurginganimmediateinvasionofFrance;HaushoferadvisedHitlertowaituntilGermanpropagandahadspreadadefeatistmoodamongtheFrenchpeople.ThegeneralsadvisedagainstinvadingNorway;HaushoferassuredHitlerthatGermanywouldhaveaneasyvictory.

TheNazisfoundphrenologyusefultotheirpurposes–theycoulddenounceanentireraceasinferiorduetothemeasurementstakenfromatinysampleofcitizens

Haushoferusedsomestrangeturnsofphrasewhenrecommendinghisgeopoliticalthinkingtoothers.Hisuseofexpressionssuchas‘thealmosttelepathicsensitivityofoceanicnationstoforeigndangers’;and‘thedemoniacbeautyofgeopolitics’ledtomanyobserversdismissinghimasacrankorassomeonewhohadperpetrated‘oneofhistory’sgreatesthoaxes’.MoreinformedobserversfeltverydifferentlyandasHansWeigertwroteinJuly1942:

Thehighesteulogyapoliticalwritercouldearnwastobecalled‘theAmericanHaushofer’.Collegesalloverthecountry[theUSA]hurriedtoorganize‘institutesofgeopolitics’.

PHYSIOGNOMYANDPHRENOLOGYForalltheirinherentabsurdityitispossibletounderstandhowandwhyracescienceandgeopoliticscouldbepressedintotheserviceofatotalitarianregime.Itismuchhardertoseewhysomanyotherpseudo-sciencesenjoyedtolerationorevenpatronageinNaziGermany.Itwasprobablytherelativeeasewithwhichtheycouldbeatleastsuperficiallyassimilatedto‘racescience’thatledtotherevivalandtolerationofphysiognomyandphrenology.Physiognomyisnotaswhollyirrationalasmostofthepseudo-sciencesthatfoundfavourundertheNazis.Itistheallegedabilitytodeterminecharacterfromfacialshapeandexpressionsalongwithbodilygesturesandisanessentiallyintuitiveprocess.TheeighteenthcenturysawanattemptbytheSwisswriterJohannKasparLavatertoturnitintoarigidsystem.Foratimehewasconsideredtheleadingauthorityonthesubjectbutastimepassedhisattemptstoassignsignificancetoeveryfeatureofthefaceandeverybodilygesturebecamesodifficulttoreconcilewithrealitythattheyfelloutoffavour,beforebeingtakenupbyHimmlerandtaughttothemembersoftheSSas‘tests’for‘racialsuperiority’.

Thesamewastrueofphrenologywhichwasa‘science’withoutanykindofvalidity.Itclaimedtoderive‘character’and‘aptitude’onthebasisofbumpsupontheheadandeachbumpwasallegedtodetermineaparticularattribute.Eventhephrenologistscouldnotagreeonexactlyhowmanybumpstherewerewithestimatesrangingfromthirty-threetothirty-sevenandevenforty.Noneoftheseassertionsresteduponanyevidenceandbeforelongphrenologywasrelegatedtotheoccultunderground.ThereitwasfoundbyHimmlerwhoreviveditandtaughtits‘principles’totheSS.

HannsHörbigerwasanAustrianengineerwhoinventedasteelvalvethatisstillinusetoday.HealsointroducedtheWorldIceTheoryinthebookGlazialKosmogonie,1912

Hörbiger’sIceTheoryfoundfavourwithHansRobertScultetus,headoftheSS-Ahnenerbemetereologysection,whobelieveditwouldprovidelong-termweatherforecasts

THEWORLDICETHEORY

Anextremelyinfluentialpseudo-scientificdoctrinetowhichHitler,Himmler,Rosenbergandotherssubscribedwasthe‘GlacialCosmogony’ofHannsHörbiger.ThiswasalsoknownastheWelteislehre(WorldIceTheory),whichinessenceassertedthattheuniverserepresentedaneternalstrugglebetweenfireandice.Italsoclaimedthatthemoonwasasolidpieceoficethatwasnotanativeofthesolarsystembuthadbeencapturedbyearth’sorbitaround11000BC.Hörbigerdeclaredthattherehadbeenatleastonepreviousmoonwhichhadcollapsedontotheplanet.AccordingtoHörbiger’stheorythe‘capture’ofearth’spresentmoonledtothephenomenondescribedintheBibleas‘giantsinthosedays’.HeblamedthecollapseofitspredecessorforthedestructionofAtlantisandtheGreatFlood.HörbigerarrivedathisGlacialCosmogonywhileworkingasanengineer.Hesawmoltensteelbeing

pouredontosnowandthegroundbeneatheruptingintoaviolentexplosion.Inthatmomenthebecameconvincedthattheuniversehadarisenthroughasimilarprocessofcosmicicebeingexposedtointenseheat.Histheorydeclaredthatahugeparticleoficehadcollidedwiththesunandthatthishadresultedinan

explosionwhoseafter-effectswerestillcontinuing.TheFlood,Atlantis,theIceAgeandsimilareventsinthehistoryoftheearthallstemmedultimatelyfromthatprimordialcollisionbetweenfireandice.Eventhedifferentethnictypesonearthhadarisenasaresultofthesecataclysmicevents.

ATLANTISANDGLACIALCOSMOGONYGermanAtlantologistswereincreasinglypronetoassociatethefallofAtlantiswithHörbiger’stheorybutnon-Germansalsobegantoadoptit.InBritaintheDruidLewisSpenceatleastconsidereditpossiblethoughunlikelyandHansBellamyandPeterAllanadoptedthebeliefwholesale.TheywroteaseriesofbooksadvocatingHörbiger’sGlacialCosmogony.Hörbigerandhisdisciplesbelievedthatthecollapseoftheearth’spreviousmoonledtothemeltingof

theglaciersandaconsequentvastdelugethatoverwhelmedAtlantiswiththevasttsunamithatfollowed.TheIceAgehaddestroyedAryanAtlantis,thegreatestcivilizationeverseenonearth.Modernhumanswereonlyslowlybeginningtoapproachthelostsplendourofthatsunkencontinent.HitleroftenexpressedhisbeliefintheWorldIceTheoryandHimmlernotonlybelievedinitbut

propagandizedextensivelyonitsbehalf.HimmleraskedKissonhisvisittoEthiopiatoinvestigateanytracesofcosmiciceaswellassearchingfortheArkoftheCovenant.HesetupadepartmentwithintheAhnenerbededicatedtopredictingtheweatheronthebasisoftheCosmicIceTheory.HimmlersuppressedpubliccriticismofHörbiger’sideasanddelugedotherNazileaderswithliteratureonthesubject.HeorderedtheGermanmountaineersclimbingNangaParbattocarryoutexperimentstodemonstratethetruthofthetheory.In1937ahandbookoncosmicicewasproducedanddistributedtoseniorSAleaders.Itincludedthenotoriouswords‘thetheoryofrelativityistoit[Hörbiger’sGlacialCosmogony]astheTalmudtotheEdda’.HitlerwassoimpressedwiththeWorldIceTheorythathecomparedHörbigerwithCopernicusanddeclaredin1942thatwhenthewarwasoverhewouldbuildanobservatoryinLinzdedicatedtohim.

In1941,Hörbigerian‘weatherforecasters’promisedamildwinterwhichmeantthatGermantroopsinvadingtheSovietUnionwerenotequippedwithwinterclothing

ThistheoryhaddisastrouspracticalconsequencesfortheNazis.In1941theHörbigerian‘weatherforecasters’promisedamildwinterwhichmeantthattheGermantroopsinvadingtheSovietUnionwerenotequippedwithwinterclothing,afundamentalerrorthatcostmanylivesneedlessly.LaterinthewartheGermansperiodicallyhaltedworkontheirrocketprogrammesbecauseHörbiger’sfollowerswereanxiousaboutupsetting‘thedelicatebalancebetweenfireandice’.GlacialCosmogonybroughtnobenefitatalltotheNazisbutlargesumsofpublicmoneywere

squandereduponit.Italsodecisivelyaffectedthecourseofthewarinawhollynegativeway.ItisincrediblethatamoderntechnologicalstatelikeGermanywithitsfinetraditioninsciencecouldhavebeensomesmerizedbythetheorythatitalloweditsnotionstoinfluencekeymilitarydecisions.

THEHOLLOWEARTHTHEORYAnevenmoreabsurdpseudo-scientifictheorywasstronglysupportedbybothGoeringandtheGermanNavy.Thiswastheideathattheearthwashollowandhumanslivedinsideit,witha‘phantomuniverse’,attheextremitiesoftheearth.TheNorthandSouthPoleswerebelievedtobe‘openings’toasubterraneanworld.ThisfantasytiedinwellwiththeoccultnotionsofthemembersoftheVrilSocietyandotherleadingNazis.Moneywasactuallywastedontwoexperimentsdesignedtoprovethetruthofthehollowearththeory.

ThefirstwasknownastheMagdeburgprojectandinvolvedseveraltestlaunchesofrockets.Thetheorywasthatiftherocketscrashedontheothersideoftheglobethatwould‘prove’thattheearthwashollow.Successivetestsresultedinacompletefailuretolaunch,withtherocketscrashingsoonafterreleaseor

flyingoffandtheirsubsequentwhereaboutsbeingunknown.EventhisseriesofexpensivefailuresdidnotdeterGoeringandthenavyfromcontinuingtopursue

‘research’intothisidea.ThelogicbehindthisfutileendeavourwastotryandlocatetheBritishfleet.In1942theysentaten-manpartyundertheleadershipofanexpertininfraredraysfromBerlintothe

islandofRügen.Thetheorywasthatthehollowearth’scurvaturewouldenablethemtophotographtheBritishfleetifthepicturesweretakenatanangleofforty-fivedegrees.

NaturallythisexperimentalsofailedandthistimeHitlerlostpatience.Rosenberghadalreadydenouncedthehollowearththeoryas‘acompletelyunscientificexplanationofouterspace’andnotevenGoering’sadvocacycouldpreventthetheoryfrombeingbannedanditssupportersthrownintoconcentrationcamps.

ARYANPHYSICSLesswhollyirrationalthantheCosmicIceandhollowearththeorieswastheideaof‘Aryanphysics’.UnlikethecranksandcharlatanswhoarguedinfavouroftheformernotionsthesupportersofAryanphysicsatleastincludedsomefirst-ratescientificbrains.TheideaofAryanphysicsfirstaroseduringtheFirstWorldWar.Itcentredontherejectionofthe

theoryofrelativityandinmanycasesofquantumphysicsaswell.AryanphysicistsarguedthatboththeorieshadnotbeenprovedandthatotherexplanationswereavailablealongthelinesoftheclassicalprinciplesofNewton.ThetwoleadingexponentsofAryanphysicswerePhilippLenardandJohannesStark.Bothmenwere

brilliantscientistsandmanyoftheircriticismsofthenewideasinphysicswerecogent.Howevertheymaintainedtheiroppositioninthefaceofincreasingevidencethattheywerewrongandtheirdoubtshardenedintodogma.

PhilippLenardwasaleadingexponentof‘Aryanphysics’

SomeAryanphysicistswerewillingtoacceptquantumphysicsandevensomeoftheelementsuponwhichrelativitywasbasedbutrefusedtogoalongwithrelativityasawhole.TheleadingexponentofthispartialaccommodationbetweentheoldandnewphysicswasRudolfTomaschek.HebelievedthatthemeasurementsoftheorbitofMercuryandArthurEddington’seclipseexperiments,whichpurportedlyconfirmedEinstein’stheory,provednothingandwerecapableofalternativeexplanations.TomaschekalsotriedtoignoreEinstein’sworkcompletelyandproposeddifferentinterpretationsofthescientificproblemsthathadledtothecreationofrelativitytheory.Starkwasabrilliantifold-fashionedphysicistandalthoughhewasalwaysanextremeGerman

nationalisthisanti-Semitismappearstohavearisenforpersonalreasons.Asearlyas1915heclashedwitharivalphysicist,ArnoldSommerfeld,afterthelatter’spupilreceivedaprofessorshipwhichStarkhadbeenseeking.Heimmediatelyclaimedthat‘Jewishandpro-Semiticcircles’headedbySommerfeldhadintriguedagainsthimtopreventhisappointment.In1920StarkwasawardedtheNobelPrizeforPhysicsandusedtheenhancedprestigethatitgavehim

tobeginhiscampaignagainstwhathereferredtoas‘modernphysics’.Stark’santi-Semitismwasneverideologicalbutremainedapersonalvendettaagainstscientistswithwhomhedisagreed.HeoftenavoidedcriticizingJewishscientistsandhismostvitriolicattacksweregenerallyreservedfor‘Aryan’

supportersofEinstein.ThefirstrealattempttocreateamovementthatforeshadowedAryanphysicsoccurredin1920witha

seriesoflecturesinBerlinthatdenouncedrelativity.EinsteinrespondedinaBerlinnewspaperarticlewhereheaccusedhisopponentsofanti-SemitismandalsocriticizedLenardpublicly.ThiswasnotonlyunwisebutalsounfairasLenardhadneverpreviouslyattackedEinsteinpersonallynormadeanyanti-SemiticremarksandhadnotevenattendedtheBerlinlectures.

BecauseEinsteinwasJewishtheNaziscouldn’tadmithewasagenius.ScientistslikePhilippLenardwereencouragedtoattackhimandothersupportersofrelativity

Theresultwasabitterpersonalanimosityandthebeginningofanti-SemiticattacksbyLenardonbothEinsteinandothersupportersofrelativity.WhenEinsteinreceivedhisNobelPrizein1922StarkandLenardwereoutraged.ThatyearStarkpublishedTheContemporaryCrisisinGermanPhysicsinwhichheattackedbothrelativityandquantumphysicsas‘dogmatic’.HealsocomplainedthatEinsteintriedtopopularizehistheoriesthroughtalksandnewspaperarticlesratherthanthroughscholarlyworkinthescientificcommunity.AlthoughLenardbecameafanaticalanti-SemiteStark’sownattitudesweremoreopportunisticand

largelymotivatedbypersonalmalice.HebegantoaccuseanyscientistwhodisagreedwithhimofeitherbeingJewishorbeinga‘whiteJew’.In1923hepubliclysupportedtheNazisandvisitedHitlerduringhisimprisonment.LenardjoinedtheNaziPartyduringitsearlyyearsandbegantodenouncerelativityas‘Jewish

physics’.WhentheNaziscametopowerheandhisallyStarksawthechancetoimposetheirviewsonthescientificcommunityasawhole.Starkangledforthepostof‘Führerofphysics’andbothmenactivelyco-operatedinthedisgracefulpurgeofJewishscientists.By1937theyhadsucceededindrivingeveryoneofthemoutoftheirpositions.

MaxPlanckwas74whentheNaziscametopowerandingeneralheattemptednottofalloutwiththemwhileneveracceptingthestricturestheyimposedonscientists

MaxvonLaueescapedcensurewhenhedeliveredlecturesonEinsteinandquantumphysics

EvenwiththeNazisinpowerLenardandStarkfacedopposition.MaxPlancksuccessfullymanoeuvredtopresentanapparentconformitywith‘Germanphysics’and‘NationalSocialistprinciples’butinpracticeworkedhardtopreservetheintegrityofGermanscience.HecoulddonothingtopreventthedismissalofJewishscientistsfromtheirpositionsbutsucceededinensuringthatrelativityandquantumphysicsremainedanintegralpartofscienceinGermany.MaxvonLauewasapersonalfriendofEinstein’sandgaveapresentationonhistheoryinJanuary1935.InApril1936hedeliveredanotheronquantumtheory.InspiteofthefactthatbothrelativityandquantumphysicswerebeingdenouncedbyStarkandLenardas‘Jewishphysics’notawordofcensureforvonLauefollowed.

WernerHeisenberg,seenherereceivinghisNobelPrizefromSweden’sKingGustavin1933,wasamongEinsteinsupporterswhofoundthemselvesworkingfortheNazis

StarkandLenardwerefarlesssuccessfulwhentheyattacked‘Aryan’supportersofrelativity.WaltherBotheopenlysupportedEinstein’stheoriesandthoughhewasdismissedfromhispositionatastateuniversitythepowerfulpatronageofPlanckenabledhimtocontinuehisresearchesintheprivatesector.WhenStarkandLenardattackedWernerHeisenbergasa‘whiteJew’theystirredupahornets’nest.

HeisenberghadgonetoschoolwithHimmlerandafterhismotherprotestedtoHimmler’smotherabouthisharassmentitabruptlystopped.InfacttheresultwasthatLenardandStarklostinfluenceandAryanphysicsbegantofalloutoffavour.HimmlertoldHeisenbergthatafterthewarhewouldbeputinoverallchargeofGermanphysics.SoonotherscientistsbegantodefendrelativityandquantumphysicsandwiththeadventofwaritwasnotStarkandLenardbutBotheandHeisenbergandothersupportersofEinsteinwhofoundthemselvesworkingfortheGermangovernmenttohelpwinthewar.Aryanphysicswasquietlypushedasideintheinterestsofvictory.

GERMANMATHEMATICSAswellas‘Aryanphysics’therewasaparallelmovementknownasDeutscheMathematik(Germanmathematics)whichwasasviciouslyanti-Semiticasthephysicistsbuthadmuchlessexcuseforitsattacks.Therewereatleastgenuineproblemswiththetheoryofrelativityandevenquantumphysics.Mathematicswasanentirelydifferentmatter.Theleadingadvocateof‘Germanmathematics’wasLudwigBieberbach,arespectedmathematician

whohadnevershownanysignsofNazisympathiesbefore1933.His‘conversion’toaNationalSocialist

‘attitude’waspurelyopportunisticandheonlybeganadvocatinghistheorieson‘Germanmathematics’after1933.BieberbachputforwardtheideathatbecauseoftheethnicdifferencesbetweenAryansandJewsthey

createdentirelydifferenttypesofmathematicsbecauseoftheir‘psychologicalnatures’,whichderivedfromtheirdissimilar‘racialorigins’.Thisself-evidentnonsensewouldhavebeenlaughedatinanyothersocietybutbecauseoftheobsessionalanti-SemitisminNaziGermanyhisworkwaspraised.JustasStarktriedtomakehimselfthescientificdictatorofGermanysoBieberbachaspiredtobecome

theFührerofGermanmathematics.HisattemptstoseizecontrolofmathematicalactivitywithinthecountryfailedbuthiscampaigntoexpelJewsfrompositionsinthefieldwasmoresuccessful.

THECAMPAIGNAGAINSTJEWISHSCIENTISTSFrom30September1933Germanscientificandmathematicalorganizationswererequiredtoensurethatforeigncorrespondingmemberswere‘raciallypure’andnot‘politicallyobjectionable’.ThisideahadbeenproposedbyBieberbachandwasadoptedbytheGermanMinistryofEducation.In1936BieberbachtriedtoimposeNazicandidatesuponthePrussianAcademyofSciences(PAW)butwasunsuccessful.ThePAWcontinuedtohaveJewsamongitsmembershipandinJanuary1937itwasopenlyattackedfor

allowingthemtobelong,aswellasbeingaccusedofhostilitytowardsNationalSocialism.InFebruary1937itwasrequiredtogiveanaccountofhowmany‘non-Aryan’membersithadandin

particularhowmanywereJewish.On1March1937thePAWrespondedtothe‘request’.Amongthesociety’smemberstherewerethree

non-AryansandonewhowasaquarterJewish.Noneofthesociety’sGermancorrespondingmemberswereJewishbuttheywereunabletoprovideinformationaboutforeignmembers.InApriltheirreportopenlyexpressedtheirconcernthatexpellingallJewishmemberswouldleadtomassresignationsfromtheacademybyitsforeignmembers.BieberbachrefusedtosignthisdocumentbuttheMinistryofEducationwasmoreflexible.ByaprocessofslowattritiontheremainingJewishmemberswereforcedoutduringthecourseoftheyear.ItwasasadchapterinthehistoryofGermanscienceandmathematics.

VIKTORSCHAUBERGERANDLIVINGWATERThefinalareaofirrationalandpseudo-scientificbeliefstohaveinfluencewithinNaziGermanywasrepresentedbytheideasoftheAustrianViktorSchauberger.HiswholeconceptionofsciencewasrootedinoccultismanditisnosurprisethatheattractedtheattentionofHimmlerandultimatelyHitler.Schaubergerwasaforesterbytradeandmanyofhisconcernsaboutdeforestationandthewatertablewerejustified.HoweverheexpressedhisviewsinthecontextofanentirelynebulousmysticismanddeniedthatthechemicalformulaH2Orepresented‘real’water.Hedescribeditas‘sterilewater’andcontrasteditwiththepropertiesofwhathecalled‘livingwater’.Schaubergerdescribedwaterasthe‘bloodofMotherEarth’whichwas‘born’intheforests.Whatwethinkofaswater,hedeclared,wasonly‘juvenilewater’withoutanypropertiesofitsown.Onlyasitabsorbsminerals,saltsandevenodoursfromeverythingitpassesthroughorhascontactwithandbecomesenrichedbythemdoeswaterhavevalue,hebelieved.Schaubergerconsideredthatsunlightwasharmfultowaterandthatitsqualitywasatitsgreatestifit

flowedindarknessoratleastinshade.Heevolvedthetheorythattheflowofwaterwasregulatedby‘naturalvortices’.Schaubergerclaimedthatbyusingthisprinciplehecouldcreatea‘centrifugalmovement’thatoverrodeArchimedes’theoriesonthedisplacementofwater.Hetookoutanumberofpatentsforan‘airturbine’,a‘procedureforliftingliquidandgases’anda‘warm-coldmachine’from1929onwards.In1934SchaubergermetHitleranddiscussedforestry,agricultureandwatermanagement.Nothing

seemstohavecomeofthismeetingbutfollowingtheAnschlusswithAustriain1938HimmlerimmediatelydemandedthatSchaubergerbeganworkingonbehalfoftheSS.In1940hedevelopedandtookoutpatentsfortheRepulsindiscoidmotor.NotlongafterhewasarrestedbytheSSanddetainedinamentalhospital.OnhisreleaseheworkedwiththeMesserschmittaircraftcompanyonaliquidvortexcoolingsystem.TherivalHeinkelfirmalsorecruitedhimtoworkoncoolingaircraftenginesandtoseeifhisRepulsindiscoidmotorcouldbedevelopedforuseinplanes.TheHeinkeldesignwasforacigar-shapedaircraft.HimmlerorderedSchaubergertoworkat

Mauthausenconcentrationcampandhewasplacedinchargeofaroundthirtyinmateswhowereengineers.Hisresearchwasdescribedasbeingconcernedwith‘higheratomicenergies’.Theteamworkedhardtobuildaprototypethatwaseventuallytestedinalaboratory.TheRepulsinAroseswiftlyinaverticaltake-offbeforesmashingtopiecesontheceiling.Schaubergerwasaccusedofsabotagebutwasallowedtocontinueworkonanimprovedversionofhisidea.HewasnextorderedtoworkonfittingtheRepulsinBmotortoanadvancedtypeofsubmarineknown

astheForelle(trout)becauseofitsunusualshape,whichresembledafishwithitsmouthopen.By1944theSShadabandonedthisparticularideabutorderedSchaubergertoapplytheRepulsinBinsteadtoexperimentalflyingdiscaircraft.Schaubergerhaddevelopedatypeofturbinethatcreatedanupwardvortexofairthatwasabletopowerthemachinethroughdragand‘movingair’.Itflewsuccessfullyin1944butnothingmoreisknownaboutanywartimedevelopmentsofthemodel.TheoveralldevelopmentofhisRepulsinscontinueduntilMay1945.ThatyearhealsobeganworkupontheKlimator,adevicetoheatandcoolair.FollowingthedefeatofGermanySchaubergerwasarrestedbytheUSandallofhismodelsand

researchnoteswereseizedbythem.Heremainedunderarrestforthenextninemonths.ThebasisuponwhichSchauberger’smachinesoperatedremainsasecretasallhisworkpassedinto

thehandsofintelligenceagencies.Cluesexistwithinhiswritingandthemostrelevantquotationhasledtoclaimsthathedevelopedaformof‘freeenergy’or‘perpetualmotion’machine.

Ifwaterorairisrotatedintoatwistingformofoscillationknownas‘colloidal’,abuildupofenergyresults,which,withimmensepower,cancauselevitation.Thisformofmovementisabletocarrywithititsownmeansofpowergeneration.Thisprincipleleadslogicallytoitsapplicationinthedesignoftheidealairplaneorsubmarinerequiringalmostnomotivepower.

Schaubergeralsoclaimedthatnaturepossessed‘growingandincreasingreservesofenergy’whichinhisview‘resultsfirstandforemostinthecollapseoftheso-calledLawoftheConservationofEnergy,andinfurtherconsequencetheLawofGravity’.CommentsofthatnaturecertainlyplaceSchaubergerfirmlyinthesameirrationalandoccultuniverse

thatHimmlerinhabited.HisobsessionwiththenotionthateveryaspectofnaturewasalivingpresenceandthatsuchestablishedprinciplesasgravityandtheconservationofenergywerefalsemakesSchauberger’sideasfirmlytheproductofmysticismratherthanofscience.Hisworkonanti-gravityresearchproducedlittlesignificantprogressanditisentirelycharacteristicoftheNaziregimethatitpreferredtodevotemoney,timeandresourcestowardsworkthatwasatbestofonlymarginalandlong-termsignificanceratherthanuponresearchthatmightactuallyhaveinfluencedthecourseofthewarinitsfavour.

CHAPTERTEN

OccultismatwarAtthedarkheartoftheNazis’visionlaysuchafundamentalinversionofmostacceptedmoralandspiritualvaluesthattheyarousedfierceoppositionevenbeforetheycametopower.ThecampaigntocontroloccultactivitywithinGermanybeganin1933andwasmoreorlesscompleteby1937.FollowingtheflightofHesstoBritainin1941thefewremainingindependentoccultistswithintheReichwereroundedupandthrownintoconcentrationcamps.Thecomingofwarin1939sawaferociousmilitary,politicalandeconomicstrugglebeing

foughtacrossEurope.Aswellasthe‘public’faceofthewara‘psychicconflict’alsotookplacewhichwasfoughtatthehighestlevel.InsideGermanyfewwereeithercapableorcourageousenoughtojointheanti-Nazispiritualconflictdirectlybutafewdidso.BritainneededallthehelpitcouldgetandChurchillinparticularencouragedtheuseofeverypossiblemethodofpsychologicalwarfare.

ThepublicfaceofNazism:GoebbelsstridesthroughtheparadegroundsofTempelhofbeforeanassemblyof120,000men,butbehindthescenestensionwasgrowing

THE1939ASSASSINATIONATTEMPTONHITLERThe1939assassinationattemptagainstHitlerhadanumberofoccultelements.ManymythshavegrownuparoundthiseventinadditiontodownrightfabricationsandalargeamountofdeliberatedisinformationonthepartoftwoagentsofBritishIntelligence.Thebarefactsofthecaseareremarkableenough.AcarpenternamedGeorgElserdecidedto

assassinateHitler.HeconsideredthebestmethodofachievinghisgoalandsettledonanexplosivedeviceattheannualcelebrationofthefailedMunichputschon8November.ElserwasaCommunistbuthadneverbeenaparticularlyactivememberoftheparty.HesimplymadeuphismindthatHitlerhadtobekilledandthatheknewhowitcouldbedone.TheoccultassociationswiththeplotbeginwiththeSwissastrologerKarlKrafft.Hehadbeenworking

onafreelancebasisforHeinrichFeseloftheGestaposince1933.InspiteofhisSwissoriginsKraffthadfallenoutwithhisnativecountryandhadmovedtoGermanyin1936.HebecameaconvincedNaziandFeselplacedhimontheGestapopayroll,probablymoreinthehopethathemightbeusefulatsomepointinthefuturethanfromanyparticularpurposeforwhichheconsideredhisocculttalentsmightbeused.KrafftdrewuphoroscopesofChamberlain,Roosevelt,ChurchillandotherWesternpoliticianstomakeastrologicalpredictionsabouttheirfuture.

TheBürgerbräukellerinMunichaftertheexplosionwhichnearlyclaimedHitler’slifein1939:Hitlermissedassassinationby15minutesafterheleftthepremisesearlierthanhewassupposedto

KrafftisprimarilyrememberedasanastrologerbuthewasoneoftheleadingexpertsontheinterpretationofthepropheciesofNostradamusandhealsoinventedamumbo-jumbotheoryoflinguisticsknownasSprachgeist(‘thespiritoflanguage’)aswellasdevelopinganewapproachtoastrologywhichhecalledastro-biology.ThroughFeselhemettheseniorNazileadersRobertLeyandHansFrankandbegantohopethathemightberecruitedformoreimportantworkonbehalfoftheregime.His‘forecast’on2November1939wasstartlinglyspecific.HislatestastrologicalpredictiontoFesel

declaredthatbetween8and9NovemberHitler’slifewouldbeindangerfrom‘anattemptofassassinationbytheuseofexplosivematerial’.Feseldidnotpassonthisparticularforecasttohissuperiorandnodoubtconsideredityetanothercrankprediction.Ontheeveningof8NovemberHitlergavehisannualspeechatthePartymeetinginmemoryofthe

failedMunichputsch.AbombexplodedinthehallandsevenNaziswerekilledandmanymoreinjured.Hitlerhadspokenfornearlyanhourbeforeleavingandonlymissedbeingassassinatedbyfifteenminutes.FeselwasalreadynervousaboutnothavingpassedonthewarningbutKrafft,whoclearlyhadmegalomaniactendencies,sentatelegramtoHessboastingabouthisprediction.

KarlKrafftwasanastrologerwithhisowntheory,Typocosmy,predictingthefuturebasedonanindividual’spersonality

ItremainsamysterywhyhechosetocontactHess,amanwhomhehadnevermet,ratherthanLeyorHansFrankwhomhedidatleastknowslightly.ProbablythemostlogicalpersonforhimtohavecontactedwashisexistingGestapocontactFesel.KrafftwasalsoclearlynotlivingintherealworldorthelastthinghewouldhavedoneonanyrationalassessmentofthesituationwastoclaimforeknowledgeofanattemptonHitler’slife.NaturallytheGestapoarrestedhimandFeselhastilyproducedKrafft’sprediction.Theastrologerwas

grilledrelentlesslybutwaseventuallyabletopersuadethemthathehadonlyknownabouttheplotthroughhisstudyofthestars.KrafftnowcametotheattentionofHimmlerandGoebbels,bothofwhomdecidedthathecouldbea

usefultool.Inearly1938hetoldtheRomanianambassadorthatthefascistpoliticianCodreanuwoulddieinNovemberofthatyearandthattheKingofRomaniawouldlosehispower.BothpredictionscametrueandwerelargelyresponsibleforthesubsequentwartimecareerofLouisdeWohl.HimmlerwasprimarilyinterestedinKrafft’sastrologicalskills;Goebbelswasimpressedbyhis

knowledgeofNostradamusandimmediatelyrecruitedhimtothePropagandaMinistry.Inearly1940Krafftwasaskedtoproduceanew‘edition’oftheFrenchprophet’sworkwhileinsertinganumberofforgedprophecieswithinitpredictingaGermanvictoryinthewar.KrafftactuallywroteanumberoffakeNostradamusprophecieswhichtheGermanscirculatedwithin

France.TheyprovedsurprisinglyeffectiveaspropagandaweaponsandhelpedtospreadaspiritofdefeatismamongtheFrenchandtolowertheirmorale.

BRITISHBLACKOPERATIONSANDDIRTYTRICKSTheseactionsontheNazis’partledtothedecisionbyBritishIntelligencetoretaliateinkind.FromtheverybeginningofthewartheSpecialOperationsExecutive(SOE)hadbeenworkingonacampaignof‘dirtytricks’againsttheGermansandtheHungarianexileLouisdeWohlwasrecruitedbythemtoworkon‘occultpropaganda’stunts.DeWohlwrotearticlesforfakeeditionsofZenit,HubertKorsch’sastrologicalmagazine–thoughtheBritishmadethemistakeofcallingtheirversionDerZenit–aswellasforgingNostradamuspropheciesofhisown.AlthoughdeWohlexaggeratedbothhisownimportanceandthatofKrafft,hecertainlydidworkonblackopsforSeftonDelmer’s‘blackops’teamandhisactivitiesprobablyhelpedraisemoraleathomeandloweritabroad,ifonlyslightly.BeforeturningtodeWohl’scolourfulcareerawordmustbesaidaboutDelmerandhisextraordinarily

successfuluseofblackpropaganda.Atseveralkeypointsinthewarhisworkactuallyaffecteditsoutcomedecisively.

BritishjournalistSeftonDelmerorganizedabrilliantblackpropagandacampaignagainsttheNazisandwasontheirlistoftoptargetsforwhenBritainwasconquered

From1939SOEwasinchargeofpropagandaanddisinformation.In1941thePsychologicalWarfareExecutivewassetupasaseparatedepartmentandDelmerwasplacedineffectivecharge.Hisbriefwaspsychologicalwarfareanddirtytricksandwhilemuchofhisdepartment’sworkwas‘white’propagandathroughbroadcaststoEuropefromtheBBCandofficialBritishgovernmentleafletsdroppedoverenemyterritorybytheRAFitalsohadadarkerside.‘Black’operationsweredesignedtomisleadandtodisguisetheirBritishoriginandgivetheimpressionthattheywereofficialGermanbroadcastsorpublications.Itwasnotuntil1941thatDelmer’sblackopscamefullyintooperation.On23May1941theGustaf

SiegfriedEinsradiostation(GS1)beganbroadcastingandinNovember1941theprintinganddistributionoffakeleafletsbegan.MuchofthematerialproducedbyDelmer’steamwasstraightforwardpropagandabutasurprisinglylargeamountofitinvolvedtheoccult.GS1wasaremarkablysuccessfulexerciseinblackpropaganda.ItfeaturedasupposedNazicalled

‘DerChef’wholambastedChurchillandwhathecalled‘PartyCommunists’,whomheaccusedofbetrayingtheNazirevolution.SirStaffordCrippswassoappalledbyDelmer’spropagandathathetoldAnthonyEden,theForeignSecretary,‘Ifthisisthesortofthingthatisneededtowinthewar,why,I’dratherloseit.’FortunatelybothEdenandChurchilldisagreedandDelmer’soperationsexpanded.

ASTROLOGICALWARFAREAsearlyasspring1940‘astrologicalwarfare’wasbeingusedbytheGermans,mainlyonthebasisofhoroscopeinterpretationsdrawnupbyKrafft.BythesummerofthatyeartheBritishdecidedtocounterthiswithpropagandaoftheirownanddeWohlwasrecommendedforthejobbytheRomanianambassador.HemetLordHalifaxandwassoonaskedtobeginworkingforBritishIntelligence,initiallyonafreelancebasisbuteventuallyinanofficialcapacity.

ByDecember1940thefirsteditionofKrafft’sversionofthepropheciesofNostradamusappeared.Itwasahighlyselectivereadingofthesixteenth-centuryFrenchprophet’sworkwithanextensivecommentarybyKrafftandanumberofforgedprophecies.Theentireworkwaspresentedwithapro-NazislantandpromisedaswiftGermanvictoryinthewar.Althoughthefirstbook-lengthNostradamusforgerydidnotappearuntiltheendof1940,asearlyas

Mayofthatyearleafletscontainingselectedprophecieswithinterpretations,somegenuinebutslanted,othersoutrightforgeries,werecirculatedinHolland,BelgiumandFrance.TheyhelpedtofosteradefeatistmoodamongthepeopleandgovernmentandwereoneofthemostspectacularlysuccessfulexamplesofGermanwartimepropaganda.AcrosstheChanneltheBritishwerethinkingalongsimilarlines.Aparticularareaofconcernwasthe

growingsuccessoftheGermanpropagandamachineinitstaskofplantingarticlesandlettersinAmericanastrologicalpublications,predictingaGermanvictoryinthewar.DeWohlwassenttoAmericabytheSOEinMay1941tocounterthisstrategywithastrologicalpredictionsofhisown,whichannouncedimminentdisasterinGermany.HewasremarkablysuccessfulinraisingpublicsupportforBritainandturningAmericanpublicopinionagainsttheNazis.HisownforgedNostradamuspropheciesalsohelpedtosowdoubtabouttheregimeinthemindsofordinaryGermans,particularlyaftertheinvasionoftheSovietUnionbegantofalter.HitlertightlycontrolledoccultactivitywithintheReichandsuppressedmanyorganizationsthatwere

sympathetictowardstheNazis,aswellasoutrightopponents.Evenso,theinfluenceupontheFührerandotherleadingNazisoftheintellectualunderworldtheyinhabitedremainedmarked,inspiteofthefactthatmuchofthisactivityhadbeendrivenunderground.Althoughtheofficialattitudetowardstheoccultwasoneofdisapprovaltherewasarushto‘integrate’

itspractitionerswithintheframeworkofthestateandtheNaziParty.BeforelongmostofthosewhocontinuedtopractisefoundthemselvesworkingfortheThirdReich.Someofthepro-Nazioratleastfellow-travellergroupstofalloutoffavourincludedtheMazdaznan

cult,whosememberscombinedelementsoftheZoroastrianreligionwithvegetarianism,anobsessionwithconstipationandabeliefthatonlylight-skinnedAryanscouldbe‘saved’.ManyadherentsoftheorderhadbeenstrongsupportersofHitlerandwereastonishedwhentheregimesuppressedthem.

CROWLEY’SBOOKOFTHELAWANDHITLERAnothergroupthatfellfouloftheNaziswastheOrdoTempliOrientis(O.T.O.),AleisterCrowley’s‘magical’order.Thisused‘sexmagic’asawayof‘achievingenlightenment’andoneofitsleadingGermanmemberswasstronglypro-Nazi.Therearevariousstoriesconcerningthiswoman’sallegedinfluenceuponHitlerbutnoneseemparticularlyplausible.Itiscertainthatin1925CrowleytoldMartheKünzel,headoftheGermanbranchoftheO.T.O.,thatthe

firstcountrytoadopthisBookoftheLawasitssacredtextwouldbecomethemostpowerfulnationintheworld.KünzelisallegedtohavebeenafriendofRudolfHessandtohavearousedhisinterestinCrowley’swork.AnotherstoryclaimsthatKünzelcarriedoutaritualafterwhichshebelievedthatHitlerwasher‘magicalchild’.ItwassaidthatshealsopresentedHitlerwithacopyoftheBookoftheLawin1926or1927.ItisnotimpossiblethatHessandKünzelmighthavebeenfriends.Noristhereanythingimprobablein

theideaofHessreadingtheBookoftheLaw.HewasperhapsthemostoccultlyinclinedofalltheNazisleaders,evenHimmler,andwouldprobablyhavereadCrowley’sworkwithinterest.FurtherthanthatitisimpossibletodetermineanydirectinfluencebyKünzelorCrowleyuponHess.

AleisterCrowleytoldMartheKünzel,headoftheGermanbranchoftheOrdoTemplisOrientis,thatthefirstcountrytoadopthisBookoftheLawasitssacredtextwouldbecomethemostpowerfulnationonEarth

Hitlerisadifferentmatterandonewherethereclearlydoesseemtobeatleastthepossibilityofsomekindofdirectinfluence.CrowleyandHitlernevermetandeventhemanchristenedbythetabloidpressas‘thewickedestmanintheworld’decidedthatHitlerhadbecomea‘blackbrother’.WeknowthatKünzelwasanadmirerofHitlerandastrongsupporteroftheNazisandthatshemetwiththeFühreronanumberofoccasions.AstheleadingexponentofCrowley’sideasinGermanyitishighlylikelythatshewouldhavepresentedHitlerwithacopyoftheBookoftheLawandurgedhimtoadoptitashis‘testament’.Hitlerhadnointentionofallowingany‘sacredbook’togovernhisideasandactionsbutthereare

certainlycloseenoughparallelsbetweensomeaspectsofCrowley’sthoughtandevenparaphrasesofthebooktosuggestthatHitlerdidatleastreadtheBookoftheLaw.Whenwarbrokeoutin1939CrowleywrotetoKünzelandtoldherthatBritainwould‘knockHitlerforasix’.KünzelalsowrotetoCrowleyearlierthatyearanddeclared:

ItbegantodawnuponmehowmanyofHitler’sthoughtswereasiftheyhadbeentakenfromthelawofThelema[Crowley’sphilosophy].Ibecamehisferventadmirer,andamsonow,andwillbetomyend.ThecloseidentityofHitler’sideaswithwhattheBook[BookoftheLaw]teachesendowedmewiththestrengthnecessaryformywork.IstatedthiseventotheGestaposomeyearsago.

Thereisnodoubt,then,thatKünzelwasbothaNaziandadiscipleofCrowleyandthatshealso

presentedHitlerwithacopyoftheBookoftheLaw.AnumberofquotesfromHitlershowsignsthatsomeofitswilderramblingsatleaststruckachordwiththeGermandictator.Apartfromthatitisunsafetomakefurtherdeductionsaboutpossibleinfluence.

CROWLEYANDBRITISHINTELLIGENCEWiththeoutbreakofwarCrowley,likeotherBritishoccultists,wantedtoassistinthewareffort.HewasinvitedtovisittheDirectorofNavalIntelligenceandclaimedthatasaresultoftheirmeetingtwo‘magicalsigns’wereadoptedathissuggestion.Thefamous‘V-sign’usedbyChurchillwassaidtobethe‘magicalcounter’tothereversedswastikaandthe‘thumbsup’signwasallegedlyasymbolofvictoryandsexualmagic.PartlybecauseofCrowley’sflamboyant,disreputableandvaingloriousnature,doubthasbeencast

uponhisclaims.ThesesuspicionsareentirelyunderstandablebutaswiththestoryaboutKünzelandHitlerthereisacertainamountoffirebehindthesmoke.CrowleycertainlywasinvitedtomeettheDirectorofNavalIntelligenceandalthoughweonlyhavehiswordastowhattookplaceatthatmeetingitisnotatallimplausible.Toclaimtheauthorshipoftwosymbolsis,bythestandardsofCrowley’soutsizedego,averymildandminorexampleofarrogancethatmightwellbetrue.

CHURCHILLTHEDRUIDChurchillwasinchargeofthenavyatthattimeandamanasanti-establishment,humorousandimaginativeashimmaywellhaveconsidereditatleastworthinvestigatinganyideasCrowleymighthavehad.Apartfromthefactthatheplacedgreatemphasisonpsychologicalandevenpsychicwarfare,especiallyoncehebecamePrimeMinister,Churchillwasalsoamanfarmoreinterestedin,andeveninvolvedwith,occultismthanisgenerallyrealized.ChurchillwasaDruidwhowasinitiatedintotheAlbionLodgeoftheAncientOrderofDruidsatBlenheimon15April1908.AccordingtoDennisWheatley(whoworkedforBritishIntelligenceduringthewar)hewasalsoamemberoftheIlluminati,perhapsthemostfamoussecretsocietyofalltime.Churchillcertainlyrecruitedanumberofoccultiststoassistthewareffortandplacedmanyofthemonthegovernmentpayroll.ThemajorityofthemfoundthemselvesworkingforSeftonDelmer’s‘blackops’sectionofBritishIntelligence,whichwasdesignedtospreaddisinformationandaspiritofdefeatismamongtheGermanpeople.

THEMAGICALBATTLEOFBRITAINTheso-called‘magicalBattleofBritain’predatedthephysicalconflictbyaconsiderabletimeandalsocontinuedaftertheheroismoftheRAF’spilotshadwontheaerialduelwiththeLuftwaffe.ManyoccultistsbecameinvolvedinthispsychicwarfarebutperhapsthemostcontinuouslyactivefigureinthisareaofconflictwasDionFortune(above).Ontheoutbreakofwarshemobilizedherorder,theFraternityoftheInnerLight,totakeupthe‘magicaldefenceoftherealm’.Fortunesetupher‘occultheadquarters’inLondonalthoughanotherpropertyinGlastonburyalso

becameinvolved.FromOctober1939toOctober1942shepersuadedlargenumbersofherfollowersandothersinvolvedintheoccultorpsychicfieldstoconductweeklyritualsdesignedtocreateashieldofprotectionoverBritain.Shesentoutaseriesofletters,weeklyatfirstbutonamonthlybasisoncethetideofthewarhadbegun

toturninfavouroftheAllies.Intheseletterssheinstructedpeopletoperformvarious‘magical’meditationsbetween12.15and12.30everySundayafternoon.Shetoldthosewhotookpartinthesemeditativesessionsthattheyshould:

Takeyourseatifpossibleinaquiet,dimlylitroomsecurefromdisturbance;facetowardLondon;sitinanattitudethatyourfeetaretogetherandyourhandsclasped,thusmakingaclosedcircuitofyourself.Yourhandsshouldrestontheweeklyletterlyingonyourlap.

Fortunesawherself,herorderandthosewhojoinedinhermeditationsasengagedin‘atruecrusadeagainstthepowersofdarkness’.ShebelievedthatBritainwasunderthe‘magicalprotection’ofArthurandhisknights.Glastonburywasinhereyesthe‘sacredcentre’ofBritainandthefocusofmanyofhermeditations.Sheurgedpeopleto

thinkofyourselfaspartoftheGroup-soulofyourrace;yourlifeapartofitslife,anditslifethebasisofyours.Then,invokingthenameofGod,openyourmindasachannelfortheworkoftheMastersofWisdom.

On28February1940Fortunetoldherfollowersto‘meditateuponangelicpresences’whowere‘movingasavastshadowypoweracrossthecoasts’tomakesurethat‘nothingaliencanmoveunobserved’.On21April1940Fortuneaskedherco-meditatorstopatrolthe‘NorthSeacoastline’andeven‘tocarrythepatrolthroughthenarrowwatersintotheBaltic’.Beforelongsheencouragedherfollowerstoengagein‘magicalattacks’onthe‘astralplane’.TheyweredirectedtoimaginethemselvescarryingfierytorchesandswordsaimedinthedirectionofGermany.ShedemandedthattheyshouldentertheofficesandbedroomsofNazileadersandtrytodiverttheirbehaviourintotheserviceofgoodratherthanevil.FortunewasconvincedthattheNaziswerealsoactivelyengagedinapsychiccampaignagainst

Britain.Shewrote:

Wearedealingwithdefiniteoccultforcesbeingusedtelepathicallyonthegroupsoulsofnations,andfindingchannelsofexpressionthroughthesubconsciousofsusceptiblepeoplewholackspiritualprinciples.

Fortunebelievedthatthisallegedactivitywaswidespreadanddeclaredthat‘sospecialisedandunrecognisedisitthatwemightjustlytalkofsixthcolumnactivities’.CuriouslyenoughinspiteofthelargeamountoftimeandmoneywastedbytheGermansonoccultactivitiesthereislittleornoevidencethatsuch‘magicalduelling’waspractisedbyNazioccultists.Fortune’sactivitiesprobablyhelpedraisemoraleamongthosewhotookpartbutitisdoubtfulwhethertheymadeanydifferencetothecourseofthewar.

THEDRUIDSANDPSYCHICWARFAREFortune’sFraternityoftheInnerLightwasnottheonlygrouptobecomeinvolvedinattemptsatpsychicwarfare.TheDruidsalsoheldceremonies,withthetwomostimportantonesbeinginWalesandtheIsleofMan.OnLammasEve(31July1940)agroupofDruidsperformedaritualtokeeptheNazisatbay.TheyvisualizedashieldofprotectionallroundtheBritishIslesandprojected‘raysofpower’toturnbacktheenemy.TheDruidsalsoturnedtheirpsychicenergiesintolaunchingtheseraysagainsttheinvasionbargesaswellastryingtohypnoticallysuggesttotheircrewthattheyneededtoretreatandthattheirplannedinvasionwasdoomedtofailure.LaterintheyearasimilarceremonyheldatHalloweenreinforcedthemessageoftheutterimpossibilityofaninvasion.TheDruidssummonedtotheirassistanceallthespiritsofwater,earth,airandfireandbelievedthatbyjoiningnaturalenergyforcestotheirownhumanwillstheirceremonieswouldbecomeinfinitelymorepowerful.

InBritain,theDruidsmobilizedtohelpkeeptheNazisatbay.TheyvisualizedaprotectiveshieldallroundtheBritishIslesandprojected‘raysofpower’toturnbacktheenemy

TheRufusStoneintheNewForest,EnglandmarksthespotwhereWilliamIIwasaccidentallykilledwhilehuntingstagsinAD1100;itwaschosenbyGeraldGardnerandotherBritishwitchestostageamagicceremonyagainsttheNazisin1940

TheScottishDruidLewisSpencebecameactivelyinvolvedinconspiraciesagainstHitlerwithinGermany.ThecommonlinkbetweenhimandtheGermananti-NazishecontactedwasHörbiger’sGlacialCosmogonytheory.BothSpenceandhisfellowoccultistEgertonSykeswroteextensivelyonthesubjectofAtlantisandSpencealsoproducedanumberofworksonDruidism.TheHörbigerInstituteinViennawasrunbyHörbiger’sthreesons,HannsRobert,HansandAlfred

withtheassistanceofthesecretaryGeorgHinzpeter.HinzpeterwasnotanadmireroftheNazisandneitherwasHannsRobert.ThisparticularHörbigerbelongedtoaDruidorderthroughwhichheandSpencesharedideas.SpencewasneverconvincedbyHörbiger’stheoriesbutSykesundoubtedlyfoundthempersuasive.HeremainedincontactwithHinzpeterthroughoutthewar.TheHörbigerInstituteinViennaclashedconstantlywiththeNaziauthoritiesfromthetimeofthe

Anschlussin1938toitseventualclosurein1942.CuriouslytheNazisaccuseditof‘hightreason’forcontinuingtopublishitsproceedingsandcompelledittoclosealtogether.ForthelastthreeyearsofthewartheInstitutebecameanengineeringfactory.AlthoughcontactbetweenSpenceandSykesontheonehandandHinzpeterandHannsRobertHörbiger

ontheotheriscertain,nodetailshaveemergedoftheprecisenatureorresultsoftheseexchanges.AnintriguingpossibilityisthattheHörbigerianweatherforecastsfortheRussianwinterin1941mayhavebeenfakedasanactofdeliberatesabotage.Beyondthatpossibilitywecanonlyspeculate.BothHessandSpencewereinterestedintheRosicrucians,anallegedsecretsocietythatarosearoundthebeginningof

theseventeenthcentury.SpencespecificallylinkedRosicrucianismwiththeGraillegendsandalsowithDruidism.HealsoclaimedthattheNazishadbeeninfiltratedbyoccultgroupsthatrepresented‘anewand

particularlyabandonedagencyforthedisseminationofthecultofSatanism’.Spencebelievedthattheseundergroundorganizationshadbeenfounded‘fortheexpresspurposeoffunctioningintheeventofthedefeatoftheNaziParty’andthattheyhadalsoinfiltratedthesecretCommunistnetworkinGermany.TheseoccultistswereallegedlybasedprimarilyinMunich.

CEREMONIESBYBRITISHWITCHESIn1940anotheroccultgroupbecameinvolvedwithmagicalworkingsinanattempttorepeltheimminentthreatofGermaninvasion.AcovenofwitchesinHampshiredecidedtoperformaritualattheRufusStoneintheNewForest.ThroughamixtureofchantinganddancingitsmemberstriedtoblocktheGermaninvaders.Oneofthemembers,GeraldGardner,waslaterlargelyresponsiblefortherevivalofwitchcraftinBritain.Hewroteabouttheceremonyasfollows:

ThegreatconeofpowerwasraisedandslowlydirectedinthegeneraldirectionofHitler.Thecommandwasgiven:‘Youcannotcrossthesea,youcannotcrossthesea,youcannotcome,youcannotcome.’JustaswasdonetoNapoleonandtheSpanishArmada.

Seventeenwitcheswerepresentatthisceremony,fiveofwhomdiedshortlyafterwards.AswithFortune’smagicalworkings,theritualsprobablyhelpedtoraisemoraleamongpeoplewithintheesotericcommunity.Crowleyissaidtohavebeeninvolvedintwomagicalceremonies.ThefirstwasdreamedupbyIan

FleminganditspurposewastolureHessintodefectingtoBritain.AllegedlysoldierswenttoAshdownForestinSussexduring1941whereCrowleyburntadummyinNaziuniformtotheaccompanimentofritualchanting.Thereareseveraldifferentversionsofthisstory,allcontradictoryastotime,location,numbersof

peopleinvolvedandeventhenatureoftheritual.AsneitherFlemingnorCrowleyevermadeanyclaimtohaveperformedorevenorganizedsuchaneventitisalmostcertainlyalaterinvention.Certainlythestorywasnevermentionedbeforethe1990s,whichcastsfurtherdoubtonitsauthenticity.ItistruethatFlemingworkedonplanstolureHesstoBritainthroughsomesortofdeliberateoccultdisinformation,butitishighlydoubtfulthatCrowleyplayedanypartintheseoperations.ThesameistrueofanotherceremonythatCrowleyisallegedtohavecarriedoutin1943attheMenan

TolmegalithicsiteinCornwall.ThisisallegedtohaveimpactedontheBattleoftheAtlanticandthePhiladelphiaExperiment(ofwhichmorewillbeheardshortly).Againthereisnoevidenceforanysuchactivity;Crowleynevermentionedanysuchrituals;nordidthestoryemergebeforethe1990s.Oncemoreitseemsaninventionratherthansoberfact.

HESSFLIESTOBRITAINOneofthemostbafflingandcontroversialeventsoftheSecondWorldWartookplaceon10May1941.ThatdaysawRudolfHess,thedeputyFührer,takeofffromGermanyinacustom-builtMesserschmitt110long-rangefighteraircraft.Hisplaneincludedahypodermicsyringe,alargenumberofhomeopathicmedicinesandvisitingcardsfrombothKarlHaushoferandhissonAlbrecht.HesslandedinScotlandandattemptedtocontacttheDukeofHamiltontopresentpeaceproposalstotheBritishgovernment.ThereasonsforhisflighttoBritainremainobscure.Theoriesrangefromthesuggestionthatdeliberate

disinformationfromBritishIntelligencehadluredhimintoacarefullypreparedtrap;thatitwasacunningplanbyHimmler,HeydrichorperhapsbothtosowconfusionintheBritishranksanddisguisethe

forthcominginvasionofRussia;thatitwasaplotconceivedbyAlbrechtHaushofertotryandbringpeaceorperhapsoverthrowHitler;thatHessfelthewasfallingoutoffavourwithHitlerandwantedtoredeemhimselfbycarryingoutaspectacularmission;thatHesshadactedashedidonthebasisofastrologicalandoccultadvice;thathehadsimplysufferedanervousbreakdown;orthathehaddefectedtotheBritish.Allofthesetheorieshaveacertaindegreeofplausibility.ThereisnodoubtthatHessbecame

increasinglydisillusionedwiththeregimeaftertheKristallnachtatrocitiesin1938.BritishIntelligencecertainlyconsideredtheideaofluringHesstoBritainanddidmakeconsiderableuseofforgedastrologicalandoccultmaterialthroughoutthewar.HimmlercertainlyappearstohavebeencontemplatingremovingHitlerfrompowerandtakingoverhimselfatabouttheperiodinquestion.ThedeviousHeydrichwascertainlycapableofanythingandhiscunningmadehimperhapsthemostdangerousofalltheNazileaders.AlbrechtHaushofercertainlybecameanti-Nazilater,butatthisstageofthewarbothheandhisfatherwereclosetoHimmlerandnosignsoftheirlateroppositiontotheregimehadbeendisplayed.ThereislittleevidencethatHesshadfallenoutoffavourandtheideathathewouldhaveundertakensuchariskymissionwithoutsomereasonforbelievinginitssuccessseemshighlyimprobable.NorwasHesssignificantlyodderin1941thanhehadbeenpreviously.

Forreasonsthatarestillunclear,RudolfHessflewtoBritaininacustom-builtMesserschmittinMay1941andtriedtohandhimselfovertotheDukeofHamilton

Thetrueexplanationisprobablyacombinationoffactors.HesshadalwaysbeenadiscipleoftheseniorHaushoferandhadalwaysbelievedthatwarwithBritainwasamistake.SincethefallofFrancehehadextendedpeacefeelersthroughneutralcountriesandorganizationsandhehadbeenlearningtoflytheMe-110planesinceSeptember1940.InJanuary1941theBritishusedCarlBurckhardtoftheRedCrosstorelayamessagetotheWednesday

Society,agroupofanti-Naziconservativenationalists.BurckhardttoldthegroupthattheBritishgovernmentwaspreparedtomakepeacewithGermanyifHolland,BelgiumandPolandwererestoredtotheirindependenceandHitlerstooddownasChancellor.AlbrechtHaushoferwasamemberofthissocietyandBurckhardtexpressedadesiretomeetwithhim.CarlLangbehn,anothermemberofthesocietybutwhowasinrealitya‘plant’byHimmlerinsidethe

opposition,askedBurckhardttoapproachtheBritishgovernmentandseeiftheywouldbewillingtomakepeacewithaGermanyledbyHimmlerinsteadofHitler.InApril1941AlbrechtHaushofermetHessseveraltimesandon28AprilHaushofertravelledtoSwitzerlandtomeetBurckhardtonbehalfofwhatappearstohavebeenajointpeaceinitiativebyHess,HimmlerandtheWednesdaySociety.HesswasalsotoldbyKarlHaushoferthathehadseenavisionofthedeputyFührerstridingthrough

baronialhallsandbrokeringpeacebetweenBritainandGermany.AlbrechtHaushoferdrewupahoroscopethatpredictedsuccessforthemissionandshowedittoHess.TheresultwashislandinginBritainandhisimmediatearrest.WhateverthetruereasonforhisflighttoBritainitwasaspectacularfailureoneverylevel.WhatiscertainisthatwhenHessflewtoBritainFlemingapproachedhissuperiorsinnaval

intelligenceandsuggestedthatCrowleywouldbetheidealpersontodebriefhim.CrowleywasenthusiasticabouttheideaandwrotetotheDirectorofNavalIntelligencetoofferhisservices,declaringthathebelievedhecouldpersuadeHesstoco-operate.UsingCrowley’sservicesmaywellhavebeenconsideredbutultimatelyFleming’splanwasrejected.

NAZICRACKDOWNONOCCULTISMFromthepointofviewoftheoccultpractitionerswithintheReich,Hess’sflighttoBritainwasprobablyabafflingmystery.Howeveritsconsequenceswereextremelyunfortunateforthem.BormannsuggestedtoHitlernotonlythatHesshadgonemadbutthathisinsanityhadbeenbroughtonbyundueinfluencefromastrologers.AtthismeetingHimmlerwasremarkablyquiet,probablybecauseofhisknownpredilectionforastrologybutGoebbels,alwaysoneofthemorerationalNazileaders,supportedBormann’ssuggestionandagreedwithhimthatanimmediatecrackdownonastrologywasnecessary.Howfarthiswasmotivatedbygenuinelyrationalmotivesandhowfarbothmenseizedontheopportunitytoprovideyetanotherexcuseforrepressionisopentoquestion.ForwhateverreasonthedecisiontosuppressandcontrolastrologyandothertypesofoccultactivitywastakenandtheGestapobegantheworkofinvestigatingandarrestingastrologersthroughouttheReich.On14MaytheVölkischerBeobachteruseditscolumnstodeclare:

AswaswellknowninPartycircles,RudolfHesswasinpoorhealthformanyyearsandlatterlyhadrecoursetohypnotists,astrologersandsoon.Theextenttowhichthesepeopleareresponsibleforthementalconfusionthatledhimtohispresentstephasstilltobeclarified.

CuriouslytheverysamedaysawastrangearticleinTheTimesallegedlybaseduponinformationreceivedfromitsSwisscorrespondent.TheTimesannounced:

CertainofHess’closefriendshavethrownaninterestinglightontheaffair.TheysaythatHesshasalwaysbeenHitler’sastrologerinsecret.UptolastMarchhehadconsistentlypredictedgoodfortuneandhadalwaysbeenright.Sincethen,notwithstandingthevictoriesGermanyhaswon,hehasdeclaredthatthestarsshowedthatHitler’smeteoriccareerwasapproachingitsclimax.

TherefollowedanorderfromBormannon6–7June1941inwhichactionagainstChristians,‘astrologers,fortune-tellersandotherswindlers’wasannounced.On24June1941theMinistryofPropagandabannedpublicperformancesofanything,includingdemonstrationsoftelepathy,clairvoyance,astrology,spiritualismorotheroccultactivities.On30October1941thepublishingofarticlesonthesesubjectswasforbidden.On9June1941thereensuedthebulkofthearrestsinwhatbecameknownasAktion-Hess.The

Gestapoarrestedastrologers,palmists,graphologists,ChristianScientists,faithhealers,psychologistsandanthroposophists.Theirnetofsuspectswasextremelywidebutmostwerereleasedafterthreeorfourweeksoffairlyintensivequestioning.ThemosthighprofileindividualsarrestedatthistimewereKorschandKrafft.Korschwasmurderedinaconcentrationcampin1942;Krafftsufferedthesamefatein1944.

SOVIETPSYCHICWARFAREPerhapssurprisinglytheSovietUnion,committedtoatheismandanofficialbeliefinapurelyphysicalexplanationoftheworld,wasattheforefrontofparanormalinvestigationfromthe1920sonwards.LeonidVasilievwasperhapstheleadingexperimentalresearcherinthisfieldandhisstudieswereconductedonstrictlyscientificprinciplesunderstringentlaboratoryconditions.Theydemonstratedthatitwaspossibletodeclarebeyondareasonabledoubtthattelepathictransmissioncouldbeconductedacrossvastdistancesandwasnotaffectedbyanymetallicscreeningdesignedtoblockit.ThislineofresearchcontinuedtobepractisedthroughouttheexistenceoftheSovietUnionthoughwithperiodsofgreaterandlesserofficialsupport.Stalinalsohadhisownpsychicadviser,aPolishJewnamedWolfMessing.In1937Messinggavea

performanceatatheatreinWarsawduringthecourseofwhichheannouncedthatifHitlerinvadedRussiaitwouldleadtohisdeath.TheNaziswerefuriousandputapriceof200,000marksonMessing’shead.WhentheyconqueredPolandin1939Messingwasarrestedbutwhilehewasheldincustodyhemanagedtohypnotizealltheprisonstaff,includingthegovernor,andassembledtheminhiscell.Hesuggestedtothemhypnoticallythatdiamondswerehiddeninthefloorofhiscellandhemanagedbythisautosuggestiontopersuadetheguardstobeginsearchingforthegems.AstheycontinuedtheirquestfortheimaginarydiamondsMessingwalkedoutofthecellandclosedthe

doorbehindhim.ConcealinghimselfinahaywagonhemanagedtoescapetotheUSSR.OnhisarrivalhepromptlyappliedtotheMinistryofCultureforajobbutwasrejected.HerespondedbygivingademonstrationofhispowersandtheMinistrychangeditsmind.ForayearhetouredRussiagivingpublicperformances.

WolfMessingwasStalin’sownpsychicadviser.HewasarrestedbytheNazisinPoland,butescapedbyhypnotizingtheprisonstaffandsaunteringtofreedom

WithinayearhehadcometotheattentionofStalinwhorecruitedhimaftersubjectinghimtosomeverystrenuoustests.Notlongafterthisheannouncedthat‘SoviettankswillrollintoBerlin’.AtthetimethetwocountrieswereclosealliesandMessing’spredictionwasanextremelyriskyonetomake.TheGermansprotestedbuttheRussianauthoritiesrepliedthattheycouldnotbeheldresponsibleforhisprophecies.In1943hemadeanotherpredictiontoalargecrowdatatheatreinNovosibirskthatthewarwouldendinMay1945.TheSovietsarerumouredtohavemadeuseofVasiliev’stechniquesoftelepathichypnoticinfluenceat

adistancebutnoconcretefactshaveemergedaboutsuchactivities.Vasiliev’sexperimentsshowedthatimaginativevisualization–exactlythesametechniqueusedbymanyoccultists–producedthemostsuccessfulresults.

AMERICA’SUSEOFHYPNOTISMANDREMOTEVIEWINGTheAmericanshadbeeninterestedinthepossibilitiesofhypnotismeversincetheirentryintotheFirstWorldWar.FollowingtheJapaneseattackonPearlHarbortheUSDepartmentofWarsummonedDrGeorgeEstabrookstoadviseitonthepossiblemilitaryapplicationofhypnosis.AsaresultofhisadviceAmericansoldierswerehypnotizedintolosingtheirfearofdeathandovercomingtheirreluctancetokill.Moreexoticexperimentsintheusesofhypnotismwerealsoundertaken,includinginducingamnesiaand

employingindirectmethodsof‘mindcontrol’.TheAmericansalsobecameextremelyinterestedinremoteviewingasanespionagetool.Fortune’s

discipleshadattemptedthisinBritainandpsychicsintheUSsoonfoundthemselvesbeingrecruitedintosimilarprojects.TheOfficeofStrategicServices(OSS),theforerunneroftheCIA,wasinchargeofthisandsimilarundertakingsandmucheffortwasdevotedtoitspossibleuses.

THEPHILADELPHIAEXPERIMENTPerhapsthemostbizarreprojectcarriedoutbytheUSduringthewarwastheso-calledPhiladelphiaExperiment.Thereareseveralversionsofthisstoryandmanyofthemarelittlemorethanexercisesinmythmaking.ThemostcredibleaccountisthattheUSNavyattemptedtodematerializeoneofitsownsubmarinesusingamagneticfieldintheformofaMöbiusstrip.Thisisasingle-sidedgeometricalfigurewithoutabeginningoranend,whichwasallegedlycutinhalfwithanelectronicdevice.FollowingthisactionthesubmarineissaidtohavevanishedfromPhiladelphiaandtohaveinstantaneouslyappearedinNewport.AmorewidespreadbutlessplausiblestorysuggeststhattheUSNavydestroyerUSSEldridgewasdematerialized.Layersofmyth,exaggeration,fabricationandconspiracytheorieshavebeenaddedtothebasicstory

overthecourseoftime.ThereisnodoubtthattheAmericanscarriedoutexperimentsofthisnaturebuthowlargeagrainoftruthresideswithinthemountainofmystificationsurroundingthestorywillprobablyneverbeknown.OneofthemoresurprisingfactsabouttheSecondWorldWaristhatpsychicandoccultexperiments

werecarriedoutonalargescalebytheBritish,AmericansandRussiansaswellastheGermans.ToparaphraseChurchill,perhapsneverinthefieldofhumanconflicthassomuchtimeandmoneybeenwastedonprojectsdeliveringsolittleresult.

Conclusion

ManywritersonthetopicofNazioccultismhavefallenintooneoftwoextremes.Somesensationalizetrivialevents,exaggeratetheextenttowhichoccultfactorsinfluencedthethinkingandactionsofHitlerandhisassociates,presenttheirundoubtedlydistortedviewofrealityasevidenceofconsciousSatanismandeveninventstoriesoutofwholecloth.OthersdenythatoccultconsiderationsplayedanypartinNazithinking.Theydownplay,ignoreordismissclearevidencethatitdidplayapart,adoptanattitudeofsuperiorityandcondescensiontowardsthosewhoevenmentiontheseeventsandingeneraltreatHitlerandtheNazisasaphenomenonthatisentirelyexplicableoneconomic,psychological,structuralorotherrationalgroundsalone.

EmaciatedJewishsurvivorsoftheHanover-HarlenconcentrationcampliberatedbytheUS9thArmy,1945:howmuchdidoccultbeliefscontributetotheirsuffering?

TherejectionofrationalitybyHitlerwasopen,contemptuousandtotal.Thosewhopointtohiscondemnationofvölkischfantasiesforgetthatnotonlydidhecondemnrationalismandsciencewithequalvigourbuthewasalsooneofthegreatestliarsevertoholdhighoffice.Theyalsoquoteselectivelyandignorethecontextofhisremarks.Themostreputableaccountsofthe‘occultReich’havebeengivenbyFrancisKing,JamesWebband

DustySklar.KingandWebbarecarefultodistinguishbetweenfactandfantasyandalwayserronthesideofcautionwhenevaluatingmaterial.Sklarisslightlylesscriticalofhersourcesbutstilladoptsarationalistperspective.AllthreewritersfoundclearevidenceofNaziinvolvementinaspectsoftheoccult.HughTrevor-RoperandAlanBullockwereseriousmajorhistoriansandbothwereconvincedthat

HitlerandotherNaziswereinfluencedbytheoccult.TheycertainlydidnotflytothespeculativelevelofsomeauthorsonthissubjectbutrecognizedthatoccultideasandpracticesdidplayasignificantpartintheThirdReich.

ToassumethatoccultfantasieswerenotprofoundlyinfluentialinNaziGermanyisasmistakenandsuperficialaviewasthenotionthatHitlerwastheleaderofaSataniccovenconsciouslyservingthoseends.Bothoftheseattitudesareextreme,arecontradictedbythefactsandpositivelyhinderourunderstandingoftheThirdReich.Himmlerdevotedconsiderabletime,effortandmoneytoawholerangeofoccultendeavoursincluding

hisneo-paganfestivals,attemptstocommunicatewithHeinrichtheFowler,researchingAtlantis,sendingexpeditionsinsearchofpiecesofthesupposedfallenmoon,studyingthemagicalpropertiesofthebellsofOxford’scathedralanddebatingthesignificanceofthetophat.RosenbergresearchedAtlantis,theCathars,GermanprehistoryandMasonicritualsandwantedto

replaceChristianitywitharevivedGnosticism.Goeringbelievedthattheearthwashollowandthatthespacewasinhabitedbyhumans.TheGermanNavywastedlargeamountsofmoneypayingmediumsanddowserstolocateBritishshipswithzerosuccess.Hitlerallowedhisentirepolicytobedominatedbyracialfantasiesthatwentfarbeyondsimple

prejudicetobecomeabeliefsystemthatresembledasciencefictionnovelratherthanarationalpoliticalideology.Anti-SemitismwascommoninhisdaybutfewsharedtheNazileader’sbeliefthatJewswerenotsimplyinferiorbutwereliterallynothuman.Hitler’sbeliefinHörbiger’sGlacialCosmogonyledtoastonishingamountsofmoneybeingwastedon

thisscientificallyvaluelesstheorywhichdecisivelyaffectedthecourseofthewar.HisfailuretoequipGermantroopswithwinterclothingduringtheinvasionoftheSovietUnionwasbaseduponHörbigerianweatherforecaststhatpredictedamildwinter.Thousandsofliveswerelostneedlesslyasaresultofhispreferenceforanoccultcosmologyratherthanscientificmeteorology.HitlerandtheNazisseizedontheGermanpeople’slongingforasaviour,arenewedsenseofpridein

theirnationandadesireforacommonpurpose.Theytooktheseemotionsanddistortedthemutterly,deceivingtheirfellowGermansintoworshippingapsychopathicdictatorandturningnationalprideintoasenseofshameastheGermanpeoplefinallyawoketoolatetothehorrorsthathadbeenperpetratedintheirnameandtotheutterperversionofallnormalmoralvalues.FortwelveastonishingyearsGermanyturneditsbackuponrationalityandcompassionandgaveitsallegiancetoamanandamovementthatplumbednewdepthsofhumandepravity.Thespiritualimpulsesofmillionswerepervertedintothedarkworshipofabrutalmadmanandhisirrationalvisionoftheworld.

Smokeandmirrors:surroundedbyetherealpillarsoflight,AdolfHitlerdominatesthepodiumatNurembergin1936,withRobertLeyandRudolfHessbehindhim.Nineyearslater,themagichadevaporatedandGermanylayinruins

Thegreatreligionsoftheworldoffersalvationtoalltruebelievers.EvenpoliticalideologieslikeMarxismandliberalismmaketheirpromiseofabettersocietytoeveryhumanbeingirrespectiveofrace,skincolourorgender.NazismmadenosuchappealtoanyoneoutsidethefavouredNordicgroup.Tothemajorityofthehumanraceitofferednothingbeyondslaveryanddeath.Nosocietybuiltuponsuchshallowmoralfoundationscaneverendure.Fortwelvebriefyearsthe

worldsawwhathappenswhenreason,kindness,moderationandfairnessarecastasideandadarkfanaticaltyrannytakestheirplace.IntheirdesiretobecomesuperhumantheNazisendedbybeingfarlessthanhuman.ThestoryoftheThirdReichstandsastheultimatewarningfromhistoryoftheresultsofabandoningthevaluesthatdefineusashumanbeings.

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