Alan Baker - Invisible Eagle - The History of Nazi Occultism

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InvisibleEagle
By
AlanBaker
TheHistoryofNaziOccultism
Released 28. Sep. 2007
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Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction:searchforamapofhell
1Ancestry,bloodandnature
TheMysticalOriginsofNationalSocialism
2Fantasticprehistory
TheLostAryanHomeland
3Ahideousstrength
TheVrilSociety
4Thephantomkingdom
TheNaziTibetConnection
5Talismanofconquest
TheSpearofLonginus
6Ordinarymadness
HeinrichHimmlerandtheSS
7Thesecretattheheartoftheworld
NaziCosmologyandBeliefintheHollowEarth
8ThecloudReich
NaziFlyingDiscs
9InvisibleEagle
RumoursofNaziSurvivaltothePresent
Conclusion:themythmachine
TheRealityandFantasyofNaziOccultism
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Notes
Bibliographyandsuggestedfurtherreading
Index
Thehistorianmayberational,buthistoryisnot.LouisPauwelsandJacquesBergier
'I'masceptic.'
'No,you'reonlyincredulous,adoubter,andthat'sdifferent.'UmbertoEco,Foucault'sPendulum
Acknowledgements
Gratefulacknowledgementisgivenforpermissiontoquotefromthefollowingpreviouslypublished
material:
TheComingRacebyE.G.E.BulwerLytton,publishedbySuttonPublishing,Stroud,Gloucestershire,
1995.
ArktosThePolarMythinScience,Symbolism,andNaziSurvivalbyJoscelynGodwin,publishedby
ThamesandHudson,London,1993.
TheOccultRootsofNazismbyNicholasGoodrickClarke,publishedbyI.B.Tauris&Co.,London,
1985.
ExtractfromPROJEKTUFO1995W.A.Harbinson.FirstpublishedbyBoxtreeLtdandreprinted
withpermissionfromtheauthor.
TrevorRavenscroft:TheSpearofDestiny(YorkBeach,ME:SamuelWeiser,1982).Materialusedby
permission.
TheSecretDoctrinebyHelenaPetrovnaBlavatsky,publishedbyTheosophicalUniversityPress,
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Pasadena,California,1999.
PsychicDictatorshipintheUSAbyAlexConstantine,publishedbyFeralHouse,2532LincolnBlvd.
#359,Venice,CA90291.
TheMakingofAdolfHitlerTheBirthandRiseofNazismbyEugeneDavidson,publishedby
UniversityofMissouriPress,1997.
CasebookonAlternative3byJimKeith,publishedbyIllumiNetPress,Lilburn,Georgia,1994.
ShambhalabyNicholasRoerich,publishedbytheNicholasRoerichMuseum,NewYork,1978.
TheLastDaysofHitlerbyHughTrevorRoper,publishedbyMacmillan,London,1995.
ExplainingHitlerTheSearchFortheOriginsofHisEvilbyRonRosenbaum,publishedbyPapermac,
London,1999.
TheFaceoftheThirdReichbyJoachimC.Fest,firstpublishedbyWeidenfeldandNicolson,1970.
HitlerandtheOccultbyKenAnderson,publishedbyPrometheusBooks,Amherst,NewYork,1995.
Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetocontactcopyrightholdersforpermissiontouseotherlengthy
quotes,thishasnotprovedpossibleinallcases.Shouldthesecopyrightholderswishtocontactthe
publisher,appropriatecreditwillbegiveninfutureeditions.
Manythanksalsotomyagent,JulianAlexander,forhisindispensablehelpandadviceoverthepasttwo
andahalfyears;andtomyeditorsatVirginPublishing,LornaRussell,whogotthebook
commissioned,andKerriSharp,whomadeitsjourneytopublicationapleasure.
Thisbookisconcernedwithoneofthemostcontroversialnotionsofthelatetwentiethcentury,onethat
issobizarreandappallinginitsimplicationsthatserioushistorianshaveconsistentlydismisseditasthe
worstkindofnonsense.Putsimply,thenotionisthis:thattheshockingnightmareofNazismandthe
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destructionitwroughtthroughouttheworldweretheresultofanattemptbyHitlerandhiscohortsto
contactandenlisttheaidofsupernaturalforcesintheirbidfordominationoftheplanet.Uponreading
this,olderreadersmaybeputinmindoftheluridbutenjoyableoccultthrillersofDennisWheatley,
suchasStrangeConflict,whichdealswithNazimagicalpracticesinahighlysensationalway,andmay
dismisstheideaforthatreason.Otherreadersmaywellpausetoconsiderthehideousexcesses
practisedbytheNazisandbedismayedthatthedefiningtragedyofthetwentiethcenturyshouldbe
trivialisedbysuchanidea.
ThereisnodoubtthatthesubjectoftheThirdReichinspiresadeepandabidingfascinationtothisday,
withtheoriginoftheawfulcrueltiesperpetratedinitsnamestillthesubjectofintensedebate.Ever
sinceHitler'sdeathintheFuhrerbunkerin1945,historians,psychologistsandtheologianshave
attemptedtounderstandandexplainthefrightfulaberrationthatwasNazism.Oneofthefociaround
whichdiscussionofHitlermovesisthequestionofwherehestandsinthespectrumofhumannature.
AsthejournalistRonRosenbaumnotes,theveryexistenceofthisspectrumsuggestsanextremely
uncomfortablequestion:'isHitleronacontinuumwithpreviousandsuccessivemassmurderers,
explicablewithinthesameframework,ontheextremeendofthesamespectrumofthehumannature
wesupposedlysharewithJeffreyDahmerandMahatmaGandhi?"Orishesomethingelseentirely,
existingoutsidethecontinuumofhumanity,evilinsomeabsolute,ultimateway?ThetheologianEmil
FackenheimbelievesthatsuchwasthemagnitudeofHitler'scrimesthatwemustconsiderhimas
representinga'radicalevil',an'eruptionofdemonismintohistory'.(2)Hitler'sevilisseenbythinkers
likeFackenheimasexistingbeyondtheboundsofordinaryhumanbehaviour(howeverappalling).
Indeed,tothemitissoextremethatittranscendsthefieldofbehaviouralscienceandenterstherealm
oftheology:inotherwords,Hitler'sultimatenaturecanonlybecompletelyunderstoodbyGod.
TheindustrialisedmassmurderperpetratedbytheNazisresonatedirresistiblythroughthelatterhalfof
thetwentiethcentury,andiscertainlytheprincipalcontributingfactortowhattheBritishhistorian
NormanDaviescalls'ademonologicalfascinationwithGermany'.Insummarisingthehistoriography
oftheWesternPowers,Daviesstates:'Germanystandscondemnedastheprimesourcebothofthe
malignantimperialismwhichproducedtheFirstWorldWar,andofthevirulentbrandoffascismwhich
provokedtheSecond.'(3)Inthepostwaryears,thiscontributedtothe'Alliedschemeofhistory'in
whichtheWestpresented(andstillpresents)itselfasthepinnacleofcivilisation,moralityand
altruism.Whilethenumerousreasonswhythisisfarfromthetruthliebeyondthescopeofthisbook,
theattitudesthathaveaccompaniedtheAlliedschemeareofextremeimportancewithregardtoour
continuingfascinationwiththeNazis.Davieswritesof'Theideologyof"antifascism",inwhichthe
SecondWorldWarof193945isperceivedas"theWaragainstFascism"andasthedefiningeventin
thetriumphofGoodoverEvil.'(4)Itiseasytounderstand,therefore,howsuchdefiningevents
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(particularlythoseseparatedfromusbyamere55years)cantenaciouslymaintainthemselvesinthe
publicconsciousness.
Whilehistorianshavetendedtoconcentrateonthemanyimportanteconomic,socialandhistorical
factorsthatinfluencedNaziideology,somewhatlessattentionhasbeenpaidtotheNazis'fascination
witharcaneandesotericbeliefsystems,inspiteoftheirundeniableinfluenceuponHitlerandthe
architectsofNationalSocialismintheyearsleadinguptoandincludingtheSecondWorldWar.The
purposeofthisbook,therefore,istoattempttomakesomesenseoftheirrationalandbenightedrealms
ofNazioccultismandpseudoscience,andtoattemptanexplanationofthestrangeattractiontheyheld
fortheirproponents.
Giventhehumancapacityformythmaking,itisperhapsunsurprisingthattheknownhistoryofthe
ThirdReichshouldhavegivenrise,insubsequentdecades,totheassertionthattheNaziswere,quite
literally,incontactwithanevil,transhumanintelligencethatchosetoexertitsinfluenceoverhumanity
throughthelivingconduitsofHitlerandotherhighrankingmembersoftheReich.Inthecourseofthis
book,weshallseethattheintellectualfathersofNationalSocialism,aggressivelyantiSemiticPan
GermanandvolkischnationalistslikeGuidovonList,JorgLanzvonLiebenfelsandRudolfvon
Sebottendorff,cultivatedanundeniableandprofoundinterestinoccultism,theosophy,theideaof
AtlantisasalostAryancivilisation,andthemagicalpowersinherentintheverybloodofraciallypure
Germans.ThatHitler'simmediatesubordinatesthemselvesdabbledinoccultsciencessuchasastrology
isalsobeyonddoubt.OccultismplayedasignificantroleintheformationandritualsoftheSS;and
itisalsoamatterofhistoricalrecordthattheNazisembracedcockeyedcosmologicaltheoriessuchas
Horbiger'sWorldIceconcept(whichprovidedthemwithanopportunitytodenouncetheideasofthe
JewishAlbertEinstein).
Inthedecadessincetheendofthewar,somehistorianshaveseenNazioccultismasevidenceofthe
essentialirrationalityunderlyingtheThirdReich,andasasalutarylessonregardingthepowerthat
mythcanexerciseoverthehumanmind.Thispointofviewis,ofcourse,basedonthefactthat
occultism(howeverimportantitmaybeinthehistoryofthehumanquestforunderstanding)isnotan
accuratewayofdescribingthenatureoftheUniverse.Theconcepts,beliefs,attitudesandactionswe
shallencounterinthisbook,however,arebasedontheoppositenotion,thatoccultismisagenuineand
usefulsystemwithwhichtoapprehendandinfluencetheworkingsofNature.
IfwetakeFackenheim'sbeliefthatHitlerrepresentsan'eruptionofdemonismintohistory',whichcan
onlytrulybeunderstoodbyGod,andapplyittothesubjectofNazioccultism,itbecomesclearthatthe
variousclaimsfortherealityofgenuineNazioccultpowerwereinevitable.Onecaneasilyimaginethe
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thoughtprocessesofthewriterswhohavemadetheseclaims:theThirdReichwasanatrocious
aberrationinthehistoryofhumanity,anuttercatastropheevenbyourusualbloodystandards.How
couldithavecomeabout?IfHitlerwasuniquelyevil,whywasheso?Whatwasitinhismind,his
nature,hisessentialattributesandtheactionstowhichtheygaverisethattookhimbeyondthe
continuumofhumanbehaviourandplacedhimattheleveloftheabsolute,comprehensibleonlytothe
creatoroftheUniverse?Ifhisevilextendedbeyondthehuman,isitpossiblethatitsoriginlaybeyond
thehuman?
InviewoftheextremenatureofNazicrimes,theideathatanevilexternaltohumanity(acosmicevil)
existsandthatleadingNazisactuallyattemptedtomakecontactwithtranshumanentitiesintheir
pursuitofworlddominationandthecreationofanAryansuperracemaybeseenbymanyasdistasteful
intheextreme,anddemeaningtothememoryofthosewhosufferedanddiedunderHitler'styranny.It
isanuncomfortablenotion,tobesure,andonethat,astheBritishwriterJoscelynGodwinnotes,
occupies'thattwilightzonebetweenfactandfiction:themostfertileterritoryforthenurturingof
mythologicalimagesandtheirinstallationinthecollectiveimagination'.(5)However,itis
forthisveryreasonthattheideaofgenuineNazioccultpowerdemandsourattention:ithasbecomean
important(ifunwelcome)aspectofthehistoryoftheSecondWorldWarandthesecondhalfofthe
twentiethcentury.
Atthispoint,Ishouldclarifymyreasonsforandintentionsinwritingthisbook.Theprevalenceofthe
NazioccultismideaissuchthatIconsidereditworthwhiletoattemptanevaluationofitespeciallyin
viewofthefactthathumanitystandsonthethresholdofanewmillenniummoreorlessintact.With
thearrivaloftheyear2000,humanculturefindsitselfinanintriguingposition,thenatureofwhich
mightbestbecapturedbytheBritishwriterThomasDeQuincey'sstatementthatthepresentisthe
confluenceoftwoeternities,thepastandthefuture.Aswelookwithcuriosity,hopeandsome
trepidationtothenewcenturyandthenewmillenniumbeforeus,wewillalso,ofnecessity,lookback
atthethousandyearswehavejustleftbehind,andinparticularatthecenturythathasjustended
withoutdoubtthebloodiestandmostviolent,butalsothecenturythatsawmoreandgreaterscientific
advancesthananyotherinthehistoryofourspecies.Andyet,despitethemyriadscientificand
technologicaladvancesthathavecarriedustothispointinourhistory,itcannotbesaidwithany
confidencethatscienceitselfhastriumphedovermythology.Insomeways,thisisbynomeansabad
thing:humanbeingsarenotmachines,andaworldwideculturebasedexclusivelyonhardscientific
principleswouldbeintolerabletohumannature,whichisfascinatedbyspirituality,mythologyand
mystery.
However,thisinherentneedinhumanbeingstomythologisecanseriouslyhinderthequestfortruth,
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particularlyhistoricaltruth.AstheBritishhistorianHughTrevorRoperputit,'reasonispowerless
againsttheobstinateloveoffiction'.Whenhewrotethis,TrevorRoperwasreferringtothesocalled
'Hitlersurvivalmyth',theideathattheFuhrerdidnotdieintheBerlinbunkerin1945,butsomehow
managedtoescapeaccordingtovariousversions,toSouthAmerica,toAntarctica,andeventoa
monasteryinTibet.AsahistorianandBritishintelligenceofficer,TrevorRoperwasgiventhetaskof
establishingHitler'sfatebythethenheadofCounterintelligenceintheBritishZoneofGermany,Sir
DickWhite.HemadehisreporttotheFourPowerIntelligenceCommitteeinBerlinon1November
1945,andthereportinspiredoneofthefinesthistorybookseverpublished,TheLastDaysofHitler
(1947).Inthisbook,TrevorRopercalmlyestablishesbeyondallreasonabledoubtthatHitlerdidnot
survivetheendoftheSecondWorldWar.Nevertheless,theHitlersurvivalmythcontinuedtocirculate,
particularlyinfarrightandneoNazicircles,andcanstillbeencounteredoccasionallytothisday.
Thismythopoeiccapacityisbroughttobearintheabsenceofverifiabledata.InthecaseoftheHitler
survivalmyth,inSeptember1945nooneknewforcertainwhathadhappenedtotheFuhrer:hehad
simplydisappeared.Thisgaverisetonumerousspeculations,particularlyfromjournalists,thathehad
somehowmanagedtoescapefromtheruinsofBerlinashisThousandYearReichimplodedtothe
dimensionsofhisbunker.WhenTrevorRoper'sfinalreportwasdelivered,statingthatHitlerhaddied
byhisownhandandthatallothertheorieswere'contrarytotheonlypositiveevidenceandsupported
bynoevidenceatall',itdrewcriticismfromsomequarters.'Thecriticsdidnotindeeddenythe
evidencethatwasproduced,buttheymaintainedthattherewasstillapossibilityofescapingsofinala
conclusion;theymaintainedthatthebodythathadbeenburntwasthatnotofHitlerbutofa"double"
introducedatthelastminute...'(6)
TrevorRoper'suseofthephrase'apossibilityofescaping'isinterestingandverysignificantwithregard
tothepresentbook,sincetheideaofescapingfromafinalconclusiontothehorrorofHitlerresonates
powerfullywiththefactthatHitlerhimselfmanagedtoescapehumanjusticethroughsuicide.Indeed,
asmorethanonecommentatorhassuggested,Hitlermanagedatwofoldescape:notonlydidheelude
punishmentforhiscrimesbuthehasalsoeludedexplanation,asnotedearlier.Thisinabilityonourpart
toarriveatasatisfactoryexplanationforHitlerhasbeencalled'evidentiarydespair'byRon
Rosenbaum,whoillustratestheconceptwithcommentsfromhistorianssuchasTrevorRoper,Alan
BullockandtheJewishstudiesscholarAlvinRosenfeld.TrevorRoperstillconsidersHitlera
'frighteningmystery',whileBullockstatesthatthemorehelearnsaboutHitler,theharderhefindshim
toexplain.Rosenfeldsumsuptheproblembest:'NorepresentationofAdolfHitlerhasseemedableto
presentthemanorsatisfactorilyexplainhim.'(7)
Ofcourse,therehavebeenmanyattemptstoexplainthemindofHitler,tocharttheprocessthattook
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himfromunprepossessingViennesedownandouttotheassassinofEuropeanJewry.Surprisingly
(indeed,shockingly),thedebatethathascontinuedformorethanhalfacenturyconcentratespartlyon
thequestionofwhetherornotHitlercanaccuratelybedescribedas'evil'.Ourfirstreactiontothis
mightbethatitistheeasiestquestiontoanswerthathaseverbeenposed,toechoAlanBullock's'Ifhe
isn'tevil,whois?'Nevertheless,theeasewithwhichweseemtobeabletoanswerthisquestionis
illusoryand,inaddressingourselvestoit,wefindourselvesgrapplingwithoneoftheoldestproblems
ofhumanity:theproblemofthenatureofevilitself.AsRosenbaumremindsus,'itdoesn'tmatterwhat
wordwechoosetoapplytoHitler',itdoesnotalterthenumberofpeoplewhosufferedanddied.'How
wethinkaboutHitlerandevilandthenatureofHitler'schoiceisareflectionofimportantcultural
assumptionsanddivisiveschismsaboutindividualconsciousnessandhistoricalcausation,thenever
endingconflictoverfreewill,determinism,andpersonalresponsibility.'8Itisimportanttoemphasise
thattoquestiontheuseoftheword'evil'asappliedtoHitlerisnottominimizeinanywaytheenormity
ofhiscrimes(whichwereinarguablyhorrific).However,ourintuitivesenseoftheexistenceofeviland
thecertaintywithwhichweperceiveitspresenceinHitlerislittlehelpinoursearchforadefinitionof
it.Rosenbauminformsusthatduringthecourseofinterviewswithmanyhistorians,conductedaspart
oftheresearchforhisremarkablebookExplainingHitler:TheSearchFortheOriginsofHisEvil,he
discoveredtohissurprisethatmanywerereluctanttocallAdolfHitlerevil.
Rosenbaumisinstructiveontheproblemsofdefiningevilintermssufficientlyaccuratetoallowa
seriousandrigorousdiscussionoftheprimarymotivatingfactorsinHitler'scrimes:
[I]ntherealmofscholarship,it'sremarkabletodiscoverhowmanysophisticatedthinkersofallstripes
findthemselvesunwillingtofindaprincipledrationaleforcallingHitlerevil,atleastinthestrictsense
ofdoingwrongknowingly.Thephilosophicalliteraturethattakesthesequestionsseriouslymakesa
distinctionbetweenobviouslyevildeedssuchasmassmurderandthenotalwaysobviousnatureofthe
intentofthedoer,preferringthestricterterm'wickedness'todescribewrongdoerswhodoevildeeds
knowingtheyaredoingwrong.Iwasdrawntothephilosophicalliteratureontheproblemof
wickedness...byanotherdefiningmomentinmyencounterswithHitlerexplainers:myconversationin
LondonwithH.R.TrevorRoper,formerRegiusProfessorofModernHistoryatOxford,oneofthefirst
andmostwidelyrespectedpostwarHitlerexplainers.I'daskedhimthedeceptivelysimplequestionI'd
begunaskinganumberofHitlerexplainers:'DoyouconsiderHitlerconsciouslyevil?Didheknow
whathewasdoingwaswrong?'(9)[Originalemphasis]
TrevorRoper'sanswerwasanemphaticNo:Hitlerwasconvincedofhisownrectitude.Althoughhis
deedsreachedanextremeofawfulness,hecommittedtheminthedeludedbeliefthattheywereright.
RosenbaumalsopointsoutthattheassumptionthatJewishpeoplethemselvesmightbeexpectedtobe
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thefirsttorejectthis'rectitudeargument'isalsoflawed,asevidencedbythestatementofEfraim
Zuroff,directoroftheSimonWiesenthalCentre'sJerusalemheadquarters,andthechiefNazihunterin
Israel.WhenaskedifhethoughtHitlerwasconscioushewasdoingwrong,Zuroffalmostshouted:'Of
coursenot!Hitlerthoughthewasadoctor!Killinggerms!That'sallJewsweretohim!Hebelievedhe
wasdoinggood,notevil!'(10)(Originalemphasis.)
TheacceptancebymanyhistoriansoftherectitudeargumentleadsRosenbaumtoatentativeandvery
interestingconclusion:'thatbeneaththeSocraticlogicofthepositionmightbeanunderstandably
human,evenemotional,rejectionassimplyunbearableoftheideathatsomeonecouldcommitmass
murderwithoutasenseofrectitude,howeverdelusional.ThatHitlercouldhavedoneitoutofpure
personalhatred,knowingexactlywhathewasdoingandhowwrongitwas.'(11)(Originalemphasis.)
AlliedtothisisthesocalledGreatAbstractionTheoryofhistory,whichplacesemphasisonprofound
andinevitabletrendsattheexpenseoftheactivitiesofsinglepersonalitiesasformulatedinthenow
unfashionableGreatManTheory.AccordingtotheGreatAbstractionTheory:'Nothingcouldhave
preventedtheHolocaust.Noone'stoblameforthefailuretohaltHitler'srise.Ifithadn'tbeenHitler,it
wouldhavebeen"someonelikeHitler"servingasaninstrumentofthoseinexorablelargerforces.'(12)
Thealternative,whichisconsideredunthinkablebymanyhistoriansandphilosophers,isthatasingle
humanbeingwantedtobringabouttheHolocaustahumanbeing...amemberofourspecies.(The
readermaydetectasimilaritybetweenthisnotionandthereluctancebysometoallowHitlertobe
placedwithinthecontinuumofhumanbehaviourmentionedearlier.)
WhiletheimplicationsoftheGreatAbstractionTheorymayserveasaformofconsolation(nothing
couldhavepreventedtheHolocaustfromhappening:itwastheresultofuncontrollablehistorical
forces),ithasbeenrightlycriticisedinsomequartersforitsimplicitremovalofHitlerfromtheposition
ofsolecreatoroftheFinalSolution.Inthelastanalysis,heremainsthegreatestenigma:anyattemptto
explainseriouslytheoriginandnatureoftheeviloftheThirdReichmustcentreonAdolfHitlernot
asapawnoflargerforces,butastheprimemoverofNazism.
Allofwhichbringsusbacktothecentralquestion,phrasedmemorablybyRosenbaum:whatmade
HitlerHitler?Whatturnedhimfromanapparentlyordinary,undistinguishedhumanbeingintothevery
embodimentofwickedness,thedestroyerofmorethansixmillioninnocentpeople?Accordingto
YehudaBauer,afounderofthedisciplineofHolocaustStudies,whileitispossibleintheorytoexplain
Hitler,itmaywellbetoolate.Thedeathsofcrucialwitnessesandthelossofimportantdocumentsmay
haveresultedinoureternalseparationfromthemeanstoanswerthequestion,todrawanaccuratemap
ofthehellHitlercreatedonEarth.
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Ofcourse,therehavebeennumeroustheoriesputforward,includingthesuggestionthatHitler'santi
Semitismderivedfromtheunprovenseductionandimpregnationofhispaternalgrandmother,Maria
Schicklgruber,byaJew,resultinginthebirthofhisfather,AloisHitler.Accordingtothistheory,Hitler
exterminatedtheJewsinordertoexterminatewhatheperceivedasthepoisoninhisownblood.
AnotherconjecturehasitthatHitlerdiscoveredanaffairbetweenhishalfniece,GeliRaubal,anda
Jewishmusicteacher,andthatheeitherdrovehertosuicideorhadhermurdered.Thisresultedina
desireformurderousvengeanceagainsttheJews.YetanothertheorysuggeststhatthedeathofHitler's
motherin1907wasinsomewaymademorepainfulbythemalpracticeofherJewishdoctor,Eduard
Bloch,forwhichHitler,onceagain,exactedterriblevengeance.(13)
Aswehavejustseen,thedesperatesearchforanadequateexplanationofHitlerhasresultedina
numberofcontradictorytheories,manyofwhicharebuiltonflimsyevidence.Interestingly,thissearch
hasalsogeneratedamythologyofitsown,revolvingaroundwhatRosenbaumcalls'thelostsafe
depositbox.Aplacewhereallegedlyrevelatorydocumentsonesthatmightprovidethemissinglink,
thelostkeytotheHitlerpsyche,thetruesourceofhismetamorphosisseemtodisappearbeyond
recovery."(4)ThismythologywasinspiredbyrealeventsinMunichin1933,whenFritzGerlich,the
lastantiHitlerjournalistinthatcity,madeadesperateattempttoalerttheworldtothetruenatureof
Hitlerbymeansofareportofanunspecifiedscandal.On9March,justasGerlich'snewspaper,Der
GeradeWeg,wasabouttogotopress,SAstormtroopersenteredthepremisesandrippeditfromthe
presses.
AlthoughnocopyoftheGerlichreporthaseverbeenfound,rumourshavebeencirculatingformany
yearsabouttheultimatefateoftheinformationwithwhichGerlichhopedtowarntheworldofthe
dangerofHitler,oneofwhichinvolvesasecretcopyofthereportthatwassmuggledoutofthe
premises(alongwithsupportingdocumentarymaterial)byoneCountWaldburgZeil.WaldburgZeil
allegedlytookthereportanditssupportingdocumentstohisestatenorthofMunich,whereheburied
themsomewhereinthegrounds.AccordingtoGerlich'sbiographerErwinvonAretin,however,
WaldburgZeildestroyedthemduringthewar,fearfulofwhatmighthappenshouldtheybediscovered
bytheNaziauthorities.
Rosenbauminformsusofanalternativeversionoftheseevents,involvingdocumentsprovingthatGeli
RaubalwasindeedkilledontheordersofAdolfHitler.AccordingtovonAretin'sson,thehistorian
ProfessorKarlOttmarFreiherrvonAretin,hisfathergavethedocumentstohiscousin,KarlLudwig
FreiherrvonGuttenberg,coowneroftheMunchenerNeuesteNachrichten,whoputtheminasafe
depositboxinSwitzerland.Guttenbergwaskilledfollowinghisinvolvementintheattemptedcoup
againstHitleron20July1944.Forthesakeofsecurity,hehadnottoldanyonethenumberofthesafe
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depositboxaccount.
TheideathatsomewhereinSwitzerlandthereliesasetofdocumentscontaininginformationthatmight
beofsomehelpinexplainingthetransformationofAdolfHitlerfrommantomonsterisapowerful
one,andhasgeneratedmorethanonesubsequentcontroversialclaim.Thereis,forinstance,the
accountgivenbyaGermannovelistnamedErnstWeiss,accordingtowhichthevoiceHitlerclaimed
tohaveheardwhilerecoveringfromwarinjuriesinahospitalatPasewalksummoninghimtoamission
toavengeGermanyfollowinghersurrenderin1918,wasactuallythatofDrEdmundForster,astaff
psychiatristatthehospital.Forster'soughttocureHitler'shystericalblindnessbyputtinghimina
hypnotictranceandimplantingtheposthypnoticsuggestionthatHitlerhadtorecoverhissighttofulfil
amissiontoredeemGermany'slosthonor'.(15)
Weiss,whoapparentlybefriendedForster,claimedthatthepsychiatristdiscoveredadreadfulsecret
duringthecourseofHitler'streatment,asecretwiththepotentialtounlockthefutureFuhrer'spsyche
andwhichForstertookwithhimwhenhefledGermanyin1933.Shortlybeforehissuicide(towhich
hewasdrivenbytheGestapo),ForstertookhisPasewalkcasenotestoSwitzerlandandplacedthemin
asafedepositboxinabankinBasel.Asanaddedsecuritymeasure,Forsterrewrotethenotesina
cipherofhisowndevising,thekeytowhichhetooktohisgrave.
AsRosenbaumnotes,theunreadablecipherinthelostsafedepositboxisapowerfulmetaphorforthe
elusiveexplanationofHitler:
Theselostsafedepositboxstoriesclearlyserveasexpressionsofanxietyaboutandtalismansagainst
anotherwiseapparentlyinexplicablemalignantevil.Infact,despitethedespairingtoneofthesafe
depositboxmyths,theyrepresentakindofepistemologicaloptimism,afaithinanexplicableworld.
Yes,somethingismissing,butifwedon'thavethemissingpieceinhand,atleastitexistssomewhere.
Atleastsomewherethere'sthelostkeythatcouldmakesenseoftheapparentlymotivelessmalignancy
ofHitler'spsyche...Amissingpiece,howevermundaneorbizarre...butsomethinghereonearth,
somethingwecancontaininourimagination,somethingsafelycontainablewithinthereassuring
confinesofaboxinaSwissbank.Somethingnotbeyondourken,justbeyondourreach,something
lessunbearablyfrighteningthaninexplicableevil.[Originalemphasis.](16)
IfIhavereliedratherheavilyonRosenbaum'sworkinthelastfewpages,itisbecauseitisof
considerablerelevancetoourconcernsinthepresentbook.WhenIbegantothinkaboutwriting
InvisibleEagle,myintentionwastoattemptanevaluationoftheevidenceforNaziinvolvementwith
occultismandblackmagic.Inthecourseofmypreliminaryreading,however,itbecamecleartome
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that,whileearlyracistorganisationslikethevolkischmovementandthePanGermansweremost
certainlyinfluencedbyoccultistnotions,theevidenceforAdolfHitlerandotherleadingNazisas
practisingblackmagicianswasdecidedlyweak.Nevertheless,inthedecadessincetheendofthe
SecondWorldWar,anelaboratemythologyhasdevelopedaroundthisveryconcept,thedetailsof
which(asluridastheyareunsubstantiated)havebeenpresentedinanumberofpopularbooks,mainly
inthe1960sandearly1970s.
Thereasonforthis,itseemstome,hasagreatdealtodowithwhatwehavebeendiscussinginthis
Introduction:theneeddesperateandperhapsdoomedtofailuretoarriveatanadequateexplanation
forthecatastrophicwickednessofHitlerandtheNazis.Indeed,thisnotionfirstaroseduringtheactual
waryearsandwasadheredtoatfirstprincipallybymembersoftheSpiritualistcommunity,andlaterby
manyothers(itisestimatedthatby1941asmuchas25percentoftheBritishpopulationhadsome
beliefintheparanormal).AninterestinoccultismandSpiritualismbecameagreatcomforttothose
whohadlostlovedoneseitheroverseasorintheBlitz,sinceitheldthepotentialtoestablishforthem
therealityofanafterlife,aworldofthespiritwheretheirsufferingswouldbeatanend,replacedby
ultimatepeaceandlove.Formanypeoplewithaninterestinesotericism,itbecameevidentthatthewar
wasverymuchawarbetweenGoodandEvilinthecosmicsense:abattlebetweenthepowersofLight
andDarkness.TheNaziswereusing(orperhapsbeingusedby)monstrousoccultpowers,andtheonly
waytohaveevenachanceofstoppingthemwastoemploytheopposingmagicalpowersofgoodness
andlove.ThistheSpiritualistcommunitydid,payingspecialattentiontoBritishpilotsfightinginthe
BattleofBritain.Itisalittleknownfactthattherewasanadditionalbattlebeingwagedatthetime,by
Spiritualistsgivingpsychicaidtothebravepilotsdefendingthenation'sskies.Thiscametobeknown
astheMagicalBattleofBritain.
TheSpiritualistswereinturnaidedintheireffortsbythewhitewitcheswhofearedthataNaziinvasion
ofBritainwouldseetheirextermination.Byraisingtheirownoccultforces,theyhopedtostaveoffthe
invasioninthesummerof1940.TravellingtotheKentcoast,thewitchesthrewasubstanceknownas
'goawaypowder'intothesea.Madeaccordingtoanancientrecipe,thissubstance,combinedwith
certainpotentmagicalspells,hadtheeffect(sothewitchesbelieved)ofraisinganimpassablepsychic
barrieraroundtheshoresofBritain.AnothercoventravelledtotheHampshirecoastwiththeintention
ofraisingamagicalconeofpowerthatwouldturnbacktheadvancingforcesofDarkness.Indeed,
magicaloperationswerecarriedoutbycovensalloverthecountry,concentratingontheideaof
confusingthemindsofHitler'sHighCommandandmakingthemthinkthattoinvadeBritainwouldbe
toodifficult.(Intheautumnof1940,theinvasionofBritainwaspostponedindefinitely.)
Atthispoint,IshouldpausetonotethatatvariouspointsinthisbookIshallbeusingtwophrasesthat
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atfirstsightmightappeartobesynonymousbutwhichactuallyhaveverydifferentmeanings.Thefirst
is'Nazioccultism',bywhichImeantheNazibeliefintheoccultandsupernatural;thesecondis'Nazi
occultpower',bywhichImeanthebeliefofoccultistsandcryptohistoriansthattheNaziswielded
genuinesupernaturalpowers,achievedthroughtheirallegedcontactwithtranshumanintelligences.It
willbecomeclearinthecourseofthebook,Ihope,thatthelatterconcept,whilefarlessverifiable
inhistoricalterms,isneverthelessofconsiderableimportanceinthemythologyofthetwentieth
centuryandthemannerinwhichweviewrealitytoday.
Thatsaid,letusnowturntoabriefoverviewofthesubjectsthatweshallbeexamininginthefollowing
pages.Thissurveycaninmanywaysbecategorisedasconspiracyliterature.Assuch,itpresentscertain
problemsbothforthewriterwhoexploresitandthereaderwhoagreestoaccompanyhimorher.With
regardtoInvisibleEagle,itwillbecomeclearthattheearlysectionsrefertodatathathavebeenverified
andareacceptedbyprofessionalhistorians.However,asthereaderproceedsthroughthebook,itwill
alsobecomeclearthatideasabouttheinvolvementofleadingNaziswithoccultismandblackmagic
growmoreoutlandishandlessbelievable,particularlywhenpresentedbywriterswhohavelittleorno
officialtraininginthehistoryoffascismandtheSecondWorldWar.
Itmightthereforeappeartothereaderthatthisbookitselfisonlyhalflegitimate,basedasitispartlyon
verifiablehistoricaldataandpartlyonbizarreandspuriousnotionsthathavefewclaimstohistorical
accuracy.Suchaconclusionwould,however,beamistake:thevariousclaimsmaderegardingNazi
involvementwiththeocculthavecometooccupyacentralplaceinthemythologisingoftheThird
ReichthathasdevelopedintheyearssincetheendoftheSecondWorldWar.JustastheNazis
mythologisedthehistoryoftheirsocalled'Aryan'ancestorsinordertolegitimise(intheirownminds,
atleast)theirclaimstoracialsuperiority,sotheythemselveshave,toagreatextent,beenmythologised
bywritersinthefieldsofoccultismandconspiracytheory.
Theresultisthatabodyofwildhistoricalspeculationnowexistsalongsidewhatweknowforcertain
aboutNaziGermany,anditisanunpalatablebutundeniablefactthatthisspeculationformsa
significantelementinthepublicattitudetoHitlerandtheNazis.Howeverspurioustheideasthatwe
shallexamineinthelaterstagesofthisbook,itisessentialthatwedodiscusstheminordertogain
someunderstandingoftheawfulfascinationtheThirdReichstillholdsforus.
Thus,inChapterOne,wewillexaminetheoriginsofoccultistbeliefinNaziGermanyinmovements
suchasvolkischnationalismandPanGermanism,theadoptionofTheosophicalconcepts,the
developmentoftheoccultracistdoctrineknownasAriosophy,andtheoccultsocietiesthatwereused
asconduitsforthepropagationofracistesotericismandthedoctrineofAryansupremacy.In
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ChapterTwo,wewillconcentrateonthebizarremythologyadoptedbytheNazis,whichcentredonthe
ideaofalostAryanhomelandinthefarNorth,andwillexaminetheoccultoriginoftheswastika.
Thefirsttwochapterscontaininformationthatishistoricallyverifiableandacceptedbyserious
historians.WithChapterThree,wefindourselvesdepartingfromthispathofrespectabilityand
enteringwhattheFrenchwritersLouisPauwelsandJacquesBergiercalltheAbsoluteElsewhere:an
intellectualrealmofextremenotionsthatistheequivalentofGodwin's'twilightzonebetweenfactand
fiction'.Muchoftheremainderofthisbookwilldealwiththesenotions,notthroughanymisguided
beliefintheirveracitybutratherinanattempttoestablishthereasonsfortheirinclusioninthe
mythologythathasbeenimposeduponthehistoryoftheThirdReichinthelastfivedecades.Chapter
Three,therefore,willintroduceustothemysteriousVrilSocietyanditsuseofavastandhiddenpower
knownas'vril'andsaidtobewieldedbyaraceofsubterraneansuperhumans.InChapterFourwewill
traveltoTibettoexaminethecuriousnotionthattheNaziswereincontactwithcertainhighlamas,
throughwhomtheyintendedtoallythemselveswiththepowerfulracelivingbeneaththeHimalayas.
ChapterFivewillbedevotedtoanexaminationofoneofthemostenduringmythsregardingNazi
occultpower:thatofHitler'squestforthesocalledSpearofDestiny,theHolyLancesaidtohave
piercedthesideofChristduringthecrucifixionandwhosepossessionwouldenablethosewho
understooditsmysteriestocontroltheworld.InChapterSixwewillcharttheoriginsandritual
practicesoftheSSandattempttoestablishhowmuchofwhathasbeenwrittenregardingitsuseof
blackmagicistrue.ChapterSevenwillseeusplungingeverdeeperintotheAbsoluteElsewhere,where
wewillencounterthefantasticprinciplesofNazicosmology,includingthetheorythattheEarthis
hollow(atheorythathasenjoyedmoreorlessconstantcurrencyincertainUFOcirclesthefringeof
thefringe,onemightsay).
AlthoughatfirstsightitmightappearoutofplaceinabookdealingwiththesubjectofNazioccultism,
IhavedevotedChapterEighttoanexaminationoftheradicalandhighlyadvancedaircraftdesignson
whichtheNaziswereworkingtowardstheendofthewar,andwhichwerecaptured,alongwithmany
ofthescientistsandengineerswhowereattemptingtoputthemintopractice,bytheAlliesin1945.I
haveincludedthissubjectbecauseitprovidesaconnectionbetweentheallegedoccultphilosophyof
theThirdReichandthesinisterbutincreasinglypopularconceptofNazisurvivaltothepresentday.It
hasbeensuggestedbyanumberofresearchersandcommentatorsthatmodernsightingsofUFOs
(unidentifiedflyingobjects)maybeduetothedevelopmentbyAmericaandRussiaofcapturedNazi
secretweapondesigns.ItiscertainlybeyonddisputethatbothAlliedandGermanaircrews
encounteredhighlyunusualaerialphenomenaoverEuropeintheformofsmall(threetofourfoot
diameter)illuminatedspheres,whichappearedtofollowtheirfightersandbombersandinterferedwith
theelectricalsystemsoftheaircraft.
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Theseglowingballsoflightwereknownas'foofighters'.Others(includingcertainneoNazigroups)
havesuggestedinallseriousnessthatsomeUFOsareactuallyoperatedbyNazisandarepoweredby
vrilenergy,andthattheThirdReichsurvivestodayintheicyfastnessesoftheNorthandSouthpolar
regions,inparticulartheregionofAntarcticaknownasQueenMaudLand(sonamedbyNorwegian
explorers)whichtheNazisclaimedforGermanyin1939andrenamedNeuSchwabenland.
InChapterNinewewillexaminethenotionofNazisurvivalinvarioussecretlocations,whichhasit
thattheThirdReich(or,perhapsmoreaccurately,theFourthReich)isaliveandwellandcontinuingits
questforworlddomination.Finally,intheConclusionwewillattemptasummingupofthematerialwe
havecovered.
Bytheendofthebook,IhopetomakeitclearthatthehistoryofNazioccultistbeliefs,incombination
withtheattempttoenlisttheNazis'questforgenuinesupernaturalpowertoexplainthemotivationsof
HitlerandtheThirdReich,hasresultedinanelaboratemythologicalsystemthathashadadefinite
influenceuponourattitudetothepracticeofofficialsecrecyandtheputativeabusesofpoliticaland
economicpowerinthepostwarworld.Thestructureofbeliefwewillbediscussingisthustwofold:on
theonehand,wecanidentifytheperniciousesotericismoftheNazisthemselvesandtherevolting
crueltiesitengendered;andontheother,themodernmythologicalsystemthathasdevelopedinthe
yearssincetheendoftheSecondWorldWar,andwhichhasNazioccultistbeliefsasitsstartingpoint.
Readerswillfindthemselvesembarkingonajourneyintorealmsbothoutreandunsettling;wewill
ofnecessitybeexploringconceptsfromwhichmostacademicswouldturnawaywiththeutmost
disdain.Wewilllookatclaimsandbeliefsthatmostrationalpeoplewouldfindithardtoacceptanyone
couldseriouslyentertainwereitnotfortheatrocitiescommittedintheirnamethathaveirreparably
demeanedourspecies.AndwewillseehowthefrightfulandirrationalconceptsofNazimysticismand
pseudosciencehavesurvivedtothepresentdaytocastafearsomeshadowoverthefuture.
TheMysticalOriginsofNationalSocialism
HistoricalPerspective
WemustbeginourjourneyintheconvulsedbutwellmappedterritoryofnineteenthcenturyEurope,in
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whicharcaneandesotericconceptsmightbeexpectedtobefarremovedfromthecomplexpolitical
processes,intellectualrationalismandrapidindustrialisationoccurringatthetime.Nevertheless,the
originsoftheNazifascinationwithoccultandesotericbeliefsystemscanbetracedtothepolitical,
culturalandeconomicconditionsprevalentinPrussiaandAustriainthesecondhalfofthecentury.As
notedbytheBritishauthorityonthehistoryoftheThirdReich,NicholasGoodrickClarke,Austriain
thelate1800swastheproductofthreemajorpoliticalchanges:'Thesechangesconsistedinthe
exclusionofAustriafromtheGermanConfederation,theadministrativeseparationofHungaryfrom
Austria,andtheestablishmentofaconstitutionalmonarchyinthe"Austrian"orwesternhalfofthe
empire."TheGermanConfederationhadbeencreatedbytheCongressofViennatoreplacetheHoly
RomanEmpire,andlastedfrom1815to1866;itconsistedofaunionof39Germanstates,with35
monarchiesandfourfreecities.ItsmainorganwasacentralDietunderthepresidencyofAustria.
However,theestablishmentoftheconfederationfailedtomeettheaspirationsofGermannationalists,
whohadhopedforaconsolidationofthesesmallmonarchiesintoapoliticallyunifiedGreater
Germany.
AsasteptowardstheascendancyofPrussiaoverAustriaandtheunificationofGermanyunder
Prussiandominance,OttovonBismarckprovokedtheAustroPrussianWarinJune1866,usingthe
disputeovertheadministrationofSchleswigHolsteinasapretext.Inthisconflict,alsoknownasthe
SevenWeeks'War,PrussiawasalliedwithItaly,andAustriawithanumberofGermanstates,including
Bavaria,Wurttemberg,SaxonyandHanover.PrussiaeasilyovercameAustriaandherallies.Austriawas
excludedfromGermanaffairsintheTreatyofPrague(23August1866).Thewarnotwithstanding,
BismarckconsideredAustriaapotentialfutureallyandsoavoidedunnecessarilyweakeningthestate,
settlingfortheannexationofHanover,Hesse,Nassau,FrankfurtandSchleswigHolstein.(These
moderatepeacetermsweretofacilitatetheAustroGermanallianceof1879.)Thewarresultedinthe
destructionoftheGermanConfederation,anditsreplacementwiththeNorthGermanConfederation
underthesoleleadershipofPrussia.ThedefeatofAustriawasanadditionalblowtoGerman
nationalism:AustrianGermansfoundthemselvesisolatedwithintheHabsburgEmpire,withits
multitudeofnationalandethnicgroups.Alookatthepoliticaldivisionswithintheempirewillgive
someideaoftheextentofitsmulticulturalism.Theyincluded:
Austria;
thekingdomsofBohemia,DalmatiaandGaliciaLodomeria;
thearchduchiesofLowerAustriaandUpperAustria;
theduchiesofBukovina,Carinthia,CarniolaSalzburgandStyria;
themargraviatesofIstriaandMoravia;
thecountiesofGoriziaGradisca,TyrolandVorarlberg;
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thecrownlandofAustrianSilesia;
BosniaHercegovina;
Lombardy(transferredtoItalyin1859),Modena(transferredtoItalyin1860),
Tuscany(transferredtoItalyin1860)andVenetia(transferredtoItalyin
1866);
andthetownofTrieste.(2)
AsGoodrickClarkestates,fearsthatthesupremacyoftheGermanlanguageandculturewithinthe
empirewouldbechallengedbythenonGermannationalitiesresultedinaconflictofloyaltiesbetween
GermannationalityandAustriancitizenship.Thisinturnresultedintheemergenceoftwoprincipal
nationalistmovements:volkischnationalismandthePanGermanmovement,whichwewilldiscussa
littlelater.
ThesecondmajorchangewastheAusgleich('Compromise')of1867,wherebytheHabsburgssetupthe
DualMonarchyofAustriaHungary.TheintentionwastocurbthenationalistaspirationsofSlavsin
bothstates,inspiredbySlavsintheOttomanEmpire(includingSerbs,MontenegrinsandAlbanians)
whohadtakenadvantageoftheTurkishdeclinetoestablishtheirownstates.AsnotedbytheAmerican
historianStevenW.Sowards,'Theformerrevolutionaries[of1848]GermanandMagyarbecamede
facto"peoplesofstate",eachrulinghalfofatwincountryunitedonlyatthetopthroughtheKing
EmperorandthecommonMinistriesofForeignAffairsandofWar'.(3)
However,accordingtoNormanDavies,theAusgleichonlyservedtomakemattersworse:
TherewasnochancethattheGermanspeakingelitecouldimposeitsculturethroughoutAustria,let
aloneextendittothewholeoftheDualMonarchy.Afterall,'AustriawasaSlavhousewithaGerman
facade'.Inpracticethethree'masterraces'theGermans,theMagyars,andtheGalicianPoleswere
encouragedtolorditovertheothers.TheadministrativestructuresweresotailoredthattheGerman
minorityinBohemiacouldholddowntheCzechs,theMagyarsinHungarycouldholddownthe
Slovaks,Romanians,andCroats,andthePolesinGaliciacouldholddowntheRuthenians
(Ukrainians).Sopressuresmountedaseachoftheexcludednationalitiesfellpreytothecharmsof
nationalism.(4)
TheAusgleichresultedinaspirationstowardsautonomyamonganumberofgroupswithintheAustro
HungarianEmpire;theempireasawholewashometoelevenmajornationalities:Magyars,Germans,
Czechs,Poles,Ruthenians,Slovaks,Serbs,Romanians,Croats,SlovenesandItalians.Thelargestand
mostrestlessminorityconsistedofabout6.5millionCzechslivinginBohemia,MoraviaandAustrian
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Silesia.However,theirdesiresforautonomywereconstantlyfrustratedbytheHungariandetermination
topreservethepoliticalstructureestablishedbytheAusgleich.
Germannationalismhadbeenfrustratedontwomainoccasionsinthefirsthalfofthenineteenth
century:attheCongressofViennain1815,andaftertherevolutionsof1848.AccordingtoGoodrick
Clarke:
Asaresultofthisslowprogresstowardspoliticalunification,Germansincreasinglycametoconceive
ofnationalunityinculturalterms.Thistendencyhadbeguninthelateeighteenthcentury,whenwriters
ofthepreRomanticSturmundDrangmovementhadexpressedthecommonidentityofallGermansin
folksongs,customs,andliterature.AnidealizedimageofmedievalGermanywasinvokedtoproveher
claimtospiritualunity,eveniftherehadneverbeenpoliticalunity.Thisemphasisonthepastand
traditionsconferredastronglymythologicalcharacteruponthecauseofunification.(5)
Hegoeson:
TheexclusionofAustriafromthenewPrussiandominatedReichhadleftdisappointednationalistsin
bothcountries.HopesforaGreaterGermanyhadbeendashedin1866,whenBismarckconsolidated
theascendancyofPrussiathroughthemilitarydefeatofAustria,forcingherwithdrawalfromGerman
affairs.ThepositionofGermannationalistsinAustriaHungarywashenceforthproblematic.In1867
theHungariansweregrantedpoliticalindependencewithinadualstate.ThegrowthofthePanGerman
movementinAustriainthefollowingdecadesreflectedthedilemmaofAustrianGermanswithina
stateofmixedGermanandSlavnationalities.TheirprogrammeproposedthesecessionoftheGerman
settledprovincesofAustriafromthepolyglotHabsburgempireandtheirincorporationinthenew
SecondReichacrosstheborder.SuchanarrangementwasultimatelyrealizedbytheAnschlussof
AustriaintotheThirdReichin1938.(6)
Theidealised,romanticimageofarural,quasimedievalGermanysufferedundertheprogrammeof
rapidmodernisationandindustrialisationundertakenbytheSecondReich.Formany,whosawtheir
traditionalcommunitiesdestroyedbythespreadoftownsandindustries,thefoundationsoftheir
mysticalunityhadbecomethreatened.Inaddition,theseantimodernistsentimentsresultedinthe
rejectionofbothliberalismandrationalism,whileparadoxicallyhijackingthescientificconceptsof
anthropology,linguisticsandDarwinistevolutionto'prove'thesuperiorityoftheGermanrace.
Asetofinnermoralqualitieswasrelatedtotheexternalcharacteristicsofracialtypes:whilethe
Aryans(andthustheGermans)wereblueeyed,blondhaired,tallandwellproportioned,theywere
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alsonoble,honest,andcourageous.TheDarwinistideaofevolutionthroughstrugglewasalsotakenup
inordertoprovethatthesuperiorpureraceswouldprevailoverthemixedinferiorones.Racialthinking
facilitatedtheriseofpoliticalantiSemitism,itselfsocloselylinkedtothestrainsofmodernization.
Feelingsofconservativeangeratthedisruptiveconsequencesofeconomicchangecouldfindreleasein
thevilificationoftheJews,whowereblamedforthecollapseoftraditionalvaluesandinstitutions.
RacismindicatedthattheJewswerenotjustareligiouscommunitybutbiologicallydifferentfrom
otherraces.(7)
TheVolkischMovementandPanGermanism
Asmentionedearlier,thefearsandaspirationsofGermannationalistsledtotheformationoftwo
highlyinfluentialmovements,volkischnationalismandPanGermanism.Theintentionofthevolkisch
movementwastoraisetheculturalconsciousnessofGermanslivinginAustria,particularlybyplaying
ontheirfearsfortheiridentitywithintheprovincesofmixednationalityintheAustroHungarian
Empire.ThewordvolkischisnoteasytotranslateintoEnglish,containingasitdoeselementsofboth
nationalismandaprofoundsenseoftheimportanceoffolklore.Themainprinciplesofvolkisch
thoughtweretheimportanceoflivingnaturally(includingavegetariandiet);anawarenessofthe
wisdomofone'sancestors,expressedthroughtheappreciationofprehistoricmonuments;andan
understandingofastrologyandcosmiccycles.(Asmorethanonecommentatorhasnoted,thereisa
distinctandrathersinistersimilaritybetweentheseprinciplesandthoseofthemodernNewAge
movement.)
Theideasofthevolkischmovementwerepropagatedthrougheducationalanddefenceleaguescalled
Vereine.In1886,AntonLanggassnerfoundedtheGermanenbund,afederationofVereine,atSalzburg
underthebannerofGermanicVolkstum(nationhood).TheVereinewereparticularlypopularamongst
youngpeopleandintellectuals;suchwastheirpopularity,infact,thatanunsettledAustriangovernment
dissolvedtheGermanenbundin1889,althoughitreemergedin1894astheBundderGermanen.
GoodrickClarkeestimatesthatby1900,asmanyas150,000peoplewereinfluencedbyvolkisch
propaganda.
AccordingtothehistorianofNazism,EugeneDavidson,thefollowersofthevolkischmovement:
believedthetroublesoftheindustrialordertheharshness,theimpersonality,thesharpdealing,the
ruthlessspeculatorswouldonlybeexorcisedbyareturntoUrGermanism,totheGermancommunity,
theancientTeutonicgods,andaGermanicsocietyunsulliedbyinferior,foreignintrusions.Nations
mightenduresuchforeignelements,butaVolkwasanorganicunitywithacommonbiological
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inheritance.TheculturebearingVolkoftheworld,incomparablysuperioramongtheraces,wasthe
German;therefore,theonlyproperfunctionofaGermanstatewastoadministeronbehalfoftheVolk;
everythinginternationalwasinferiorandtoberejected.Asoundeconomywouldbebasedon
agricultureratherthanonindustrywithitsinternational,especiallyJewishinfluences;andinreligion,a
GermanGodwouldhavetoreplacetheJewishGod.(8)[Originalemphasis.]
Volkischideologywaspropagatedthroughanumberofracistpublications,oneofthemostvirulentof
whichwasthesatiricalillustratedmonthlyDerScherer,publishedinInnsbruckbyGeorgvonSchonerer
(18421921),aleaderinthemovement,whomDavidsondescribesas'antiCatholic,antiSemitic,and
oftenludicrous'.(9)TheantiCatholicandantiSemiticarticlesinDerSchererwereaccompaniedby
drawingsoffatpriestsandbignosedJews,thelatteraprototypeoftheJewishstereotypethatwouldbe
laterusedinNationalSocialistpropaganda.Inonepicture,aJewandapriestaresittingonamound
ofwrithingpeople,whorepresenttheVolk,whileanothershowstheDevilinHell,withasignsaying:
'SpaforJewsandJesuits.'(10)
Jewswereconsistentlyattackedfromtwodirections:volkischanticlericalgroupslinkedthemwiththe
reactionaryChurch,whileclericalantiSemiteslinkedthemwithvolkischheathenism.Jewswere
thereforeseenas'eithergodlesssocialistsorcapitalistexploiters...andthehidden,international
rulersoffinancialandintellectuallife'.(11)Asweshallseelater,theseviewswouldsurviveNazism,
andhaveextendedtheirperniciousinfluencethroughvariousrightwinggroupsactivetoday.One
Catholicpaper,DieTirolerPost,wrotein1906thatthegoaloftheJewwasworlddomination,while
another,theLinzerPost,defendedantiSemitismasnomorethanhealthyselfpreservation.Inthesame
year,thevolkischDeutscheTirolerStimmencalledfortheexterminationoftheJewishrace.(12)
IfthevolkischmovementattemptedtoraiseGermannationalandculturalconsciousness,Pan
Germanismoperatedinamorepoliticalcontext,beginningwiththerefusalofAustrianGermansto
accepttheirexclusionfromGermanaffairsaftertheAustroPrussianWarof1866.Themovement
originatedamongstudentgroupsinVienna,GrazandPrague,whichwereinspiredbyearlierGerman
studentclubs(Burschenschaftern)followingtheteachingsofFriedrichLudwigJahn(17781850).Jahn,
apurveyorofvolkischideology,advocatedGermannationalunity,identityandromanticritual.These
groupsadvocatedkleindeutsch(or'littleGerman')nationalism,whichcalledfortheincorporationof
GermanAustriaintotheBismarckianReich.AsGoodrickClarkenotes,'ThiscultofPrussophilialedto
aworshipofforceandacontemptforhumanitarianlawandjustice.'(13)
GeorgvonSchonerer'sinvolvementwithPanGermanismtransformeditfromanebulous'cultof
Prussophilia'intoagenuinerevolutionarymovement.FollowinghiselectiontotheReichsratin1873,
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SchonererfollowedaprogressiveLeftagendaforaboutfiveyears,beforemakingdemandsfora
GermanAustriawithouttheHabsburgsandpoliticallyunitedwiththeGermanReich.Schonerer'sPan
Germanismwasnotcharacterisedmerelybynationalunity,politicaldemocracyandsocialreform:its
essentialcharacteristicwasracism,'thatis,theideathatbloodwasthesolecriterionofallcivilrights'.
(14)
ThePanGermanmovementexperiencedsomethingofasetbackin1888,whenSchonererwas
convictedofassaultafterbargingintotheofficesofDasNeueWienerTageblattandattackingthe
editorforprematurelyreportingthedeathoftheGermanemperor,WilhelmI.Hewassentencedtofour
months'imprisonment,losthistitleofnobility(15)andwasdeprivedofhispoliticalrightsforfive
years.
WhentheAustriangovernmentdecidedin1895thatSloveneshouldbetaughtintheGermanschoolat
CeljeinCarniola,andtwoyearslatertheAustrianpremier,CountCasimirBadeni,ruledthatall
officialsinBohemiaandMoraviashouldspeakbothCzechandGerman(thusplacingGermansata
distinctdisadvantage),theflamesofnationalismwereonceagainfannedthroughouttheempire.The
resultwasthatthePanGermans,togetherwiththedemocraticGermanparties,followedastrategyof
blockingallparliamentarybusiness,whichinturnledtoviolentpublicdisorderinthesummerof1897.
Bythistime,SchonererhadidentifiedanadditionalenemyintheCatholicChurch,whichheregarded
asinimicaltotheinterestsofAustrianGermans.'Theepiscopateadvisedtheemperor,theparishpriests
formedanetworkofeffectivepropagandistsinthecountry,andtheChristianSocialpartyhaddeprived
himofhisearlierstrongholdsamongtheruralandsemiurbanpopulationsofLowerAustriaand
Vienna.'(16)TheassociationofCatholicismwithSlavdomandtheAustrianstatecouldfurtherbe
emphasised,Schonererbelieved,byamovementforProtestantconversion;thiswastheoriginofthe
slogan'LosvonRom'('AwayfromRome').Themovementclaimedapproximately30,000Protestant
conversionsinBohemia,Styria,CarinthiaandViennabetween1899and1910,(17)althoughitwasnot
atallpopularamongeitherthevolkischleaguesorthePanGermans,whosawitas'avariationofold
timeclericalism'.(18)Forthatmatter,theProtestantChurchitselfwasratherdissatisfiedwithLosvon
Rom,andfeltthatitsprofoundconnectionofreligionwithpoliticswouldmakereligiouspeopleuneasy.
Bythesametoken,thosewhowerepoliticallymotivatedfeltreligionitselftobeirrelevant.
Bytheturnofthecentury,PanGermanismcouldbedividedintotwogroups:thosewho,like
Schonerer,wantedpoliticalandeconomicunionwiththeReich,andthosewhomerelywantedto
defendGermanculturalandpoliticalinterestswithintheHabsburgempire.Theseinterestswere
perceivedasbeingradicallyundermined,notonlybytheBadenilanguagedecrees,butalsobythe
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introductionin1907ofuniversalmalesuffrage.ThiscouldonlyexacerbatethegrowingGermanSlav
conflictwithintheempire,andwasoneofthemainfactorsintheemergenceoftheracistdoctrineof
Ariosophy,whichwewilldiscusslater.In185355,ArthurdeGobineauhadwrittenanessayonthe
inequalityofraces,inwhichhehadmadeclaimsforthesuperiorityoftheNordicAryanrace,and
warnedofitseventualsubmergencebynonAryans.Thisnotion,alongwiththeideasaboutbiological
struggleofSocialDarwinism,wastakenupattheturnofthetwentiethcenturybyGerman
propagandistswhoclaimedthatGermanscoulddefendtheirraceandcultureonlybyremainingracially
pure.(19)
ThevolkischnationalistsandPanGermansfoundfurtherinspirationintheworkofthezoologistErnst
Haeckelwho,in1906,foundedtheMonistLeaguetospreadhisracistinterpretationofSocial
Darwinism.Sevenyearsearlier,Haeckel'scolleague,WilhelmBolsche,hadwrittenabookentitled
VomBazilluszumAffenmenschen(FromtheBacillustotheApeman),inwhichhehaddescribedthe
'nakedstrugglefordominancebetweenthezoologicalspecies"Man"'and'thelowestformoforganic
life[microscopicorganisms]'.(20)This'strugglefordominance'wastohaveaprofoundeffectuponthe
developmentofGermanantiSemitismintheearlyyearsofthetwentiethcentury.Hitlerwouldlater
expresshisownantiSemitisminthesebiologicalterms,inordertodepriveJewsofallhuman
attributes.Ononeoccasionin1942,forinstance,Hitlersaid:
ThediscoveryoftheJewishvirusisoneofthegreatestrevolutionstheworldhasseen.Thestrugglein
whichwearenowengagedissimilartotheonewagedbyPasteurandKochinthelastcentury.How
manydiseasesmustowetheirorigintotheJewishvirus!OnlywhenwehaveeliminatedtheJewswill
weregainourhealth.(21)
GermanTheosophy
TherevivalofGermanicmythologyandfolkloreinAustriainthelasttwodecadesofthenineteenth
centurywasofenormousimportancetothedevelopmentofNaziesotericismandcosmology,yetit
mustheviewedinthecontextofamuchwideroccultrevivalthathadbeentakingplaceinEuropefor
aboutonehundredyears.ThecentralconceptsofwhatwouldbecomeWesternoccultism,such
asGnosticism,HermeticismandtheCabala,whichoriginatedintheeasternMediterraneanmorethan
1,500yearsago,hadbeenlargelybanishedfromWesternthoughtbythescientificrevolutionofthe
seventeenthcentury.
Atthispoint,itisworthpausingtoconsiderthemeaningsoftheseconcepts.Gnosticism(gnosis
simplymeansdirectknowledge),aspractisedbyearlyChristianheretics,containstwobasictenets.
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Thefirstisdualism,whichcan,accordingtoMichaelBaigentandRichardLeigh,bedefinedthus:
Dualism,astheworditselfsuggests,presupposesanopposition,oftenaconflict,betweentwo
antitheticalprinciples,twoantitheticalhierarchiesofvalue,twoantitheticalrealities.Indualism,certain
aspectsorordersofrealityareextolledoverothers.Certainaspectsofrealityarerepudiatedasunreal,
orinferior,orevil.Initsdistinctionbetweensoulandbody,betweenspiritand'unregeneratenature',
Christianityis,ineffect,dualist.(22)
Thesecondtenetconcernstheevilofmatter:
Matterwasrejectedasintrinsicallyevil.Materialcreation,thephenomenalworld,wasdeemedtobethe
handiworkofalesserandmalevolentgod.Inconsequence,matterandmaterialcreationhadtobe
transcendedinordertoattainunionwithagreaterandtruergod,whosedomainwaspurespirit;andit
wasthis'unionthattheterm'gnosis'signified...[Gnostic]thinkinghadprobablyoriginatedinthe
similardualismofPersianZoroastrianism.ItwassubsequentlytosurfaceagaininPersia,undera
teacherknownasMani,andtobecalledManicheism.(23)
HermeticismderivesfromHermesTrismegistus('thethricegreatestHermes'),thenamegivenbythe
GreekstotheEgyptiangodThoth,thegodofwisdomandofliterature.TotheGreeks,this'scribeof
thegods'wasauthorofallsacredbooks,whichtheycalled'Hermetic'.TheancientwisdomofHermes
issaidtoresidein42books,thesurvivingfragmentsofwhichareknownastheHermetica.Thebooks
ofHermeswerewrittenonpapyrusandkeptinthegreatlibraryofAlexandria.Whenthelibrarywas
destroyedbyfire,mostofthiswisdomwasforeverlost;however,somefragmentsweresavedand,
accordingtolegend,buriedinasecretdesertlocationbyinitiates.
HermeticworkssuchasTheDivinePymanderandTheVisiondescribethemeansbywhichdivine
wisdomwasrevealedtoHermesTrismegistus,andalsocontaindiscoursesontheevolutionofthe
humansoul.TheTabulasmaragdinaorEmeraldTabletissaidtocontainthemostcomprehensive
summationofEgyptianphilosophy,andwasofcentralimportancetothealchemists,whobelievedthat
itwasencodedwiththemysticalsecretsoftheUniverse.HermesTrismegistusissaidtohavebeenthe
greatestphilosopher,kingandpriest,andwasalsoasomewhatprolificwriter,beingcreditedwith
36,525booksontheprinciplesofnature.AcompositeoftheEgyptiangodThothandtheGreekgod
Hermes,bothofwhomwereassociatedwiththespiritsofthedead,HermesTrismegistuswasthe
personificationofuniversalwisdom.However,itislikelythatthewritingsattributedtohimwere
actuallytheanonymousworksofearlyChristians.
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ThethirdelementinthethreefoldfoundationofWesternoccultismwastheCabala,themysticalsystem
ofclassicalJudaism.TranslatedfromtheHebrewas'thatwhichisreceived',theCabalaisfoundedon
theTorah(Jewishscriptures)andisakindofmap,giventoAdambyangelsandhandeddownthrough
theages,bywhichourfallenspeciesmayfinditswaybacktoGod.TheprimarydocumentofCabalism
istheSeferYetzirah(BookofCreation),whichwaspossiblywritteninthethirdcenturybyRabbi
Akiba,whowasmartyredbytheRomans.AccordingtotheSeferYetzirah,Godcreatedtheworldby
meansof32secretpaths:thetensephirot(oremanationsbywhichrealityisstructured)andthe22
lettersoftheHebrewalphabet.
Between1280and1286,theSpanishCabalistMosesdeLeonwrotetheSeferhaZohar(Bookof
Splendour),theprimarydocumentofclassicalCabalism.ItiscentredupontheZohar,abodyof
teachingsdevelopedbythesecondcenturysageRabbiSimeonbarYohaiduringhismeditationina
cavenearLod,Israel.IntheZohar,GodisreferredtoasEinSof(withoutend),andassuchcannotbe
representedorknownbyfallenhumanity.ThehumangoalistorealiseaunionwithGodand,sinceall
ofrealityisconnected,therebytoelevateallothersoulsintheUniverse.IntheWest,Cabalismcameto
formaprincipalfoundationofoccultism,withitsmagicalamuletsandincantations,sealsand
demonology,anditsconcentrationonthepowerinherentinthelettersoftheHebrewalphabet.
ChristianoccultistsfocusedontheTetragrammatonYHVH,theunspeakablenameofGod,through
whichitwaspossibletogainpowerovertheentireUniverse.(24)
TheoccultrevivalinEuropecameaboutprimarilyasareactiontotherationalistEnlightenmentand
materialismoftheeighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturies.Thislamentablybutnecessarilybrieflook
atitsesotericoriginsbringsustotheemergenceofTheosophyinthe1880s.Theprimemoverbehind
TheosophywasHelenaPetrovnaBlavatsky(18311891).Herparents,BaronvonHahn,asoldierand
memberofthelesserRussianGermannobility,andMadamevonHahn,aromanticnovelistand
descendantofthenoblehouseofDolgorouky,ledasomewhatunsettledlife:thebaron'sregimentwas
constantlyonthemove.MadamevonHahndiedin1842,whenHelenawaseleven,aneventwhich
seemstohavecontributedtoherwaywardnessandpowerfulsenseofindividuality.
AtseventeenshemarriedNikiforBlavatsky,ViceGovernorofYerevanintheCaucasus,and23years
herseniorinJuly1848.ThemarriagefailedafteronlyafewweeksandHelenaleftherhusbandwith
theinitialintentionofreturningtoherfather.However,shesuddenlydecidedinsteadtoleaveherfamily
andcountrybehind,boardedasteamerontheBlackSeaandheadedforConstantinople.(25)Forthe
next25years,shewanderedthroughEurope,AsiaandtheAmericas.Althoughshemayhavehadan
allowancefromherfather,shealsosupportedherselfinavarietyofways,includingasabarebackrider
inacircus,apianoteacherinLondonandParis,andalsoasanassistanttothefamousmediumDaniel
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DunglasHome.Thisisprettymuchallthatisknownwithanycertaintyaboutthisperiodinherlife:the
restisaconfusingjumbleofrumour,contradictionandlegend,muchofwhichoriginatedwith
Blavatskyherself.
DuringatriptotheUnitedStatesin1873,BlavatskyobservedtheenormouspopularityofSpiritualism.
Shehadarrivedwithnomoneyandhadtoliveinahostelforworkingwomen,doingmenialjobssuch
assewingpurses.Ataboutthistime,shemetHenryOlcott(18321907),whoseNewJerseyfamily
claimeddescentfromthepilgrims.ApparentfinancialdifficultiesforcedOlcotttotakeupfarmingin
Ohio,atwhichheseemstohaveexcelled,gainingapositionasAgriculturalEditoroftheNewYork
Tribune,untiltheoutbreakoftheCivilWar,inwhichhefoughtasasignalsofficerintheUnionArmy.
Whenthewarended,OlcottheadedtoNewYorktostudyfortheBar,andestablishedalawpractice
thereinthelate1860s.(26)Inspiteofafairdegreeofsuccessinhisprofession,Olcottseemstohave
beenratherdissatisfiedwithhislot:hismarriagewasnothappy,andeventuallyhedivorcedhiswife.In
searchofsomeformofintellectualdiversion,hebecameinterestedinSpiritualism.
Ashisinterestinthesubjectgrew,Olcottbegantoinvestigateindividualcasesofallegedpsychic
manifestations,includingthoseoccurringontheEddyfarmatChittenden,Vermont.Hisinvestigation
oftheeventsatChittenden(whichincludedspiritmaterialisations)werewrittenupasarticlesfora
NewYorkpaper,theDailyGraphic.On14October1874,OlcottmetBlavatskyattheEddyfarmhouse
duringoneofhismanyvisitsthere.Blavatskyhadbeenintriguedbythearticlesshehadreadinthe
DailyGraphic,andhaddecidedtocultivateOlcott'sfriendship.
Greatlyimpressedwithherapparentmediumisticskills,OlcottbecameBlavatsky'sdevoteeand
publicist.Fromthenuntil1875,whenshefoundedtheTheosophicalSociety,Blavatskyearneda
comfortablelivingasamedium,onlyfallingonhardtimeswhenthenationwideinterestinSpiritualism
begantowane.In1877,BlavatskypublishedIsisUnveiled,anexpositionofEgyptianoccultismthat,
sheclaimed,hadbeendictatedtoherbyspiritsviaaformofautomaticwriting,andwhichargues,
essentially,fortheacceptanceofoccultism(hiddenlawsofnature)tobeacceptedbyorthodoxscience.
Itseffectthebooksoldwidelywastosoothethemindsofthosewhosereligiousfaithhadbeen
underminedbyscientificrationalism,inparticularthetheoriesonevolutionandnaturalselectionof
CharlesDarwin.Perhapsunsurprisingly,thebookwasfiercelyattackedinscholarlycirclesbothfor
intellectualincompetenceandoutandoutplagiarism,withonecriticidentifyingmorethan2,000
unacknowledgedquotations.(27)
CentraltothemythosBlavatskyconstructedforherselfwasherexperienceoflivingandtravellingfor
sevenyearsinTibet.(Thenumbersevenisofconsiderablemagicalsignificance,andisthenumberof
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yearsrequiredforinitiatesintooccultmysteriestocompletetheirapprenticeship.)(28)Shemade
theratherastonishingclaimthatshehadstudiedwithagroupofHiddenMastersintheHimalayas,
underwhoseguidanceshehadreachedthehighestlevelofinitiationintothemysteriesoftheUniverse.
Itis,however,extremelyunlikelythatasinglewhitewomanwithaconsiderableweightproblemandno
mountaineeringexperiencecouldhavemadethearduoustripuptheHimalayas,succeededinfinding
these'HiddenMasters',anddonesowithoutbeingspottedbythenumerousChinese,Russianand
Britishpatrolsthatwereintheareaatthattime.(29)
OneoftheTibetanadeptswithwhomBlavatskystudiedwasnamedMasterMorya.Sheactuallymet
himattheGreatExhibitioninLondoninJuly1851(althoughsheclaimedtohavemethiminvisionson
numerousoccasionspreviously).MasterMoryawasamemberoftheGreatWhiteBrotherhoodof
Masters,immortal,incorporealbeingswhohadachievedultimateenlightenment,buthadelectedto
remainonEarthtoguidehumanitytowardsthesamegoal.Weshallhaveagooddealmoretosayon
theGreatWhiteBrotherhoodinChapterFive,butfornowletusreturntoMadameBlavatsky.
In1879,withtheTheosophicalSocietynotdoingparticularlywellatrecruitingconverts,Blavatsky
decidedtogotoIndia,alogicalchoiceinviewoftheemphasisplacedoneasternphilosophyinIsis
Unveiled.SheandOlcottenjoyedawarmreceptionfromvariousmembersofIndiansociety,including
thejournalistA.P.SinnettandthestatesmanAlienO.Hume.In1882,theymovedthesociety's
headquarterstoAdyar,nearMadras.ThenewheadquartersincludedashrineroominwhichtheHidden
Masterswouldmanifestinphysicalform.However,whileBlavatskyandOlcottwereawaytouring
Europe,EmmaCoulombandherhusband,whohadmanagedthehouseholdbutbeendismissedafter
repeatedlyattemptingtosecurefinancialloansfromthesociety'swealthymembers,decidedtotake
theirrevengebypublishingletterssaidbythemtohavebeenwrittenbyBlavatskyandwhichcontained
instructionsonhowtooperatethesecretpanelsintheshrineroom,throughwhichthe'Masters'
appeared.
UnfortunatelyforBlavatsky,itwasatthistimethattheSocietyforPsychicalResearch(SPR)decidedto
investigatethemediumisticclaimsofTheosophy.Needlesstosay,whentheCoulombs'revelationsof
trickerycametolight,theSPRissuedascathingreportonBlavatskyandherclaims.
Injuredbythescandalandwithherhealthfailing(shewouldlaterdieofBright'sDisease),Blavatsky
leftIndiaandsettledinLondon,whereshebeganworkonhersecondand(itisgenerally
acknowledged)greaterbook,TheSecretDoctrine(publishedin1888).Comprisingtwomainsections,
'Cosmogenesis'and'Anthropogenesis',thebookisnothinglessthanahistoryoftheUniverseand
intelligentlife.TheSecretDoctrineisallegedlyavastcommentaryonafantasticallyold(several
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millionyears)manuscriptcalledTheStanzasofDzyan,writtenintheAtlanteanlanguageSenzar,and
seenbyBlavatskyinamonasteryhiddenfarbeneaththeHimalayas.TheStanzastellhowtheEarthwas
colonisedbyspiritualbeingsfromtheMoon.Humanityasweknowitisdescendedfromtheseremote
ancestorsviaaseriesofsocalled'rootraces'.
LackofspacepreventsusfromgoingtoodeeplyintothecontentsofTheSecretDoctrine.Sufficeto
saythatatthebeginningoftheUniverse,thedivinebeingdifferentiateditselfintothemultitudeoflife
formsthatnowinhabitthecosmos.ThesubsequenthistoryoftheUniversepassedthroughseven
'rounds'orcyclesofbeing.TheUniverseexperiencedafallfromdivinegracethroughthefirstfour
rounds,andwillriseagainthroughthelastthree,untilitisredeemedinultimate,divineunity,before
theprocessbeginsagain.(Wewouldperhapsbewelladvisedtoresistthetemptationtocomparethis
schemewiththesimilarsoundingBigBang/BigCrunchtheoryofuniversalevolutionproposedby
modernphysicists:thereislittleelseintheStanzasthatorthodoxsciencewouldfindpalatable.)
Eachofthesecosmicroundssawtheriseandfallofsevenrootraces,whosedestinymirroredexactly
thatofcosmicevolution,withthefirstfourdescendingfromthespiritualintothematerialandthelast
threeascendingonceagain.AccordingtoBlavatsky,humanityinitspresentformisthefifthrootrace
ofEarth,whichisitselfpassingthroughthefourthcosmicround.(Thereadermaythusfindita
considerablereliefthatwehavealongperiodofspiritualimprovementaheadofus.)Thefirstrootrace
werecompletelynoncorporealAstralbeingswholivedinaninvisibleland;thesecondracewerethe
Hyperboreans,wholivedonalostpolarcontinent(wewillexaminetheimportantconceptof
Hyperboreaindetailinthenextchapter);thethirdrootraceweretheLemurians,fifteenfoottall
brownskinnedhermaphroditeswithfourarms,whohadthemisfortunetooccupythelowestpointin
thesevenstagecycleofhumanity.Forthisreason,theLemurians,wholivedonanowsunkencontinent
intheIndianOcean,sufferedaFallfromdivinegrace:afterdividingintotwodistinctsexes,theybegan
tobreedwithbeautifulbutinferiorraces,thismiscegenationresultinginthebirthofsoullessmonsters.
ThefourthrootraceweretheAtlanteans,whopossessedhighlyadvancedpsychicpowersand
mediumisticskills.GiganticliketheLemuriansandphysicallypowerful,theAtlanteansbuilthuge
citiesontheirmidAtlanticcontinent.Theirtechnologywasalsohighlyadvanced,andwasbasedonthe
applicationofauniversalelectrospiritualforceknownasFohatsimilar,itseems,tothevrilforce
(seeChapterFour).UnfortunatelyfortheAtlanteans,althoughtheywereintelligentandpowerful,they
werealsopossessedofachildlikeinnocencethatmadethemvulnerabletotheattentionsofanevil
entitythatcorruptedthemandcausedthemtoturntotheuseofblackmagic.Thiswastoresultina
catastrophicwarthatledtothedestructionofAtlantis.(30)Thefifthrootrace,fromwhichwetoday
aredescended,wastheAryanrace.
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Theosophyplacedaheavyemphasisontheimportanceofreincarnationandtheconceptofhierarchy.
Throughreincarnation,themovement'sfollowerscouldimaginethemselvestohaveparticipatedinthe
fabulousprehistoryofhumanityinavarietyofmagical,exoticandlonglostlocations,whilefeeling
assuredthattheirsoulswereonadefiniteupwardtrajectory,headingforspiritualsalvationandultimate
unitywithGod.Ofequalimportancetothecosmicschemewerehierarchyandelitism.Asmentioned
earlier,theHiddenMastersorMahatmasofTibet,suchasMasterMoryaandKootHoomi,were
enlightenedbeingswhohaddecidedtoremainonEarthtoguidetherestofhumanitytowardsspiritual
wisdom.Thisconcept,alongwithBlavatsky'sownclaimtohiddenoccultknowledge,isclearlybased
onthevalueofauthorityandhierarchy.Indeed,thisvalueisillustratedbythefateoftheLemurians,
whosemiscegenationcausedtheirFallfromdivinegrace.Theonlysectionofthatsocietytoremain
purewastheelitepriesthood,whicheventuallyretiredtothewondrouscityofShambhalainwhatis
nowtheGobiDesert(moreofwhichinChapterFour)andwhichislinkedwiththeHiddenMastersof
Tibet.(31)
Aswehavealreadynoted,thecentraltenetsofTheosophyofferedawayforpeopleinthelate
nineteenthcenturytomaintaintheirreligiousfaith(or,atleast,theirfaithintheexistenceofsomeform
ofspiritualityinthecosmos)whilesimultaneouslyacceptingthevalidityofnewtheories,suchas
evolution,thatthreatenedtounderminetheirpreviouslyheldworldview.However,formanypeoplein
EuropeandAmerica,scientificrationalism,rapidindustrialisationandurbanisationpresentedanother
threattotheirlongestablishedwayoflife.Asanantidotetothefearsanduncertaintiesofmodernlife,
TheosophywasparticularlyreadilyacceptedinGermanyandAustria.AsGoodrickClarkenotes,itwas
wellsuitedtotheGermanprotestmovementknownasLebensreform(lifereform).'Thismovement
representedamiddleclassattempttopalliatetheillsofmodernlife,derivingfromthegrowthofthe
citiesandindustry.Avarietyofalternativelifestylesincludingherbalandnaturalmedicine,
vegetarianism,nudismandselfsufficientruralcommuneswereembracedbysmallgroupsof
individualswhohopedtorestorethemselvestoanaturalexistence...Theosophywasappropriatetothe
moodofLebensreformandprovidedaphilosophicalrationaleforsomeofitsgroups.'(32)
InterestinTheosophyincreasedinGermanywiththefoundingoftheGermanTheosophicalSocietyon
22July1884atElberfeld.BlavatskyandOlcottwerestayingthereatthehomeofMarieGebhard
(18321892),adevoteeofoccultismwhohadcorrespondedfrequentlywiththefamousFrenchoccultist
andmagicianEliphasLevi(AlphonseLouisConstant)(c.18101875).ItsfirstpresidentwasWilhelm
HubbeSchleiden,thenaseniorcivilservantattheColonialOfficeinHamburg.HubbeSchleiden,who
hadtravelledextensivelythroughouttheworldandwasakeenadvocateofGermancolonialexpansion
abroad,wasinstrumentalingatheringtheisolatedTheosophistsscatteredthroughoutGermanyintoa
consolidatedGermanbranchofthesociety.HubbeSchleidenalsodidmuchtoincreaseoccultinterest
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inGermanythroughthefoundingin1886ofhisperiodicalDieSphinx,ascholarlyblendofpsychical
research,theparanormal,archaeologyandChristianmysticismfromascientificviewpoint.Assuchit
wasfirmlyTheosophicalintone,andincludedcontributionsfromscientists,historiansand
philosophers.(33)
AnothergreatpopulariserofscientificoccultisminGermanywasFranzHartmann(18381912),who
hadalsoledahighlyeventfullifeinEuropeandtheAmericas,followinganumberofcareerssuchas
soldier,doctor,coronerandminingspeculator.AlreadyinterestedinSpiritualism,Hartmannwas
convertedtoTheosophyafterreadingIsisUnveiledanddecidedtotraveltoAdyartomeetBlavatsky
andOlcottin1883.SoimpressedwasBlavatskywithhimthatsheappointedhimactingpresidentof
theTheosophicalSocietywhilesheandOlcotttravelledtoGermanytostartthebranchthere.Hartmann
remainedthereuntil1885,whentheTheosophistsleftIndiafollowingtheCoulombscandal.
HartmannwentontofoundtheoccultperiodicalLotusbluthen(LotusBlossoms),whichranfrom1892
to1900andwasthefirstGermanpublicationtofeaturetheswastikaonitscover.(34)(Ineastern
mysticism,theswastikaisasymbolwithmanypositiveconnotations;wewillexamineitindetailinthe
nextchapter.)TheincreasedpublicinterestgeneratedbythisperiodicalpromptedanumberofGerman
publisherstoissuelongbookseriesdealingwithawiderangeofoccultandesotericsubjects,including
theworkofAnnieBesantandCharlesLeadbeaterwhotookovertheTheosophicalSocietyon
Blavatsky'sdeathin1891.
TheGermanbranchofthesocietyhadbeendissolvedin1885whentheTheosophistsleftIndia,butwas
replacedbyanewsocietyfoundedinBerlininAugust1896asabranchoftheInternational
TheosophicalBrotherhoodinAmerica,withHartmannaspresident.Alsoontheexecutivecommittee
wasonePaulZillmann,whofoundedthemonthlyMetaphysischeRundschau(MetaphysicalReview)
andwhowouldlaterpublishtheworksoftheAriosophists(whomweshallmeetshortly).By1902,
GermanTheosophy,whichhadhithertosufferedfrominternecinerivalry,becamefarbettercoordinated
underthetwomaincentresatBerlinandLeipzig.
In1906,aTheosophicalPublishingHousewasfoundedatLeipzigbyHugoVollrath,adiscipleof
Hartmann's,possiblytocounterthenewinfluenceinoccultcirclesofTheosophistRudolfSteiner,
whosemysticalChristianstancedidnotendearhimtoAnnieBesantwhoseownoutlookwasfirmly
Hindu.(SteinerwouldlaterleaveandformhisownAnthroposophicalSocietyin1912.)The
TheosophicalPublishingHouseproducedalargenumberofoccultmagazinesandbookseries,in
competitionwithotherpublisherssuchasKarlRohm,JohannesBaumandMaxAltmannwhohad
turnedtheirattentiontothispotentiallylucrativefield.
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ThepublicinterestinoccultismquicklygrewinVienna,whichalreadyhaditsowntraditionof
esotericismandinterestinparanormalphenomena.Newoccultgroupswerefounded,includingthe
AssociationforOccultism,whichhaditsownlendinglibrary,theSphinxReadingClubandtheFirst
VienneseAstrologicalSociety.(35)Infact,itwasinViennathattheseedsofGermanicoccultracism
weremostliberallysown.Thepublicdisquietateconomicchange,scientificrationalismandrapid
industrialisationandthethreattheyappearedtoposetotraditional'natural'waysoflifewaspalliated
notonlybyoccultistnotionsofthecentralityandimportanceofhumanitywithinthewidercosmos(of
theessentialmeaningfulnessofexistence),butalsobythevolkischideologythatassuredGermansof
thevalueandimportanceoftheirculturalidentity.Thiscombinationofcultureandspiritualitywas
expressedmostforcefullythroughthedoctrineofAriosophy,whichoriginatedinVienna.
Ariosophy
ThebizarretheoriesofAriosophyconstitutedamixtureofracistvolkischideologyandthe
TheosophicalconceptsofMadameBlavatsky.(AswiththephilosophyofNietszche,Blavatsky'sideas
werehijackedandwarpedbyGermanoccultistsanditshouldberememberedthatneitherofthesetwo
wouldhaveadvocatedtheviolenceandsufferingthatwouldlaterbeperpetratedbytheNazis:indeed,
NietszchedisavowedantiSemitismandcalledGermannationalisman'abyssofstupidity'.)
ThetwoprincipalpersonalitiesbehindAriosophywereGuidovonList(18481919)andJorgLanzvon
Liebenfels(18741954),bothofwhomaddedtheundeservedparticle'von'(denotingnobility)totheir
names.BorninViennatoaprosperousmiddleclassfamily,ListdreamedofthereunificationofAustria
withGermany,andhatedbothJewsandChristiansfortheattacksheperceivedthemtohavemadeupon
Germanculture,spiritualityandterritorialrights.Ajournalistbytrade,Listalsowrotenovelsaboutthe
ancientTeutonsandthecultofWotan,whosehierarchyhecametocalltheArmanenschaft,aname
derivedfromhisspuriousinterpretationofaTeutonicmyth.AccordingtotheRomanauthorTacitusin
hisGermania,theTeutonsbelievedthattheirpeopleweredescendedfromthegodTuiscoandhisson,
Mannus.Mannushadthreesons,afterwhomtheancientGermantribeswerenamed:Ingaevones,
HermionesandIstaevones.Withnoscholarlyevidencetobackhimup,Listdecidedthatthesenames
referredtotheagricultural,intellectualandmilitaryestateswithintheGermanicnation.Theword
ArmanenschaftderivedfromList'sGermanisationofHermiones,theintellectualorpriestlyestate,to
'Armanen'.ListclaimedthattheprofoundlywiseArmanenschaftwasthegoverningbodyoftheancient
society.(36)
List'scodificationofhisbeliefsregardingtheancientandraciallypureTeutonsledtoaprofound
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interestinthesymbolismofheraldryandthesecretsallegedlycontainedintherunicalphabet,an
interestthatincludedthemysticalsignificanceoftheswastikawhichheidentified(atleastintermsof
itspowerandsignificance)withtheChristianCrossandtheJewishStarofDavid.(Asindicatedearlier,
weshallexaminetheoriginandmeaningoftheswastikainthenextchapter.)By1902,asaresultofa
periodofenforcedinactivityfollowingacataractoperationthatlefthimblindforelevenmonths,
ListhaddevotedmuchthoughttothenatureoftheprotoAryanlanguagehebelievedwasencodedin
theancientrunes.
Hisoccultracistmysticaltheories,includinganexpositionontheAryanprotolanguage,didnotfind
particularfavourwiththeImperialAcademyofSciencesinVienna,whichreturnedwithoutcommenta
thesishehadsent.Nevertheless,theantiSemiticelementsinGermanandAustriansocietybeganto
takenote,andin1907aListSocietywasformedtoprovidefinancialaidinhisresearches.List's
spurioushistoriographyandarchaeologyprovidedapseudoscientificbasisforbothracismandextreme
nationalism,andenabledtheGermanVolktotracetheirancestrybacktothesplendourandracial
purityoftheancientTeutonsandtheircultofWotanism.
ThecultofWotanaroseprimarilyfromList'sbeliefsregardingthereligiouspracticesoftheancient
Teutons,whomheconsideredtohavebeenpersecutedbyChristiansinearlymedievalGermany.In
List'sview,theOldNorsepoemsofIceland,Norway,DenmarkandSweden,theEddas,wereactually
chroniclesofthemythsoftheancientGermans.TheEddaswerecomposedofsongs,manualsof
poetryandworksofhistorytellingthestoryoftheancientTeutonicpantheonofgodsandthenumerous
secondarydivinitieswhoweretheircohorts.Infact,wehavealmostnorecordofthemythsandbeliefs
oftheancestorsoftheGermansandAngloSaxons.Accordingtoconventionalstudiesofmythology:
FortheGermanictribesoftheWest,theancestorsoftheGermansandAngloSaxons,documentary
sourcesofinformationaresparse.LatinhistorianslikeCaesarandTacitushadattheirdisposalonly
secondhandinformationandtheyattemptedtoexplainTeutonicreligionintermsofRomanreligion.
Forinstance,Donar,thethundergod,becameforthemJupitertonans.Wodenreceivedthename
MercuryandTiw[theskygod]wascalledMars.Themissionaries,monksandclerkswho,fromthe
eighthcentury,pursuedtheirworkofconversionandwereatthesametimethefirsttowritethe
Germanlanguagecould,hadtheywishedto,havegivenusacompletepictureofGermanmythologyin
theearlycenturies.Buttheirchiefconcernwastosavesouls.Hencetheyscarcelyalludedtopagan
mythsexcepttocondemnthem.WeshouldknowpracticallynothingoftheoldGermanbeliefsif
'popular'talesandepicshadnotpreservedmuchthatpertainstosecondarydivinities,demons,giants
andspiritsofallsorts.(37)[Originalemphasis.]
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IntheEddas,Wotan(whosenamederivesfromthewordinallGermaniclanguagesmeaningfury,and
whichinmodernGermaniswuten,torage)wasthegodofwar,whomdeadheroesmetinValhalla.It
wasWotanwhogainedanunderstandingoftherunesafterbeingwoundedbyaspearandhangingfrom
atreeforninenights,andwhorelatedtheeighteenrunicspellsthatheldthesecretsofimmortality,
invincibilityinbattle,healingabilitiesandcontroloftheelements.InNorselegend,therunesarenot
onlyasystemofwritingbutalsopossessaninherentmagicalpower.GoodrickClarkedescribesListas
'thepioneerofvolkischruneoccultism',(38)sincehewasthefirsttolinktherunesofacertainwritten
serieswithWotan'srunicspells.'ListattributedaspecificindividualrunetoeachofWotan'sverses,
addingoccultmeaningsandasummarymottoofthespell.Theseoccultmeaningsandmottoeswere
supposedtorepresentthedoctrineandmaximsoftherediscoveredreligionofWotanism.Typical
mottoeswere:"Knowyourself,thenyouknoweverything!"...and"ManisonewithGod!"'(39)
ThecentraltenetofWotanismwasthecyclicalnatureoftheUniverse,whichproceededthrougha
seriesoftransformations:'birth','being','death'and'rebirth'.Thiscyclicalcosmologywasaprimallaw
andrepresentedthepresenceofGodinNature.SinceManwaspartofthecosmos,hewasboundbyits
lawsandthusrequiredtoliveinharmonywiththenaturalworld.'Acloseidentitywithone'sfolkand
racewasreckonedalogicalconsequenceofthisclosenesstoNature.'(40)
ListalsoutilisedTheosophicalconceptsinhisdevelopmentofWotanism,inparticularthoseofMax
FerdinandSebaldtvonWerthwhowroteextensivelyonAryansexualityandracialpurity.Sebaldt
believedthattheUniversewaswhiskedintobeingbythegodMundelfori,andthatitsfundamental
naturewasoneoftheinteractionofopposites,suchasmatterandspirit,andmaleandfemale.Aryan
superioritycouldthereforeonlybeachievedthroughaunionofracially'pureopposites'.InSeptember
1903,ListpublishedanarticleintheVienneseoccultperiodicalDieGnosisthatdrewheavilyonthis
idea,referringtoancientAryancosmologyandsexuality.Thephasesofthiscosmologywereillustrated
withvariationsontheswastika,theHindusymboloftheSun,thatListappropriatedandcorruptedto
denotetheunconquerableandraciallypureGermanichero.(41)
Listwasalsoheavilyinfluencedbylegendsoflostcivilisationsandsunkencontinents,suchasthe
fabledlandsofAtlantisandLemuria,andbythetheosophicalwritingsofMadameBlavatsky.Hewent
sofarastocomparetheWotanistpriesthoodwiththehierophantsofBlavatsky'sTheSecretDoctrine.
TheosophicalconceptsalsoformedthebasisofhisDieReligionderArioGermanen(1910),inwhich
hedevotedconsiderablespacetotheHinducosmiccycleswhichhadinspiredBlavatsky'sconceptof
'rounds'orcosmologicalcycles.Listidentifiedthefourroundsoffire,air,waterandearthwith'the
mythologicalTeutonicrealmsofMuspilheim,Asgard,WanenheimandMidgard,whichweretenanted
respectivelybyfiredragons,airgods,watergiantsandmankind'.(42)Theserealmslieatthecentreof
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theNordiccreationmyth.Atthedawnoftime,therewasnothingbutavast,yawningabyss.Niflheim,a
realmofcloudsandshadows,formedtothenorthoftheabyss,whiletothesouthformedthelandof
firecalledMuspilheim.WhenYmir,thefirstlivingbeingandthefatherofallthegiants,wasslainin
battle,hisbodywasraisedfromtheseaandformedtheearth,Midgard.(43)AccordingtoList,the
ArioGermanswerethefifthraceinthepresentround,theprecedingfourcorrespondingtothe
mythicalTeutonicgiants.
WotanistdoctrineheldthatthenaturalevolutionarycycleoftheUniversewasfromunitytomultiplicity
andbacktounity.Thefirststageofthisevolution(unitytomultiplicity)wasrepresentedsymbolically
byanticlockwisetriskelionsandswastikasandinvertedtriangles.Thesecondstage(multiplicity
backtotheunityofthegodhead)wasrepresentedbyclockwiseanduprightsymbols.Inthisscheme,
theArioGermanwasseenasthehighestpossibleformoflife,sinceheoccupiedthe'zenithof
multiplicityattheoutermostlimitofthecycle'.(44)
ListwasaferventbelieverinthelostcivilisationsofAtlantisandLemuria,andclaimedthatthe
prehistoricmegalithsofLowerAustriawereactuallyAtlanteanartefacts.
InhisDieUrsprachederArioGermanen(TheProtoLanguageoftheArioGermans)(1914),he
includedachartcomparingthegeologicalperiodsofEarthwithaHindukalpa(4,320,000,000years),
whichalsocorrespondedtoasingletheosophicalround.Wewillhavemuchmoretosayonthe
Ariosophistbeliefinlostcivilisationslaterinthischapter,andinthenext.
Fornow,letusturnourattentiontotheotherprincipalpersonalityinAriosophy,List'syoungfollower
JorgLanzvonLiebenfels,whofoundedthenotoriousantiSemitichatesheetOstaraandcreatedthe
OrderoftheNewTemplarsin1907.LikehismentorList,LiebenfelshadamiddleclassViennese
upbringing,whichhewouldlaterdenyinfavourofanimaginedaristocraticbackground.
LiebenfelschoseasaheadquartersfortheOrderoftheNewTemplarsaruinedcastle,Burg
Werfenstein,perchedonacliffontheshoresoftheRiverDanubebetweenLinzandVienna.Hewas
obsessedwiththeideaofaManichaeanstrugglebetweenthe'blond'race(characterisedbycreativity
andheroism)andthedark'beastmen',whowereconsumedwithlustfor'blonde'womenandwhowere
bentonthecorruptionofhumanculture.Twoyearsearlier,Liebenfelshadestablishedtheracist
periodicalOstara(namedafterthepagangoddessofspring)thatcalledrepeatedlyfortherestorationof
the'blondrace'asthedominantforceintheworld.Thiscouldonlybeachievedthroughracialpurity,
theforcedsterilisationorexterminationofinferiorraces,andthedestructionofsocialism,democracy
andfeminism.(45)
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TheseracistconcernsledLiebenfelstoconceivethebizarrenotionoffoundingachivalrousorderbased
onthemonasticandmilitaryordersoftheCrusades.AsGoodrickClarkenotes,Liebenfelshadbeen
drawnsincechildhoodto'theMiddleAgesanditspageantofknights,noblemen,andmonks.His
decisiontoentertheCisterciannoviciateowedmuchtothesesentiments,anditislikelythathisadult
desiretoidentifywiththearistocracyderivedfromsimilarfantasies.'(46)Liebenfels'sfantasiesalso
includedholyorders,whichperhapsnaturallyresultedinanintenseinterestintheOrderoftheKnights
Templar.ThisinterestwasfuelledbythemedievalGrailRomances,whichwereatthetimeenjoyinga
widespreadpopularityduetotheirtreatmentbyRichardWagnerinhisoperas.ToLiebenfelsandmany
ofhiscontemporaries,suchromancesweresignificantintheirpaintingoftheGrailKnightsas
searchersaftersublimeandeternalvalues:thisviewprovidedapowerfulantidotetothehatedmodern
worldwithitsrampantindustrialisationandmaterialism.
ThemostrenownedandapplaudedOrderinChristendomatthetimeoftheCrusadeswasundoubtedly
theKnightsTemplar,andLiebenfelsdevelopedafantasyinwhichtheseknightsbecamechampionsofa
raciststruggleforaGermanicorderthatwouldenjoyahegemonyovertheMediterraneanandthe
MiddleEast.AccordingtoGoodrickClarke:
In1913hepublishedashortstudy,inwhichthegrailwasinterpretedasanelectricalsymbolpertaining
tothe'panpsychic'powersofthepurebloodedAryanrace.Thequestofthe'Templeisen'fortheGrail
wasametaphorforthestricteugenicpracticesoftheTemplarknightsdesignedtobreedgodmen.The
Templarshadbecomethekeyhistoricalagentof[Liebenfels's]sexoracistgnosisbefore1914.(47)
Atthispoint,itisworthlookingverybrieflyatthehistoryoftheKnightsTemplarandhowtheirrise
andfallinfluencedLiebenfels'sWeltanschauung(worldview).TheOrderoftheKnightsTemplar
becameoneofthemostpowerfulmonasticsocietiesintwelfthcenturyEurope,andcametosymbolise
theChristianstruggleagainsttheinfidel.InAD1118,aknightfromChampagnenamedHughofPayens
persuadedKingBaldwinIofBoulogne(whoseelderbrother,Godfrey,hadcapturedJerusalemnineteen
yearsbefore)toinstallPayensandeightotherFrenchnoblemeninawingoftheroyalpalace,the
formermosquealAqsa,nearthesitewhereKingSolomon'sTemplehadallegedlyoncestoodinthe
HolyLand.TheOrderlatercomprisedthreeclasses:theknights,allofnoblebirth;thesergeants,drawn
fromthebourgeoisie,whoweregroomsandstewards;andtheclerics,whowerechaplainsand
performednonmilitarytasks.(48)ChoosingthenameMilitiaTempli(SoldiersoftheTemple),(49)
theyvowedtodefendthemysteriesoftheChristianfaithandChristianstravellingtotheholyplaces.
TheOrderinitiallyderiveditspowerfromStBernardofClairvaux,headoftheCistercianOrder,and
fromPopeHonoriusII,whoofficiallyrecognisedtheTemplarsasaseparateOrderin1128.(50)Itis
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believedthattheTemplarstooktheirinspirationfromtheHospitallers,whoprotectedCatholicpilgrims
inPalestineandpledgedthemselvestoalifeofchastityandpoverty.
TheSealoftheTemplarsshowedtwoknightsridingonasinglehorseasignoftheirpoverty(atleast
intheirearlydays);thedesignwasretainedfordecadesaftertheOrderhadbecomeoneoftherichestof
thetime.(51)ThevastwealththattheTemplarsweretoacquirewaspartlytheresultoftheOrder's
exemptionfromlocaltaxes,coupledwiththeirabilitytolevytheirowntaxesonthecommunity.The
Templarshonouredtheirvowofpovertyforthefirstnineyearsoftheirexistence,relyingondonations
fromthepiousevenfortheirclothes.Theirbattlestandardwasaredeightpointedcrossonablackand
whitebackground;theirbattlecrywas'ViveDieu,SaintAmour'('GodLives,SaintLove'),andtheir
mottowas'Nonnobis,Domine,nonnobis,sedNominiTuodagloriam'('Notforus,Lord,notforus,
buttoThyNamegiveglory').(52)
Overthenextcenturyandahalf,theTemplarsamassedatrulystaggeringamountofwealth,property
(withoverseventhousandestatesinEurope)andpower,andhadbranchesthroughoutEuropeandthe
MiddleEast,allrunfromtheirheadquartersinParis.Thisledtojealousrivalries,andduringthe
CrusadesrumoursbegantocirculatethattheTemplarswerenotthepiousChristianknightsmany
believedthemtobe.Attentionwasfocusedontheirsecretrituals,whichtheirenemiesclaimedwere
centredupontheirworshipofAllah;otherssuspectedthemofactuallyworshippingthedemon
Baphomet,practisinghorrendousblackmagicritesinvolvingsodomy,bestialityandhumansacrifice,of
despisingthePopeandtheCatholicChurch,andvariousothercrimes.
In1307,KingPhilipIVofFrance,heavilyindebttotheTemplars,decidedtousetheserumoursinan
attempttoengineertheirdownfall.On13October,heseizedtheirTempleinParisandarrestedthe
GrandMaster,JacquesdeMolay,and140Templars,whomhesubjectedtohorribletorturesinorderto
secureconfessions.PhilippersuadedPopeClementVtoauthorisetheseizureofallTemplarproperties.
PopeClementabolishedtheOrderin1312attheCouncilofVienne,andtransferreditspropertiestothe
Hospitallers,inreturnforthemoneyPhilipclaimedwasowedbytheTemplars.(53)
JacquesdeMolaywaspromisedlifeinprisonifhemadeapublicconfessionoftheOrder'scrimes.
Instead,hemadeapublicproclamationoftheOrder'sinnocenceofallcrimeswithwhichithadbeen
charged,andforthishewasburnedatthestake.However,thiswasapparentlynottheendofthe
KnightsTemplar:therehavebeenpersistentrumoursthatthoseTemplarswhomanagedtoevade
capturefledtoScotlanddisguisedasstonemasonsandcreatedthesocietyofFreemasons.Ithasalso
beensuggestedthataTemplarnamedGeoffroydeGonnevillereceivedamessagefromdeMolay
shortlybeforehisdeathandtookittoagroupofTemplarsmeetinginDalmatia.Themessagestated
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thattheOrderwouldberevivedin600years'time.Beforedisbanding,theTemplarsatthismeeting
allegedlycreatedtheOrderoftheRoseCroix,orRosicrucians.(54)
ToLanzvonLiebenfels,thebrutalsuppressionoftheKnightsTemplarandtheappropriationoftheir
wealthandpropertyrepresentedthevictoryofracialinferiorsoverasocietyofheroicmen.Theresult
wasracialchaos,thecorruptionof'arioChristian'civilisationandthedisorderofthemodernworld.
(55)Forthisreason,LiebenfelsdecidedtoresurrecttheOrderintheformofhisOrdoNoviTempli
(ONT).HedescribedtheOrderasan'Aryanmutualaidassociationfoundedtofosterracial
consciousnessthroughgenealogicalandheraldicresearch,beautycontests,andthefoundationofracist
Utopiasintheunderdevelopedpartsoftheworld'.(56)
TheearlyactivitiesoftheONTrevolvedaroundfestivalsandconcerts,withhundredsofguestsbeing
shippedinbysteamerfromVienna.Theywereroutinelyreportedinthepress,thusensuringawider
audienceforLiebenfelsandtheracistideaspresentedinOstara.MembershipoftheONTwasnaturally
restrictedtothosewhocouldprovethattheywereofpureAryanbloodandwhowouldvowtoprotect
theinterestsoftheir(racial)brothers.
TwoyearsbeforehefoundedtheONT,Liebenfelshadpublishedabookwiththeincrediblyoddtitle
TheozoologieoderdieKundervondenSodomsAfflingenunddemGotterElektron(Theozoologyor
theLoreoftheSodomApelingsandtheElectronoftheGods).Theword'theozoology'wasarrivedat
throughtheamalgamationofJudaeoChristiandoctrineandtheprinciplesofthethenburgeoningfield
oflifesciences.UsingtheOldandNewTestamentsasdeparturepoints,Liebenfelsdividedhisbook
intotwosections,thefirstdealingwiththeoriginofhumanityinaraceofbeastmen(Anthropozoa)
spawnedbyAdam.Inhiswarpedandbizarreviewofantiquity,Liebenfelsutilisednewscientific
discoveriessuchasradiationandradiocommunication,whichatthattimehadapowerfulholdonthe
publicimagination.
Liebenfelsappliedthesediscoveriesinhisdescriptionofthegods,whichheldthattheywerenotreally
godsatall,buthigherformsoflife(Theozoa)whopossessedfantasticmentalfacultiesincluding
telepathy(whichwasactuallythetransmissionofelectricalsignalsbetweenthebrainsoftheTheozoa).
Throughthemillennia,thesegodmengraduallylostthesefacultiesthroughmiscegenationwiththe
beastmenofAdam,untiltheirtelepathicsenseorgansbecameatrophiedasthepinealandpituitary
glandsofmodernhumanity.AsGoodrickClarkenotes,(57)Liebenfelsbasedthisdeclarationinparton
theworkofthezoologistWilhelmBolsche(18611939),whointurnseemstohavebeeninspiredby
Theosophy.Atanyrate,LiebenfelsbelievedthattheonlywayforGermanstoreclaimtheirancient
godhoodwasthroughtheenforcedsterilisationandcastrationof'inferiorraces',topreventthepollution
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ofpureAryanblood.(58)
ThesecondsectionofLiebenfels'sbookconcernedthelifeofChrist(whosepowerswereonceagain
electricalinnature)andtheredemptionoftheAryanpeople,whohadbeencorruptedbythe
promiscuousactivitiesoftheotherracesofEarth.ThisideaoftheAryanstruggleagainstthe
perniciousvicesofotherracesineffectreplacedthetraditionalJudaeoChristianconceptofthe
strugglebetweengoodandevil.Liebenfelsarguedforthemostextrememeasuresinthepursuitof
Aryanredeification:sincethepoorandunderprivilegedinsocietywereidentifiedwiththeprogenyof
theinferiorraces,theywouldhavetobeeitherexterminated(byincinerationasasacrificetoGod),
deportedorusedasslavelabour.ThisconstitutedtheinversionoftraditionalJudaeoChristian
compassionforthepoor,weakandhandicappedinthenewformofSocialDarwinism,withitscentral
tenetofsurvivalofthefittestattheexpenseoftheweakest.Thesehorrificmethodsofensuringthe
survivalofpurebloodedAryansproposedbyLiebenfelswould,ofcourse,becomehideousreality
intheThirdReich.
AlthoughList'sandLiebenfels'sideaswereinherentlyhatefulandviolent,theyremainedjustthat:
ideas.Manyoftheirfollowersbecamemoreandmorerestlessanddissatisfiedwiththeirlackofaction
againsttheperceivedthreattotheAryanracefromthevariousinferiorbeingswithwhomtheywere
forcedtosharetheirnation,inparticulartheJews,whowereblamedfortheperceivedevilsof
urbanisation,industrialisationandthethreattothetraditionalruralwayoflifeoftheAryanpeasant
hero.Manycametobelievethatthetimeforscholarlytheorisingwaspast,thatthetimefordirectaction
hadcome.
TheGermanenorden
InMay1912,ameetingwasheldattheLeipzighomeofTheodorFritsch.Atthismeetingwere
approximatelytwentyprominentPanGermansandantiSemites.Theirpurposewastofoundtwo
groupstoalertGermanstothedangerstosmallbusinessestheyperceivedasarisingfromtheinfluence
ofJewishbusinessandfinance.ThesegroupswereknownastheReichshammerbundandthe
Germanenorden(OrderofGermans).Bornon28October1852,Fritsch,thesonofSaxonpeasants,
hadtrainedasamillingengineer,andhadeditedtheKleineMuhlenJournal(SmallMillsJournal).In
commonwithotheractivistsofthetime,hisantiSemitismaroseprincipallyfromafearofrapid
industrialisation,technologyandmassproduction,drivenbyinternationalJewishinfluence,andthe
threatitposedtosmalltradesmenandcraftsmen.
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Inspiteofhispoliticalleanings,Fritschdecidedagainstbecomingacandidateforeitherofthetwo
GermanantiSemiticparties,theDeutschSozialeParteiandtheAntisemitischeVolkspartei,whichhad
beenestablishedatBochumin1889,sincehedidnotbelievethatantiSemitismwouldprovesuccessful
inparliament.AsGoodrickClarkenotes,Fritsch's'convictionintheineffectivenessofparliamentary
antiSemitismprovedtobecorrect.WhenmorethanonepartyexistedaftertheBochumconference,
theircompetitionledtoareductioninthenumberofsuccessfulantiSemiticcandidatesattheReichstag
elections.'(59)Inaddition,themergingofthetwopartiesin1894astheDeutschSozialeReformpartei
resultedinasignificantreductioninantiSemitisminfavourof'anappealtomoreconservativeand
middleclasseconomicinterests'.(60)
Atthistime,inthemid1860s,racistwriterssuchastheFrencharistocratComteVacherdeLapouge
andtheGermanisedEnglishmanHoustonStewartChamberlainwereinfluencedbybiologyand
zoology,andwereconcentratingmoreon'scientific'studiesofrace(althoughtheywere,ofcourse,
nothingofthekind).ItwasthesewriterswhoidentifiedtheJewsasthegreatestthreattothesupremacy
oftheAryanrace,andattemptedtobackuptheirideaswithreferencetophysicalcharacteristicssuchas
hairandeyecolouring,andtheshapeoftheskull.(61)FordeLapouge,Jewsweremorepernicious
thananyotherracebecausetheyhadinsinuatedthemselvessocompletelyintoEuropeansociety,(62)
whileChamberlaininparticulardidmuchtopopularisemysticalracisminGermany.Accordingto
StanleyG.Payne:
BeyondtheAryanracialstereotype(tall,blond,blueeyed)[Chamberlain]affirmedtheexistenceofa
special'racesoul'thatcreatedamoreimaginativeandprofoundspiritinAryansandproduceda
'Germanreligion',thoughthelatterwasstill(inpart)vaguelyrelatedtoChristianity.Theultimateanti
AryanandmostbitterracialfoewastheJew.ChamberlaincombinedSocialDarwinismwithracism
andthusemphasizedanendlessracialstruggleonbehalfofthepurityofAryanismandagainstJews
andlesserpeoples[includingSlavsandLatins],virtuallycreatingascenarioforracewar.(63)
InordertofulfilhisambitiontocreateapowerfulantiSemiticmovementoutsidetheineffectual
parliament,FritschfoundedaperiodicalcalledtheHammerinJanuary1902.By1905,itsreadership
hadreached3,000.ThesereadersformedthemselvesintoHammerGemeinden(HammerGroups),
changingtheirnamein1908toDeutscheErneuerungsGemeinde(GermanRenewalGroups).'[T]heir
membershipwasinterestedinanticapitalistformsoflandreformdesignedtoinvigoratethepeasantry,
thegardencitymovement,andLebensreform.'(64)
TheReichstagelectionsofJanuary1912sawahumiliatingdefeatforConservativesandantiSemites,
wholost41oftheir109seats,whiletheSocialDemocraticPartyincreasedtheirseatsfrom43to110.
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(65)IntheHammer,FritschfavourablyreviewedaviolentlyantiSemiticbookentitledWennichder
Kaiserwar!(IfIwereKaiser!)bythechairmanofthePanGermanLeague,HeinrichClass,and
decidedthatthetimewasrighttoactintheformationofanantiSemiticorganisationthatwouldnotbe
subjecttothecontrolorinfluenceofanyparty.
Asalreadystated,atthemeetinginFritsch'sLeipzighomeon24May1912twogroupswere
established:theReichshammerbund,whichcombinedallexistingHammerGroups,andthe
Germanenorden,whosesecretnaturereflectedtheconvictionofantiSemitesthatJewishinfluencein
publiclifecouldonlybetheresultofasecretinternationalconspiracyandassuchcouldonlybe
combatedbyaquasiMasoniclodgewhosemembers'nameswouldbewithheldtopreventenemy
infiltration.(66)GermanenordenlodgeswereestablishedthroughoutNorthernandEasternGermany
thatyear,andcalledfortherebirthofaraciallypureGermanyfromwhichthe'parasitic'Jewswouldbe
deported.ByJuly,lodgeshadbeenestablishedatBreslau,Dresden,Konigsberg,BerlinandHamburg.
Bytheendof1912,theGermanenordenclaimed316brothers.(67)Themainpurposeoftheselodges
wastomonitorJewishactivities;inaddition,lodgemembersaidedeachotherinbusinessdealingsand
othermatters.
TheGermanenordenwasheavilyinfluencedbythedoctrinesofAriosophy.AnyGermanwishingto
jointheorderwasrequiredtosupplydetailsofhair,eyeandskincolour,andalsohadtoprovebeyond
anydoubtthattheywereofpureAryandescent.Anyonesufferingfromaphysicalhandicapandfor
thatmatter,anyonewholooked'unpleasant'wasbarredfrommembership.Ariosophyalsoinspired
theemblemsusedbytheOrder.AccordingtoGoodrickClarke:'Fromthemiddleof1916theofficial
Ordernewsletter,theAllgemeineOrdensNachrichten,begantodisplayonitsfrontcoveracurved
armedswastikasuperimposeduponacross...Althoughtheswastikawascurrentamongseveral
contemporaryvolkischassociationsinGermany,itwasthroughtheGermanenordenandtheThule
Society,itssuccessororganizationinpostwarMunich,thatthisdevicecametobeadoptedbythe
NationalSocialists.'(68)
TheinitiationritualsoftheGermanenordenweresomewhatbizarre,tosaytheleast.Initiationwould
takeplaceintheceremonialroomofthelodge,wheretheblindfoldednovicewouldencounterthe
Master,twoKnightsinwhiterobesandhornedhelmets,theTreasurerandSecretarywithwhite
Masonicsashes,andtheHerald,whostoodatthecentreoftheroom.'Atthebackoftheroominthe
groveoftheGrailstoodtheBardinawhitegown,beforehimtheMasterofCeremoniesinablue
gown,whiletheotherlodgebrothersstoodinasemicirclearoundhimasfarasthetablesofthe
TreasurerandSecretary.BehindthegroveoftheGrailwasamusicroomwhereaharmoniumandpiano
wereaccompaniedbyasmallchoirof"forestelves".'(69)
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Uponcommencementoftheceremony,thebrotherssangthePilgrims'ChorusfromWagner's
Tannhauser,whilethebrothersmadethesignoftheswastika.Thenovicewastheninformedofthe
Order'sworldview,andtheBardlitthesacredflameinthegroveoftheGrail.'AtthispointtheMaster
seizedWotan'sspearandhelditbeforehim,whilethetwoKnightscrossedtheirswordsuponit.A
seriesofcallsandresponses,accompaniedbymusicfromLohengrin,completedtheoathofthe
novices.'(70)
WiththeoutbreakoftheFirstWorldWarin1914,theGermanenordenbegantosufferproblems,both
withmembershipandfinance.ManymembersoftheOrderwerekilledinaction,andtheOrder'schief,
HermannPohl,fearedthatthewarwouldultimatelyresultinitsdestruction.Atthattime,Pohl's
leadershipabilitieswerecomingunderattackfromseveralhighrankingmemberswhowere
becomingtiredoftheemphasisheplacedonritualandceremonyofthetypeindicatedabove.On8
October1916,representativesoftheBerlinlodgesuggestedthatPohlshouldberelievedofhisposition,
towhichPohlrespondedbydeclaringtheformationofabreakawayorder,theGermanenordenWalvater
oftheHolyGrail.TheoriginalOrderwasthenheadedbyGeneralmajorErwinvonHeimerdinger.(71)
Followingtheschismof1916,theGermanenordenbecameseriouslyweakened,withmanymembers
confusedastoitsstatus(manyassumedthatithadbeendisbanded).However,theendofthewarin
November1918sawattemptstoreviveitsfortunesandinfluence.GrandMasterEberhardvon
BrockhusenbelievedthattheOrderwouldbenefitfromaconstitution,whichhesucceededin
establishingin1921,'whichprovidedforanextraordinarilycomplexorganizationofgrades,rings,and
provincial"citadels"(Burgen)supposedtogeneratesecrecyforanationwidesystemoflocalgroups
havingmanylinkswithmilitantvolkischassociations..,'(72)
Inthepostwarperiod,theGermanenorden'sverbalviolencewastransformedintomurderousactivities
againstpublicfigures.ThenewRepublicwas,ofcourse,despisedasasymbolofdefeat,anditwasthe
GermanenordenthatorderedtheassassinationofMatthiasErzberger,theformerReichFinance
MinisterandheadoftheGermandelegationtoCompiegne(oneofthesocalled'Novembercriminals')
(73)whohadsignedthearmistice.Hiskillers,HeinrichSchulzandHeinrichTillessen,hadsettledin
Regensburgin1920,wheretheymetLorenzMesch,thelocalleaderoftheGermanenorden.Sincethey
hadbecomeinterestedinvolkischideologyaftertheendofthewar,andwereheavilyinfluencedby
itspropaganda,theOrderchosethemtoassassinateErzberger,whichtheydidinAugust1921.
From1921,theGermanenordenbecamethefocusforrightwingandantiSemiticsentimentsinthe
hatedWeimarRepublic.WhenRudolfvonSebottendorffjoinedHermannPohl'sbreakaway
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GermanenordenWalvaterin1917,theseedofthelegendaryThuleSocietywassown.
TheThuleSociety
ThemythologysurroundingtheArcticrealmofThulehasitsoriginsinanothermyth,thatofAtlantis.
Althoughthe'lostcontinent'ofAtlantiswasheldforcenturiestohaveexistedintheAtlanticOcean
'beyondthePillarsofHercules'(accordingtoPlatointwoofhisdialogues,theTimaeusandCritias),
thisviewwaschallengedinthelateseventeenthcenturybytheSwedishwriterOlausRudbeck(1630
1702)whoclaimedthatthelostcivilisation,whichhadconqueredNorthAfricaandmuchofEurope
9,000yearsbefore,hadactuallybeencentredinSweden.
ThiscuriousnotionwastakenupinthemideighteenthcenturybyaFrenchastronomerandmystic
namedJeanSylvainBailly(17361793)whocametotheconclusionthatthegreatachievementsof
civilisationssuchasEgyptandChinaweretheresultofknowledgeinheritedfromavastlysuperior
antediluvianculturethathadresidedinthefarNorth.AccordingtoBailly,whentheEarthwasyounger,
itsinteriorheatwasmuchgreater,andconsequentlytheNorthPolarregionsmusthaveenjoyeda
temperateclimateinremoteantiquity.Combiningthisideawithhisbeliefthatsuchclimatesarethe
mostconducivetoscienceandcivilisation,BaillyidentifiedRudbeck'sAtlanteanswiththe
Hyperboreansofclassicallegend.Theplacingofthishighcivilisationinthefarnorthresultedinthe
Nordicphysique(tall,blondhairedandblueeyed)beingseenastheultimatehumanideal.
TheoriginoftheNaziconceptofThuleandtheThuleSocietycanbetracedtoGuidovonList,Jorg
LanzvonLiebenfelsandRudolfvonSebottendorff(18751945).Aswehavealreadynoted,allthree
addedtheparticle'von',suggestingnobledescent,totheirotherwiseundistinguishednames.As
JoscelynGodwinobservesinhisstudyofPolarmythology,Arktos(1993),'Oneofthehallmarks
ofmasterracephilosophyisthatnooneisknowntohaveembraceditwhodoesnotconsiderhimselfa
memberofthatrace.Andwhatismoretempting,havingonceadoptedthebeliefthatone'sownraceis
chosenbyNatureorGodforpreeminence,thantoputoneselfatitsaristocraticsummit?'(74)
Aswehaveseen,in1907,LiebenfelsfoundedtheritualisticandvirulentlyracistOrderoftheNew
Templars,whichhadthedubiousdistinctionofservingastheprototypeforHeinrichHimmler'sSS
(Schutzstaffel).LiebenfelswasanavidstudentofMadameBlavatsky,whodevelopedthenotionthat
humanitywasdescendedfromaseriesof'RootRaces'thathaddegeneratedthroughoutthemillennia
fromapurespiritualnaturetothecrudeandbarbarousbeingsofthepresent.AccordingtoBlavatsky,
theoriginoftheanthropoidapescouldbeexplainedastheresultofbestialitycommittedbytheThird
RootRaceofhumanitywithmonsters.Liebenfelsineffecthijackedthisconceptandtwisteditinthe
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mostappallingway,claimingthatthenonAryanracesweretheresultofbestialitycommittedbythe
originalAryansaftertheirdeparturefromtheparadiseoftheirnorthernhomeland,alostcontinenthe
calledArktogaa(fromtheGreek,meaning'northernearth').
TheseideasfoundfavourwithGuidovonList,likeLiebenfelsanativeofVienna,whowasinstrumental
inthedevelopmentofthevolkischmovement.Aswesawearlier,thismovementwascharacterisedbya
loveofunspoiledNature,vegetarianism,ancientwisdom,astrologyandearthenergies.Listhadalready
playedacrucialroleinthefoundingofthesecret,quasiMasonicGermanenorden,whoseaimwasto
counterwhatitsmemberssawasthecorruptionbyJewryofGermanpubliclifethatwasclearlythe
resultofasecretinternationalconspiracy.TheGermanenordenwasstillactiveduringtheFirstWorld
War,publishinganewsletterandplacingadvertisementsinnewspapersinvitingmenandwomen'of
pureAryandescent'tojoinitsranks.ItwasinresponsetooneoftheseadvertisementsthatRudolphvon
SebottendorffmettheleaderoftheGermanenorden,HermannPohl.
Sebottendorffhadoriginallyintendedtobeanengineer;however,havingfailedtocompletehisstudies
attheBerlinCharlottenburgPolytechnic,andthushavinglittlechanceofqualifiedemploymentin
Germany,hedecidedtogotosea.In1900,afterserviceonanumberofsteamships,andanabortive
careerasagoldprospectorinWesternAustralia,SebottendorffmadehiswayfirsttoEgyptandthento
Turkey,whereheimmersedhimselfinastudyoftheTurkishpeopleandcultivatedanintenseinterestin
occultscienceandancienttheocracies.
By1916,Sebottendorff,nowmarried,hadsettledinBadAibling,afashionableBavarianspa.Attheir
meetinginBerlininSeptemberofthatyear,SebottendorfflearnedofPohl'sconvictionthat
contaminationbyotherraces(particularlyJews)hadrobbedtheAryanraceofitsknowledgeofmagical
power,andthatthisknowledgecouldonlyberegainedthroughracialpurity.OnhisreturntoBad
Aibling,Sebottendorffimmediatelysetaboutorganisingarecruitmentcampaignforthe
GermanenordeninBavaria.
In1918,SebottendorffmetanartstudentnamedWalterNauhauswhohadbeenbadlywoundedonthe
WesternFrontin1914andhadbeeninvalidedoutofthewar.NauhaussharedSebottendorff'sintense
interestintheoccult,andsoonbecameaninvaluablecolleagueintheBavarianrecruitmentcampaign
fortheGermanenorden.ItwasNauhauswhosuggestedthatthenameoftheorderbechangedfrom
GermanenordentoThuleGesellschaft(ThuleSociety),inorder,accordingtoGoodrickClarke,to'spare
ittheunwelcomeattentionsofsocialistandproRepublicanelements'.(75)Theceremonialfoundation
oftheThuleSocietytookplaceon17August1918.ThesocietymetatthefashionableHotel
VierjahreszeiteninMunich,inroomsdecoratedwiththeThuleemblem:alongdagger,itsblade
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surroundedbyoakleaves,superimposedonashining,curvedarmedswastika.
OntheeveoftheArmisticethatsignalledGermandefeatintheFirstWorldWar,theThuleSociety,
appalledattheprospectoftheKaiserabdicating,nottomentiontherevolutioninBavariawhichhad
seentheseizureofauthoritybytheSovietWorkers'andSoldiers'Councils,heldameetingon9
November1918,atwhichSebottendorffmadeanimpassionedexhortationtohisfellowThuleans:
Yesterdayweexperiencedthecollapseofeverythingwhichwasfamiliar,dearandvaluabletous.Inthe
placeofourprincesofGermanicbloodrulesourdeadlyenemy:Judah.Whatwillcomeofthischaos,
wedonotknowyet.Butwecanguess.Atimewillcomeofstruggle,themostbitterneed,atimeof
danger[...]IamdeterminedtopledgetheThuleSocietytothisstruggle.OurOrderisaGermanic
Order,loyaltyisalsoGermanic.[...]AndtheeagleisthesymboloftheAryans.Inordertodepictthe
eagle'scapacityforselfimmolationbyfire,itiscolouredred.Fromtodayonoursymbolisthered
eagle,whichwarnsusthatwemustdieinordertolive.(76)
TheThuleSocietycontinuedtomeetattheHotelVierjahreszeiten,whileSebottendorffextendedits
influencefromtheupperandmiddleclassestotheworkingclassesviatheuseofpopularjournalism.
Heachievedthisbypurchasingfor5,000marksaminorweeklynewspaper,publishedinMunichand
calledtheBeobachter,in1918.RenamingthepapertheMunchenerBeobachterundSportblatt,
Sebottendorffaddedsportsfeaturestoattractamoreyouthful,workingclassreadershipfortheanti
Semiticeditorialsthathadbeencarriedoverfromthepaper'spreviousproprietor,FranzEher.(In1920,
theMunchenerBeobachterundSportblattbecametheVolkischerBeobachter,whichwouldlaterbe
theofficialnewspaperoftheNaziParty.)
On26April1919,sevenmembersoftheThuleSocietywerecapturedbyCommunistsandtakentothe
LuitpoldGymnasium,whichhadservedasaRedArmypostfortheprevioustwoweeks.Thehostages
includedWalterNauhaus,CountessHellavonWestarp(secretaryofthesociety)andPrinceGustavvon
ThurnundTaxis(whohadmanyrelativesintheroyalfamiliesofEurope).Fourdayslater,on30
April,thehostageswereshotinthecellaroftheGymnasiumasareprisalforthekillingofRed
prisonersatStarnberg.ThekillingoftheThuleSocietymembershadtheeffectofcatalysingaviolent
popularuprisinginMunichthat,withtheaidofWhitetroopsenteringthecityon1May,ensuredthe
demiseoftheCommunistRepublic.
In1918,SebottendorffhadsucceededinextendingthejournalisticinfluenceoftheThuleSocietytothe
workingclassesbyaskingasportsreporteronaMunicheveningpaper,KarlHarrer,whohadan
intenseinterestinvolkischideology,toformaworkers'ring.Thissmallgroupmeteveryweek
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throughoutthewinterof1918,anddiscussedsuchtopicsasthedefeatofGermanyandtheJewish
enemy.AttheinstigationofAntonDrexler,theworkers'ringbecametheDeutscheArbeiterpartei
(GermanWorkers'Party)(DAP)on5January1919.InFebruary1920,theDAPwastransformedinto
theNationalSocialistGermanWorkers'Party(NSDAP).Bythattime,thepartyhadalreadybeen
infiltratedbyanarmyspywhoseordershadbeentomonitoritsactivities.Instead,hesupportedit,
draftednewregulationsforthecommittee,andsoonbecameitsPresident.HisnamewasAdolfHitler.
TheEddaSociety
Aswesawearlierinthischapter,GuidovonListandhisfollowersbelievedthattheIcelandicEddas
werechroniclesoftheancientAryans.List'socculthistoricalsystemwaselaborateduponbyRudolf
JohnGorsleben(18831930),aplaywrightturnedjournalistwhowasborninMetzandgrewupin
AlsaceLorraine(annexedbytheGermanReichin1871).Inthisenvironment,inwhichpeople's
loyaltiesweredividedbetweenFranceandGermany,GorslebenwasexposedtoPanGerman
nationalismandsucceededintracinghisancestrybacktoafourteenthcenturynoblefamilyin
Thuringia.(77)
AttheoutbreakoftheFirstWorldWar,GorslebenfoughtfirstinaBavarianregimentandtheninaunit
attachedtotheTurkisharmyinArabiaWhenthewarendedhewenttoMunich,wherehebecame
involvedwiththeThuleSocietyandrightwingpolitics.Duringaneventfulthreeyears,Gorsleben
becameGauleiteroftheSouthBavariansectionoftheDeutschvolkischerSchutzundTrutzbund,an
antiSemiticgroupthatwascompetingwiththeearlyNaziParty.Heformedassociationswithright
wingfiguressuchasJuliusStreicher,whowouldlateredittheNaziorganDerStunner,andLorenz
Mesch,theGermanenordenchiefwhohadbeeninstrumentalintheassassinationofErzberger.
ThroughhisperiodicalDeutscheFreiheit(GermanFreedom)laterrenamedArischeFreiheit(Aryan
Freedom)Gorslebendisseminatedhisoccultracistideas,whichcentredupontheconceptofracial
purityandthereactivationoftheoccultpowersthateveryAryanpossessedbutwhichhadbecome
atrophied.Withthesemagicalpowersoncemoreattheirfullest,theAryanwouldholdcompletesway
overtheprocessesofnature,andwouldthusbeinapositiontodominateandruletheworld.He
reiteratedthevolkischnotionthatracialmixingwasnotonlydetrimentaltothesuperiorpartnerbut
alsothatafemalecouldbetaintedmerelybyintercoursewitharacialinferior,andthatallsubsequent
offspring,evenifconceivedwitharacialequal,wouldlikewisebetainted.(78)
WithregardtotheEddas,GorslebenbelievedthattheScandinavianrunescontainedaninherent
magicalpowerthatprovidedthosewhounderstoodtheirsignificancewithaspiritualconduitthrough
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whichcouldflowtheforcethatdrivestheUniverseitself.Byfarthemostpowerfulwastheasterisklike
hagallrune,sincewithinitcouldbefoundhiddenalltheotherrunes.Inaddition,Gorslebenwas
perhapsthefirstoccultisttopromotethemagicalsignificanceofcrystals,whichheconsideredtobe
threedimensionalprojectionsoftherunes.Accordingtothistheory,thespiritofeveryhuman
individualcanbecorrelatedtoaspecifictypeofcrystalthatcanbeapprehendedthroughthefacultyof
mediumship.
InNovember1925,GorslebenfoundedtheEddaSocietyinthemedievaltownofDinkelsbuhlin
Franconia.ThetreasurerofthesocietywasFriedrichSchaefer,anassociateofKarlMariaWiligut,who
wouldcometoexertagreatinfluenceuponHeinrichHimmler.WhenGorslebendiedfromheart
diseaseinAugust1930,theEddaSocietywastakenoverbyWernervonBulow(18701947),whohad
designeda'worldruneclock'whichillustratedthecorrespondencesbetweentherunes,thezodiac,
numbersandgods.(79)BulowalsotookovertherunningofGorsleben'speriodical,andchangedits
namefromArischeFreiheittoHagAllAllHag,andthenHagal.
AlthoughtheprimaryintentionoftheEddaSocietywastoconductresearchintotheancientAryan
religionthroughtheinterpretation,viatherunes,ofNorsemythology,thehistoryofthelostAtlantean
civilisationandthenumerousprehistoricmonumentsofEurope,itneverthelessdeclareditsallegiance
toNationalSocialismin1933,statinginanarticleinHagalthattheriseofNazismwasoccurringin
accordancewithuniversallaws.Hagalalsoincludedmaterialontheancestralclairvoyantmemoriesof
Wiligut,whichwerefelttobeofextremesignificancetoanunderstandingoftheancientoccultheritage
oftheGermanicpeople.
Interestingly,notallrunescholarssubscribedwholeheartedlytotheracist,antiSemiticinterpretationof
theEddas.Forexample,oneruneoccultist,FriedrichBernhardMarby(18821966),synthesisedrune
scholarshipwithastrologyafterencounteringthewritingsofGuidovonList.InhispaperDereigene
Weg(established1924)andhisbookseriesMarhyRunenBucherei(begunin1931),Marbyemphasised
thehealthbenefitsgainedfrommeditationontherunes.HewasdenouncedasanantiNazibythe
ThirdReichin1936,andsentfirsttoWelzheimconcentrationcamp,andthentoFlossenburgand
Dachau,andwasonlyfreedwhenthecampswereliberatedbytheAlliesinApril1945.(80)
Althoughhelackedthevirulentlyracistoutlookoftheothervolkischoccultistsoftheperiod,Marby
subscribedtoasimilartheorytothatespousedbyLiebenfels:namely,theessentiallyelectricalnatureof
thecosmos,inspired(asnotedearlier)bytherecentdiscoveryofradiationandthenewusestowhich
electricitywasbeingput.InMarby'sopinion,theUniversewasawashwithcosmicrays,whichcouldbe
bothreceivedandtransmittedbyhumanbeings.Inaddition,thebeneficialinfluencesoftheserays
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couldbeincreasedbyadoptingcertainphysicalposturesinimitationofruneforms(apracticewithan
obvioussimilaritytoyoga).
In1927,SiegfriedAdolfKummer(b.1899)foundedaruneschoolcalled'Runa'atDresden.Runa
concentratedonthepracticeofritualmagic,includingthedrawingofmagiccirclescontainingthe
namesoftheGermanicgodsandtheuseoftraditionalmagicaltoolssuchascandelabraandcensers.
Duringtheserituals,thenamesofruneswerecalledoutandruneshapesweretracedintheairasanaid
tothemagicalprocess.LikeMarby,KummerwasdenouncedbyWiligut,whoconsideredtheirmethods
disreputable.(81)
Otheroccultistsweremoreconcernedwithastrologyandmoreovertlyparanormal(intoday'sparlance)
subjectsthanruneoccultism.GeorgLomer(18771957)trainedasaphysician,butafterencountering
Theosophyturnedhisattentiontoalternativemethodsofmedicine,particularlytheuseofdream
symbolismandpalmistryinthediagnosisofillness.By1925,Lomerhadaddedastrologytohisoccult
interests,resultinginasynthesisofpaganGermanicmysticismwithastrology.AsGoodrickClarke
observes:'IncommonwiththeotherpostwarAryanoccultists,Lomeressentiallyusedoccultmaterials
toilluminatetheforgottenAryanheritage.'(82)
ThedefiningelementintheoccultismpractisedinGermanyandAustriainthelatenineteenthandearly
twentiethcenturieswastheperceivedevilandcorruptionofthemodernworld,particularlythatofthe
despisedWeimarRepublicwithitsstenchofdefeat,weaknessanddecadence.ForpeoplelikeList,
Liebenfels,Sebottendorffandtheirfollowers,thefutureofhumanitylaynotinindustrialisation,
urbanisationandinternationalfinance(whichtheysawascausingthedestructionoftraditional,rural
waysoflifeandthebrutalisationoftheirancestralhomelands)butintheresurgenceofancient
Aryancultureandthemaintenanceofracialpurity.FortheAryanswereheirstoafabulousmystical
legacystretchingfarintoprehistory,allthewaybacktothelostrealmsofAtlantis,Lemuria,
HyperboreaandUltimaThule.FromoutofthemistsoftimeshonethislostGoldenAgeofgiantsand
godmenendowedwithfantastic,superhumanabilitiesbutwhohadbeensubsumedthrough
miscegenationwithinferiorracesandwerenowgone.Thevolkischoccultistshoped,through
theiractivities,toforgeamagicalandculturallinkwiththeselosttimes,andthroughracialsegregation
andlatergenocidereestablishtheglobalhegemonyoftheAryanSuperman.
HavingcompletedoursurveyofGermanicoccultismasdevelopedandpractisedaroundtheturnofthe
twentiethcentury,wemustnowleapbackseveralthousandyearsintothepastandturnourattentionto
thatlostGoldenAgeitself.Weareabouttoenterthestrangerealmofcryptohistory,whichwillrequire
ustotravelfarfromGermanyintheinterwaryearsindeed,farfromtheorthodox
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viewofhumanity'sentirehistory.Inthisway,weshallbeabletoidentifythemythologicaloriginsof
volkischoccultisminthelegendsofthelostAryanhomeland.Inthefollowingchapter,wewillfind
ourselvestraversingtheicyfastnessofthefarNorth,aswellasanancientseainwhatisnowtheGobi
Desert.WeshallalsoreacquaintourselveswithMadameBlavatskyandhertheoriesoftheRootRaces
ofhumanity;and,bytheendofthechapter,wewillhaveexaminedtheorigins,mysticalsignificance
andultimatecorruptionoftheswastika,atwhichpointwewillhavepreparedourselvesforthe
harrowingjourneyintothenightmarishworldofNazioccultismitself.
TheLostAryanHomeland
Aswehaveseen,theideaofafabulousandmysterioushomelandoftheAryanpeople,lyinghidden
somewhereinthefarnorthernlatitudes,wasnotaninventionoftheNazisbuthadarichprovenancenot
onlyinthetraditionofWesternoccultismbutalsointheburgeoningscienceofanthropology.(Indeed,
theveryconceptofan'AryanRace'oweditsexistenceasmuchtophilologyasanyotherbranchof
enquiry.)(1)
UntiltheEnlightenment,ofcourse,biblicaltraditionhadbeenassumedtobetheultimateauthorityon
theoriginandhistoryofhumanity,thatoriginbeingMountAraratonwhichNoah'sArkmadelandfall
aftertheDeluge.ThisideamadesenseeventothosescientistsoftheEnlightenmentwhorejected
biblicalauthority,sincemountainousregionswouldhaveprovidedtheonlypossibleprotectionagainst
naturaldisasterssuchastheputativeprehistoricflood.
TheGermanRomanticsweregreatlyattractedtoOrientalphilosophyandmysticism,inparticularthe
ZendAvesta,thesacredtextoftheancientPersians.ThinkersofthecalibreofGoethe,Nietzsche,
ArthurSchopenhauerandRichardWagnerfoundintheOrientasystemofphilosophyand
historiographythatallowedthemtoabandontheunsatisfactoryworldviewofJudeoChristianity.(2)As
JoscelynGodwinnotes,alliedwiththisadmirationfortheOrientwasarediscoveryoftheGerman
Volk,thepreChristianTeutonictribeswhosedescendants,theGoths,hadbroughtaboutthefinal
destructionofthedecadentRomanEmpire.TheproblemfacedbytheGermanRomanticswashowto
forgeahistoricalconnectionbetweenthemselvesandtheOrient,whichtheyconsideredtobethecradle
ofhumanityandtheoriginofthehighesthumanideals.
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Godwinasks,concerningtheearlyTeutons:
Butwherehadthosenobleandgiftedtribescomefrom?Werethey,too,sonsofNoah,ordaredone
sunderthemfromthebiblicalgenealogy?Thetimewasripetodoso.TheFrenchEncyclopedistshad
settheprecedentofcontemptfortheHebrewscripturesasasourceofaccurateinformation.TheBritish
SchoolofCalcutta,withtheirAsiaticResearches,hadrevealedanotherworld,surelymorelearned,and
tomanymindsphilosophicallyandmorallysuperiortothatofMoses.IftheGermanscouldlinktheir
originstoIndia,thentheywouldbeforeverfreefromtheirSemiticandMediterraneanbondage.(3)
Ofcourse,inordertoestablishandstrengthenthelinkbetweentheGermansandtheOrient,Hebrew
hadtobeabandonedastheoriginallanguageofhumanity,tobereplacedbySanskrit,thelanguageof
classicalHinduism.InstrumentalintheforgingofthislinkwastheclassicalscholarFriedrichvon
Schlegel(17721829),whoattemptedtoestablishahistoricalandculturalcontactbetweenthe
IndiansandtheScandinaviansthroughwhichtheScandinavianlanguagescouldhavebeeninfluenced
bytheIndian.SchlegelsolvedthisproblembysupposingthattheancientIndianshadtravelledtothefar
northasaresultoftheirvenerationforthesacredmountain,Meru,whichtheybelievedtoconstitutethe
spiritualcentreoftheworld.
ItwasactuallySchlegelwhocoinedtheterm'Aryan'in1819todenotearacialgroup(asopposedtoa
groupofpeoplespeakingtheProtoIndoEuropeanlanguage,whichistheproperdefinitionofthe
term).Schlegeltooktheword'Aryan',whichhadalreadybeenborrowedfromHerodotus(whohad
usedthewordArioitodescribethepeopleofMedia,anancientwesternAsiancountryinwhat
isnownorthernIran)andappliedtotheancientPersians,andconnecteditspuriouslywiththeGerman
wordEhre,meaninghonour.Atthatpoint,theword'Aryan'cametodenotethehighest,purestandmost
honourableracialgroup."(4)Thishistoricalschemewasaddedtobyotherthinkerssuchastheanti
SemiticChristianLassen,whoclaimedthattheIndoGermanswereinherentlybiologicallysuperiorto
theSemites.
ThephilologistMaxMullerwouldlaterurgetheadoptionoftheterm'Aryan'insteadof'Indo
Germanic',sincethelattertermdidnotincludeotherEuropeanpeopleswhocould,liketheIndiansand
Germans,tracetheoriginoftheirlanguagestoSanskrit.AccordingtothehistorianLeonPoliakov,by
1860cultivatedEuropeanshadcometoacceptthattherewasafundamentaldivisionbetweenAryans
andSemites.Godwinexpressesthisdogmainstraightforwardterms:'(1)EuropeanswereoftheAryan
Race;(2)ThisracehadcomefromthehighplateausofAsia.Therehaddwelttogethertheancestorsof
theIndians,Persians,Greeks,Italians,Slavonians,Germans,andCelts,beforesettingofftopopulate
EuropeandAsia.'(5)
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AswenotedinChapterOne,theideasofCharlesDarwinwerehijackedatthistimebytheproponents
ofAryanracialsuperiority,andtheconceptofthesurvivalofthefittestwasreadilyappliedtothe
interactionbetweenracialgroups(howeverspuriousandmisguidedthissystemofgroupingmighthave
been).Darwin'sassumptionthatevolutionthroughnaturalselectionwouldnecessarilyresultingradual
improvementstoeachspecieswasinvertedbyAryanracism,whichmaintainedthattheWhiteRacehad
longagoreachedperfectionandwasbeingcorruptedandunderminedthroughmiscegenationwith
inferiorraces.
AsGodwininformsus,planswerebeinglaidinsomequartersforthebiological'improvement'ofthe
humanracebackinthelatenineteenthcentury.TheFrenchwriterErnestRenanbelievedthatselective
breedinginthefuturewouldresultintheproductionof'gods'and'devas':
AfactoryofAses[Scandinavianheroes],anAsgaard,mightbereconstitutedinthecenterofAsia.If
onedislikessuchmyths,oneshouldconsiderhowbeesandantsbreedindividualsforcertainfunctions,
orhowbotanistsmakehybrids.Onecouldconcentrateallthenervousenergyinthebrain...Itseems
thatifsuchasolutionshouldbeatallrealizableontheplanetEarth,itisthroughGermanythatitwill
come.(6)
ThePolarParadise
Intheirdesiretorediscovertheultimatemythicalandculturalrootsoftheirselfdesignatedmasterrace,
theproponentsofAryanismturnedawayfromtheheatofthebiblicalMesopotamianEdenandlooked
insteadtothecoolandpristinefastnessoftheFarNorth.TheeighteenthcenturypolymathJeanSylvain
Bailly(17361793)hadalreadydonemuchofthegroundworkforaradicalreinterpretationof
humanity'soriginwithhishighlyoriginalcombinationofEasternmysticismandastronomy.According
toBailly,theancientculturesofEgypt,Chaldea,ChinaandIndiawereactuallytheheirsofafarolder
bodyofknowledge,possessedinthedistantpastbyalonglostsuperiorculturelivinginthe
antediluvianNorth.(7)
Baillybelievedthatitwasthisancientculturethatinventedthezodiacinaround4600BC.Afterthe
Flood,membersofthiscivilisationmovedfromnorthernAsiatoIndia.ForBailly,thisassertionwas
supportedbythesimilarityofcertainlegendsinlatercultureslivingfarfromeachother:forexample,
thelegendofthePhoenix,whichisfoundbothinEgyptandintheScandinavianEddas(discussedin
ChapterOne).BaillyequatedthedetailsofthePhoenix'sdeathandrebirthwiththeannual
disappearanceoftheSunfor65daysat71'Northlatitude.HewentontocomparethePhoenixwiththe
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RomangodJanus,thegodoftime,whoisrepresentedwiththenumber300inhisrighthand,andthe
number65inhisleft(corresponding,ofcourse,withthe300daysofdaylightand65daysofdarkness
eachyearinthefarnorthernlatitudes).BaillythusconcludedthatJanuswasactuallyanortherngod
whohadmovedsouthwithhisoriginalworshippersinthedistantpast.Insupportofhistheory,Bailly
alsocitedthelegendofAdonis,whowasrequiredbyJupitertospendonethirdofeachyearonMount
Olympus,onethirdwithVenusandonethirdinHadeswithPersephone.Baillyconnectedthislegend
withconditionsinthegeographicalareaat79'Northlatitude,wheretheSundisappearsforfourmonths
(onethird)oftheyear.(8)
ToBailly,thisstronglysuggestedthepreservationoftheancientknowledgeofahithertounknown
Nordiccivilisation,whichhadbeenencodedinnumerouslegendspasseddowntosubsequentcultures.
TheseideascorrespondedsomewhatwiththeworkofoneComtedeBuffon,whohadconcludedin
1749thattheEarthhadformedmuchearlierthantheChristiandateof4004BC(althoughBuffon's
dateof73,083BCisstillquitefarfromtheEarth'sactualageofapproximately4,000millionyears).
Buffonmadethelogicalsuggestion(withinhisschemeofcreation)thatthepolarregionswouldhave
beenthefirsttocoolsufficientlytoallowthedevelopmentoflife,andthereforeplacedthefirsthuman
civilisationinthefarnorthernlatitudes.ForBailly,thiswasamplejustificationforhisownideas
concerningtheArcticregionasthecradleofhumanity.Thereasonforthesoutherlymigrationofthis
firstcivilisationbecameobvious:sincetemperateclimatesarethemostconducivetosocial,intellectual
andscientificadvancement,itclearlybecamenecessarytomoveawaygraduallyfromthepolarregions
astheybecametoocoldandthetemperaturesinthesouthernlatitudescooledfromaridtotemperate.
ThemigrationwasfinallycompletewhenChaldea,IndiaandChinawerereached.(9)
TheideaofapolarhomelandforhumanitywasalsoelaboratelydevelopedbytheIndianBalGangadhar
Tilak(18561920)whowroteanepicwork,TheArcticHomeintheVedas,whileinprisonin1897for
publishingantiBritishmaterialinhisnewspaper,TheKesan.Publishedin1903,Tilak'sbook
concentratesontheageandoriginallocationoftheIndianVediccivilisation,fromitsorigininthe
Arcticaround10,000BC,throughitsdestructioninthelastIceAge;themigrationtonorthernEurope
andAsiain80005000BCandthecompositionoftheVedichymns;thelossoftheArctictraditions
around30001400BC;tothePreBuddhisticperiodin1400500BC.(10)
Tilak'sreadingoftheancientVedictextssupportedhisassertionofaprehistorichomelandinthefar
north,describingastheydidarealminhabitedbythegodswherethesunroseandfellonceayear.
GodwinhasthistosayregardingTilak'sinterpretationoftheVedichymns:
Thehymnsarefullofimagesthatmakenonsenseinthecontextofadailysunrise,suchastheThirty
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DawnSisterscirclinglikeawheel,'andthe'DawnofManyDays'precedingtherisingofthesun.If,
however,theyareappliedtothePole,theyfallperfectlyintoplace.Thelightofthesuncirclingbeneath
thehorizonwouldbevisibleforatleastthirtydaysbeforeitsannualrising.Onecanimaginethesense
ofanticipationfeltbytheinhabitants,asthewheelinglightbecameeverbrighterandthelongwinter's
nightcametoanend."
Tilak'sideasontheoriginofhumanitywerefurtherdevelopedbytheZoroastrianscholarH.S.Spencer
inhisbookTheAryanEclipticCycle(1965),inwhichheexaminestheZoroastrianscripturesinmuch
thesamewaythatTilakexaminedtheVedictexts.Spencercomparedeventsinthescriptureswiththe
variouspositionsofthesunduringtheprecessionoftheequinoxes.(Atthispoint,weshouldpause
brieflytoexaminethisphenomenon.TherotationalaxisoftheEarthisnotperpendiculartotheplane
occupiedbytheSolarSystem:instead,itistiltedatanangleof231/20.Duetogravitationalforces
fromtheSunandtheMoon,theaxisoftheEarth'srotation'wobbles'veryslightly;or,tobemore
precise,itdescribesacircle.Astheplanetrotates,itsaxisalsorotates,describingacompletecircle
onceevery26,000years.)Inthisway,Spencerwasabletodatewithconsiderableaccuracytheevents
describedintheZoroastrianscriptures.SpencersetthedateforthefirstappearanceoftheAryansinthe
polarregionsat25,628BC,duringtheInterglacialAge.TheAryanswereforcedtoleavetheir
homelandastheenvironmentgrewsteadilycolderandmorehostile,andenormousreptilesbeganto
appear.(Howthereptilesthemselvescouldhavewithstoodthecoldisanothermatter.)According
toSpencer,theadventoftheIceAgethatscatteredtheAryansfromtheirpleasanthomelandwasjust
oneofanumberofglobalcatastrophesthatprovedthedownfallofatleastthreeotherancient
civilisations:Atlantis,LemuriaandthecultureoccupyingwhatisnowtheGobiDesert.(12)According
toSpencer,theAryantraditioninfluencedthegreatcivilisationsofEgypt,SumerandBabylon.
FromHyperboreatoAtlantis
ThegreatRussianoccultistHelenaBlavatsky,whomwemetinChapterOne,hadconsiderable
informationtodivulgeonthenatureofthelostcivilisationswhosephilosophyandknowledgewere
passeddown,infrequentlygarbledform,tothegreatcivilisationsoftheMiddleandFarEast.
AccordingtoBlavatsky,whoclaimedtohaveconsultedafantasticallyolddocumententitledthe
StanzasofDzyanwhileinTibet,ourremoteancestorsoccupiedanumberoflostcontinents,thefirstof
whichshedescribesas'TheImperishableSacredLand',aneternalplaceunencumberedbythe
sometimesviolentfatesreservedforothercontinents,thatwasthehomeofthefirsthumanandalsoof
'thelastdivinemortal'.
TheSecondContinentwasHyperborea,'thelandwhichstretchedoutitspromontoriessouthwardand
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westwardfromtheNorthPoletoreceivetheSecondRace,andcomprisedthewholeofwhatisnow
knownasNorthernAsia'.The'SecondRace'referstooneoftheRootRaces.Blavatskycontinues:
ThelandoftheHyperboreans,thecountrythatextendedbeyondBoreas,thefrozenheartedgodof
snowsandhurricanes,wholovedtoslumberheavilyonthechainofMountRiphaeus,wasneitheran
idealcountry,assurmisedbythemythologists,noryetalandintheneighbourhoodofScythiaandthe
Danube.Itwasarealcontinent,abondfidelandwhichknewnowinterinthoseearlydays,norhaveits
sorryremainsmorethanonenightanddayduringtheyear,evennow.Thenocturnalshadowsneverfall
uponit,saidtheGreeks;foritisthelandoftheGods,thefavouriteabodeofApollo,thegodoflight,
anditsinhabitantsarehisbelovedpriestsandservants.Thismayberegardedaspoetisedfictionnow;
butitwaspoetisedtruththen.(13)[Originalemphasis.]
TheThirdContinentwasLemuria(socalledbythezoologistP.L.Sclaterinreferencetoahypothetical
sunkencontinentextendingfromMadagascartoSriLankaandSumatra).Blavatskyclaimedthatthe
giganticcontinentofLemuriaactuallyexisted,itshighestpointsnowformingislandsinthePacific
Ocean.
TheFourthContinentwasAtlantis.'Itwouldbethefirsthistoricalland,werethetraditionsofthe
ancientstoreceivemoreattentionthantheyhavehitherto.ThefamousislandofPlatoofthatnamewas
butafragmentofthisgreatContinent.'(14)
InherdescriptionoftheFifthContinent,Blavatskyevokesimagesof
cataclysmicseismicshiftsinthelandmassoftheEarth:
TheFifthContinentwasAmerica;but,asitissituatedattheAntipodes,itisEuropeandAsiaMinor,
almostcoevalwithit,whicharegenerallyreferredtobytheIndoAryanOccultistsasthefifth.Iftheir
teachingfollowedtheappearanceoftheContinentsintheirgeologicalandgeographicalorder,then
thisclassificationwouldhavetobealtered.ButasthesequenceoftheContinentsismadetofollowthe
orderofevolutionoftheRaces,fromthefirsttothefifth,ourAryanRootrace,Europemustbecalled
thefifthgreatContinent.TheSecretDoctrinetakesnoaccountofislandsandpeninsulas,nordoesit
followthemoderngeographicaldistributionoflandandsea.Sincethedayofitsearliestteachingsand
thedestructionofthegreatAtlantis,thefaceoftheearthhaschangedmorethanonce.Therewasatime
whenthedeltaofEgyptandNorthernAfricabelongedtoEurope,beforetheformationoftheStraitsof
Gibraltar,andafurtherupheavalofthecontinent,changedentirelythefaceofthemapofEurope.The
lastseriouschangeoccurredsome12,000yearsago,andwasfollowedbythesubmersionofPlato's
littleAtlanticisland,whichhecallsAtlantisafteritsparentcontinent.(15)
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BlavatskyclaimedtohavereadintheStanzasofDzyanthattheEarthcontainedsevengreatcontinents,
'fourofwhichhavealreadylivedtheirday,thefifthstillexists,andtwoaretoappearinthefuture'In
TheSecretDoctrine,shecallsthemJambu,Plaksha,Salmali,Kusa,Krauncha,SakaandPushkara.She
continues:
Webelievethateachoftheseisnotstrictlyacontinentinthemodernsenseoftheword,butthateach
name,fromJambudowntoPushkara,referstothegeographicalnamesgiven(i)tothedrylands
coveringthefaceofthewholeearthduringtheperiodofaRootRace,ingeneral;and(ii)towhat
remainedoftheseafterageological[cataclysm]:and(iii)tothoselocalitieswhichwillenter,afterthe
futurecataclysms,intotheformationofnewuniversal'continents,'[or]peninsulas...eachcontinent
being,inonesense,agreaterorsmallerregionofdrylandsurroundedwithwater.[Originalemphasis.]
(16)
AsidefromtheStanzasofDzyan,Blavatskydrewonahugenumberofreligioustexts,includingthe
HinduPuranas,whichspeakofalandcalledSvitaDvipa(Hyperborea),ortheWhiteIsland,atthe
centreofwhichisMountMeru,thespiritualcentreoftheworld.(WewillhavemoretosayofMount
MeruinChapterFour.)IfweaccepttheattributesgiventoMountMeruinthesacredtextsofthe
Hindusincludingitsheightof672,000milesthenitmustbeconcededthatthemountaindoesnot
existanywhereonthephysicalEarth.ThishasledOrientaliststospeculatethattheWhiteIslandand
MountMeruaresituatedinwhatmightbestbedescribedasanotherdimensionoccupyingthatsame
spaceasEarthandwhichisvisible(andreachable)tobeingspossessingasufficientlyadvanced
spirituality.(17)
ThelegendaryrealmofHyperboreaalsoformedacentrepieceinthewritingsoftheFrenchoccultist
ReneGuenon(18861951)who,likeBlavatsky(whomheneverthelessconsideredacharlatan),claimed
tohavereceivedhisinformationfromhiddenOrientalsources.Guenon'sHyperboreaisverysimilarto
Blavatsky's,althoughitsoriginisplacedmuchmorerecently.AccordingtoGuenon,thepresentcycle
ofhumanitybeganamere64,800yearsagointheHyperboreanlandofTula(Thule).Alongwiththe
laterAtlanteancivilisation,whichlastedfor12,960years(orhalfofoneprecessionalcycle),
Hyperboreawastheoriginofallreligiousandspiritualtraditioninourownmodernworld.Guenonalso
wroteofMountMeru,althoughinsymbolicterms:'Itseemsfromhisessaysonsymbologythat
GuenondidnotregardMeruasanactualmountainsituatedattheNorthPole,butratherasasymbolof
theearth'saxisthatpassesthroughthepoleandpointstotheArktoi,theconstellationsoftheGreatand
LittleBears.(GuenonalsoclaimedthattheinclinationoftheEarth'saxisat231/2'wasaresultofthe
Fallofhumanity.)'(18)
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Atthispoint,weshouldpausetoconsideraquestionthatmayhaveoccurredtothereader:assuming
theexistenceoftheprehistoricRootRacesofhumanity,whyhavenoneoftheirremainseverbeen
discoveredandexcavatedbyarchaeologistsandpalaeontologists?Apartfromtheobviousbutnot
particularlysatisfactoryanswerthatthevastmajorityoftheEarth'sfossilrecordhasyettobe
discovered,itshouldberememberedthat,accordingtoGuenon,BlavatskyandtheotherTheosophists,
theearlyEarthanditsfabulousprimordialinhabitantswerenotsolid,corporealentities,butwere
composedofararefiedspiritualsubstancethatonlylaterdescendedintothematerialstate.Itisfor
thisreasonthattheirremainshaveneverbeendiscovered.(19)
ForabasicchronologyoftheEarthaccordingtothissystem,wecanlooktoGodwin,whosummarises
thedevelopmentofGuenon'sworkbyJeanPhaure.Between62,000and36,880BCwastheGolden
Age(KritaYuga),whichlastedforonefullprecessionalcycle(25,920years)beginningwiththeAgeof
Leo.Thiswastheperiodbeforethedescentintomatter,whenParadiseexisted.Thencametheperiod
from36,880to17,440BC,theSilverAge(TretaYuga),lasting19,440years.ThisagelastedfromLeo
toSagittarius,andincludedthedescentintomatter.ItalsosawtheriseofHyperboreaandtheother
continentsofLemuriaandMu.Thiswasfollowedbytheperiodfrom17,440to4,480BC,theBronze
Age(DvaparaYuga),whichlastedforhalfofoneprecessionalcycle,andfromScorpiotoGemini.This
agesawthefallofAtlantisaround10,800BC,thecolonisationofotherpartsoftheworldbyAtlantean
refugees,thebiblicalFloodandtheinventionofwriting.Theperiodbetween4,480BCandAD2000
istheIronAge(KaliYuga),whichlastsfor6,480years,fromTaurus,throughAriestoPisces.This
periodincludesourownhistory.ThecycleendswiththeMillenniumandthebeginningoftheAgeof
Aquarius.PhaurehasnoproblemwithanincarnatedhumanitylivingintheArctic,andsuggeststhat
theywereabletodosowiththeaidofaspiritualenergysourceunknowntoourownnarrow,
materialisticscience.Insupportofthis,hecitesthecaseofcertainTibetanadeptswhoareabletolive
quitehappilyinthefrigidHimalayanregionswithlittleclothing.(20)
ItiseasytoseehowthecentraltenetsofTheosophytheancientandfantasticcivilisations,theorigins
oftheAryanraceandthatrace'spositionofhighnobilitywereattractivetotheGermanoccultistsand
nationalistswhosohatedthemodernworldofthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies.Asthe
researcherPeterLevendaobserves:'Modernismingeneralwasseenasbeinglargelyanurban,
sophisticated,intellectual(hence"Jewish")phenomenon,andthisincludedscience,technology,the
IndustrialRevolution,andcapitalism.'(21)ThedoctrinesoftheTheosophistssuccessfullyfused
scienceandmysticism,takingDarwin'stheoriesregardingnaturalselectionandthesurvivalofthe
fittestandapplyingthemtotheconceptofaspiritualstrugglebetweentheracesofEarth(resultingin
theAryanrace),whichwasanecessarycomponentintheevolutionofthespirit.(22)
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Levendacontinues:
ItshouldberememberedthatBlavatsky'sworks...appeartobetheresultofprodigiousscholarshipand
wereextremelyconvincingintheirday.TherationalebehindmanylaterNaziprojectscanbetraced
backthroughthewritingsofvonList,vonSebottendorff,andvonLiebenfelstoideasfirst
popularizedbyBlavatsky.Acastesystemofraces,theimportanceofancientalphabets(notablythe
runes),thesuperiorityoftheAryans(awhiteracewithitsoriginsintheHimalayas),an'initiated'
versionofastrologyandastronomy,thecosmictruthscodedwithinpaganmyths...alloftheseand
morecanbefoundbothinBlavatskyandintheNaziPartyitself,specificallyintheideologyofitsDark
Creature,theSS.Itwas,afterall,Blavatskywhopointedoutthesupremeoccultsignificanceofthe
swastika.AnditwasafollowerofBlavatskywhowasinstrumentalinintroducingtheProtocolsofthe
EldersofZiontoaWesternEuropeancommunityeagerforascapegoat.(23)
ItwillberememberedthatthenotoriousdocumentknownastheProtocolsoftheEldersofZionwasan
antiSemiticforgerycreatedbytheOkhrana(theCzaristsecretpolice)andoccultistsinStPetersburg
andParistodiscredittheenemiesofRachkhovsky,theheadoftheOkhranainParis.(24)Producedin
StPetersburgin1902andtranslatedintoGermanin1919,thedocumentpurportedtobetheminutesof
ameetingoftheputativesecretJewishworldconspiracy,(25)aconspiracythat,itappeared,was
approachingthefulfilmentofitsgoals.TheProtocolsindicatedthatDemocracy,Communismand
internationalcommercehadbeensuccessfullyinfiltratedandtakenoverbytheJews,who'had
"infected"allgovernments,allcommerce,alloftheartsandmedia'.(26)Informationregardingthe
ProtocolswasinitiallyprovidedtothepressbyaMadameYulianaGlinka,abelieverinSpiritualism
whowoulddomuchtopromotetheantiSemiticfalsehoodscontainedwithinthedocument.Asiswell
known,HitlerhimselfcametobelievewholeheartedlyintheveracityoftheProtocols,whichformeda
principalbasisforhisownantiSemitism:
Towhatanextentthewholeexistenceofthispeopleisbasedonacontinuouslieisshown
incomparablybytheProtocolsoftheWiseMen[Elders]ofZion,soinfinitelyhatedbytheJews.They
arebasedonaforgery,theFrankfurterZeitungmoansandscreamsonceeveryweek:thebestproofthat
theyareauthentic.WhatmanyJewsmaydounconsciouslyishereconsciouslyexposed.Andthatis
whatmatters.ItiscompletelyindifferentfromwhatJewishbrainthesedisclosuresoriginate;the
importantthingisthatwithpositivelyterrifyingcertaintytheyrevealthenatureandactivityofthe
Jewishpeopleandexposetheirinnercontextsaswellastheirultimatefinalaims.Thebestcriticism
appliedtothem,however,isreality.Anyonewhoexaminesthehistoricaldevelopmentofthelast
hundredyearsfromthestandpointofthisbookwillatonceunderstandthescreamingoftheJewish
press.Foroncethisbookhasbecomethecommonpropertyofapeople,theJewishmenacemaybe
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consideredasbroken.(27)
Hitler'sreferencetotheFrankfurterZeitungisespeciallyinterestingandironic,inviewofthestartling
andintriguingsuggestionmadebythatpaper'sMunichcorrespondent,theantiNaziKonradHeiden.
HeidenbeganreportingonHitler'sactivitiesin1921;whenHitlertookpowerin1933,Heidenwas
forcedtofleetoFrance.InhisbiographyofHitler,DerFuehrer,writteninexileandpublishedin1944,
HeidensuggestsaprofoundconnectionbetweenHitlerandtheProtocols,aconnectionwhichis
summarisedbyRosenbaum:
Heiden'sstunningconjecture,whichdeservesattentionbecauseofhisintimateacquaintancewiththe
HitlerPartyfromtheverybeginningoftheFuhrer'srise,wasthatthesecretofthatriselayinHitler's
adaptingthemodernizedMachiavelliantacticsattributedtohisarchenemy,theEldersofZion,and
puttingthemtohisownuseinmanipulatingthemedia,subvertingtheinstitutionsofthestate,and
Graftinghisownsuccessfulconspiracytoruletheworld.HeidenarguesthatHitlerdidnotmerely
adoptthecounterfeitJewishconspiracyashisvisionoftheworld,headoptedthetacticsfalsely
attributedtoJewsbyCzaristforgersashisownandusedthemwithremarkablesuccess.Asuccess
thatmadeHitlerhimselfakindofcreationofacounterfeit.[Originalemphasis.](28)
Ihopethereaderwillforgivethisseemingdigressionfromthesubjectwewerediscussing:whilethe
apparentinfluenceoftheProtocolsonHitlermayseemalongwayfromthelostAryanhomelandofthe
prehistoricnorth,itisworthintroducingtheideaatthispoint,notonlybecauseitwasasupporterof
BlavatskywhopromotedtheProtocolsinwesternEuropebutalsobecauseitisofprofoundimportance
totherestofourstudy.IfHeidenwascorrectinhisconjecture,andAdolfHitler,andhenceNazi
Germany,werethecreationofacounterfeit,thisdemonstratesquiteconvincinglythepowerand
influencethatbizarrefalsehoodscanhaveoverthecollectivepsycheofapeople.Thiswillhavespecial
significanceinthelastthreechaptersofthisbook,whichwilldealwithNazicosmologyandthebelief
inahollowEarth,thetheorythatGermanscientistswereresponsibleforthewaveofUFOsightingsin
thelate1940s(andperhapsstillareresponsibleforsuchsightingstoday),andthepersistentrumours
regardingthesurvivalofkeyNazisinahiddenAntarcticcolony.
Beforemovingon,however,wemustreturnbrieflytoBlavatskyandTheosophyinordertoaddressthe
implicationthatthemovementpossessedfascistelements.Inspiteofitsproclamationofthesupremacy
oftheAryanrace(nottomentionMadameGlinka'sunfortunatepromotionoftheProtocols),
Theosophywasnotinherentlyfascist,andBlavatskyherselfdidnotbecomeovertlyinvolvedinpolitics
(29)(Indeed,althoughithadinspiredalargenumberofGermanoccultistsandnationalistsattheturn
ofthecentury,TheosophywouldlaterbeattackedandsuppressedbytheNazis,alongwithallother
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organisationsshowinganyresistancewhatsoevertoHitler.)(30)Nevertheless,someofBlavatsky's
followers,mostnotablyAnnieBesant(18471933),becameactiveinpolitics.InBesant'scase,itwas
Indianpolitics,anditwasunderherpresidencyafterHenryOlcott'sdeathin1907thatthe
TheosophicalSocietybecameanimportantelementintheIndianNationalistMovement.AsLevenda
notes,theNaziswouldlaterattempttoexploitIndiannationalismandthedesireforhomeruleby
claimingasimilarityofidealsandobjectivesbetweenIndiannationalismandNationalSocialism.(31)
IcelandandAntarctica
ItisamatterofhistoricalrecordthattheNazismountedexpeditionstoIceland,AntarcticaandTibet
(theTibetanexpeditionswillbeexaminedmorecloselyinthenextchapter).Thetruereasonsforthese
expeditions,however,havebeenthesubjectofconsiderabledebatethroughoutthedecadessincethe
endofthewar.Aswehavealreadynoted,theNaziconceptofThulecanbetracedtoGuidovonList,
JorgLanzvonLiebenfelsandRudolfvonSebottendorff,whoconceivedofitastheancienthomeland
oftheAryanrace.(AtsometimebetweenthethirdandfourthcenturiesBC,PytheasofMassilia
undertookavoyagetothenorth.HereachedScotland,andsailedonforsixmoredays,probably
reachingtheNorthShetlandIslands.HethenclaimedtohavereachedthelandofThule,whichmay
havebeenIceland,orperhapsNorway,beforeencounteringafrozensea.)(32)
ThevolkischfascinationwiththeScandinavianEddasledvonSebottendorfftoconcludethatthe
supposedlylongvanishedlandofThulewasactuallyIceland.ThislinkwiththelostAryanhomeland
promptedanintenseinterestinthepossibilityofdiscoveringfurthercluestotheirremotehistory,
indeed,totheirveryorigin,amongthecavesandprehistoricmonumentsoftheisland.(33)
AccordingtoPeterLevenda,anorganisationcalledtheNordicSocietywasestablishedatLubeckby
AlfredRosenberg(18931945),theNazimystic,philosopher,editoroftheVolkischerBeobachterand
laterReichMinisterfortheoccupiedeasternterritories.Thesocietycountedamongitsmembers
representativesfromNorway,Sweden,Finland,DenmarkandIceland,whoweredrawntogetherin
ordertodefendtheNordicnationsagainsttheSoviet,JewishandMasonicthreat.On22August1938,
theVolkischerBeobachtercarriedanarticleononeoftheNordicSociety'smeetings,atwhich
Rosenbergwasquotedthus:
'WeallstandunderthesameEuropeandestiny,andmustfeelobligedtothiscommondestiny,because
finallytheexistenceofthewhitemandependsaltogetherupontheunityoftheEuropeancontinent!
UnanimousmustweopposethatterribleattemptbyMoscowtodestroytheworld,theseaofbloodinto
whichalreadymanypeoplehavedived!'(34)
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RosenbergexplainedhisThuleanmythologyinhisbookDerMythusdes20.Jahrhunderts(TheMyth
oftheTwentiethCentury),publishedin1930,whichwasamassivebestsellerinGermany,despitethe
factthatitwaswidelyconsideredtobeappallinglywrittennonsense.(Hitlerhimself,who,oncein
power,hadlittletimeforpaganism,Thuleanorotherwise,describeditas'stuffnobodycan
understand'.)(35)Inthefirstchapterofthebook,Rosenbergexplainsthebasisofhisbeliefinan
ancientAryanhomelandinthenorth:
ThegeologistsshowusacontinentbetweenNorthAmericaandEurope,whoseremainswecansee
todayinGreenlandandIceland.TheytellusthatislandsontheothersideoftheFarNorth(Novaia
Zemlya)displayformertidemarksover100metreshigherthantoday's;theymakeitprobablethatthe
NorthPolehaswandered,andthatamuchmilderclimateoncereignedinthepresentArctic.Allthis
allowstheancientlegendofAtlantistoappearinanewlight.Itseemsnotimpossiblethatwherethe
wavesoftheAtlanticOceannowcrashandpulloffgianticebergs,onceabloomingcontinentroseout
ofthewater,onwhichacreativeraceraisedamighty,widerangingculture,andsentitschildrenout
intotheworldasseafarersandwarriors.ButevenifthisAtlanteanhypothesisisnotthoughttenable,
onehastoassumethattherewasaprehistoricnortherncenterofculture.(36)
DespitetheseassertionsconcerningthegreatsecretsofalongvanishedAryancivilisationthatmight
befoundinIceland,Rosenberg,whowaslookeduponwithamixtureofamusementandcontemptby
mostoftheleadingNazis,wasnotinvolvedwiththeactualexpeditionssentthere.Theywere
authorisedbyHeinrichHimmlerundertheauspicesoftheAhnenerbetheSSAssociationforResearch
andTeachingonHeredity.Levendahasretrievednumerousdocumentsregardingthesemissions,some
ofwhichheincludesinhisfascinatingstudyUnholyAlliance(1995).Oneofthesedocuments,
addressedtotheAhnenerbefromaDrBrunoSchweizer,containsaproposalforaresearchjourneyto
Iceland,andisdated10March1938:
FromyeartoyearitbecomesmoredifficulttomeetlivingwitnessesofGermanicculturalfeelingsand
GermanicsoulattitudesontheclassicalIcelandicsoiluninfluencedbytheoverpowerfulgraspof
westerncivilization.Inonlyafewyearshasthenaturallookofthecountry,whichsincetheUrtimehas
remainedmostlyuntouchedinstoneandmeadow,indesertanduntamedmountaintorrents,revealedits
opencountenancetomanandhasfundamentallychangedfrommountainsidesandrockslabsto
manicuredlawns,nurseriesandpasturegrounds,almostasfarfromReykjavikasthebarrencoast
section,afeataccomplishedbythehandofman;thecityitselfexpandswithalmostAmericanspeedas
roadwaysandbridges,powerstationsandfactoriesemergeandthedensityofthetrafficinReykjavik
correspondswiththatofaEuropeancity.
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DrSchweizergoesontobemoanthelossofancientagriculturaltechniquessuchasforging,wood
carving,spinning,weavinganddyeing;alongwiththeforgettingofmythsandlegendsandthelackof
beliefina'transcendentnature'.Afterdescribingthelamentableriseofmaterialismthatdrewpeople
fromruralareastothecity(andgaveanunfavourableimpressiontogoodGermanvisitors!),thedoctor
continues:
Everyyearthatwewaitquietlymeansdamagetoanumberofobjects,andotherobjectsbecomeruined
forcameraandfilmduetonewfangledpublicbuildingsinthemodernstyle.Fortheworkinquestion
onlythesummerisappropriate,thatis,themonthsofJunethroughAugust.Furthermore,onemust
reckonthatoccasionallyseveralrainydayscanoccur,delayingtherebycertainphotographicwork.The
shipconnectionsaresuchthatitisperhapsonlypossibletogotoandfromtheContinentonceaweek.
Allthismeansaminimumperiodoffrom56weeksfortheframeworkofthetrip.
ThepossibletasksofanIcelandresearchtripwithaculturalknowledgemissionaregreatlyvariegated.
Thereforeitremainsforustoselectonlythemostimmediateandmostrealizable.Avarietyofother
tasks...shouldbeconsideredasadditionalassignments.
Thustherecordingofhumanimages(racemeasurements)andtheinvestigationofmuseumtreasures
areconsideredtobeadditionalassignments.(37)
AsLevendawrylyobserves,itisnotclearhowthepeopleofIcelandwouldhavereactedtothetaking
of'racemeasurements'or,forthatmatter,the'investigationofmuseumtreasures',whichalmost
certainlywouldnothaveremainedinthemuseumsforverylong!
GermaninterestinAntarcticexplorationgoesbackto1873,whenEduardDallmanmountedan
expeditioninhissteamshipGronlandonbehalfofthenewlyfoundedGermanSocietyofPolar
Research.Lessthan60yearslater,theSwissexplorerWilhelmFilchner,whohadalreadyledan
expeditiontoTibetin190305,plannedtoleadtwoexpeditionstoAntarcticawiththeintentionof
determiningifthecontinentwasasinglepieceofland.Filchner'splanscalledfortwoships,one
toentertheWeddellSeaandonetoentertheRossSea.Twogroupswouldthenembarkonaland
journeyandattempttomeetatthecentreofthecontinent.Thisplan,however,provedtooexpensive,
andsoasingleship,theDeutschland,wasused.TheDeutschlandwasaNorwegianshipspecifically
designedforworkinpolarregions,andwasacquiredwiththehelpofErnestShackleton,Otto
NordenskjoldandFridtjofNansen.TheexpeditionreachedtheWeddellSeainDecember1911.Another
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expeditionwasmountedin1925withthepolarexpeditionshipMeteorunderthecommandofDr
AlbertMerz.
IntheyearsrunninguptotheSecondWorldWar,GermanywantedafootholdinAntarctica,bothfor
thepropagandavalueofdemonstratingthepoweroftheThirdReichandalsobecauseoftheterritory's
strategicsignificanceintheSouthAtlantic.On17December1938,anexpeditionwasdespatchedunder
thecommandofCaptainAlfredRitschertotheSouthAtlanticcoastofAntarcticaandarrivedthereon
19January1939.Theexpedition'sshipwastheSchwabenland,anaircraftcarrierthathadbeenused
since1934fortransatlanticmaildelivery.TheSchwabenland,whichhadbeenpreparedforthe
expeditionintheHamburgshipyardsatacostofonemillionReichsmarks,wasequippedwithtwo
Dornierseaplanes,thePassatandtheBoreas,whichwerelaunchedfromitsflightdeckbysteam
catapultsandwhichmadefifteenflightsovertheterritorywhichNorwegianexplorershadnamed
QueenMaudLand.Theaircraftcoveredapproximately600,000squarekilometres,tookmorethan
11,000photographsofthePrincessAstridandPrincessMarthacoastsofwesternQueenMaudLand,
anddroppedseveralthousanddropflags(metalpoleswithswastikas).Theareawasclaimedforthe
ThirdReich,andwasrenamedNeuSchwabenland.
Perhapsthemostsurprisingdiscoverymadebythisexpeditionwasanumberoflarge,icefreeareas,
containinglakesandsparsevegetation.Theexpeditiongeologistssuggestedthatthismighthavebeen
duetoundergroundheatsources.
InmidFebruary1939,theSchwabenlandleftAntarcticaandreturnedtoHamburg.Ritscherwas
surprisedatthefindingsoftheexpedition,particularlytheicefreeareas,andimmediatelybeganto
plananotherjourneyuponhisarrivalhome.Theseplans,however,wereapparentlyabandonedwiththe
outbreakofwar.
Atthispoint,orthodoxhistorygiveswaytostrangerumoursandspeculationsregardingthetruereason
fortheThirdReich'sinterestinAntarctica.Ithasbeensuggested,forinstance,thatthe193839
expeditionhadbeentolookforasuitableicefreeregiononthecontinentthatcouldbeusedforasecret
Nazibaseafterthewar.AccordingtothenovelistandUFOresearcherW.A.Harbinson:Throughout
thewar,theGermanssentshipsandaircrafttoNeuSchwabenlandwithenoughequipmentand
manpower(muchofitslavelabourfromtheconcentrationcamps)tobuildmassivecomplexesunder
theiceorinwellhiddenicefreeareas.AtthecloseofthewarselectedNaziscientistsandSStroops
fledtoAntarctica...'(38)
Suchspeculationsproperlybelongtothefieldknownas'Nazisurvival',whichwewilldiscussindepth
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inthefinalchapterofthisbook.Therefore,letusplacethemasideandturnourattentiontoanother
importantelementintheconceptofalostAryanhomeland:asymbolthatoncesignifiedgoodfortune
butwasirreparablycorruptedbytheNazis,andwhichnowsignifiesnothingbutterroranddeath.
TheSwastika
Inantiquity,theswastikawasauniversalsymbol,beingusedfromtheBronzeAgeonwardsonobjects
ofeverykind.Theword'swastika'comesfromtheSanskrit:su(Greekeu,meaning'good'),asti(Greek
esto,meaning'tobe')andthesuffixka.(39)Thesymbolmeans'goodluck'(theSanskritTibetanword
Swastimeans'mayitbeauspicious').AccordingtoJoscelynGodwin,theshapeoftheswastikaderives
fromtheconstellationArktos,alsoknownastheGreatBear,thePloughandtheBigDipper.Tothe
observerintheNorthernHemisphere,thisconstellationappearstorotatearoundPolaris,thePoleStar
(aneffectcausedbytherotationoftheEarth).IfthepositionsofArktosinrelationtoPolarisare
representedinpictorialform(correspondingtothefourseasons),theresultishighlysuggestiveofa
swastika;in4000BC,theywereidenticaltothesymbol.Itisforthisreasonthattheswastika(aside
fromdenotinggoodfortune)hasbeenusedtorepresentthePole.(40)
TheswastikagainedinimportanceinEuropeancultureinthenineteenthcentury,primarilyinthefields
ofcomparativeethnologyandOrientalstudies.TheabsenceofthesymbolfromEgypt,Chaldea,
AssyriaandPhoenicialedtheethnologiststobelievethattheswastikawasanAryansunsymbol.(41)
MadameBlavatskysawthesignificanceofthesymbol,andincorporateditintothesealofthe
TheosophicalSocietytosignifytheharmonyofuniversalmovement.AccordingtoGodwin:'So
innocentwerethe"goodluck"associationsoftheswastikathatduringWorldWarI,itwasusedasthe
emblemoftheBritishWarSavingsScheme,appearingoncouponsandstamps.'(42)
Theswastikaappearsintwoforms:lefthandedandrighthanded.However,confusionquicklyarises
whenoneisfacedwiththequestionofhowtodefine'left'and'right'withregardtothissymbol.Some
occultistsandhistoriansfavouradefinitionbasedonthedirectiontakenbythearmsastheyextend
outwardfromthecentre;whileothersprefertodefineleft'and'right'intermsoftheapparentdirection
ofrotation.Theconfusionarisesfromthefactthataswastikawhosearmsproceedtotheleftappearsto
berotatingtotheright,andviceversa.
Eachswastikavarianthasbeentakentomeandifferentthingsbywritersontheoccult,suchasthe
FrenchmanAndreBrissaudwhosaysthatthecounterclockwisespinningswastikarepresentsthe
rotationoftheEarthonitsaxisandisthe'WheeloftheGoldenSun',symbolisingcreation,evolution
andfertility.
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Theclockwisespinningswastikais,accordingtoBrissaud,the'WheeloftheBlackSun',representing
man'squestforpowerinoppositiontoHeaven.(43)TheChileandiplomat,esotericistandHitler
apologistMiguelSerrano(b.1917),whomweshallmeetagaininthefinalchapter,hasanother
explanationoftheleftandrighthandedswastikas:thelefthanded(clockwiseturning)symbol
representsthemigrationoftheancientAryanRacefromitshomelandattheNorthPole,whilethe
righthanded(counterclockwiseturning)symboltheoneusedbytheNazisrepresentsthedestinyof
theAryanstoreturntotheirspiritualcentreattheSouthPole.(44)
Swastikawitharmsextendingtoleft,apparentrotationtoright/Swastikawitharmsextendingtoright,
apparentrotationtoleft
Afterinformingusofthecomplexitiesattachedtotheinterpretationofleftandrighthandedswastikas,
Godwincontinues:
Whateverthevalidityofthesetheories,theancientdecorativeswastikasshownopreferencewhatsoever
foronetypeovertheother.Theplacewheretheleftrightdistinctionissupposedtobemostsignificant
isTibet,wherebothNicholasRoerichandAnagarikaGovindaobservedthattheswastikaoftheancient
BonPoreligionpointstotheleft,theBuddhistonetotheright.NowitistruethattheBonPosperform
ritualcircumabulationscounterclockwise,theBuddhistsclockwise,butalmostalltheBuddhist
iconographycollectedbyThomasWilsonshowslefthandedswastikas,justliketheonesontheBon
Pos'ritualscepter,theirequivalentoftheBuddhistvajra.Onecanonlysaythattheswastikashould
perhapsbelefthandedif(asinBonPo)itdenotespolarrevolution,andrighthandedif(asin
Buddhism)itsymbolizesthecourseofthesun.Buttherootoftheproblemisprobablytheinherent
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ambiguityofthesymbolitself,whichmakesthelefthandedswastikaappeartoberotatingtothe
right,andviceversa.(45)
Aswesawinthefirstchapter,theswastikagainedpopularityamongGermanantiSemiticgroups
throughthewritingsofGuidovonListandLanzvonLiebenfels,whotookthesymbolofgoodfortune
anduniversalharmonyandusedittodenotetheunconquerableGermanichero.Asmightbeexpected,
thecounterclockwiseorientationoftheswastikausedasabannerbytheNationalSocialistGerman
Workers'Party(NSDAP)hasalsoarousedconsiderablecontroversyinoccultandesotericcircles.
AccordingtotheocculthistorianFrancisKing,whenHitlercalledforsuggestionsforabanner,allof
thesubmissionsincludedaswastika.TheoneHitlerfinallychosehadbeendesignedbyDrFriedrich
Krohn,adentistfromSternberg.However,thedesignincorporatedaclockwiseturningswastika,
symbolisinggoodfortune,harmonyandspirituality.
Hitlerdecidedtoreversethedesign,makingtheswastikacounterclockwise,symbolisingevilandblack
magic.(46)Hereagain,weencountertheproblemofdefiningwhatisarightandlefthandedswastika.
WastheNazisymbolrighthanded(traditionallydenotinggood)orlefthanded(denotingevil)?Inone
sense,theNaziswastikacouldbesaidtoberighthandedbecausethehookedarmsextendtotheright;
conversely,itcouldbesaidtobelefthanded,sincetheapparentrotationiscounterclockwise.Asthe
journalistKenAndersonnotes:'Whatwearedealingwithissubjectivedefinition...Wecanspeculate
thatHitlerhadchosentoreversethecrossbecauseoftheconnotationsofblackmagicandevilin
Krohn'scrossandforthepurposeofevokingthepositiveimagesofgoodluck,spiritualevolution,etc.,
forhisfledglingparty!'(47)(Originalemphasis.)Andersongivestheimpressionofhavinghistongue
slightlyinhischeek,buthisinterpretationisalmostcertainlycorrect,fortworeasons.
Firstly,wemustrememberthatHitlerhimselfhadverylittletimeforoccultmumbojumbo,andwas
certainlynotthepractisingblackmagicianmanyoccultistsclaimhimtohavebeen(moreonthisin
ChapterFive);andsecondly,theideathatHitlerconsideredhimself'evil'(ashewouldhavehadtohave
doneinordertotakethestepofreversingapositivesymboltoanegativeone),orthatevilwasan
attractiveconceptforhimisridiculous.AswenotedintheIntroduction,oneofthemostterrifyingand
bafflingaspectsofAdolfHitleristhathedidnotconsiderhimself'evil':asTrevorRoperstates,Hitler
wasconvincedofhisownrectitude,thathewasactingcorrectlyinexterminatingtheJewsandtheother
groupstargetedfordestructionbytheNazis.
Inaddition,HitlerhimselfmakesnomentionofsuchanalterationinhisrepulsiveMeinKampf.In
viewofthefactthathetookmostofthecreditforthedesignhimself,neglectingeventomention
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Krohn'sname,hewouldsurelyhaveexplainedthereasonsforhismakingsuchafundamentalalteration
tothedesignoftheNSDAPbanner:
...Iwasobligedtorejectwithoutexceptionthenumerousdesignswhichpouredinfromthecirclesof
theyoungmovement...ImyselfasLeaderdidnotwanttocomeoutpubliclyatoncewithmyown
design,sinceafterallitwaspossiblethatanothershouldproduceonejustasgoodorperhapseven
better.Actually,adentistfromStarnberg[sic]diddeliveradesignthatwasnotbadatall,and,
incidentally,wasquiteclosetomyown,havingonlytheonefaultthataswastikawithcurvedlegswas
composedintoawhitedisk
Imyself,meanwhile,afterinnumerableattempts,hadlaiddownafinalform;aflagwithared
background,awhitedisk,andablackswastikainthemiddle.AfterlongtrialsIalsofoundadefinite
proportionbetweenthesizeoftheflagandthesizeofthewhitedisk,aswellastheshapeandthickness
oftheswastika.(48)
ThereaderwillnoticethatHitlersaysthesubmissionhereceivedthatwasquiteclosetohisownhad
onlyonefault:theswastikahadcurvedlegs.Andersonisundoubtedlycorrectwhenhestatesthat'the
majorimportanceofthedecision[was]foramanwhopridedhimselfonbeingathwartedartistof
greatmeritnotsomeunidentifiedocculticmyth,butratherbalanceandaestheticvalue'.(49)
3Ahideousstrength
TheVrilSociety
WehavenowreachedthepointinoursurveyofNaziinvolvementwiththeoccultwherewemustdepart
fromwhatishistoricallyverifiableandenteranaltogethermoreobscureandmurkyrealm,aplacethat
PauwelsandBergiercallthe'AbsoluteElsewhere'.(1)Serioushistorians(atleast,thosewhodeignto
commentonthesubjectatall)regardthematerialweshallbeexaminingfortherestofthisbookwith
contemptand,itmustbesaid,notwithoutgoodreason.Muchofwhatfollowsmaywellstrikethe
readerasbizarreandabsurdinequalmeasure;andyet,asweshallsee,amongstthenotionsweare
abouttoaddress(products,apparently,offeveredimaginations)willbefoundunsettlinghintsofa
threadrunningthroughthecollectivemindofhumanityinthelatetwentiethcenturyominous,
dangerousand,bythemajority,unseen.
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Asweshallsee,the'twilightzonebetweenfactandfiction'canproducesignificantshiftsinour
collectiveawarenessoftheworld,ourplaceinitandtheunstatedintentionsofthosewhoruleus.The
worldviewofthosewhosubscribetotheideaofgenuineNazioccultpowerincludesanumberof
outrageousconspiracytheoriesthatrevolvearoundtheclaimthatmanyleadingNazis(including,
accordingtosome,Hitlerhimself)escapedfromtheruinsofBerlinandcontinuewiththeirplansfor
worlddominationfromsomehiddenheadquarters.Atfirstsight,thesetheoriescansurelyhavelittleto
dowithknownreality.Andyet,theideathattheAmericanCentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA)could
havesmuggledmanypersonnelfromNaziintelligenceandtheGermansecretweaponsprogrammeinto
theUnitedStatesinthepostwaryearsmightlikewiseseemoutlandishuntilwerememberthatthis,
too,isadocumentedhistoricalfact.ProjectPAPERCLIPprovesthatsomeseniorelementsoftheThird
Reichdidindeedsurviveinthisway,theirlivesboughtwithscientificandmilitaryknowledgethatthe
Americangovernmentdesperatelywanted.
So,fortherestofthisbook,weshallconcentrateontheelementsofNazioccultismthatfindnohome
inorthodoxhistorybutthatneverthelessstretchtheirpernicioustentaclesthroughmodernpopularand
fringecultureandrefusetovanishintheglareofthelightofreason.TheVrilSociety,ourdeparture
pointintotheAbsoluteElsewhere,mightseemtohavebeenbetterplacedinthefirstchapter,wereitnot
thatthereissolittleevidenceforitsinfluenceovertheactivitiesoftheThirdReich.Inspiteofthis,it
hascometooccupyacentralpositioninthedubiousstudyofNazioccultpowerandsodemandsa
chapterofitsown.ButwhatwasthestrangelynamedVrilSociety?
ThefirsthintoftheVrilSociety'sexistencewasdiscoveredinascenethatwouldnothavebeenoutof
placeinoneofDennisWheatley'soccultthrillers.On25April1945,sothestorygoes,agroupof
battlewearyRussiansoldiersweremakingtheircautiouswaythroughtheshatteredremnantsofBerlin,
moppinguptheisolatedpocketsofGermanresistancethatremainedintheheartoftheThirdReich.
Thesoldiersmovedcarefullyfromonewreckedbuildingtoanother,inastateofconstantreadiness
againstthethreatofambush.
Inagroundfloorroomofoneblastedbuilding,thesoldiersmadeasurprisingdiscovery.Lyingina
circleonthefloorwerethebodiesofsixmen,withaseventhcorpseinthecentre.Allweredressedin
Germanmilitaryuniforms,andthedeadmaninthecentreofthegroupwaswearingapairofbright
greengloves.TheRussians'assumptionthatthebodieswerethoseofsoldierswasquicklydispelled
whentheyrealisedthatthedeadmenwereallOrientals.OneoftheRussians,whowasfromMongolia,
identifiedthemenasTibetans.ItwasalsoevidenttotheRussiansoldiersthatthemenhadnotdiedin
battlebutseemedtohavecommittedsuicide.Overthefollowingweek,hundredsmoreTibetanswere
discoveredinBerlin:someofthemhadclearlydiedinbattle,whileothershadcommittedritualsuicide,
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liketheonesdiscoveredbytheRussianunit.(2)
WhatwereTibetansdoinginNaziGermanytowardstheendoftheSecondWorldWar?Theanswerto
thisquestionmaybefoundinacuriousnovelentitledTheComingRacebyEdwardBulwerLytton
(18031873),firstBaronLytton.Aprolificandverysuccessfulwriter(hisoutputincludednovels,plays,
essaysandpoetry)BulwerLyttonwasconsideredinhislifetimetobeoneofthegreatestwritersinthe
Englishlanguage.Unfortunately,hisreputationforvanity,ostentationandeccentricityattractedagood
dealofhostilityfromthepressandthishasdamagedhissubsequentliteraryreputationtoa
disproportionateextent,withtheresultthattodayhisbooksareextremelyhardtofindandhisworkis
seldomifatalltaughtinuniversitiesintheEnglishspeakingworld.(3)
Throughouthiscareer,BulwerLyttonwroteonmanythemes,includingromance,politics,history,
socialsatire,melodramaandtheoccult.Itisperhapsunsurprising,therefore,thatheshouldhaveturned
tothesubjectofUtopiansciencefictionwithTheComingRace,publishedin1871.Inthisnovel,the
narrator,atravellerandadventurerofindependentmeans,exploresamineinanunnamedlocationand
discoversavastsubterraneanworld,inhabitedbyasuperiorraceofhumanscalledtheVrilya.Once
tenantsoftheEarth'soutersurface,theVrilyawereforcedtoretreatundergroundbyanatural
catastrophesimilartothebiblicalFloodmanythousandsofyearsago.Theirtechnologyisfarin
advanceofanythingtobefoundintheworldofordinaryhumanity,andisbasedontheapplicationofa
forceknownas'vril'.BefriendedbyayoungfemaleVrilyanamedZee,thenarratorasksaboutthe
natureofthevrilforce.
TherewithZeebegantoenterintoanexplanationofwhichIunderstoodverylittle,forthereisnoword
inanylanguageIknowwhichisanexactsynonymforvril.Ishouldcallitelectricity,exceptthatit
comprehendsinitsmanifoldbranchesotherforcesofnature,towhich,inourscientificnomenclature,
differingnamesareassigned,suchasmagnetism,galvanism,&c.Thesepeopleconsiderthatinvril
theyhavearrivedattheunityinnaturalenergeticagencies,whichhasbeenconjecturedbymany
philosophersaboveground,andwhichFaradaythusintimatesunderthemorecautioustermof
correlation:
'Ihavelongheldanopinion,'saysthatillustriousexperimentalist,'almostamountingtoaconviction,in
common,Ibelieve,withmanyotherloversofnaturalknowledge,thatthevariousformsunderwhich
theforcesofmatteraremademanifesthaveonecommonorigin;or,inotherwords,aresodirectly
relatedandmutuallydependent,thattheyareconvertible,asitwere,intooneanother,andpossess
equivalentsofpowerintheiraction.'(4)
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AccordingtoZee,allVrilyaaretrainedintheapplicationofvril,whichcanbeusedtocontrolthe
physicalworld,includingthemindsandbodiesofothers,aswellastoenhancethetelepathicand
telekineticpotentialsofthehumanmind.Thevrilforceismostoftenappliedthroughtheuseofa
deviceknownastheVrilStaffwhich,likethevrilforceitself,requiresmanyyearstomaster.
(Thenarratorisnotallowedtoholdone,'forfearofsometerribleaccidentoccasionedbymyignorance
ofitsuse'.)TheVrilStaff'ishollow,andhasinthehandleseveralstops,keys,orspringsbywhichits
forcecanbealtered,modified,ordirectedsothatbyoneprocessitdestroys,byanotheritheals
byoneitcanrendtherock,byanotherdispersethevapourbyoneitaffectsbodies,byanotheritcan
exerciseacertaininfluenceoverminds'.(5)
Duringhisprotractedstayinthesubterraneanrealm,thenarratorlearnsofthesystemofgovernmentby
whichtheVrilyalive.Theyareruledbyasinglesuprememagistratewhoabdicatesthepositionatthe
firstsignofadvancingage.
Althoughtheirsocietyisentirelyfreeofcrimeorstrifeofanykind,theyconsiderstrengthandforceto
beamongthefinestvirtues,andthetriumphofthestrongovertheweaktobeinperfectaccordance
withNature.Democracyandfreeinstitutionsare,tothem,merelythecrudeexperimentsofan
immatureculture.
ThegovernmentofthetribeofVrilya...wasapparentlyverycomplicated,reallyverysimple.Itwas
baseduponaprinciplerecognisedintheory,thoughlittlecarriedoutinpractice,abovegroundviz.,
thattheobjectofallsystemsofphilosophicalthoughttendstotheattainmentofunity,ortheascent
throughallinterveninglabyrinthstothesimplicityofasinglefirstcauseorprinciple.Thusinpolitics,
evenrepublicanwritershaveagreedthatabenevolentautocracywouldinsurethebestadministration,if
therewereanyguaranteesforitscontinuance,oragainstitsgradualabuseofthepowersaccordedtoit.
Therewas...inthissocietynothingtoinduceanyofitsmemberstocovetthecaresofoffice.No
honours,noinsigniaofhigherrankwereassignedtoit.Thesuprememagistratewasnotdistinguished
fromtherestbysuperiorhabitationorrevenue.Ontheotherhand,thedutiesawardedtohimwere
marvellouslylightandeasy,requiringnopreponderantdegreeofenergyorintelligence.(6)
Afteranumberofadventuresinthesubterraneanworldandagreatmanyconversationswithits
denizensthenarratorcomestothefollowingconclusionregardingtheultimateoriginsofthefantastic
Vrilyarace:
[T]hispeoplethoughoriginallynotonlyofourhumanrace,but,asseemstomeclearbytherootsof
theirlanguage,descendedfromthesameancestorsasthegreatAryanfamily,fromwhichinvaried
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streamshasflowedthedominantcivilisationoftheworld;andhaving,accordingtotheirmythsand
theirhistory,passedthroughphasesofsocietyfamiliartoourselves,hadyetnowdevelopedintoa
distinctspecieswithwhichitwasimpossiblethatanycommunityintheupperworldcouldamalgamate:
Andthatiftheyeveremergedfromthesenetherrecessesintothelightofday,theywould,accordingto
theirowntraditionalpersuasionsoftheirultimatedestiny,destroyandreplaceourexistentvarietiesof
man.(7)
AlthoughgreatlyimpressedwiththeknowledgeandaccomplishmentsoftheVrilya,thenarratoris
neverthelessterrifiedbytheirpowerandtheeasewithwhichtheywieldit,implyingatonepointthat,
shouldhehaveangeredthematanytime,theywouldhavehadnocompunctioninturningtheirVril
Staffsonhimandreducinghimtocinders.Thisuneasiness,coupledwithhisnaturaldesiretoreturnto
theupperworldandthelifewithwhichheisfamiliar,promptsthenarratortobeginseekingameansof
escapefromthesubterraneanworldoftheVrilya.AidcomesintheunlikelyformofZee,whohas
falleninlovewithhimandhasattemptedtopersuadehimtostay,butwhoneverthelessunderstands
thatanunrequitedlovecannotresultinhappinessforeitherofthem.Itisshewholeadshimbacktothe
mineshaftthroughwhichhefirstenteredtherealmoftheVrilya.
Uponhisreturnhome,thenarratorbeginstoponderthewondershehasbeheldfarbelowthesurfaceof
theEarth,andonceagainhintsatthepossibledreadfulfateawaitingablissfullyunawarehumanityat
thehandsofthe'ComingRace'.Inthefinalchapter,weread:
[T]hemoreIthinkofapeoplecalmlydeveloping,inregionsexcludedfromoursightanddeemed
uninhabitablebyoursages,powerssurpassingourmostdisciplinedmodesofferee,andvirtuestowhich
ourlife,socialandpolitical,becomesantagonisticinproportionasourcivilisationadvances,themore
devoutlyIpraythatagesmayyetelapsebeforethereemergeintosunlightourinevitabledestroyers.(8)
ItisanassumptionofmanyoccultiststhatTheComingRaceisfactdisguisedasfiction:thatBulwer
Lyttonbasedhisengagingnovelonagenuinebodyofesotericknowledge.Hewasgreatlyinterestedin
theRosicrucians,thepowerfuloccultsocietywhicharoseinthesixteenthcenturyandwhichclaimedto
possessancientwisdom,discoveredinasecretundergroundchamber,regardingtheultimatesecretsof
theUniverse.ThereissomeevidencethatBulwerLyttonbelievedinthepossibilityofasubterranean
world,forhewrotetohisfriendHargraveJenningsin1854:'SoRosenkreuz[thefounderofthe
Rosicrucians]foundhiswisdominasecretchamber.Sowillweall.Thereismuchtobelearnedfrom
thesubstrataofourplanet.'(9)
Somewriters,includingAlecMaclellan,authorofthefascinatingbookTheLostWorldofAgharti
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(1996),havesuggestedthatTheComingRacerevealedtoomuchofthesubterraneanworld,andwasas
aresultsuppressedintheyearsfollowingBulwerLytton'sdeathin1873.Indeed,hedescribesthebook
as'oneofthehardesttofindofallbooksofmysticism',(10)andinformsusofhisownsearchfora
copy,whichforsomeyearsmetwithnosuccess.Whiledoubtlessanintriguingpieceofstagesettingon
Maclellan'spart,therarityofthebookcansurelybeaccountedforbytheunjustwaningofBulwer
Lytton'sposthumousliteraryreputation(mentionedearlier).Thepresentauthorsearchedforsome
monthsforacopyofTheComingRace,beforefindinganextremelyaffordablepaperbackeditionina
highstreetbookshop.
WhatistheconnectionbetweenBulwerLytton'sstrangenovelandNaziGermany?Iftherereallywasa
largecolonyofTibetanmonksinBerlininthe1940s,whatweretheydoingthere?Itseemsthatthe
connectionwasnoneotherthantheBavarianKarlHaushofer(18691946)whosetheoriesof
GeopoliticsgaverisetotheconceptofLebensraum(livingspace),whichHitlermaintainedwouldbe
necessarytothecontinueddominanceofthesuperiorAryanraceandwhichheintendedtotake,
primarily,fromtheSovietUnion.Haushofer,alongwithDietrichEckart(18681923)anantiSemitic
journalistandplaywrightwhoinfluencedHitler'sracialattitudesandintroducedhimtoinfluential
socialcirclesaftertheFirstWorldWarisfrequentlydescribedbybelieversingenuineNazioccult
powerasapractisingblackmagician,andthe'MasterMagicianoftheNaziParty'.(11)
HaushoferexcelledatMunichUniversity,wherehebegantodevelophislifelonginterestintheFar
East.Afterleavinguniversity,heenteredtheGermanarmy,wherehisgreatintelligenceensuredarapid
risethroughtheranks.HisknowledgeoftheFarEastearnedhimapostingasmilitaryattacheinJapan.
TheideathatHaushoferwasanoccultadept,withsecretknowledgeofpowerfultranshumanentities,
wasfirstsuggestedbyLouisPauwelsandJacquesBergierintheirfascinatingbuthistoricallyunreliable
bookTheMorningoftheMagicians(whichservedasthemodelforanumberofsubsequenttreatments
ofNazioccultisminthe1960sandearly1970s).
AccordingtoPauwelsandBergier:
[Haushofer]believedthattheGermanpeopleoriginatedinCentralAsia,andthatitwastheIndo
Germanicracewhichguaranteedthepermanence,nobilityandgreatnessoftheworld.WhileinJapan,
HaushoferissaidtohavebeeninitiatedintooneofthemostimportantsecretBuddhistsocietiesandto
havesworn,ifhefailedinhis'mission',tocommitsuicideinaccordancewiththetimehonored
ceremonial.(12)
HaushoferwasalsoapparentlyafirmbelieverinthelegendofThule,thelostAryanhomelandinthe
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farnorth,whichhadoncebeenthecentreofanadvancedcivilisationpossessedofmagicalpowers.
ConnectingthislegendwiththeThuleSociety,PauwelsandBergierhavethistosay:
BeingsintermediatebetweenManandotherintelligentbeingsfromBeyondwouldplaceatthedisposal
ofthe[ThuleSociety]InitiatesareservoirofforceswhichcouldbedrawnontoenableGermanyto
dominatetheworldagainandbethecradleofthecomingraceofSupermenwhichwouldresultfrom
themutationsofthehumanspecies.Onedayherlegionswouldsetouttoannihilateeverythingthathad
stoodinthewayofthespiritualdestinyoftheEarth,andtheirleaderswouldbemenwhoknew
everything,derivingtheirstrengthfromtheveryfountainheadofenergyandguidedbytheGreatOnes
oftheAncientWorld...ItwouldseemthatitwasundertheinfluenceofKarlHaushoferthat[theThule
Society]tookonitstruecharacterofasocietyofInitiatesincommunionwiththeInvisible,andbecame
themagiccentreoftheNazimovement.(13)
SerioushistorianssuchasNicholasGoodrickClarketakeissuewiththeclaimsofPauwelsandBergier
andthelaterwriterswhoreiteratedthem.GoodrickClarke,whohasperhapsconductedmoreresearch
intoprimaryGermansourcesthananyotherwriterinthiscuriousfield,statesthattheclaimsregarding
thesecretguidingpoweroftheThuleSocietyare'entirelyfallacious.TheThuleSocietywasdissolved
in1925whensupporthaddwindled.'Hegoesontoassureusthat'thereisnoevidenceatalltolink
Haushofertothegroup1.(14)Nevertheless,Haushofer'sallegedskillintheBlackArtshasbecomean
importantlinkintheNazioccultchainasdescribedbywritersonsuchfringesubjects.
AftertheendoftheFirstWorldWar,HaushoferreturnedtoMunich,wherehegainedadoctoratefrom
theuniversity.HedividedhistimebetweenteachingandwritingandfoundedtheGeopoliticalReview
inwhichhepublishedhisideasonLebensraum,whichcould'bothjustifyterritorialconquestby
evokingthecolonizingofSlavlandsbyTeutonicknightsintheMiddleAgesand,emotively,conjureup
notionsofunitingintheReichwhatcametobedescribedasVolksdeutsche(ethnicGermans)scattered
throughouteasternEurope'.(15)
WhileincarceratedinthefortressofLandsbergamLechfollowingthefailureoftheMunichPutschin
1924,AdolfHitlerreadandwasinfluencedbyHaushofer'sbooksongeopolitics(hehadalreadybeen
introducedtoHaushoferbytheprofessor'sstudentassistant,RudolfHess).ThereisnodoubtthatHitler
occupiedhistimeinLandsbergjudiciously,readingwidelyinseveralfields,thoughnotforthesakeof
educationsomuchastoconfirmandclarifyhisownpreconceptions.(HelatersaidthatLandsbergwas
his'universitypaidforbythestate').(16)
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AccordingtoPauwelsandBergierandotherfringewriters,HaushofervisitedHitlereverydayin
Landsberg,whereheexplainedhisgeopoliticaltheoriesanddescribedhistravelsthroughIndiainthe
earlyyearsofthecentury.WhileinIndia,hehadheardstoriesofapowerfulcivilisationlivingbeneath
theHimalayas:
ThirtyorfortycenturiesagointheregionofGobitherewasahighlydevelopedcivilization.Asthe
resultofacatastrophe,possiblyofanatomicnature,Gobiwastransformedintoadesert,andthe
survivorsemigrated,somegoingtotheextremeNorthofEurope,andotherstowardstheCaucasus.The
ScandinaviangodThorissupposedtohavebeenoneoftheheroesofthismigration.
...Haushoferproclaimedthenecessityof'areturntothesources'ofthehumanraceinotherwords,
thatitwasnecessarytoconquerthewholeofEasternEurope,Turkestan,Pamir,GobiandThibet.These
countriesconstituted,inhisopinion,thecentralcore,andwhoeverhadcontrolofthemcontrolledthe
wholeworld.(17)
AfterthecataclysmthatdestroyedtheGobicivilisation,thesurvivorsmigratedtoavastcavernsystem
beneaththeHimalayaswheretheysplitintotwogroups,oneofwhichfollowedthepathofspirituality,
enlightenmentandmeditationwhiletheotherfollowedthepathofviolenceandmaterialisticpower.
ThefirstofthesecentreswascalledAgartha,theotherShambhala.(Thesenameshavemanydifferent
spellings:forAgartha,Iusethesimplest;forShambhala,thespellingfavouredbyOrientalists.)We
shallreturnforacloserlooktotherealmsofAgarthaandShambhalainthenextchapter.
AccordingtoAlecMaclellan,amongthemanybooksHitlerreadwhilelanguishinginLandsbergwas
BulwerLytton'sTheComingRace,which,Haushoferinformedhim,wasanessentiallycorrect
descriptionoftheraceofSupermenlivingfarbeneaththesurfaceoftheEarthandcorroboratedmuch
ofwhattheprofessorhadhimselflearnedwhiletravellinginAsia.BulwerLytton'snovelapparently
galvanisedHitler'simagination,andhe'begantoyearnforthedaywhenhemightestablishforhimself
theactualityofthesecretcivilizationbeneaththesnowsofTibet...'(18)
Inthefollowingyear,1925,theVrilSociety(alsoknownastheLuminousLodge)wasformedbya
groupofBerlinRosicruciansincludingKarlHaushofer.AsJoscelynGodwininformsus,thereisonly
oneprimarysourceofinformationontheVrilSociety:WillyLey,aGermanrocketengineerwhofled
totheUnitedStatesin1933andfollowedasuccessfulcareerwritingpopularsciencebooks.In1947,
Leypublishedanarticleentitled'PseudoscienceinNaziland'.FollowingadescriptionofAriosophy,
Leywrites:
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Thenextgroupwasliterallyfoundeduponanovel.ThatgroupwhichIthinkcalleditself
WahrheitsgesellschaftSocietyforTruthandwhichwasmoreorlesslocalizedinBerlin,devotedits
sparetimelookingforVril.Yes,theirconvictionswerefoundeduponBulwerLytton's'TheComing
Race'.Theyknewthatthebookwasfiction,BulwerLyttonhadusedthatdeviceinordertobeableto
tellthetruthaboutthis'power'.Thesubterraneanhumanitywasnonsense,Vrilwasnot.Possiblyithad
enabledtheBritish,whokeptitasaStatesecret,toamasstheircolonialempire.SurelytheRomanshad
hadit,inclosed[sic]insmallmetalballs,whichguardedtheirhomesandwerereferredtoaslares.For
reasonswhichIfailedtopenetrate,thesecretofVrilcouldbefoundbycontemplatingthestructureof
anapple,slicedinhalves.No,Iamnotjoking,thatiswhatIwastoldwithgreatsolemnityandsecrecy.
Suchagroupactuallyexisted,theyevengotoutthefirstissueofamagazinewhichwastoproclaim
theircredo.(19)
AlthoughtheyapparentlyinterviewedLey,PauwelsandBergiercouldlearnnothingmorefromhim
aboutthismysterioussociety;however,theylaterdiscoveredthatthegroupactuallycalleditselftheVril
Society,andthatKarlHaushoferwasintimatelyconnectedwithit.(JoscelynGodwinkindlyremindsus
oftheunreliabilityofthesplendidPauwelsandBergier:althoughtheyciteJackFishman'sTheSeven
MenofSpandauwithregardtoHaushofer'sconnectiontotheVrilSociety,Fishmanactuallymakesno
suchreference.)(20)
PauwelsandBergiergoontoinformusthat,havingfailedinhismission,Haushofercommittedsuicide
on14March1946,inaccordancewithhispledgetohismastersinthesecretJapanesesocietyinto
whichhehadbeeninitiated.Onceagain,thetruthissomewhatdifferent:Haushoferdidnotcommit
hamkinbutdiedfromarsenicpoisoningon10March.Inaddition,Ley'sreferenceto'contemplatingthe
structureofanapple,slicedinhalves'(thusrevealingthefivepointedstaratitscentre)echoesRudolf
Steiner'ssuggestioninKnowledgeofHigherWorldsandItsAttainment.Indeed,asGodwinremindsus,
(21)theTheosophistswerethemselvesinterestedintheconceptofthevrilforce,whichbearssome
resemblancetoReichenbach'sOdicforce,andtotheAstralLight,alsoknownastheAkashicRecords:a
subtleformofenergysaidtosurroundtheEarth,inwhichispreservedarecordofeverythoughtand
actionthathaseveroccurred.
InspiteofthesoberresearchofwriterslikeGoodrickClarkeandGodwin,theideaofanimmensely
sinisterandpowerfulVrilSocietysecretlycontrollingtheThirdReichhaslostnothingofitsabilityto
fascinate.ManystillmaintainthatHaushoferintroducedHitlertotheleaderofthegroupofTibetan
highlamaslivinginBerlin,amanknownonlyas'TheManwiththeGreenGloves',andthatthisman
knewthelocationsofthehiddenentrancestothesubterraneanrealmsofAgarthaandShambhala.(22)
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TheserumoursdoubtlessgaverisetothefamouslegendsaboutHitler'sobsessivesearchforthe
entrancestotheinnerworld.AccordingtoMaclellan:'Thefirstexpeditionsweredispatchedpurely
undertheauspicesoftheLuminousLodge,beginningin1926,butlater,aftercomingtopower,Hitler
tookamoredirectinterest,overseeingtheorganizationofthesearcheshimself.'(23)Maclellanalso
statesthatHitlerbelievedunequivocallythat'certainrepresentativesoftheundergroundsuperrace
werealreadyabroadintheworld',(24)citingHermannRauschning'sfamousbookHitlerSpeaksA
SenesofPoliticalConversationswithAdolfHitleronhisRealAims(1939).Theconversationsrecorded
byRauschninghaveservedassourcematerialformanywritersontheThirdReich,includingserious
ones.ProponentsofgenuineNazioccultpowerhaverepeatedlypointedtothemysticalelementsin
Hitler'sconversationsasrelayedbyRauschning,whosaysthatherepeatedlyhadthefeelingthatHitler
wasamedium,possessedofsupernaturalpowers.Itseemsthatononeoccasion,Hitleractuallymetone
ofthesubterraneanSupermen.RauschningclaimsthatHitlerconfidedtohim:Thenewmanisamong
us.Heishere!Nowareyousatisfied?Iwilltellyouasecret.Ihaveseenthevisionofthenewman
fearlessandformidable.Ishrankfromhim.'(25)
Tohiscredit,MaclellanstatesthatthiswasmorethanlikelyaderangedfantasyonHitler'spart.
However,Rauschning'sverydescriptionshouldbetreatedwithextremecaution:itshouldbenotedthat,
inspiteofthewidespreadinterestitstimulated,HitlerSpeakshasnotstoodthetestoftimeasan
accuratehistoricaldocument.Infact,IanKershaw,oneoftheforemostauthoritiesonHitlerandthe
authorofHitler18891936:Hubris(1998),doesnotciteRauschning'sbookanywhereinhis
monumentalstudy,andstatesthatitis'aworknowregardedtohavesolittleauthenticitythatitisbest
todisregarditaltogether'.(26)
Asthestorygoes,HitlerorderedanumberofexpeditionsintoGerman,SwissandItalianminesto
searchfortheentrancestothecaverncitiesoftheSupermen.Heisevensaidtohaveorderedresearchto
beconductedintothelifeofBulwerLytton,inanefforttodeterminewhethertheauthorhimselfhad
visitedtherealmoftheVrilya.Whileseriouswritersignoretheserumours,thereisaninterestingevent
onrecordthatMaclellanquotesinhisTheLostWorldofAghartiandthatillustratesthefrustrating
natureofthe'twilightzonebetweenfactandfiction'inwhichwefindourselveswhendiscussingNazi
occultism.
MaclellancitesthetestimonyofoneAntoninHorak,anexpertspeleologistandmemberoftheSlovak
Uprising,whoaccidentallydiscoveredastrangetunnelinCzechoslovakiainOctober1944.DrHorak
keptquietaboutthediscoveryuntil1965,whenhepublishedanaccountintheNationalSpeleological
SocietyNews.Inhisarticle,DrHorakstatedthatheandtwootherResistancefightersfoundthetunnel
nearthevillagesofPlavinceandLubocna(heisquitespecificaboutthelocation:49.2degreesnorth,
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20.7degreeseast).HavingjustsurvivedaskirmishwiththeGermans,thethreemen(oneofwhomwas
badlyinjured)askedalocalpeasantforhelp.Heledthemtoanundergroundgrottowheretheycould
hideandrest.ThepeasanttoldtheResistancementhatthecavecontainedpits,pocketsofpoisongas,
andwasalsohaunted,andwarnedthemagainstventuringtoofarinside.Thistheyhadnointentionof
doing,suchwastheirweariness.Theyattendedtothewoundsoftheircomradeandfellasleep.
Thefollowingday,Horak'scuriositygotthebetterofhimand,whilehewaitedfortheinjuredmanto
recoverenoughstrengthtotravelagain,hedecidedtodoalittleexploringinsidethecave.Presently,he
cametoasectionthatwascompletelydifferentfromtherestofthecave.'Lightingsometorches,Isaw
thatIwasinaspacious,curved,blackshaftformedbyclifflikewalls.Thefloorintheinclinewasa
solidlimepavement.'(27)Thetunnelstretchedinterminablyintothedistance.DrHorakdecidedtotake
asampleofthewall,butwasunabletomakeanyimpressionwithhispickaxe.Hetookhispistoland
firedatthewall(surelyanunwisethingtodo,giventheriskofaricochetandwithGermansoldiers
possiblystillinthevicinity).
'Thebulletslammedintothesubstanceofthewallswithadeafening,fieryimpact,'hewrote.'Sparks
flashed,therewasaroaringsound,butnotsomuchasasplinterfellfromthesubstance.Onlyasmall
weltappeared,aboutthelengthofhalfmyfinger,whichgaveoffapungentsmell.'
DrHorakthenreturnedtohiscomradesandtoldthemabouttheapparentlymanmadetunnel.'Isat
therebythefirespeculating.Howfardiditreachintotherocks?Iwondered.
Who,orwhat,putitintothemountain?Wasitmanmade?Andwasitatlastproofofthetruthin
legendslikePlato'soflonglostcivilisationswithmagictechnologieswhichourrationalecannot
grasporbelieve?'(28)Nooneelse,apparently,hasexploredthistunnelsinceDrHorakin1944.The
peasantswholivedintheregionobviouslyknewofitsexistence,butkeptwellaway.
InadditiontothestoriesofNazimineexpeditionsinCentralandEasternEuropeduringtheSecond
WorldWar,occultwritershavefrequentlymadereferencetotheNaziTibetExpeditions,allegedlyan
attempttolocateandmakecontactwithagroupofhighlamaswithaccesstofantasticpower.Once
again,PauwelsandBergierhaveplentytosayonthissubject,whichisinitselfenoughtogivepauseto
thecautious.
TheAmericanresearcherPeterLevendaexperiencedasimilarscepticismwithregardtothesupposed
NaziTibetconnection,untilhebegantosearchforreferencesinthemicrofilmedrecordsinthe
CapturedGermanDocumentsSectionoftheNationalArchivesinWashington,DC.Hediscovereda
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wealthofmaterial,runningtomanyhundredsofpages,dealingwiththeworkofDrErnstSchaferof
theAhnenerbe.ThesedocumentsincludedDrSchafer'spersonalnotebooks,hiscorrespondence,
clippingsfromseveralGermannewspapers,andhisSSfile,whichdescribesanexpeditiontoEastand
CentralTibetfrom19341936,andtheofficialSSTibetExpeditionof19381939underhisleadership.
(29)
AsLevendademonstrates,theexpeditionwasnotsomuchconcernedwithcontactingTibetan
representativesofthesubterraneansuperraceaswithcataloguingthefloraandfaunaoftheregion(an
activityoflittlemilitaryvaluetotheThirdReich,whichaccountsforthedifficultySchaferoccasionally
hadinsecuringfundingforhistrips).
BorninCologneon14March1910intoawealthyindustrialistfamily,ErnstSchaferattendedschoolin
HeidelbergandGottingen,andembarkedonhisfirstexpeditiontoTibetin1930undertheauspicesof
theAcademyofNaturalSciencesinPhiladelphiawhenhewasonlytwentyyearsold.Thefollowing
year,hejoinedtheAmericanBrookeDolanexpeditiontoSiberia,ChinaandTibet.Hebecamea
memberoftheSSinmid1933,finallyreachingtherankofSturmbannfuhrerin1942.Inadditionto
beinganSSofficer,Schaferwasalsoarespectedscientistwhopublishedpapersinvariousjournals,
suchastheProceedingsoftheAcademyofNaturalSciences,Philadelphia.AsLevendawrylynotes,
Schaferwas'amanofmanyparts:onepartSSofficerandonepartscholar,onepartexplorerandone
partscientist:aNaziIndianaJones'.(30)Schaferwasalsodeeplyinterestedinthereligiousandcultural
practicesoftheTibetans,includingtheirsexuality.(Indeed,themembersofthe19381939expedition
displayedasomewhatprurientfascinationwithintimatepractices:thefilmmakerErnstKrause,for
instance,tookgreatcaretorecordhisobservationofafifteenyearoldLanchunggirlmasturbatingona
bridgebeam.)(31)
Whennotcataloguingfloraandfauna(andspyingonteenagegirls),themembersoftheexpedition
managedtoconductotherresearch,whichincludedanexhaustivestudyofthephysicalattributesofthe
Tibetanpeople.Schafernotedheightandweight,theshapeofhandsandfeet,thecolourandshapeof
eyes,andeventookplastercastsofTibetans'faces.On21July1939,DerNeueTagpublishedthe
followingarticle:
SACREDTIBETANSCRIPTURE
ACQUIREDBYTHEDRSCHAFEREXPEDITIONON
NINEANIMALLOADSACROSSTHEHIGHCOUNTRY
(SPECIAL)FRANKFURT20JULYTheTibetExpeditionofDrErnstSchafer,whichduringits
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expeditionthroughTibetstayedalongtimeinLhasaandinthecapitalofthePanchenLama,Shigatse,
ispresentlyonitsreturntriptoGermany.Sincethemonsoonsbeganunusuallyearly,thereturnmarch
oftheexpeditionwashastenedinordertosecuretheshipmentofthepreciouscollections.The
expeditionhassingularlyvaluablescientificresearchresultstoinventory.Inadditiontooutstanding
accomplishmentsintheareasofgeophysicalandearthmagneticresearchtheysucceededinobtaining
anextrarichethnologicalcollectionincluding,alongwithcultobjects,manyarticles
andtoolsofdailylife.
WiththehelpoftheregentofLhasaitwasDrSchaferwhoalsosucceededinobtainingtheKangschur,
theextensive,108volumesacredscriptoftheTibetans,whichrequirednineanimalloadstotransport.
Alsoespeciallyextensivearethezoologicalandbotanicalcollectionsthattheexpeditionhasalready
shipped,inpart,toGermany,theremainderofwhichtheywillbringthemselves.Thezoological
collectionincludesthetotalbirdfaunaoftheresearcharea.DrSchaferwasalsoable,forthefirsttime,
tobagaSchapi,ahithertounknownwildgoat.About50liveanimalsareonthewaytoGermany,while
numerousotherliveanimalsarestillwiththeexpedition.Anextensiveherbariumofallexistingplants
isalsoonitsway.Furthermore,valuablegeographicalandearthhistoricalaccomplishmentswere
made.DifficultiesencounteredduetopoliticaltensionswiththeEnglishauthoritieswereeliminated
duetopersonalcontactbetweenDrSchaferandmembersoftheBritishauthoritiesinShangtse,sothat
theunimpededreturnoftheexpeditionoutofTibetwithitsvaluablecollectionswasguaranteed.(32)
LevendainformsusthathewasunabletodiscoverthefateoftheKangschur,the'coredocument'of
TibetanBuddhism,althoughhesuspectsthatitwastakentoVienna.Withregardtotheexpedition
itself,whileitmustbeconcededthatithadverylittletodowiththeoccultormagicalambitionsofthe
ThirdReich,itispossiblethatthe'earthmagnetic'and'geophysical'experimentshadafirmfoundation
inaveryshakytheory.LevendasuggeststhattheTibetExpeditionof19381939attemptedtoprovethe
pseudoscientificWorldIceTheoryofHansHorbiger.Thisbizarretheorywillbediscussedindetailin
ChapterSeven.Butfornow,letusreturntotheconceptembodiedintherumoursabouttheVril
Society,withitsallegedattemptstocontact(andenlisttheaidof)amysteriousgroupofvastlypowerful
Easternadepts.Toexaminetheoriginsofthisidea,wemustourselvesembarkonajourneytoTibet,
knowninsomequartersas'thePhantomKingdom'.
4Thephantomkingdom
TheNaziTibetConnection
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Atfirstsight,itmightseemstrangeintheextremethatthearchitectsoftheThirdReichwouldbe
interestedinaregionthatmanyconsidertobethespiritualcentreoftheworld;until,thatis,we
rememberthat,accordingtoThuleanmythology,thiscentrewasoncetheAryanhomelandinthe
Arctic,andwasdisplacedwiththefallofAtlantisaround10,800BC(seeChapterTwo).Sincethen,the
spiritualcentre,whileremaininghiddenfromthevastmajorityofhumanitywhoareunworthyofits
secrets,hasneverthelessbeentheprimaryforcecontrollingthedestinyoftheplanet.(1)Thetwo
hiddenrealmsofAgarthaandShambhalaconstitutethedoublesourceofsupernaturalpoweremanating
fromTibet,andhavecometooccupyanimportantplaceintwentiethcenturyoccultismandfringe
science.
BeforeweaddresstheThirdReich'sallegedinterestinAgarthaandShambhala,itisessentialthatwe
pausefora(necessarilybrief)examinationoftheroleofShambhalainTibetanmysticism.Inthisway,
wemaychartthecourseofitswarpinganddegradationasitwasfittedintotheNazischemeofcrypto
history.
TheLandoftheImmortals
ThewriterAndrewTomasspentmanyyearsstudyingthemythsandlegendsoftheFarEast,andhis
bookShambhala:OasisofLightisaneloquentargumentinfavouroftherealm'sactualexistence.In
thebook,TomascitestheancientwritingsofChina,whichrefertoNuandKua,the'Asiaticprototypes
ofAdamandEve'andtheirbirthplaceintheKunLunMountainsofCentralAsia.Itissomethingofa
mysterywhysuchadesolate,forbiddingplaceshouldserveastheChineseGardenofEdenratherthan
morehospitableregionssuchastheYangtseValleyortheprovinceofShantung,andTomasspeculates
thattheGobiDesertmayatonetimehavebeenaninlandseawithaccompanyingfertileland.(2)Aswe
shallseelaterinthischapter,theGobiisaprimecandidateasasiteforoneoftheancientandunknown
civilisingcultureswhosewisdomhasbeenpasseddownthroughtheages.
TheKunLunMountainsholdaveryimportantplaceinChinesemythology,sinceitisinthisrangethat
theImmortalsarebelievedtolive,ruledbyHsiWangMu,theQueenMotheroftheWest.HsiWang
Mu,whoisalsocalledKuanYin,thegoddessofmercy,issaidtoliveinaninestoreyedpalaceofjade.
SurroundingthispalaceisavastgardeninwhichgrowsthePeachTreeofImmortality.Onlythemost
wiseandvirtuousofhumanbeingsarepermittedtovisitthegardenandeatthefruit,whichappears
onlyonceevery6,000years.(3)
TheImmortalswhoaidHsiWangMuinherattemptstoguidehumanitytowardswisdomand
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compassionpossessperfect,agelessbodies,andaresaidtobeabletotravelanywhereintheUniverse,
andtoliveontheplanetsofotherstarsystems.AsTomasnotes,whethertheancientChinesebelieved
thattheImmortalscouldtravelinspaceintheirphysicalbodiesorbyprojectingtheirminds,thisisstill
aremarkableconcepttoentertain,sinceitisbasedonanacceptanceofthepluralityofinhabitedworlds
intheCosmos.
AncientChinesetextsarerepletewithlegendsregardingtheattemptsofmanypeopletocrosstheGobi
DeserttotheKunLunMountains.Themostfamousofthesesearchersissurelythegreatphilosopher
LaoTzu(c.6thcenturyBC),authorofthebookofTaoistteachingTaoTeChing,whoissaidtohave
madethejourneyacrosstheGobitowardstheendofhislife.TheVaticanarchivesalsocontainmany
reportsmadebyCatholicmissionariesconcerningdeputationsfromtheemperorsofChinatothe
spiritualbeingslivinginthemountains.Thesebeingspossessbodiesthatarevisible,butwhicharenot
madeoffleshandblood:theyarethe'mindborn'godswhosebodiesarecomposedofelementary
atomicmatter,whichallowthemtoliveanywhereintheUniverse,evenatthecentersofstars.
ThepeopleofIndiaalsobelieveinaplaceofwisdomandspiritualperfection;theycallitKalapaor
Katapa,anditissaidtolieinaregionnorthoftheHimalayas,inTibet.AccordingtoIndiantradition,
theGobiDesertisthefloorofwhatwasonceagreatsea,whichcontainedanislandcalledSweta
Dvipa(WhiteIsland).ThegreatYogiswhooncelivedtherearebelievedtolivestillinthehigh
mountainsanddeepvalleysthatonceformedtheislandofSwetaDvipa.Thisislandhasbeenidentified
byOrientalistswiththeIsleofShambhalaofPuranicliterature,whichissaidtostandatthecentreofa
lakeofnectar.
Intheseventeenthcentury,twoJesuitmissionaries,StephenCacellaandJohnCabral,recordedthe
existenceofChangShambhala,asdescribedtothembythelamasofShigatse,whereCacellalivedfor
23yearsuntilhisdeathin1650.(ChangShambhalameansNorthernShambhala,whichdifferentiates
theabodeofthespiritualadeptsfromthetowncalledShamballa,northofBenares,India.)(4)Nearly
200yearslater,aHungarianphilologistnamedCsomadeKoros,wholivedforfouryearsfrom182730
inaBuddhistmonasteryinTibet,claimedthatChangShambhalalaybetween45'and50'northlatitude,
beyondtheriverSyrDaria.(5)
Legendsofahiddenspiritualcentre,asacredzonewhoseinhabitantssecretlyguidetheevolutionoflife
onEarth,arewidespreadintheancientculturesoftheEast.ThewriterVictoriaLePagedescribesthis
wondrousrealmthus:
...[S]omewherebeyondTibet,amongtheicypeaksandsecludedvalleysofCentralAsia,thereliesan
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inaccessibleparadise,aplaceofuniversalwisdomandineffablepeacecalledShambhala...Itis
inhabitedbyadeptsfromeveryraceandculturewhoformaninnercircleofhumanitysecretlyguiding
itsevolution.Inthatplace,sothelegendssay,sageshaveexistedsincethebeginningofhumanhistory
inavalleyofsupremebeatitudethatisshelteredfromtheicyarcticwindsandwheretheclimateis
alwayswarmandtemperate,thesunalwaysshines,thegentleairsarealwaysbeneficientandnature
flowersluxuriantly.(6)
Onlythepurestofheartareallowedtofindthisplace(others,lessidealisticallymotivated,whosearch
foritriskanicygrave)wherewant,evil,violenceandinjusticedonotexist.Theinhabitantspossess
bothsupernaturalpowersandahighlyadvancedtechnology;theirbodiesareperfect,andtheydevote
theirtimetothestudyoftheartsandsciences.Theconceptofthehiddenspiritualcentreoftheworldis
tobefoundinHinduism,Buddhism,Taoism,shamanismandotherancienttraditions.IntheBon
religionofpreBuddhistTibet,Shambhalaisalsocalled'Olmolungring'and'Dejong'.InTibetan
Buddhism,theShambhalictraditionisenshrinedwithintheKalachakratexts,whicharesaidtohave
beentaughttotheKingofShambhalabytheBuddhabeforebeingreturnedtoIndia.(7)
Asmightbeexpectedwithsuchamarvellous,legendhauntedplace,therehasbeenagreatdealof
speculationastotheexactwhereaboutsofShambhala.(ItisunlikelytobefoundatKoros'smap
coordinates.)WhilesomeesotericistsbelievethatShambhalaisarealplacewithaconcrete,physical
presenceinasecretlocationonEarth,othersprefertoseeitasexistingonahigherspiritualplane,what
mightbecalledanotherdimensionofspacetimecoterminouswithourown.Alternatively,Shambhala
mightbeconsideredasastateofmind,comparabletothetermsinwhichsomeconsidertheHolyGrail.
AswiththeGrail,Shambhalamaybeastatewithinourselves,inwhichwemaygainaninsightintothe
higherspiritualityinherentintheUniverse,asdistinctfromthemundaneworldofbasematterinwhich
wenormallyexist.
Havingsaidthis,itshouldbenotedthattherearecertaincasesonrecordinwhichWesternershave
experiencedvisionsofaplacebearingastrikingresemblancetothefabledShambhala.VictoriaLe
PagecitesaparticularlyintriguingcaseinherbookShambhala:TheFascinatingTruthBehindthe
MythofShangrila.ThecasewasinvestigatedbyaDrRaynorJohnsonwho,inthe1960s,gathered
togetherseveralhundredfirsthandaccountsofmysticalexperiences.ItinvolvedayoungAustralian
womanwhoclaimedtohavepsychicabilities,andwhowasreferredtosimplyasL.C.W.
L.C.W.wrotethatattheageof21shebegantoattendaplaceshecametoknowas'NightSchool'.At
nightshewouldflyinhersleeptothisplace,thelocationofwhichshehadnoidea.Oncethereshe
wouldjoinotherpeopleindanceexerciseswhichshelaterrecognisedasbeingsimilartothedervish
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exercisestaughtbyGeorgeGurdjieff.Afterseveralyears,shegraduatedtoadifferentclass,whereshe
wastaughtspirituallessonsfromagreatbookofwisdom.Itwasonlyyearslater,whenL.C.W.beganto
takeaninterestinmysticalliterature,thatsherealisedthetruelocationofNightSchoolmusthavebeen
Shambhala.
L.C.W.hadothervisionsinwhichshesawwhatappearedtobeagiganticmastorantenna,extending
fromEarthdeepintointerstellarspace.ThebaseofthisantennawasinthePamirsorTienShan
Mountains,regionswhicharetraditionallyassociatedwithShambhala.Shewastakentowardsthis
antennabyaninvisibleguide,andsawthatitwasapillarofenergywhosebrancheswereactuallypaths
leadingtootherworlds,markedbygeometricalfiguressuchascircles,trianglesandsquares.
AccordingtoL.C.W.,this'antenna'wasnothinglessthanagatewaytoothertimes,otherdimensions
andotherregionsofthisUniverse.InadditiontotheantennaservingasagatewayforsoulsfromEarth
totraveltoothertimesandplaces,'shebelievedsoulsfromothersystemsinspacecouldentertheearth
spherebythesameroute,carryingtheirownspiritualinfluenceswiththem'.(8)L.C.W.also
maintainedthattheantennacouldbecontrolleddirectlybythemindofthevoyager,andwouldextenda
branchor'pseudopod'inresponsetoasinglethought.Thisbranchthenbecamea'trajectoryoflight'
alongwhichthesoulwouldtravel;inhercase,shefoundherselfinChina30yearsinthefuture.The
spiritualbeingwhowasguidingherexplainedthattheearthwasintheprocessofbeingpurified,and
thata'greatrebirth'wasabouttooccur.Shealsowitnessedtheapparentfallingofaclusterof'stars'that
representedthearrivalof'highsouls[that]werenowcomingdowntohelpinthespecialevent'.(9)
OurknowledgeoftheShambhalictraditionintheWesthascomemainlyfromOrientalistscholarssuch
asHelenaBlavatsky,ReneGuenon,LouisJacolliot,SaintYvesd'AlveydreandNicholasRoerich.Since
wehavealreadyspentsometimewithMadameBlavatsky,wemayturnourattentiontotheworkofthe
others,notablyNicholasRoerich(18741947),poet,artist,mysticandhumanist,andperhapsthemost
famousandrespectedoftheesotericistswhobroughtnewsofthisfabulousrealmtoWesterners.
BorninStPetersburg,Russiain1874,NicholasRoerichcamefromadistinguishedfamilywhoseability
totraceitsoriginstotheVikingsofthetenthcenturyinspiredhisearlyinterestinarchaeology.This
interestledinturntoalifelongfascinationwithart,throughwhich,inthewordsofK.P.Tampy,who
wroteamonographonRoerichin1935,hebecame'possessedofaburningdesiretogetatthebeautiful
andmakeuseofitforhisbrethren'.(10)AfterattendingtheStPetersburgAcademyofFineArt,
RoerichwenttoParistocontinuehisstudies.In1906,hewonaprizeforhisdesignofanewchurch,
andwasalsorewardedwiththepositionofDirectoroftheAcademyfortheEncouragementofFine
ArtsinRussia.However,theRussianRevolutionoccurredwhilehewasonavisittoAmerica,andhe
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foundhimselfunabletoreturntohismotherland.
Roerich'sprofoundinterestinBuddhistmysticismledtohisproposinganexpeditionin1923thatwould
exploreIndia,MongoliaandTibet.TheRoerichExpeditionof192326wasmadeacrosstheGobi
DeserttotheAltaiMountains.ItwasduringthisexpeditionthatRoerich'spartyhadamostunusual
experienceoneofthemanyexperiencesthatseemtoofferstrangeandpuzzlingconnectionsbetween
apparentlydisparateelementsoftheparanormalandthatmakeitsuchacomplexandfascinatingfield
ofhumanenquiry.Inthesummerof1926,Roerichhadsetupcampwithhisson,DrGeorgeRoerich,
andseveralMongolianguidesintheSharagolvalleyneartheHumboldtMountainsbetweenMongolia
andTibet.Roerichhadjustbuiltawhitestupa(orshrine),dedicatedtoShambhala.Theshrinewas
consecratedinAugust,withtheceremonywitnessedbyanumberofinvitedlamas.
Twodayslater,thepartywatchedasalargeblackbirdwheeledthroughtheskyabovethem.This,
however,wasnotwhatastonishedthem,forfarbeyondtheblackbird,highupinthecloudlesssky,they
clearlysawagoldenspheroidalobjectmovingfromtheAltaiMountainstothenorthattremendous
speed.Veeringsharplytothesouthwest,thegoldenspheredisappearedrapidlybeyondtheHumboldt
Mountains.AstheMongolianguidesshoutedtooneanotherintheutmostexcitement,oneofthelamas
turnedtoRoerichandinformedhimthatthefabulousgoldenorbwasthesignofShambhala,meaning
thatthelordsofthatrealmapprovedofhismissionofexploration.
Later,Roerichwasaskedbyanotherlamaiftherehadbeenaperfumeontheair.WhenRoerichreplied
thattherehadbeen,thelamatoldhimthathewasguardedbytheKingofShambhala,RigdenJyePo,
thattheblackvulturewashisenemy,butthathewasprotectedbya'RadiantformofMatter'.Thelama
addedthatanyonewhosawtheradiantsphereshouldfollowthedirectioninwhichitflew,forinthat
directionlayShambhala.
Theexactpurposeofthisexpedition(asidefromexploration)wasnevermadeentirelyclearbyRoerich,
butmanywritersonesotericsubjectshaveclaimedthathewasonamissiontoreturnacertainsacred
objecttotheKing'sToweratthecentreofShambhala.AccordingtoAndrewTomas,thesacredobject
wasafragmentoftheChintamanistone,thegreatmassofwhichliesintheTower.Astonishingly,the
stoneissaidtohavebeenbroughttoEarthoriginallybyanextraterrestrialbeing.
Accordingtotradition,achestfellfromtheskyinAD331;thechestcontainedfoursacredobjects,
includingtheChintamanistone.Manyyearsafterthecasketwasdiscovered,fivestrangersvisitedKing
ThothoriNyantsantoexplaintheuseofthesacredobjects.TheChintamanistoneissaidtocome
fromoneofthestarsystemsintheconstellationofOrion,probablySirius.Themainbodyofthestone
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isalwayskeptintheTowerofShambhala,althoughsmallpiecesaresometimestransferredtoother
partsoftheworldduringtimesofgreatchange.
ItisrumouredthatthefragmentofChintamaniwhichRoerichwasreturningtotheTowerhadbeenin
thepossessionoftheLeagueofNations,ofwhichRoerichwasahighlyrespectedmember.
TheCavesBeneaththeHimalayas
Theconceptofasubterraneanrealm(whichwewilldiscussinmuchgreaterdetailinChapterSeven)is
commonthroughouttheworld'sreligionsandmythologies.Withregardtothepresentstudy,wecan
identifyapowerfulantecedenttothelegendsandrumoursstillextanttodayinthemythologyofTibet.
Inhis1930bookShambhala,Roerichdescribeshisattemptstounderstandtheoriginsofunderworld
legends'todiscoverwhatmemorieswerebeingcherishedinthefolkmemory'.(11)Incommentingon
theubiquityofsubterraneanlegends,henotesthatthemoreoneexaminesthem,thegreaterthe
convictionthattheyareall'butchaptersfromtheonestory'.(12)Anexaminationofthefolkloresof
'Tibet,Mongolia,China,Turkestan,Kashmir,Persia,Altai,Siberia,theUral,Caucasia,theRussian
steppes,Lithuania,Poland,Hungary,Germany,France'(13)willyieldtalesofdwellersbeneaththe
earth.Inmanyplaces,thelocalpeoplecanevenguidethecurioustravellertocaveentrancesinisolated
places,whicharesaidtoleadtothehiddenworldofthesubterraneans.
CentralAsiaishometolegendsofanundergroundracecalledtheAgharti;theAltaiMountainsarethe
dwellingplaceoftheChud.InShambhala,Roerichstatesthatthename'Chud'inRussianhasthesame
originastheword'wonder'.HisguidethroughtheAltaiMountainstoldhimthattheChudwere
originallyapowerfulbutpeacefultribewhoflourishedintheareainthedistantpast.However,theyfell
preytomaraudingbandsofwarriors,andcouldonlyescapebyleavingtheirfertilevalleyanddeparting
intotheearthtocontinuetheircivilisationinsubterraneanrealms.
Roerich'sguidecontinuedthatatcertaintimestheChudcouldbeheardsingingintheirunderground
temples.ElsewhereintheAltaiMountains,onthewaytoKhotan,Roerichreportsthatthehoofsof
theirhorsessoundedhollowupontheground,asthoughtheywereridingoverimmensecaves.Other
membersofthecaravancalledtoRoerich:'Doyouhearwhathollowsubterraneanpassagesweare
crossing?Throughthesepassages,peoplewhoarefamiliarwiththemcanreachfaroffcountries.'(14)
(ThesignificanceofthisclaimwillbecomemoreapparentinChapterSeven.)Thecaravaneers
continued:'Longagopeoplelivedthere;nowtheyhavegoneinside;theyhavefoundasubterranean
passagetothesubterraneankingdom.Onlyrarelydosomeofthemappearagainonearth.Atourbazaar
suchpeoplecomewithstrange,veryancientmoney,butnobodycouldevenrememberatimewhen
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suchmoneywasinusagehere.'WhenRoerichaskedifhe,too,couldseesuchpeople,hiscompanions
replied:'Yes,ifyourthoughtsaresimilarlyhighandincontactwiththeseholypeople,becauseonly
sinnersareuponearthandthepureandcourageouspeoplepassontosomethingmorebeautiful.'(15)
IntheregionofNijniNovgorodthereisalegendofasubterraneancitycalledKerjenetzthatsankintoa
lake.InRoerich'stime,localpeoplestillheldprocessionsthroughthearea,duringwhichtheywould
listenforthebellsofinvisiblechurches.
Roerich'spartywentontodiscoverfourmoregroupsofmenhirs,andseveraltombs,takingtheformof
asquareoutlinedbylargestones.TothepeopleoftheHimalayas,thosewhobuiltthesemonuments,
althoughnowdeparted,arenottobefoundanywhereontheEarth'ssurface:'allwhichhasdisappeared,
hasdepartedunderground'.(16)
DrFerdinandOssendowski,whomweshallmeetagaininalittlewhile,wastoldbylamasinMongolia
offabulouscivilisationsexistingbeforerecordedhistory.ToOssendowski'sastonishment,thelamas
claimedthatwhenthehomelandsofthesecivilisationsintheAtlanticandPacificweredestroyedby
naturalcataclysmssomeoftheirinhabitantssurvivedinpreviouslypreparedsubterraneanshelters,
illuminatedbyartificiallight.AndrewTomasspeculatesthattheCelticlegendof'theLordlyOnesin
thehollowhills'isafolkmemoryofthesurvivorsofthedestructionoftheAtlanticcontinent.(17)
InIndia,legendstellofaraceofbeingscalledtheNagas.Serpentlikeandextremelyintelligent,the
Nagasliveinvastcavernsilluminatedbypreciousstones.Althoughreptilian,theNagashavehuman
facesandareincrediblybeautiful.Abletofly,theyintermarriedwithkingsandqueensfromthesurface
world,althoughtheyremainshyofsurfacedwellersandkeepwellawayfromallbutthemost
spirituallyadvanced.TheircapitalcityiscalledBhogawati,andissaidtobecoveredwithrubies,
emeraldsanddiamonds.(18)
TomaswritesthatmanyHindusandTibetanshaveenteredthecavesoftheNagas,whichstretchfor
hundredsofmilesinsidethemountains.
TheinhabitantsofthisregionspeakoflargelotusflowersfloatingonthesurfaceoftheManasarawar
LakeinthewesternpartoftheTsangPoValley.Radiantfigureshavealsobeenseennearthisextremely
coldfreshwaterlake.
TheRealmofAgartha
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DespiteitsinclusioninmanypopularbooksonEasternmysticism,thename'Agartha'isunknownin
Asiaticmythology.Infact,oneofthemanyvariationsonthename,'Asgaard',wasfirstusedbythe
FrenchwriterErnestRenaninthe1870s.AlthoughclearlyinspiredbyNordicmythology,Renanplaced
hisAsgaardinCentralAsia,whileanotherFrenchwriter,LouisJacolliot(18371890),waswritingat
thesametimeaboutacityofAsgartha.(19)AmagistrateinChandernagor,India,Jacolliotwrotea
numberofbooksontherelationshipbetweenIndianmythologyandChristianity.
HewasallegedlytoldthelegendofAsgarthabyagroupoflocalBrahmins,whoallowedhimtoconsult
varioussacredtexts,suchastheBookofHistoricalZodiacs.
AccordingtoJacolliot,Asgarthawasaprehistoric'CityoftheSun',homeoftheBrahmatma,thevisible
manifestationofGodonEarth.(20)AsgarthaexistedinIndiain13,300BC,wheretheBrahmatma
livedinanimmensepalace;hewasinvisible,andonlyappearedtohissubjectsonceayear.
Interestingly,JacolliotstatedthatthishighprehistoriccultureexistedlongbeforetheAryans,who
conqueredAsgarthaaround10,000BC.ThepriestsofAsgarthathenmanagedtoformanalliancewith
thevictoriousAryanBrahmins,whichresultedintheformationofthewarriorcasteofKshatriyas.
About5,000yearslater,AsgarthawasdestroyedbythebrothersIodaandSkandah,whocamefromthe
Himalayas.EventuallydrivenoutbytheBrahmins,thebrotherstravellednorthandlatergavetheir
namesto'Odin'and'Scandinavia'.(21)
FerdinandOssendowski(18761945)wasanotherearlywriteronthelegendofAgartha.Althoughborn
inVitebsk,Poland,hespentmostofhisearlylifeinRussia,attendingtheUniversityofStPetersburg.
Formuchofthe1890s,hetravelledextensivelyinMongoliaandSiberia,developinghisinterestinand
knowledgeofBuddhistmysticism.HereturnedtoEuropein1900andgainedadoctorateinParisin
1903,beforereturningtoRussiaandworkingasachemistfortheRussianArmyduringtheRusso
JapaneseWarof1905.Hethenbecamepresidentofthe'RevolutionaryGovernmentoftheRussianFar
East',beforebeingtakenprisonerbytheRussianGovernmentforhisantiTsaristactivities.(22)
Aftertwoyears'imprisonmentinSiberia,hetaughtphysicsandchemistryintheSiberiantownof
Omsk,untiltheBolshevikRevolutionforcedhimtofleeRussiawithasmallgroupoffellowWhite
Russians.TogethertheytravelledacrossSiberiaandintoMongolia,andhewroteoftheiradventuresin
hisbestsellingbookBeasts,MenandGods(1923).WhileinMongolia,Ossendowskimadethe
acquaintanceofafellowRussian,apriestnamedTushegounLamawhoclaimedtobeafriendofthe
DalaiLama.TushegounLamatoldOssendowskiofthesubterraneankingdomofAgartha,homeofthe
KingoftheWorld.Intriguedbythisreference,Ossendowskiaskedhisfriendforfurtherinformationon
thismysteriouspersonage.'Onlyonemanknowshisholyname.Onlyonemannowliving
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waseverin[Agartha].ThatisI.ThisisthereasonwhytheMostHolyDalaiLamahashonouredme
andwhytheLivingBuddhainUrgafearsme.Butinvain,forIshallneversitontheHolyThroneofthe
highestpriestinLhasanorreachthatwhichhascomedownfromJenghisKhantotheHeadofour
YellowFaith.Iamnomonk.Iamawarriorandavenger.'(23)
Severalmonthslater,whilecontinuingacrossMongoliawithsomeguidesleftbehindbyTushegoun
Lama(whohadsincegonehisownway),Ossendowskiwasstartledwhenhiscompanionssuddenly
haltedanddismountedfromtheircamels,whichimmediatelylaydown.TheMongolsbegantopray,
chanting:'Om!ManipadmeHung!'Ossendowskiwaiteduntiltheyhadfinishedprayingbeforeasking
themwhatwashappening.OneoftheMongolguidesrepliedthus:
'Didyounotseehowourcamelsmovedtheirearsinfear?Howtheherdofhorsesontheplainstood
fixedinattentionandhowtheherdsofsheepandcattlelaycrouchedclosetotheground?Didyou
noticethatthebirdsdidnotfly,themarmotsdidnotrunandthedogsdidnotbark?Theairtrembled
softlyandborefromafarthemusicofasongwhichpenetratedtotheheartsofmen,animalsandbirds
alike.Earthandskyceasedbreathing.Thewinddidnotblowandthesundidnotmove.Atsucha
momentthewolfthatisstealinguponthesheeparrestshisstealthycrawl;thefrightenedherdof
antelopessuddenlychecksitswildcourse;theknifeoftheshepherdcuttingthesheep'sthroatfallsfrom
hishand;therapaciousermineceasestostalktheunsuspectingsaiga.Alllivingbeingsinfearare
involuntarilythrownintoprayerandwaitingfortheirfate.Soitwasjustnow.Thusithasalwaysbeen
wheneverthe"KingoftheWorld"inhissubterraneanpalacepraysandsearchesoutthedestinyofall
peoplesontheearth.'(24)
Later,OssendowskimetanoldTibetan,PrinceChultunBeyli,livinginexileinMongolia,who
furnishedhimwithmoredetailsofthesubterraneanrealmofAgarthaandtheKingoftheWorld.
Agartha,hesaid,extendsthroughoutallthesubterraneanpassagewaysoftheworld.Theinhabitants
oweallegiancetothe'KingoftheWorld'.Theycancultivatecropsduetoastrangelightthat
pervadestheundergroundrealm.Someoftheinhabitantsoftheseregionsareextremelystrange:one
racehastwotongues,enablingthemtospeakintwolanguagesatthesametime.Therearealsomany
fantasticanimals,includingtortoiseswithsixteenfeetandoneeye.
Atthispoint,OssendowskiwasapproachingtheChineseborder.Itwashisintentiontotakeatrainto
Peking,fromwhichhemightfindpassagetotheWest.InthetownofUrgahemetanoldlama,who
providedhimwithyetmoreinformationontheKingoftheWorld.TheKing'sinfluenceonthe
activitiesoftheworld'sapparentleaderswasprofound.IftheirplanswerepleasingbeforeGod,thenthe
KingoftheWorldwouldhelpthemtorealisethem;butiftheydispleasedGod,thentheKingwould
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surelydestroythem.Hispowercamefromthe'mysteriousscienceof"Om"',whichisthenameofan
ancientHolymanwholivedmorethan300,000yearsago,thefirstmantoknowGod.
WhenOssendowskiaskedhimifanyonehadeverseentheKingoftheWorld,theoldlamarepliedthat
duringthesolemnholidaysoftheancientBuddhisminSiamandIndiatheKingappearedfivetimesin
a'splendidcardrawnbywhiteelephants'.(25)Heworeawhiterobeandaredtiarawithstringsof
diamondsthathidhisface.Whenheblessedthepeoplewithagoldenapplesurmountedbythefigure
ofalamb,the'blindreceivedtheirsight,thedumbspoke,thedeafheard,thecrippledfreelymovedand
thedeadarose,wherevertheeyesofthe"KingoftheWorld"rested'.(26)
OssendowskithenaskedthelamahowmnypeoplehadbeentoAgartha.Herepliedthatverymanyhad,
butthattheyneverspokeaboutwhattheyhadseenthere.Hecontinuedthat,whentheOletsdestroyed
Lhasa,oneoftheirdetachmentsfounditswayintotheoutskirtsofAgartha,wheretheylearnedsomeof
thelessermysterioussciences.ThisisthereasonforthemagicalskillsoftheOletsandKalmucks.
AnotherofOssendowski'sinformants,alamanamedTurgut,toldhimthatthecapitalofAgarthais
surroundedbythetownsofthehighpriestsandscientists,somewhatinthewaythatthePotalapalace
oftheDalaiLamainLhasaissurroundedbymonasteriesandtemples.ThethroneonwhichtheKingof
theWorldsitsisitselfsurroundedbymillionsofincarnatedgods,theHolyPanditas.TheKing'spalace
issurroundedbythepalacesoftheGoro,whopossessfantasticpower,andwhowouldeasilybeableto
incineratetheentiresurfaceoftheEarth,shouldhumankindbeunwiseenoughtodeclarewaronthem.
(AsweshallseeinChapterSeven,thelegendoftheKingoftheWorldwouldserveastheinspiration
foroneofthemostenduringtechnologicalmythsofthetwentiethcentury.)
ThelegendofAgarthawasdiscussedatlengthbyanotherwriter,theselfeducatedChristian
HermeticistSaintYvesd'Alveydre(18421909),whosemarriageintomoneyenabledhimtoindulgehis
yearningformysticalunderstanding.In1885hebegantotakelessonsinSanskritfromoneHajiSharif
(1838?),aboutwhomverylittleisknownsavethatheleftIndiaatthetimeoftheSepoyRevoltof1857
andworkedasabirdselleratLeHavre.(27)Themanuscriptsofd'Alveydre'slessonsarepreservedin
thelibraryoftheSorbonneinParis.Inthem,Sharifreferstothe'GreatAgarthianSchool'andthe'Holy
LandofAgarttha'(oneofthemanyalternativespellingsofthename).
Sharifclaimedthattheoriginallanguageofhumanity,calledVattanorVattanian,derivedfroma22
letteralphabet.AlthoughhewasunablephysicallytovisitAgartha,d'Alveydrefoundaningenious
alternative:throughdisengaginghisastralbody,hewasabletovisitthefabulousrealminspiritform
(seepages108110).Hisastraladventuresresultedinaseriesofbooks(MissiondesSouverains,
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MissiondesOuvriers,MissiondesJuifsandMissiondel'Inde),whichhepublishedathisownexpense.
Interestingly,hedestroyedtheentireeditionofthelastwork,MissiondeI'lnde,forfearthathehad
revealedtoomanysecretsofAgarthaandmightbemadetopayforhistransgressionwithhislife.Only
twocopiessurvived:onethathekepthimselfandonethatwashiddenbytheprinter.(28)
Hemightwellhavebeenconcerned,forMissiondeI'lndecontainsadetailedaccountofAgartha,
whichliesbeneaththesurfaceoftheEarthsomewhereintheEastandisruledoverbyanEthiopian
'SovereignPontiffcalledtheBrahmatma.TherealmofAgarthawastransferredundergroundatthe
beginningoftheKaliYuga,about3200BC.TheAgarthianspossesstechnologythatwasimpressivein
d'Alveydre'sday,includingrailwaysandairtravel.Theyknoweverythingaboutthesurfacedwellers,
andoccasionallysendemissaries.AgarthacontainsmanylibrariesinwhichalltheknowledgeofEarth
isrecordedonstonetabletsinVattaniancharacters,includingthemeansbywhichthelivingmay
communicatewiththesoulsofthedead.
D'Alveydrestatesthat,althoughmanymillionsofstudentshavetriedtopossessthesecretsofAgartha,
veryfewhaveeversucceededingettingfurtherthantheoutercirclesoftherealm.
LikeBulwerLytton,whowroteoftheVrilyainhisfictionalworkTheComingRace(discussedinthe
previouschapter),d'AlveydrespeaksoftheAgartthiansasbeingsuperiortohumanityineveryrespect,
thetruerulersoftheworld.AcertainamountofcontroversyarosewhenOssendowskipublishedhis
Beasts,MenandGods:itdisplayedsuchsimilaritiestod'Alveydre'sworkthathewasaccusedbysome
ofplagiarismonlyimperfectlymaskedbyanalterationinthespellingofAgartha.Ossendowskidenied
thechargevehemently,andclaimednevertohaveheardofd'Alveydrebefore1924.ReneGuenon
defendedOssendowski,andclaimedthatthereweremanytalesofsubterraneanrealmstoldthroughout
CentralAsia.Infact,Guenon'sworkwouldlaterbeheavilycriticisedbyhistranslatorMarcoPallis,
whocalledhisbookLeRoiduMonde(TheKingoftheWorld)'disastrous'inconversationwith
JoscelynGodwin,onthegroundsthatOssendowski'ssourceswereunreliable,andGuenonhadallowed
himselftoentertherealmsofthesensational.(29)
TheNazisandTibetanMysticism.
ThelegendssurroundingtherealmsofAgarthaandShambhalaareconfusingtosaytheleast,andtheir
frequentlycontradictorynaturedoesnothingtohelpinanunderstandingoftheirpossibleinfluenceon
thehideousphilosophyoftheThirdReich.Aswehaveseen,somewritersclaimthatAgarthaand
Shambhalaarephysicalplaces,citieslyingmilesundergroundwithhouses,palaces,streetsandmillions
ofinhabitants.Othersmaintainthattheyarealtogethermorerarefiedplaces,existingonsomeother
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levelofrealitybutapparentlycoterminouswithourphysicalworld.Withregardtotheirexactlocation,
Childressoffersashortsummaryoftheirmanypossiblelocations:'Shambhalaissometimessaidtobe
northofLhasa,possiblyintheGobiDesert,andothertimesitissaidtobesomewhereinMongolia,or
elseinnorthernTibet,possiblyintheChangtangHighlands.AghartaissaidtobesouthofLhasa,
perhapsneartheShigatseMonastery,oreveninNortheastNepalbeneathMountKanchenjunga.
OccasionallyitissaidtobeinSriLanka.Bothhavebeenlocatedinsidethehollowearth[seeChapter
Seven].'(30)
Addingtothisconfusionisthefrequentlymadeassertionthatthetwopowercentresareopposedto
eachother,withAgarthaseenasfollowingtherighthandpathofgoodnessandlight,andShambhala
followingthelefthandpathofevilanddarkness(adichotomyalsoexpressedasspiritualityversus
materialism).Thereis,needlesstosay,anopposingviewthatholdsthatAgarthaisaplaceofeviland
Shambhalatheabodeofgoodness.
TherehavebeenanumberofrumoursconcerningpractitionersofblackmagicoperatinginTibetand
referringtothemselvesastheShambhalaortheAgarthi.(31)AlthoughapparentlyoutlawedbyTibetan
Buddhists,theyaresaidtocontinuetheiractivitiesinsecret.Onewriterwhoclaimedtohave
encounteredthemwasaGermannamedTheodoreIllionwhospentthemid1930stravellingthrough
Tibet.InhisbookDarknessOverTibet(1937),hedescribeshowhediscoveredadeepshaftinthe
countryside.Wishingtogaugeitsdepth,hedroppedseveralstonesintoitandwaitedforthemtostrike
thebottom;hewasrewardedonlywithsilence.Hewastoldbyaninitiatethattheshaftwas
'immeasurablydeep'andthatonlythehighestinitiatesknewwhereitended.Hiscompanionadded:
'Anyonewhowouldfindoutwhereitleadstoandwhatitisusedforwouldhavetodie.'(32)
Illionclaimedtohavegainedaccesstoasubterraneancityinhabitedbymonks,whomhelaterfoundto
be'blackyogis'planningtocontroltheworldthroughtelepathyandastralprojection.Whenhe
discoveredthatthefoodhewasbeinggivencontainedhumanflesh,hedecidedtomakeabreakforit
andfledacrossTibetwithseveralofthemonksafterhim.Afterseveralweeksontherun,hemanaged
toescapefromTibetandreturnedtotheWestwithhisbizarreandfrighteningtale.(33)
TherehavealsobeenpersistentrumoursthattheNaziinterestinTibet(itselfadocumentedhistorical
fact)wasactuallyinspiredbyadesiretocontacttheblackadeptsofShambhalaand/orAgarthaandto
enlisttheiraidintheconquestoftheworld(seeChapterThree).Oneofthemostvocalproponentsof
thisideawastheBritishoccultwriterTrevorRavenscroft,whoseclaimsweshallexamineingreater
detailinthenextchapter.TheschismbetweenShambhalaandAgarthaisdescribedbyReneGuenon,
whorelatesinLeRoiduMondehowtheancientcivilisationintheGobiDesertwasallbutdestroyed
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byanaturalcataclysm,andthe'SonsofIntelligencesofBeyond'retreatedtothecavernsbeneaththe
Himalayasandreestablishedtheircivilisation.Therefollowedtheformationoftwogroups:the
Agarthi,whofollowedthewayofspirituality,andtheShambhalists,whofollowedthewayofviolence
andmaterialism.
Guenonclaimed(aswouldIllionseveralyearslater)thatthedenizensofthesubterraneanworldsought
toinfluencethelivesandactionsofthesurfacedwellersthroughvariousoccultmeans,including
telepathichypnosisandmediumship.ChildressfindsitintriguingthatHitlersentexpeditionstoTibet
inthelate1930s,soonafterthepublicationofIllion'sbookDarknessOverTibet,andsuggeststhattheir
trueobjectivewastomakecontactwiththeoccultgroups.(34)
ThiscryptohistoricalscenariocontinueswithHitlermakingtheacquaintanceofamysteriousTibetan
monkwhotoldhimthatGermanycouldconquertheworldbyforginganalliancewiththe'Lordsof
Creation'.WhilethevictoriousRussianswerepickingtheirwaythroughtheruinsofBerlin(and,
accordingtosome,discoveringthebodiesofseveralTibetanmonks,aswesawinChapterThree),it
isclaimedbythecryptohistoriansthatHitlerwasflyingoutofthecity'sTempelhofAirfieldtoa
rendezvouswiththeUboat(possiblyU977)thatwouldtakehimeithertoArgentinaorAntarctica.
Thereis,however,avariationonthisthemethathastheFuhrerescapingtoTibettobehiddenbythose
whosealliancehehadsought.AccordingtoanarticleintheMay1950issueoftheproNaziTempoDer
Welt,thatmagazine'spublisher,KarlHeinzKaerner,claimedtohavemetwithMartinBormannin
Moroccothepreviousyear.Ifthestoryistobebelieved(whichwouldbeextremelyunwise),Bormann
informedKaernerthatHitlerwasaliveinaTibetanmonastery,andthatonedayhewouldbebackin
powerinGermany!
Inaddressingthequestionofwhethersuchblackmagiciansreallylived(orstilllive)inTibet,Childress
remindsusthatinherbookInitiationsandInitiatesinTibet,theFrenchwriter,explorerandauthority
onTibetanmysticismAlexandraDavidNeel(18681969)describesanencounterwithamanwhocould
hypnotiseandkillfromadistance.NicholasRoerichalsomentionstheoccultistsoftheancientBon
religion,whowereatwarwiththeBuddhistsofTibet.
AsChildressnotes:
ShambhaladrawsstrongsimilaritiestotheLandoftheImmortals(HsiWangMu)inthatitissaidtobe
awonderful,lushvalleyinthehighmountainswithatall,ornatesolidjadetowerfromwhichabrilliant
lightshines.LikeintheKunLunMountains,AghartaandShambhalahaveacacheoffantastic
inventionsandartifactsfromdistantcivilizationsinthepast.
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IncontrasttotheValleyoftheImmortalsintheKunLunMountains,thecavecommunitieswiththeir
incrediblesightswerepartillusion,sayIllionandRavenscroft.AttheValleyoftheImmortals,perhaps
therereallywereancientartifactsofatimegonebywatchedoverbyAncientMasters.Yet,itisunlikely
thatanypersonnotchosenspecificallybythosewhoarethecaretakersofthisrepositorywouldbe
allowedinsideNorwouldthosewhohadentered(suchaspossiblyNicholasRoerich)everrevealthe
locationorwhattheyhadseenthere.(15)
Whilecertainlyintriguing,theclaimsofcryptohistoriansregardingNaziinvolvementwiththeblack
magiciansofTibetsufferfromapaucityofhardevidenceintheformofdocumentationandtestimony
fromsurvivingwitnesses.(WehavealreadynotedthatthemuchquotedHermannRauschningis
consideredbysomeserioushistorians,suchasIanKershaw,tobeextremelyunreliable.)Asis
sooftenthecaseinthefieldofoccultism,thewayisleftopentothosewhoarequitecontenttorelyon
spurioussourcesandhearsayintheircreationofatantalisingbutincrediblevisionofhistory.Oneof
themostfamousofthesecryptohistoriansisTrevorRavenscroft,anditistohisclaimsthatwenow
mustturn.
5Talismanofconquest
TheSpearofLonginus
Aswenotedintheintroduction,anumberofwritersontheocculthaveturnedtheirattentionoverthe
yearstothebafflingcatastropheofNazismandhaveaddedtheirownattemptstoexplaintheterrifying
mysteryofitstrueoriginbyattemptingtofitNaziGermanyintoanoccultcontext.Perhaps
unsurprisingly,thesewritershavepaidcloseattentiontoanintriguingstatementHitlerisknowntohave
made'Shallweformachosenband,madeupofthosewhoreallyknow?Anorder:abrotherhoodof
theKnightsoftheHolyGrail,aroundtheHolyGrailofPureBlood'andhaveattemptedtousethis
statementasapointofconnectionbetweentheNazisandtheoccult.Althoughserioushistoriansaccept
thatoccultandfolkloricconceptsplayedasignificantroleinthedevelopmentofNaziideasand
doctrine,ithasbeenleftlargelytowriterson'fringe'subjectstopushtheenvelope(wiselyor
otherwise)andclaimthattheNazisweremotivatedbygenuineoccultforces:inotherwords,thatthere
actuallyexistintheUniversemalign,nonhumanintelligencesthatseekwaystoinfluencethedestinyof
humanityfortheirownendsandthatusedtheNazisasconduitsthroughwhichtheseinfluencesmight
work.Accordingtothisschemeofhistory,theNaziswere,quiteliterally,practisingSatanistsandblack
magicians.Thisiscertainlyanintriguingnotion,buthowusefulisitasameanstoexplainthe
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loathsomeexistenceofNazism?
TheHolyLanceanditsInfluenceonNaziOccultism
In1973TrevorRavenscroft,historianandveteranoftheSecondWorldWar,publishedabookthat
wouldcausemorecontroversythananyotherdealingwiththesubjectofNazismandthatisstillthe
subjectofheateddebatetoday.EntitledTheSpearofDestiny,thebookchroniclestheearlycareerof
themanwhowouldstainthetwentiethcenturywiththebloodofmillionsandwhosenamewould
becomeasynonymforcrueltyofthemostrepulsivekind:AdolfHitler.Hailedbysomeasaclassicof
occulthistoryandderidedbyothersasnomorethanaworkofluridfiction,TheSpearofDestinyis
stillinprinttodayand,whateveritsmeritsordemerits,itremainsoneofthemostimportanttextsin
thefieldofNazioccultism.(Itshouldbenotedherethat,suchisthemurkyandbizarrenatureofthis
field,tomakesuchaclaimforabookisbynomeansequivalenttodefendingitshistoricalaccuracy.)
RavenscroftwasaCommandointheSecondWorldWar,andspentfouryearsinGermanPOWcamps
afterallegedlyparticipatinginanattempttoassassinateFieldMarshalRommelinNorthAfricain1941.
Hemadethreeescapeattemptsbutwasrecapturedeachtime.Whileimprisoned,Ravenscroftclaimsto
haveexperiencedasuddenapprehensionof'higherlevelsofconsciousness',whichledhimtostudythe
legendoftheHolyGrail'andtoresearchintothehistoryoftheSpearofLonginusandthelegendof
worlddestinywhichhadgrownaroundit'.(1)
ThespearinquestionistheonesaidtohavebeenusedbytheRomancenturionGaiusCassiustopierce
thesideofChristduringthecrucifixion.Cassiussufferedfromcataractsinbotheyes,whichprevented
himfrombattleservicewithhisLegion,sohewassenttoJerusalemtoreportoneventsthere.When
theNazarenewascrucified,Cassiuswaspresent.
IsaiahhadprophesiedoftheMessiah,'AboneofHimshallnotbebroken.'Annas,theagedadvisorto
theSanhedrin,andCaiaphas,theHighPriest,wereintentonmutilatingthebodyofChristtoproveto
themassesofthepeoplethatJesuswasnottheMessiah,butmerelyahereticandpotentialusurperof
theirownpower.
Thehourswerepassingandthispresentedtheexcusetheyneeded.ForAnnaswasanauthorityonthe
Law,andtheJewishLawdecreedthatnomanshouldbeexecutedontheSabbathDay.Straightaway,
theypetitionedPontiusPilatefortheauthoritytobreakthelimbsofthecrucifiedmensothatthey
shoulddiebeforeduskonthatFridayafternoon.(2)
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WhentheTempleGuardarrivedtomutilatethebodiesofChristandthetwothieves,Cassiusdecidedto
protecttheNazarene'sbodyintheonlywaypossible.HerodehishorsetowardstheCrossandthrusthis
spearintoJesus'storso,betweenthefourthandfifthribs.TheflowingoftheSaviour'sblood
completelyrestoredthecenturion'ssight.
GaiusCassius,whohadperformedamartialdeedoutofthecompassionatemotivetoprotectthebody
ofJesusChrist,becameknownasLonginusTheSpearman.AconverttoChristianity,hecametobe
reveredasagreatheroandsaintbythefirstChristiancommunityinJerusalem,andaprimewitnessof
thesheddingoftheBloodoftheNewCovenantforwhichtheSpearbecamethesymbol...
Thelegendgrewaroundit,gainingstrengthwiththepassingofthecenturies,thatwhoeverpossessedit
andunderstoodthepowersitserved,heldthedestinyoftheworldinhishandsforgoodorevil.(3)
Ravenscroftinformsusthat,byrights,themanwhoshouldhavewrittenTheSpearofDestiny(and
wouldsurelyhavedoneso,hadhenotdiedin1957)wasaViennesephilosopherandwartimeBritish
secretagentnamedWalterJohannesStein(b.1891).AnAustrianJew,Steinhademigratedfrom
GermanytoBritainin1933.HisassociationwithRavenscroftcameaboutasaresultofabookStein
hadwritten,entitledTheNinthCenturyWorldHistoryintheLightoftheHolyGrail(1928).
Ravenscroftwasgreatlyimpressedbythebook,whichassertsthatthemedievalGrailRomancesand
theirdescriptionofthequestfortheHolyGrailVeiledauniqueWesternpathtotranscendent
consciousness'.(4)ItwascleartoRavenscroftthatDrSteinhadconductedhishistoricalresearchalong
ratherunorthodoxlines,relyingonoccultmethodsofmindexpansiontoapprehenddataratherthanthe
moretraditionalmeansofconsultingextantmedievaltexts.Inviewofhisownexperienceofhigher
levelsofconsciousness,andhisresultingfascinationwiththeGraillegends,Ravenscroftdecidedto
callonSteinathishomeinKensington.
Duringthismeeting,RavenscroftvoicedhisbeliefthatSteinhadutilisedsometranscendentfacultyin
hisresearchforTheNinthCentury,addingthathebelievedasimilarfacultyhadinspiredWolframvon
EschenbachtowritethegreatGrailromanceParsival(c.1200).AccordingtoStein,vonEschenbach
basedParsivalonthekeyfiguresoftheninthcentury,whoservedasmodelsforthecharactersinthe
romance.TheGrailkingAnfortascorrespondedtoKingCharlestheBald,grandsonofCharlemagne;
Cundrie,thesorceressandmessengeroftheGrail,wasRicildatheBad;Parsivalhimselfcorresponded
toLuitwardofVercelli,theChancellortotheFrankishCourt;andKlingsor,thefantasticallyevil
magicianwholivedintheCastleofWonders,wasidentifiedasLandulfIIofCapuawhohadmadea
pactwithIslaminAraboccupiedSicilyandwhomRavenscroftcallsthemostevilfigureofthecentury.
(5)
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SteinhadfirstreadParsivalwhiletakingashort,compulsorycourseonGermanliteratureatthe
UniversityofVienna.Onenight,hehadamostunusualextrasensoryexperience:'Heawoke...to
discoverthathehadbeenrecitingwholetractsofthe...romanticversesinasortofpicturelessdream!'
(6)Thishappenedthreetimesinall.Steinwrotedownthewordshehadbeenspeakingand,on
comparingthemwithvonEschenbach'sromance,foundthemtobevirtuallyidentical.ToSteinthis
stronglyimpliedtheexistenceofsomepreternaturalmentalfaculty,akindof'highermemory'that
couldbeaccessedundercertaincircumstances.
HissubsequentresearchesintotheGrailRomancesledtohisdiscovery,oneAugustmorningin1912in
adingybookshopinVienna'soldquarter,ofatattered,leatherboundcopyofParsivalwhosepages
werecoveredwithannotationsinaminutescript.Steinboughtthebookfromtheshopassistantand
tookittoDemel'sCafeintheKohlmarkt,wherehebegantoporeoveritspagesAsheread,hebecame
moreandmoreuneasyatthenatureoftheannotations.
Thiswasnoordinarycommentarybuttheworkofsomebodywhohadachievedmorethanaworking
knowledgeoftheblackarts!Theunknowncommentatorhadfoundthekeytounveilingmanyofthe
deepestsecretsoftheGrail,yetobviouslyspurnedtheChristianidealsofthe[Grail]Knightsand
delightedinthedeviousmachinationsoftheAntiChrist.
ItsuddenlydawnedonhimthathewasreadingthefootnotesofSatan!(7)
Steinwasrepelledyetfascinatedbythevulgarracialfanaticismdisplayedintheannotations,bythe
'almostinsaneworshipofAryanbloodlineageandPanGermanism'.
Forinstance,alongsidetheversesdescribingtheGrailProcessionandtheAssemblyofKnightsatthe
HighMassintheGrailCastle,thereappearedanentrywritteninlargelettersscrawledacrossthe
printedpage:'ThesemenbetrayedtheirpureAryanBloodtothedirtysuperstitionsoftheJewJesus
superstitionsasloathsomeandludicrousastheYiddishritesofcircumcision.'(8)
ToStein,theannotationsrepresentedtheworkingsofabrilliantbututterlyhideousmind,amindthat
hadinvertedthetraditionalideaofthequestfortheGrailasagradualandimmenselydifficult
awakeningtowiderspiritualreality,turningitintoitsantithesis:theopeningofthehumanspirit,
throughtheuseofblackmagic,tothepowerandinfluenceofSatanhimself.
Shakenbywhathehadreadintheannotatedpagesofthebook,Steinglancedupforamomentthrough
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thecafewindowandfoundhimselflookingintoadishevelled,arrogantfacewithdemoniacaleyes.The
apparitionwasshabbilydressedandwasholdingseveralsmallwatercoloursthathewastryingtosellto
passersby.WhenSteinleftthecafelatethatafternoon,heboughtsomewatercoloursfromthedown
andoutpainterandhurriedhome.Itwasonlythenthatherealisedthatthesignatureonthe
watercolourswasthesameasthatonthecopyofParsivalhehadbought:AdolfHitler.
AccordingtoRavenscroft,bythetimeSteinfoundtheannotatedcopyofParsivalAdolfHitlerhad
alreadypaidmanyvisitstotheWeltlichesSchatzkammerMuseum(HabsburgTreasureHouse)in
Vienna,whichheldtheLanceofStMaurice(alsoknownasConstantine'sLance)usedasasymbolof
theimperialpowerofHolyRomanemperorsattheircoronations.(9)Havingfailedtogainentrytothe
ViennaAcademyofFineArtsandtheSchoolofArchitecture,andgrowingmoreandmoreembittered
andconsumedwithanincreasingsenseofhisowndestinyasdominatoroftheworld,Hitlerhadthrown
himselfintoanintensestudyofNordicandTeutonicmythologyandfolklore,Germanhistory,literature
andphilosophy.WhileshelteringfromtherainintheTreasureHouseoneday,heheardatourguide
explainingtoagroupofforeignpoliticiansthelegendassociatedwiththeLanceofStMaurice:thatit
wasactuallythespearthatGaiusCassiushadusedtopiercethesideofChristduringtheCrucifixion,
andthatwhoeversucceededinunderstandingitssecretswouldholdthedestinyoftheworldinhis
handsforgoodorevil.'TheSpearappearedtobesomesortofmagicalmediumofrevelationforit
broughttheworldofideasintosuchcloseandlivingperspectivethathumanimaginationbecamemore
realthantheworldofsense.'(10)
Intentonmeetingthemanwhohadwrittensoperceptivelyandfrighteninglyinthebatteredcopyof
Parsival,Steinreturnedtothedingybookshopandthistimeencounteredtheowner,anextremely
unsavourylookingmannamedErnstPretzsche.PretzschetoldhimthatHitlerpawnedmanyofhis
booksinordertobuyfood,andredeemedthemwithmoneyearnedfromsellinghispaintings.
(Apparently,theshopassistanthadmadeamistakeinsellingParsivaltoStein.)PretzscheshowedStein
someofHitler'sotherbooks,whichincludedworksbyHegel,NietzscheandHoustonS.Chamberlain,
theBritishfascistandadvocateofGermanracialsuperioritywhofrequentlyclaimedtobechasedby
demons.
Intheconversationthatensued,Pretzschemaintainedthathewasamasterofblackmagicandhad
initiatedHitlerintothedarkarts.AfterinvitingSteintocomeandconsulthimonesotericmattersat
anytime(whichSteinhadnointentionofdoing,suchwastheloathsomenessoftheman),Pretzsche
gavehimHitler'saddressinMeldemannstrasse.
HitlerwasextremelyiratewhenSteinwalkeduptohimandtoldhimofhisinterestintheannotations
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inthecopyofParsivalhehadbought.HecursedPretzscheforsellingoneofthebookshehadpawned.
However,onceSteinhadtoldhimofhisownresearchesintotheHolyGrailandtheSpearofLonginus,
Hitlerbecamemoreamicable,apparentlyregardingtheyounguniversitystudentasapossibleallyin
thePanGermancause.TheydecidedtopayavisittotheSchatzkammertogethertolookattheHoly
Lance.Astheystoodbeforethedisplay,thetwomenrespondedtoitinverydifferentways.
Forsomemoments[Stein]wasalmostovercomebythepowerfulemotionswhichfilledhisbreastand
flowedlikeariverofhealingwarmththroughhisbrain,evokingresponsesofreverence,humilityand
love.OnemessageaboveallseemedtobeinspiredbythesightofthisSpearwhichheldwithinits
centralcavityoneofthenailswhichhadsecuredthebodyofJesustotheCross.Itwasamessageof
compassionwhichhadbeensowonderfullyexpressedinthemottooftheGrailKnights:'DurchMitleid
wissen.'AcallfromtheImmortalSelfofManresoundinginthedarknessofconfusionanddoubt
withinthehumansoul:ThroughCompassiontoSelfKnowledge.(11)
AsSteinglancedathiscompanion,itseemedtohimthatHitlerwasrespondinginawaywhichwas
diametricallyoppositetohisown.AdolfHitlerstoodbesidehimlikeamaninatrance,amanover
whomsomedreadfulmagicspellhadbeencast.Hisfacewasflushedandhisbroodingeyesshonewith
analienemanation.Hewasswayingonhisfeetasthoughcaughtupinsometotallyinexplicable
euphoria.Theveryspacearoundhimseemedenlivenedwithsomesubtleirradiation,akindofghostly
ectoplasmiclight.HiswholephysiognomyandstanceappearedtransformedasifsomemightySpirit
nowinhabitedhisverysoul,creatingwithinandaroundhimakindofeviltransfigurationofitsown
natureandpower.(12)
TheinscrutableoccultprocessesthatweresetinmotionbyHitler'sdiscoveryoftheHolyLancewere
consolidatedon14March1938,whenHitlerarrivedinViennatocompletetheAnschlussofAustria.
WhiletheViennesepeoplecheeredtheGermanforces'arrival,theJewsandopponentsoftheNazi
regimefacedapersecutionthat,whileutterlyappalling,wasbutapaleforeshadowingofthehorrorsto
come.SeventysixthousandpeoplewerearrestedwhentheNazisarrived,withafurther6,000people
dismissedfromkeyministriesintheAustrianGovernment.(13)Jewsofallages,whethertheywere
religiousornot,wereorderedtoscrubantiNazislogansfromthestreets;thewatertheyweregivenwas
mixedwithacidthatburnedtheirhands.Hitler'sSSDeath'sHeadsquadsandmembersoftheHitler
YouthurinatedonJewsandforcedthemtospitineachother'sfaces;otherswereforcedtodanceon
Torahscrolls.Inlessthanamonth,thedeportationofJewstotheconcentrationcampswouldbegin.
(14)
Whiletheseatrocitieswerebeingperpetrated,Hitler(accordingtoRavenscroft)wenttotheHabsburg
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TreasureHousetoclaimtheHolyLance.WithhimwereHeinrichHimmlerandWolframSievers,
whomheorderedtoleavehimalonewiththeobjectofhisdiabolicaldesire.
Although...theSpearofLonginushadbeentheinspirationofhiswholelifeandthekeytohismeteoric
risetopower,itwasmorethanaquarterofacenturysincehehadlastseenit,andnearlythirtyyears
sincehefirstbehelditandheardofitsuniquelegend.
WhateverHitler'svisionsonthisoccasion,thesceneoftheGermanFuhrerstandingtherebeforethe
ancientweaponmustberegardedasthemostcriticalmomentofthetwentiethcenturyuntilthe
AmericansclaimedtheSpearinNurembergin1945,and,whileholdingitintheirpossession,
inauguratedtheAtomicAgebydroppingtheiratombombsonHiroshimaandNagasaki.(15)
ProblemswithRavenscroft'sAccount
JoscelynGodwinhascalledTheSpearofDestiny'abloodcurdlingworkofhistoricalreinvention',(16)
andinspiteofthebreathlesspraiseithasreceivedfromoccultwritersandreviewersovertheyears,itis
difficulttodisagreewithhisjudgement.ThisviewisalsotakenbytheAustralianauthorandjournalist
KenAnderson,whosebookHitlerandtheOccult(1995)isapowerfulandwellarguedcritiqueof
Ravenscroft,SteinandTheSpearofDestiny.Fortherestofthischapter,wemustthereforeturnour
attentiontotheproblemsinherentinRavenscroft'saccount,ashelearneditfromStein,ofHitler's
desiretoclaimthisallegedlymostpowerfulofmagicaltalismans.Tobesure,theseproblemsare
manifoldanddisplayclearinconsistenciesbothwithwhatweknowofthehistoryoftheThirdReich
andthewidercontextofEuropeanhistory.
Forinstance,wearetoldinSpearthattheHolyLancehadbeenprizedbymanygreatwarriorsthrough
thecenturies,includingNapoleonBonaparte,whohaddemandedthelanceaftertheBattleofAusterlitz
ofDecember1805.'Justbeforethebattlebegan,thelancehadbeensmuggledoutofNurembergand
hiddeninViennatokeepitoutoftheFrenchdictator'shands.'(17)However,asAndersoncomments,it
wouldhavebeenaratherstupiddecisiontohidethelanceinVienna,sincetheFrenchhadalready
occupiedthecitythepreviousmonth.'Whywouldanyonewanttosmuggleanythingintoanoccupied
cityifthepurposeinsodoingwastokeepitoutofthehandsoftheheadoftheoccupyingforce?'
(18)Moreover,historicalrecordsprovethatthelancewastakenfromNurembergtoViennain1800
andplacedinthemuseumonfulldisplay.Hadhewantedthelance,Napoleoncouldhaveacquireditat
anytime.
Andwhatofthespearitself,which,claimsRavenscroft,wastheveryoneusedbytheRomancenturion
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topiercethesideofChrist?WearetoldthatHitlerfoundlittledifficultyinsortingoutthemeritsofthe
variousSpears,purportingtobetheweaponoftheRomanCenturionLonginus,whichwerescattered
aroundthepalaces,museums,cathedralsandchurchesofEurope...AdolfHitlerwasexcitedtofind
oneSpearwhichappearedtohavebeenassociatedwithalegendofworlddestinythroughoutitsentire
history.ThisSpear,datingbacktotheThirdCentury,hadapparentlybeentracedbynumerous
historiansrightthroughtothetenthcenturytothereignoftheSaxonKingHeinrichI,the'Fowler',
whereitwaslastmentionedinhishandsatthefamousbattleofUnstrutinwhichtheSaxonCavalry
conqueredthemaraudingMagyars.(19)[Emphasisadded.]
Atthispoint,aquestionwilldoubtlesshaveoccurredtothereader:howcouldaweapondatingback
onlytothethirdcenturyhavebeenusedtopiercethesideofChrist?ItisaquestionRavenscroftdoes
notanswer.(20)TheexistenceofalancewhichwassupposedlyusedtostabChristisfirstrecordedin
thesixthcenturybythepilgrimStAntoniusofPiacenza,whoclaimstohaveseenitintheMountZion
BasilicainJerusalem.WhenJerusalemfelltothePersiansinAD615,theshaftofthelancewas
capturedbythevictors,whilethelanceheadwassavedandtakentoConstantinoplewhereitwas
incorporatedintoaniconandkeptintheSantaSophiaChurch.Morethansixcenturieslater,thepoint
founditswayintothepossessionoftheFrenchKingLouisandwastakentotheSainteChapellein
Paris.Thelanceheaddisappeared(andwaspossiblydestroyed)duringtheFrenchRevolution.The
shaftofthelancewassenttoJerusaleminaboutAD670bytheFrankishpilgrimArculf,andonly
reappearsinhistoryinthelateninthcentury,turningupinConstantinople.ItwascapturedbytheTurks
in1492,whosentitasagifttoRome.IthasremainedinStPeter'ssincethen,althoughitsauthenticity
hasneverbeenestablishedbeyonddoubt.(21)
However,archaeologistshaveestablishedthatthislance,firstmentionedinthesixthcentury,isnotthe
oneHitlerfoundintheHabsburgTreasureHouse.ThislanceisknownastheLanceofStMaurice,or
Constantine'sLance,whichwasmadeintheeighthorninthcentury.(22)
Andersonwrites:'ItwouldtakemuchresearchtoexamineeachoneofRavenscroft'sclaimsconcerning
thepossessorsoftheMauriceLanceanditsaffectonthemandonworldhistory.'(23)Andinfact,such
atasklieswellbeyondthescopeofthisbookalso.Hegoeson:
Besides,wedonothavetheuniquefacilityRavenscrofthad[i.e.techniquesofpsychicmindexpansion]
intracingitsownerswherethereisnowrittenrecord,forexampleitsprogressionfromthetimeitleft
thehandsofHeinrichIandturnedupmanyyearslaterinthepossessionofhissonOttotheGreat.
RavenscroftsaysHitler'shenchmanSSheadHeinrichHimmlerputthefinestscholarsinGermanyto
workonbridgingthegapbuttheywereunabletodoso.
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However,Ravenscroft'smentor,DrWalterStein,'bymeansofauniquemethodofhistoricalresearch
involving"MindExpansion"wasabletodiscoverHeinrichhadsentthelancetotheEnglishKing
Athelstan.'(Athelstan[895940]wasthegrandsonofAlfredtheGreat.CrownedKingin925,hewas
thefirstrulerofallEngland.)Stein'found'thatthelancewaspresentattheBattleofMalmesburyin
whichtheDanesweredefeatedonEnglishsoil.ItwassubsequentlyreturnedasagiftforOtto's
weddingtoAthelstan'ssisterEadgita.(24)
Andersonspotsacrucialmistakeinthisaccountofthelance(andonewhichcertainlycastsdoubton
Stein'sunorthodoxmethodsofhistorical'research'.)AccordingtoWilliamofMalmesbury,theswordof
ConstantinetheGreatwassentbyHughtheGood,KingoftheFranks,toKingAthelstantopersuade
himtogivehisdaughter'shandinmarriage.(25)
ItsohappensthathistoricalinaccuraciesarealsotobefoundinRavenscroft'saccountofhisown
exploitsintheSecondWorldWar,inwhichheclaimstohavebeentakenprisonerbytheGermansafter
theattemptedassassinationofRommel.Bornin1921,RavenscroftattendedReptonPublicSchooland
thenSandhurstMilitaryCollege.Sixmonthslater,inDecember1939,hereceivedhiscommission
intheRoyalScotsFusiliers.HethentrainedasacommandoandjoinedtheSpecialServices.(26)
AccordingtothecoverblurbonvariouseditionsofTheSpearofDestiny:'Hewascapturedonaraid
whichattemptedtoassassinateFieldMarshalRommelinNorthAfricaandwasaPOWinGermany
from1944to1945,escapingthreetimesbuteachtimebeingrecaptured.'
AlthoughtheraidonRommelcertainlytookplaceon1314November1941(withallbuttwoofthe
partybeingcaptured),Ravenscroftisnotmentionedinrecordsasbeingpresentinthe28manteam
whoconductedtheoperation.AndersonreportsthatwhenhemadeenquiriesofformerCommando
SergeantJackTerry,theexsoldierinsistedthatRavenscroftwasnotamemberoftheparty.(27)'Inany
caseRavenscroft'sservicerecordshowshewas"missingatsea"on24October1941,wellbeforethe
raid.Hewassubsequentlytakenprisonerofwaronanunspecifieddate.'(28)
TherealsoappeartobeinconsistenciesinRavenscroft'saccountofhowhecametomeetWalterStein.
Afewyearsafterthewar,RavenscroftreadStein'sbookWorldHistoryintheLightoftheHolyGrail
andcametotheconclusionthatmuchofthematerialinthebookhadbeenaccessedbySteinthrough
occultmeansofmindexpansion,perhapssimilartothosehehimselfhademployedwhileaprisonerof
war.PayingSteinavisitinKensington,London,Ravenscroftinformedhimofhisbelief,andalsoofhis
beliefthatWolframvonEschenbachhademployedthesametalentsincomposinghisGrailromance
Parsivalinthetwelfthcentury.
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RavenscroftquotedtoSteinthisextractfromEschenbach'swork:'Ifanyonerequestsmeto[continue
thestory]lethimnotconsideritasabook.Idon'tknowasingleletterofthealphabet.'Ravenscroftsays
thatthereasonEschenbachwasstressingthathedidnotknowaletterofthealphabetwastomakeit
clearthathehadnotgatheredthematerialforthebookfromhiscontemporaries,traditionalfolklore,or
anyexistingwrittenwork.Rather,hewassayinghissocalledGrailromancewasan'Initiation
Document'ofthehighestorder.(29)
Steinwasimpressedenoughbyhisvisitor'sargumentthatheinvitedhimtostaytolunch,andthetwo
menremainedfriendsandcolleaguesfromthenuntilStein'sdeath.Ravenscrofthimselfdiedofcancer
inJanuary1989inTorquay,England.
AndersoninterviewedRavenscroft'sbrother,Bill,inJanuary1995.AformerKing'sOwnBorderers
officer,BillRavenscroftstatedthathisbrothermetWalterSteinnotbypayinganunannouncedvisitto
hisKensingtonhomebutratherthroughStein'swife,Yopi,whileTrevorRavenscroftwasteachingat
theRudolfSteinerschoolinEastGrinstead,Englandjustafterthewar.(30)AccordingtoBill
Ravenscroft,TrevorlearnedofStein'simpressivelibrarythroughYopiandwasgivenpermissionbyher
toconsultthebooksinthelibraryinordertocompleteTheSpearofDestiny.TrevorRavenscroftmakes
nomentionwhatsoeverofYopiinhisbook.Andersonasks:why?'WasBill'smemoryofevents
incorrect?WasitbecausethesymbioticrelationshipthatsupposedlydevelopedbetweenTrevorandthe
manheclaimswashismentorneverhappened?'(31)
IfTheSpearofDestinyistobebelieved,themomentHitlerenteredtheHabsburgTreasureHouseupon
theannexationofAustriain1938andstoodbeforetheholyartefacthehadcovetedforsolong
humanityinthetwentiethcenturywaslost,lockedintoanirrevocablecollisioncoursewithdisaster.
Andyettherearemoreproblemswiththispivotalpointinthebook.Ravenscroftwrites:'WhenHitler
wasdrivendowntheRingstrassetotheRingandontotheHeldenplatztothereviewingstandinfront
oftheHofburg,thetumultuousjubilationofthecrowdsreachedneardelirium.Howcouldthecitizens
ofViennahaveknownthattheecstasyonthefaceofAdolfHitlerwasthetwistedecstasyofrevenge!'
(32)
JoachimFest,oneofthegreatestauthoritiesonHitlerandtheThirdReichoffersaslightlydifferent
accountoftheFuhrer'smomentoftriumphatthe'reunion'ofGermanyandAustria:'Allthe
aimlessnessandimpotenceofthoseyearswerenowvindicated,allhisfuriouscravingforcompensation
atlastsatisfied,whenhestoodonthebalconyoftheHofburgandannouncedtohundredsofthousands
intheHeldenplatzthe"greatestreportofamissionaccomplished"inhislife...'(33)IfFest'sacademic
credentialsareinsufficient,therearealsophotographstoprovethatHitlerfacedtheViennesecrowds
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fromthebalconyoftheHofburg,notona'reviewingstand'infrontofit.
RavenscroftgoesontoclaimthatafterreviewingtheAustrianSSandgivinghispermissionforthe
foundingofanewSSregiment,Hitlerrefusedaninvitationforatourofthecity.Instead,he'leftthe
RingtodrivedirectlytotheImperialHotelwherethemostluxurioussuiteinthecityawaitedhim'.(34)
ArrangementsforacivicdinnerandreceptionwerecancelledbecauseHitlerwas'terrifiedthatan
attemptwouldbemadetokillhim'(35)andremainedinhissuite.Andersonasksapertinentquestion:
ifHitlerwasterrifiedthatanattemptwouldbemadeonhislife,whydidhearriveinViennainanopen
carthatpassedthroughthecheeringcrowds,thenstandinfullviewoutsidetheHofburg,andthengo
outontothebalconyofhishotelsuiteseveraltimesattheinsistenceoftheViennesepeople?(36)
Inspiteofthis,RavenscrofthasHitlerleavingtheImperialHotel'longaftermidnight'toheadforthe
HabsburgTreasureHouseandtheHolyLance.AccordingtoAnderson:
...HitlerarrivedinViennaat5p.m.on14MarchandthemasswelcomeintheHeldenplatztookplace
thenextdaythefifteenth.IfRavenscrofthasmeantustounderstandthattherallyinthesquarehe
speaksofwasonthefifteenth,thenthereisafurtherproblem:HitlerstayedinViennalessthantwenty
fourhours!Hewasnotthereonthenightofthefifteenth.
AfterattendingamilitaryparadeattheMariaTheresamonumentattwoo'clockthatafternoonthe
sameparadewhichRavenscroftsaysHitlerattendedbeforegoingontotheImperialHitlerflewoutin
hisJunkersaircraftasthetwilightsettledonanenervatedVienna.(37)
ItisalsodifficulttoimaginehowHitlercouldhavelefthishotelandgonetotheTreasureHouse
withoutbeingseenbyanyoneintheseethingcrowdsthatremainedinthestreets.Itwouldsurelyhave
beeneasierforhimtoordertheHolyLancetobebroughtfromthemuseumtohishotelsuite.(38)On
reflection,itmustbesaidthattheonlythingsintheHabsburgTreasureHouseHitlercovetedwerethe
HabsburgCrownJewels(whichweresenttoNurembergimmediatelyfollowingtheAnschluss),notto
mentiontheAustriangoldandcurrencydepositsthatwouldaidaGermaneconomystressedby
preparationsforwar.Hitlerwasmotivatedmorebyfinancialthanoccultconcerns,asthetransferof
AustriangoldandcurrencyreservestoGermanyamplydemonstrates.(39)
Itwill,onehopes,beapparentfromthisalltoobriefoverviewoftheproblemsinherentinTheSpearof
Destinythat,whilethebookmaybeafascinatingifsomewhatluridread,intheDennisWheatley
mouldofoccultrippingyarns,asaserioushistoricalworkitiscompletelyunsatisfactory.Itis,of
course,conceivablethatTrevorRavenscroftwaswellawarethathewaspenningaworkofalmosttotal
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fiction;however,thisismereconjectureandisabsolutelynotproven.Evenassumingthathewrotethe
bookingoodfaith,believingitsrevelationsregardingHitlerandtheHolyLancetobeaccurate,itis
crippledbytheresearchmethodsonwhichheappearstorely:namely,theuseofocculttechniquesto
enhancethepowersofthemindandthusgainaccesstohistoricalinformationthathasnotbeen
preservedinanyconventionalway.Inthefinalanalysis,wemustdismissTheSpearofDestinyonthe
groundsthatwheninformationgatheredthroughpsychicprocessesconflictswithwhathasbeen
establishedthroughdocumentaryevidenceorthetestimonyoffirsthandwitnesseswehavenoserious
alternativebuttoabandonitinfavourofwhatcanbeverifiedbythosewhodonotpossessthese
psychictalents.
Beforemovingon,wemustsayafewwordsabouttheclaimsofmanyoccultwritersthatHitlerwas
involvedinblackmagicpractices,havingbeeninitiatedintothedarkartsbyDietrichEckartandKarl
Haushofer.(Eckart,AlfredRosenbergandRudolfvonSebottendorffweresaidtohaveconducted
horrificseances,inwhichanakedfemalemediumexudedectoplasmfromhervaginaandthrough
whomcontactwasestablishedwiththesevenThulisthostageswhohadbeenmurderedbythe
CommunistsinApril1919.TheghostspredictedthatHitlerwouldclaimtheHolyLanceandlead
Germanyintoglobalconflagration.)(40)ThereisnoevidencewhatsoevertolinkHitlerdirectlywith
blackmagicpracticesofanydescription.WhileitisofcoursebeyondquestionthattheNaziPartyarose
outoftheNationalSocialistGermanWorkers'Party,whichinturnbeganastheThuleSociety(agroup
foundedonoccultandracistprinciples),thereisnoevidencethatHitlerhimselfwasanoccultistand
considerableevidencethathewasn't.
Speer,forinstance,recallsHitler'scontemptforthewoollyheadedmysticismofHeinrichHimmler:
Whatnonsense!Herewehaveatlastreachedanagethathasleftallmysticismbehindit,andnowhe
wantstostartalloveragain.Wemightjustaswellhavestayedwiththechurch.Atleastithadtradition.
TothinkthatImaysomedaybeturnedintoanSSsaint!Canyouimagineit?Iwouldturnoverinmy
grave...(41)
HitlerwasalsoscornfulofHimmler'sattemptstoestablisharchaeologicallinksbetweenmodern
GermansandtheancientAryandescendantsofAtlantis:
Whydowecallthewholeworld'sattentiontothefactthatwehavenopast?Itisn'tenoughthatthe
Romanswereerectinggreatbuildingswhenourforefatherswerestilllivinginmudhuts;nowHimmler
isstartingtodigupthesevillagesofmudhutsandenthusingovereverypotsherdandstoneaxehe
finds.Allweprovebythatisthatwewerestillthrowingstonehatchetsandcrouchingaround
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openfireswhenGreeceandRomehadalreadyreachedthehigheststageofculture.Wereallyshoulddo
ourbesttokeepquietaboutthispast.InsteadHimmlermakesagreatfussaboutitall.Thepresentday
Romansmustbehavingalaughattheserevelations.(42)
Intruth,thosewhosubscribedtooccultistorpseudoreligiousnotionswereindeedsomethingofa
laughingstockinthehighechelonsoftheThirdReich.Himmler'sbeliefsabouttheoriginalprehistoric
GermanicracewereconsideredabsurdbybothHitlerandGoebbels,thepropagandaminister.'When,
forexample,theJapanesepresented[Himmler]withasamuraisword,heatoncediscoveredkinships
betweenJapaneseandTeutoniccultsandcalleduponscientiststohelphimtracethesesimilaritiestoa
racialcommondenominator.'(43)
AsforthebeliefthatHitlerwasdeeplyinterestedinastrologyandkeptinconstanttouchwith
astrologerswhoadvisedhimonthevariouscoursesofactionheshouldtake,thistooiscompletely
fallacious.AccordingtotheformerOfficeofStrategicServices(OSS)officerWalterLanger:
AllofourinformantswhohaveknownHitlerratherintimatelydiscardtheidea[ofHitler'sbelief]as
absurd.TheyallagreethatnothingismoreforeigntoHitler'spersonalitythantoseekhelpfromoutside
sourcesofthistype.
TheFuhrerhadneverhadhishoroscopecast,butinanindicativemoveHitler,sometimebeforethe
war,forbadethepracticeoffortunetellingandstarreadinginGermany.(44)
Aswehavejustseen,whileHitlerwascontemptuousofmysticismandpseudoreligion,Himmlerwas
anothermatterentirely,anditistohimthatwemustnowturnourattention.
6Ordinarymadness
HeinrichHimmlerandtheSS
ManywritersontheocculthavesuggestedthatthenotoriousSS(SchutzStaffelnorDefenceSquads)
wasactivelyengagedinblackmagicritesdesignedtocontactandenlisttheaidofevilandimmensely
powerfultranshumanpowers,inordertosecurethedominationoftheplanetbytheThirdReich.While
conventionalhistoriansarecontemptuousofthisnotion,itneverthelessholdssomeattractionforthose
strugglingwiththeterriblemysteryattheheartofNazism,whohavecometobelievethatonlya
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supernaturalexplanationcanpossiblyshedlightonthemovement'soriginsanddeeds.Goodrick
Clarke,oneoftheveryfewserioushistorianstohaveexploredthesubjectoftheoccultinspiration
behindNazism,stressesthatalthoughvolkischoccultistssuchasGuidovonListandLanzvon
Liebenfelsundoubtedlycontributedtothe'mythologicalmoodoftheNaziera'(withitsbizarrenotions
ofprehistoricAryansuperhumansinhabitingvanishedcontinents),'theycannotbesaidtohavedirectly
influencedtheactionsofpersonsinpositionsofpoliticalpowerandresponsibility'.(1)
AsGoodrickClarkeconcedes,however,theoneexceptionisamannamedKarlMariaWiligut(1866
1946),whoexertedaprofoundinfluenceuponReichsfuhrerSSHeinrichHimmler.Beforeturningour
attentiontotheSSitself,therefore,wemustpausetoexaminethelifeandthoughtofWiligut,andthe
reasonsforhisintellectualholdovertheleaderofthemostpowerfulorganisationintheThirdReich.
TheManBehindHimmler
WiligutwasborninViennaintoamilitaryfamilyandfollowedhisgrandfatherandfatherintothe
Austrianarmy,joiningthe99thInfantryatMostar,Herzegovinainlate1884andreachingtherankof
captainbythetimehewas37.Throughouthisyearsinthearmy,hemaintainedhisinterestinliterature
andfolklore,writingpoetrywithadistinctlynationalisticflavour.In1903,abookofhispoemsentitled
SeyfriedsRunenwaspublishedbyFriedrichSchalk,whohadalsopublishedGuidovonList.Although
hisstudiesinmythologyhadledhimtojoinaquasiMasoniclodgecalledtheSchlarraffiain1889,
WiligutdoesnotseemtohavebeenactiveinthevolkischorPanGermannationalistmovements
atthistime.(2)
DuringtheFirstWorldWar,WiligutsawactionagainsttheRussiansintheCarpathiansandwaslater
transferredtotheItalianfront;bythesummerof1917,hehadreachedtherankofcolonel.Decorated
forbraveryandhighlythoughtofbyhissuperiors,WiligutwasdischargedfromthearmyinJanuary
1919,afternearly35yearsofexemplaryservice.
Ataroundthistime,theVienneseoccultundergroundbegantobuzzwithrumoursconcerningWiligut
andhisallegedpossessionofan'ancestralmemory'thatallowedhimtorecallthehistoryofthe
Teutonicpeopleallthewaybacktotheyear228,000BC.AccordingtoWiligut,hisastonishing
clairvoyantabilitywastheresultofanuninterruptedfamilylineageextendingthousandsofyearsinto
thepast.Heclaimedtohavebeeninitiatedintothesecretsofhisfamilybyhisfatherin1890.Goodrick
ClarkehasidentifiedthesourceofthisinformationaboutWiligutasTheodorCzepl,whoknewof
WiligutthroughhisoccultconnectionsinVienna,whichincludedWiligut'scousin,WillyThaler,and
variousmembersoftheOrderoftheNewTemplars(ONT).CzeplpaidseveralvisitstoWiligutathis
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Salzburghomeinthewinterof1920,anditwasduringthesevisitsthatWiligutclaimedthattheBible
hadbeenwritteninGermany,andthattheGermanicgodKristhadbeenappropriatedbyChristianity.
(3)
AccordingtoWiligut'sviewofprehistory,theEarthwasoriginallylitbythreesunsandwasinhabited
byvariousmythologicalbeings,includinggiantsanddwarves.Formanytensofthousandsofyears,the
worldwasconvulsedwithwarfareuntilWiligut'sancestors,theAdlerWiligoten,broughtpeacewith
thefoundationofthe'secondBosoculture'andthecityofArualJoruvallas(Goslar,thechiefshrineof
ancientGermany)in78,000BC.Thefollowingmillenniasawyetmoreconflictsinvolvingvarious
nowlostcivilisations,until12,500BC,whenthereligionofKristwasestablished.Threethousand
yearslater,anopposinggroupofWotanistschallengedthishithertouniversalGermanicfaith,and
crucifiedtheprophetofKrist,BaldurChrestos,whoneverthelessmanagedtoescapetoAsia.The
WotanistsdestroyedGoslarin1200BC,forcingthefollowersofKristtoestablishanewtempleat
Exsternsteine,nearDetmold.(4)
TheWiligutfamilyitselfwasoriginallytheresultofamatingbetweenthegodsofairandwater,andin
latercenturiesfledfrompersecutionatthehandsofCharlemagne,firsttotheFaroeIslandsandthento
Russia.WiligutclaimedthathisfamilylineincludedsuchheroicGermanicfiguresasArminthe
CheruskerandWittukind.AsGoodrickClarkenotes:'Itwillbeevidentfromthisepicaccountof
putativegenealogyandfamilyhistorythatWiligut'sprehistoricalspeculationsprimarilyservedasa
stageuponwhichhecouldprojecttheexperiencesandimportanceofhisownancestors.'(5)In
addition,PeterLevendamakesthesalientpointthatWiligut's'crosseyedthesis'wasbasedona
spuriousamalgamationofgenuineculturaltraditions(suchasthosedescribedintheEddas)and
Theosophicalbeliefsystemsthathavelittleornoprovenanceintheactualhistoryofmythology.(6)
InWiligut'sview,thevictimisationofhisfamilythathadbeengoingonfortensofthousandsofyears
wascontinuingatthehandsoftheCatholicChurch,theFreemasonsandtheJews,allofwhomheheld
responsibleforGermany'sdefeatintheFirstWorldWar.Hisalreadysomewhatprecariousmental
healthwasfurtherunderminedwhenhisinfantsondied,thusdestroyingthemalelineofthefamily.
Thisplacedagreatstrainonhisrelationshipwithhiswife,Malwine,whoinanyeventwasnot
particularlyimpressedwithhisclaimsofprehistoricgreatnessforhisfamily.Hishomelifecontinuedto
deteriorate,untilhisviolence,threatstokillMalwineandbizarreoccultinterestsresultedinhisbeing
committedtothementalasylumatSalzburginNovember1924.Certifiedinsane,hewasconfinedthere
until1927.
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Inspiteofthis,Wiligutmaintainedcontactwithhiscolleaguesinvariousoccultcircles,includingthe
ONTandtheEddaSociety.Fiveyearsafterhisreleasefromtheasylum,Wiligutdecidedtomoveto
GermanyandsettledinMunich.TherehewasfetedbyGermanoccultistsasafountofpriceless
informationontheremoteandglorioushistoryoftheGermanicpeople.
Wiligut'sintroductiontoHeinrichHimmlercameaboutthroughtheformer'sfriendRichardAnders,
whohadcontributedtotheEddaSociety'sHagalmagazineandwhowasnowanofficerintheSS.
Himmlerwasgreatlyimpressedwiththeoldman'sancestralmemory,whichimpliedaracialpurity
goingbackmuchfurtherthan1750(theyeartowhichSSrecruitshadtobeabletoprovetheirAryan
familyhistory).(7)WiligutjoinedtheSSinSeptember1933,usingthename'KarlMariaWeisthor'.He
wasmadeheadoftheDepartmentforPreandEarlyHistoryintheSSRaceandSettlementMain
OfficeinMunich,wherehewaschargedwiththetaskofrecordingonpapertheeventsheclairvoyantly
recalled.HisworkevidentlymetwiththesatisfactionoftheReichsfuhrerSS,whopromotedhimtoSS
Oberfuhrer(lieutenantbrigadier)inNovember1934.(8)
Asifhisownravingswerenotenough,WeisthorintroducedHimmlertoanotheroccultist,aGerman
cryptohistorianandListSocietymembernamedGuntherKirchhoff(18921975)whobelievedinthe
existenceofenergylinescrossingthefaceoftheEarth.Weisthortookituponhimselftoforwarda
numberofKirchhoff'sessaysanddissertationsonancientGermanictraditiontoHimmler,whogave
instructionstotheAhnenerbe(theSSAssociationforResearchandTeachingonHeredity)tostudy
them.OnesuchdissertationconcernedadetailedsurveyundertakenbyKirchhoffandWeisthorinthe
regionoftheMurgValleynearBadenBadenintheBlackForest.Afterexhaustivelyexamining'old
halftimberedhouses,architecturalornament(includingsculpture,coatsofarms,runes,andother
symbols),crosses,inscriptions,andnaturalandmanmaderockformationsintheforest',(9)thetwo
occultistsconcludedthattheregionhadbeenaprehistoriccentreoftheKristreligion.
UnfortunatelyforKirchhoff,eventheAhnenerbecametothinkofhimasacrackpotwhounderstood
nothingofscholarlyprehistoricalresearch(quiteanindictment,comingfromthatparticular
organisation).WhenKirchhoffaccusedthem,alongwiththeCatholicChurch,ofconspiringagainst
him,theAhnenerberespondedbydescribinghisworkas'rubbish'andhimasa'fantasistofthe
worstkind'.(10)Inspiteofthis,HimmlercontinuedtoinstructtheAhnenerbetotakeseriously
Kirchhoff'sunscholarlyrantings,untiltheoutbreakoftheSecondWorldWarforcedhimfirmlyintothe
background.
Weisthor,ontheotherhand,wouldmakeonefurtherimportantcontributiontoHimmler'sSS.While
travellingthroughWestphaliaduringtheNazielectoralcampaignofJanuary1933,Himmlerwas
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profoundlyaffectedbytheatmosphereoftheregion,withitsromanticcastlesandthemist(andmyth)
shroudedTeutoburgerForest.AfterdecidingtotakeoveracastleforSSuse,hereturnedtoWestphalia
inNovemberandviewedtheWewelsburgcastle,whichheappropriatedinAugust1934withthe
intentionofturningitintoanideologicaleducationcollegeforSSofficers.Althoughatfirstbelonging
totheRaceandSettlementMainOffice,theWewelsburgcastlewasplacedunderthecontrolof
Himmler'sPersonalStaffinFebruary1935.
ItislikelythatHimmler'sviewoftheWewelsburgcastlewasinfluencedbyWeisthor'sassertionthatit
'wasdestinedtobecomeamagicalGermanstrongpointinafutureconflictbetweenEuropeandAsia'.
(11)Weisthor'sinspirationforthispredictionwasaWestphalianlegendregardingatitanicfuturebattle
betweenEastandWest.Himmlerfoundthisparticularlyinteresting,inviewofhisownconvictionthat
amajorconfrontationbetweenEastandWestwasinevitableevenifitwerestillacenturyormorein
thefuture.Inaddition,itwasWeisthorwhoinfluencedthedevelopmentofSSritual(whichweshall
examinelaterinthischapter)andwhodesignedtheSSTotenkopfringthatsymbolisedmembershipof
theorder.Theringdesignwasbasedonadeath'shead,andincludedaswastika,thedoublesigruneof
theSSandahagallrune.
In1935,WeisthormovedtoBerlin,wherehejoinedtheReichsfuhrerSSPersonalStaffandcontinued
toadviseHimmleronallaspectsofhisGermanicpseudohistory.Eyewitnessesrecollectthatthiswasa
periodofgreatactivity,duringwhichWeisthortravelledwidely,correspondedextensivelyandoversaw
numerousmeetings.AccordingtoGoodrickClarke:'BesideshisinvolvementwiththeWewelsburg
castleandhislandsurveysintheBlackForestandelsewhere,Weisthorcontinuedtoproduceexamples
ofhisfamilytraditionssuchastheHalgaritamottoes,Germanicmantrasdesignedtostimulateancestral
memory...andthedesignfortheSSTotenkopfring.'(12)Inrecognitionofhiswork,Weisthorwas
promotedtoSSBrigadefuhrer(brigadier)inHimmler'sPersonalStaffinSeptember1936.
WhileinBerlin,WeisthorworkedwiththeauthorandhistorianOttoRahn(19041939),whohada
profoundinterestinmedievalGraillegendsandtheCatharheresy.In1933,Rahnpublishedaromantic
historicalworkentitledKreuzzuggegendenGral(CrusadeAgainsttheGrail),whichwasastudyofthe
AlbigensianCrusade,awarbetweentheRomanCatholicChurchandtheCathars(orAlbigensians),an
asceticreligioussectthatflourishedinsouthernFranceinthetwelfthandthirteenthcenturies.The
CatharsbelievedthattheteachingsofChristhadbeencorruptedbytheChurchand,indeed,thatChrist
wasexclusivelyabeingofspiritwhohadneverbeenincarnatedinhumanform.Thisbeliefarosefrom
theirconvictionthatallmatterwasthecreationofanevildeityopposedtoGod.Thustheyclaimedthat
thedeadwouldnotbephysicallyresurrected(sincethebodywasmadeofmatterandhenceevil)and
thatprocreationitselfwasevil,sinceitincreasedtheamountofmatterintheUniverseandtrapped
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soulsinphysicality.(13)TheCatharswereeventuallydestroyedbyCatholicarmiesontheordersof
PopeInnocentIIIinthefirstdecadeofthethirteenthcentury.
AsLevendanotes,CatharismheldaparticularfascinationandattractionforHimmlerandotherleading
Nazis.'Afterall,theveryword"Cathar"means"pure,"andpurityparticularlyofthebloodasthe
physicalembodimentofspiritual"goodness"wasanissueofprimeimportancetotheSS.'(14)Justas
theCatharshaddespisedthematerialismoftheCatholicChurch,sotheNazisdespisedCapitalism,
whichtheyequatedwiththe'excessesoftheJewishfinanciersthattheysaidhadbroughtthenation
toruinduringtheFirstWorldWarandthedepressionthatfollowed'.(15)TheCatharbeliefthatthe
evilgodwhohadcreatedthematerialUniversewasnoneotherthanJehovahprovidedadditional
commongroundwithNaziantiSemitism.
RitualsuicidewasalsopractisedbytheCathars.Knownastheendura,itinvolvedeitherstarving
oneselftodeath,selfpoisoningorstrangulationbyone'sfellowCathars.Levendamakesanother
interestingpointabouttheNazifascinationwithCatharism:
[T]heCatharswerefanatics,willingtodiefortheircause;sacrificingthemselvestotheChurch's
onslaughttheyenjoyedthealwaysenviableauraofspiritualunderdogs.Therewassomethingmadly
beautifulinthewaytheywereimmolatedonthestakesoftheInquisition,professingtheirfaithand
theirhatredofRomeuntiltheveryend.TheNaziscouldidentifywiththeCathars:withtheiroverall
fanaticism,withtheircontemptforthewayvitalspiritualmatterswerecommercialized(polluted)by
theEstablishment,andwiththeirpassionfor'purity'.ItisperhapsinevitablethattheCatharsshould
havemadeasacramentoutofsuicide,fortheymusthaveknownthattheirQuestwasdoomedtofailure
fromthestart.Theymusthavewishedfordeathasareleasefromacorruptandinsensitiveworld;and
it'sentirelypossiblethat,attherootofNazism,layasimilardeathwish.Hitlerwassurroundedbythe
suicidesofhismistressesandcontemplatedithimselfonatleastoneoccasionbeforeheactuallypulled
thetriggerinBerlinin1945.HimmlerandothercapturedNazileaderskilledthemselvesratherthan
permittheAlliestodothehonorsforthem....[L]iketheCatharswhomtheyadmired,theNazissawin
suicidethatconsolationandreleasefromtheworldofSatanicmatterpromisedbythismostcynicalof
Catharsacraments.(16)
ThethesisofRahn'sbookwasthattheCatharheresyandGraillegendsconstitutedanancientGothic
GnosticreligionthathadbeensuppressedbytheCatholicChurch,beginningwiththepersecutionof
theCatharsandendingwiththedestructionoftheKnightsTemplaracenturylater.From1933,Rahn
livedinBerlinandhisbookandhiscontinuedresearchesintoGermanichistorycametotheattentionof
Himmler.InMay1935,RahnjoinedWeisthor'sstaff,joiningtheSSlessthanayearlater.InApril
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1936,hewaspromotedtotherankofSSUnterscharfuhrer(NCO).
Hissecondbook,LuzifersHofgesinde(Lucifer'sServants),whichwasanaccountofhisresearchtripto
IcelandfortheSS,waspublishedin1937.Thiswasfollowedbyfourmonthsofmilitaryservicewith
theSSDeath'sHeadDivision'Oberbayern'atDachauconcentrationcamp,afterwhichhewasallowed
topursuehiswritingandresearchfulltime.InFebruary1939,RahnresignedfromtheSSforunknown
reasons,andsubsequentlydiedfromexposurethefollowingmonthwhilewalkingonthemountains
nearKufstein.(17)
AswithRahn'sresignationfromtheSS,thereasonsforWeisthorleavingtheorganisationareuncertain.
Onepossiblereasonisthathishealthwasbadlyfailing;althoughhewasgivenpowerfuldrugsintended
tomaintainhismentalfaculties,theyhadserioussideeffects,includingpersonalitychangesthat
resultedinheavysmokingandalcoholconsumption.Alsoatthistimehispsychologicalhistory
includinghiscommittalforinsanitywhichhadbeenacloselyguardedsecretbecameknown,causing
considerableembarrassmenttoHimmler.InFebruary1939,Weisthor'sstaffwereinformedthathehad
retiredbecauseofpoorhealth,andthathisofficewouldbedissolved.(18)Althoughtheoldoccultist
wassupportedbytheSSduringthefinalyearsofhislife,hisinfluenceontheThirdReichwasatan
end.HewasgivenahomeinAufkirchen,butfoundittobetoofarawayfromBerlinandhemovedto
GoslarinMay1940.Whenhisaccommodationwasrequisitionedformedicalresearchin1943,he
movedagain,thistimetoasmallSShouseinCarinthiawherehespenttheremainderofthewarwith
hishousekeeper,ElsaBaltrusch,amemberofHimmler'sPersonalStaff.Attheendofthewar,hewas
sentbytheBritishoccupyingforcestoarefugeecampwherehesufferedastroke.Aftertheirrelease,
heandBaltruschwentfirsttohisfamilyhomeatSalzburg,andthentoBaltrusch'sfamilyhomeat
Arolsen.On3January1946,hishealthfinallygaveoutandhediedinhospital.(19)
HeinrichHimmler
ThemanwhowassodeeplyimpressedwiththerantingsofWiligut,whowouldbecomemostclosely
associatedwiththeterroroftheSSandanembodimentofevilsecondonlytoAdolfHitlerhimself,was
borninMunichon7October1900.Himmler'sfatherwasthesonofapolicepresidentandhadbeena
tutortotheprincesattheBavariancourt,andthusappliedsuitablyauthoritarianprinciplesonhisown
family.(20)AsJoachimFestnotes:'Nodoubtitwouldbegoingtoofartoseeintheson'searlyinterest
inTeutonicsagas,criminologyandmilitaryaffairsthebeginningsofhislaterdevelopment,butthe
familymilieu,withitscombinationof"officialdom,policeworkandteaching",manifestlyhadalasting
effectonhim.'(21)
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Himmlerwasnotblessedwitharobustphysicalconstitution,andthishamperedhisfamily'sinitial
intentionthatheshouldbecomeafarmer.Nevertheless,theidealofthenoblepeasantremainedwith
himandheavilyinfluencedhislaterideologyandplansfortheSS.Afterservingverybrieflyattheend
oftheFirstWorldWar,HimmlerjoinedHitler'sNSDAP.In1926hemetMargereteBoden,thedaughter
ofaWestPrussianlandowningfamily,andmarriedhertwoyearslater.AfineexampleoftheGermanic
type(tall,fairhairedandblueeyed),shewasalsosevenyearsolderthanHimmlerandissaidtohave
inspiredhisinterestinalternativemedicinesuchasherbalismandhomeopathy.(22)
Himmlerwasappointedhead(Reichsfuhrer)oftheSSon6January1929.Atthattimetheorganisation
hadbarely300members,butsuchwereHimmler'sorganisationalskillsthatheincreasedits
membershiptoover50,000inthenextfouryears.In1931heestablishedaspecialSecurityService
(SD)withintheSS,whichwouldoverseepoliticalintelligence.ItwasledbythepsychopathicReinhard
Heydrich,'theonlytopNazileadertofittheracialstereotypeofbeingtall(sixfeet,threeinches),
blond,andblueeyed'.(23)Himmlertookcontroloftheparty'spolicefunctionsinApril1934,andthen
tookcommandoftheGestapo(GeheimeStaatspolizeiorSecretStatePolice).SSunitswere
instrumentalinHitler'sBloodPurgeof30June1934,whichsawtheendoftheSturmabteilung(SA),
thebrownshirtedandsadisticmilitiaoftheearlyNaziParty,anditschief,ErnstRohm.Membersofthe
SSwererequiredtocorrespondtospecialracialcriteria(tall,blond,blueeyed)andhadtobeableto
tracetheirAryanancestryatleastasfarbackastheyear1750.Initially,theSSmembershipincluded
approximately44percentfromtheworkingclass;however,asitsstatusincreasedfollowingtheNazi
risetopower,itattractedmoremembersfromtheupperclass.
By1937,thethreemajorconcentrationcampsinGermanywerestaffedbytheSSTotenkopfverbande
(Death'sHeadUnits),andthefollowingyearsawtheformationoftheVerfugungstruppe(Action
Groups),whichnumbered200,000andwhichlaterbecametheWaffenSS(MilitarySS).Bytheendof
1938,SSmembershiphadreachednearly240,000,afigurethatwouldlaterrisetoapproximatelyone
million.
AccordingtothehistorianJoachimC.Fest:
[T]heaimsoftheenormousSSapparatuswere...comprehensiveandconcernednotsomuchwith
controllingthestateaswithbecomingastateitself.TheoccupantsofthechiefpositionsintheSS
developedstepbystepintotheholdersofpowerinanauthentic'collateralstate',whichgradually
penetratedexistinginstitutions,underminedthem,andfinallybegantodissolvethem.Fundamentally
therewasnosphereofpubliclifeuponwhichtheSSdidnotmakeitscompetingdemands:the
economic,ideological,military,scientificandtechnicalspheres,aswellasthoseofagrarianand
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populationpolicies,legislationandgeneraladministration.Thisdevelopmentfounditsmost
unmistakableexpressioninthehierarchyoftheSeniorSSandPoliceCommanders,especiallyinthe
Easternzones;theconsiderableindependencethatHimmler'scorpsofleadersenjoyedvisavisthe
civilormilitaryadministrationwasaworkingmodelforashiftofpowerplannedforthewholeareaof
theGreaterGermanReichafterthewar.Thisprocessreceiveditsinitialimpetusfollowingthesocalled
RohmPutsch,anditmovedtowardsitscompletionaftertheattemptedrevoltof20July1944.TheSS
nowpusheditswayinto'thecentreoftheorganizationalfabricoftheWehrmacht',andHimmler,who
hadmeanwhilealsobecomeReichMinisteroftheInterior,nowinadditionbecamechiefofthe
ReplacementArmy.Ontopofhismanyotherfunctionshewasthusincharge'ofallmilitarytransport,
militarycensorship,theintelligenceservice,surveillanceofthetroops,thesupplyoffood,clothingand
paytothetroops,andcareofthewounded'.(24)
TheAhnenerbeandtheRitualsoftheSS
IthasbeensaidofHimmlermanytimesthathispersonalitywasacuriousmixtureofrationalityand
fantasy:thathiscapacityforrationalplanning,thefollowingofordersandadministrativedetailexisted
alongsideanidealistenthusiasmforutopianism,mysticismandtheoccult.Thiscombinationofthe
quotidianandthefantasticledtoHimmler'sconceptionoftheultimateroleoftheSS:'hisblack
uniformedtroopswouldprovideboththebloodstockofthefutureAryanmasterraceandthe
ideologicaleliteofaneverexpandingGreaterGermanicReich'.(25)
From1930,HimmlerconcentratedontheformulationofhisplansfortheSS,whichincludedthe
establishmentoftheSSofficers'collegeattheWewelsburgcastlein1933.Twoyearslater,he
establishedtheAhnenerbewiththeNazipaganideologueRichardWaltherDarre.TheAhnenerbewas
theAncestralHeritageResearchandTeachingSociety,andwasinitiallyanindependentinstitute
conductingresearchintoGermanicprehistory,archaeologyandoccultmysticism.Itwassubsequently
incorporatedintotheSSinApril1940,withitsstaffholdingSSrank.Levendathinksitlikelythatthe
inspirationfortheAhnenerbecamefromanumberofGermanintellectualsandoccultistswhohad
subscribedtothetheoriesofthevolkischwritersofthelatenineteenthcentury,aswellasfromthe
adventuresofanumberofexplorersandarchaeologists,includingtheworldfamousSwedishexplorer
SvenHedin.(26)
BorninStockholmin1865,HedinleftSwedenattheageoftwentyandsailedtoBakuontheCaspian
Sea.ThiswasthefirstvoyageofamanwhowouldtravelthroughmostofAsia,andwhoseexploits
wouldberecordedinthebookMyLifeasanExplorer(1925).Hedin'svoyagesandtalesoffabulous
AsiancitiesdidmuchtoconsolidatetheEuropeanandAmericanpublics'fascinationwiththe
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mysteriousOrientafascinationthathadalreadybeenkindledbyMadameBlavatskyandthe
TheosophicalSociety.(27)
Levendawrites:
ThereisevidencetosuggestthattheAhnenerbeitselfwasformedasaprivateinstitutionbyseveral
friendsandadmirersofSvenHedin,includingWolframSievers(whowouldlaterfindjusticeatthe
NurembergTrials)andDrFriedrichHielscherwho,accordingtotherecordsoftheNurembergTrialof
November1946,hadbeenresponsibleforrecruitingSieversintotheAhnenerbe.Infact,therewasa
SvenHedinInstituteforInnerAsianResearchinMunichthatwaspartoftheAhnenerbeandaslateas
1942Hedinhimself(thenaboutseventysevenyearsold)wasinfriendlycommunicationwithsuch
importantAhnenerbepersonnelasDrErnstSchaferfromhisresidenceinStockholm.Moreover,on
January16,1943,theSvenHedinInstituteforInnerAsian(i.e.Mongolian)ResearchandExpeditions
wasformallyinauguratedinMunichwith'greatpomp,'aceremonyatwhichHedinwasinattendance
ashewasawardedwithanhonorarydoctoratefortheoccasion.(28)
ItispossiblethatHedinmayhavemetKarlHaushofer(whomwediscussedinChapterThree)whilein
theFarEast,sinceHedinwasanoccasionalambassadorfortheSwedishGovernmentandHaushofer
wasaGermanmilitaryattache.'GivenHaushofer'sexcessiveinterestinpoliticalgeographyandhis
establishmentoftheDeutscheAkademiealloverAsia(includingChinaandIndia,Hedin'sold
stompinggrounds),itwouldactuallybeoddifthetwohadn'tmet.'(29)Indeed,theDeutscheAkademie
andtheAhnenerbe,whosedirectorwasWolframSievers,wererunalongverysimilarlines.DrWalther
Wust,theHumanitieschairmanoftheAhnenerbewhocarriedtheSSrankofOberfuhrer,wasalso
actingpresidentoftheDeutscheAkademie.BothorganisationsconductedfieldresearchatDachau
concentrationcamp.(30)
Himmler'svisionoftheSSrequireditstransformationfromHitler'spersonalbodyguardtoapagan
religiousorderwithvirtuallycompleteautonomy,answerableonlytotheFuhrerhimself.Aswehave
seen,HimmlerchoseastheheadquartersforhisorderthecastleofWewelsburg,nearPaderbornin
WestphaliaandclosetothestonemonumentknownastheExsternsteinewheretheTeutonichero
ArminiuswassaidtohavebattledtheRomans.
ThefocalpointofWewelsburg,evidentlyowingmuchtothelegendofKingArthurandtheKnightsof
theRoundTable,wasagreatdininghallwithanoakentabletoseattwelvepickedfromthesenior
Gruppenfuhrers.Thewallsweretobeadornedwiththeircoatsofarms;althoughahighproportion
lackedtheseasofcoursedidHimmlerhimselftheywereassistedinthedraftingofdesignsby
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ProfessorDiebitschandexpertsfromtheAhnenerbe.(31)
Beneaththedininghallwasacircularroomwithashallowdepressionreachedbythreestonesteps
(symbolisingthethreeReichs).Inthisplaceofthedead,thecoatofarmsofthedeceased'Knight'of
theSSwouldbeceremoniallyburned.EachmemberofHimmler'sInnerCircleofTwelvehadhisown
room,whichwasdedicatedtoanAryanancestor.Himmler'sownquarterswerededicatedtoKing
HeinrichI,theSaxonkingwhohadbattledHungariansandSlavsandofwhomHimmlerwas
convincedhewasthereincarnation,(32)althoughhealsoclaimedtohavehadconversationswith
Heinrich'sghostatnight.(33)
Insidethedininghall,HimmlerandhisInnerCirclewouldperformvariousoccultexercises,which
includedattemptstocommunicatewiththespiritsofdeadTeutonsandeffortstoinfluencethemindof
apersoninthenextroomthroughtheconcentrationofwillpower.
TherewasnoplaceforChristianityintheSS,andmemberswereactivelyencouragedtobreakwiththe
Church.
NewreligiousceremoniesweredevelopedtotaketheplaceofChristianones;forinstance,awinter
solsticeceremonywasdesignedtoreplaceChristmas(startingin1939theword'Christmas'was
forbiddentoappearinanyofficialSSdocument),andanotherceremonyforthesummersolstice.Gifts
weretobegivenatthesummersolsticeceremonyratherthanatthewintersolstice...(Apossible,
thoughbynomeansdocumented,causeforthisswitchofgiftgivingtothesummersolsticeisthedeath
ofHitler'smotheronthewintersolsticeandallthegriefandcomplexemotionsthiseventrepresented
forHitler.It'sunderstandablethatHitlerastheFuhrerandatleastnominallyinchargeofthedirection
thenewstatereligionwouldtakewouldhavewantedtoremoveeveryvestigeof'Christmas'fromthe
paganwintersolsticefestival.Asameansofdenyinghisgrief?Orasanactofdefianceagainstthegod
whosebirthiscelebratedonthatday,agodwhorobbedHitlerofhisbelovedmother?It'sworthwhileto
noteinthiscontextthatforanational'DayoftheGermanMother'Hitlerchosehisownmother's
birthday.)(34)
BesidesChristmas,weddingsandchristeningswerealsoreplacedbypaganrituals,andpaganmyths,as
wesawearlierinthischapter,influencedHimmler'schoiceofWewelsburgastheSSordercastle.The
meticulousworkofPeterLevendainunearthingpreviouslyunpublisheddocumentsfromtheperiod
allowsustoconsiderthepaganworldviewoftheAhnenerbeandtheSS.ThefilesoftheAhnenerbe
containedanarticlebyA.E.MulleroriginallypublishedinamonthlyjournalcalledLowerSaxonyin
1903,whichdescribesthecelebrationofthesummersolsticeattheExsternsteinemonumentnearthe
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Wewelsburginthemidnineteenthcentury.
[Theyare]likegiantsfromaprehistoricworldwhich,duringthefuriouscreationoftheEarth,were
placedtherebyGodaseternalmonuments...ManyofourVolkareknowntohavepreservedthepagan
beliefanditsrituals,andIrememberthatsomesixtyyearsago,inmyearliestchildhooddays...the
customwastoundertakealong,continuousjourneythatlastedforwholedaysandwhichonlyendedon
StJohn'sDay,toseethoseancient'HolyStones'andtocelebratethere,withthesunrise,theFestivalof
theSummerSolstice.(35)
ThetownofPaderbornitselfalsohadconsiderablepagansignificance,asdemonstratedbyaletterfrom
amannamedvonMotztotheheadoftheAhnenerbe,WolframSievers,whichisquotedinLevenda's
hugelyinformativebookUnholyAlliance:
Iamsendingtoyounow...sixphotographswithexplanatorytext.Maybethesecanappearinoneofthe
nextissuesof[theofficialSSmagazine]SchwarzeKorpsinordertoshowthatitistosomeextenta
favoredpracticeofthechurchonimagesofitssaintsandsoforthtoillustratethedefeatof
adversariesby[havingthem]steponthem.
Thereferencedessayalsomentionedthattherearedepictionsoftheserpent'shead,asthesymbolof
originalsin,beingsteppedon[bythesaints].
Thesedepictionsarequiteuncommonlyprevalent.ItisalwaysMarywhotreadsonoriginalsin.
Nowthesepicturesappeartomeparticularlyinterestingbecausetheserpentreferstoanancientsymbol
ofGermanicbelief.AttheBattleofHastingstheflagoftheSaxonsshowsagoldenserpentonablue
field...
TheMaryStatueatPaderbornwaserectedinthemiddleofthepastcenturyinthecourtyardofthe
formerJesuitCollege.AsprofessorAloisFuchsrelatedseveraltimesbeforeinlecturesconcerningthe
Paderbornartmonuments,theartistthatcreatedtheMaryStatuemusthavebeenaProtestant.Thisis
formecompletelyprovenbecausethefaceinthemoonsickleineverycaserepresentsLuther.
ItiswellknownthatRomeandJudah,preferringthustotakeadvantageoftheirownvictims,created
victorymonumentsforthem.(36)
AsLevendanotes,thesemotifsarecommoninthevolkischunderpinningsofNazism,withtheserpent,
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thoughtofasanarchetypeofevilinChristianity,consideredsacredbytheAryans.Inaddition,'"Rome
andJudah"shamelesslyexploitedthesufferingoftheirownpeoplebydepictingthemasheroesoras
vanquishersofevilthroughtheiragonies(thusreinforcingweak,nonAryansuicidaltendenciesamong
theoppressedpopulationsofEurope).'(37)
Aswehavenoted,theAhnenerbereceiveditsofficialstatuswithintheSSin1940,andwhileother
occultorientedgroupssuchastheFreemasons,theTheosophistsandtheHermeticOrderoftheGolden
Dawnwerebeingsuppressed,theAhnenerbewasgivenfreereintopursueitsownlineofmysticaland
occultenquiry,withtheexpresspurposeofprovingthehistoricalvalidityofNazipaganism.Itsmore
than50sectionscoveredeveryaspectofoccultismandpaganism,includingCelticstudies,therituals
surroundingtheExsternsteinemonument,Scandinavianmythology,runicsymbolism,theWorldIce
TheoryofHansHorbiger(whichwillbediscussedinChapterSeven),andanarchaeologicalresearch
groupthatattemptedtoprovethegeographicalubiquityoftheancientAryancivilisation.Inaddition,at
thedooroftheAhnenerbemustlietheineradicableiniquityofthemedicalexperimentsconductedat
Dachauandotherconcentrationcamps,sinceitwasthisorganisationthatcommissionedthe
unbelievablyhideousprogrammeof'scientificresearch'onlivinghumansubjects.
ThementalambiguityofHeinrichHimmlerrational,obedientandtotallydesirousofsecurityonthe
onehand;immersedinthespuriousfantasyofAryandestinyontheotherwasdemonstratedmost
powerfullyinthefinalphaseoftheNaziregime,whenitbecameobviousthatGermanywouldlosethe
warandthe'ThousandyearReich'wouldbecomedust.From1943onward,Himmlermaintainedloose
contactswiththeResistanceMovementinGermany,andinthespringof1945heenteredintosecret
negotiationswiththeWorldJewishCongress.(BySeptember1944hehadalreadygivenordersforthe
murderofJewstobehalted,inordertoofferamore'presentable'facetotheAllies,anorderthatwas
notfollowed).(38)
Himmler'sactionsatthistimeindicatewhatFestcalls'analmostincredibledivorcefromreality',one
examplebeinghissuggestiontoarepresentativeoftheWorldJewishCongressthat'itistimeyouJews
andweNationalSocialistsburiedthehatchet'.(39)Heevenassumed,inallseriousness,thathemight
leadapostwarGermanyinanalliancewiththeWestagainsttheSovietUnion.Whentherealityofthe
ThirdReich'sdefeatfinallyoverwhelmedhisfantasiesandsentthemtooblivion,andtheideaof
disguiseandescapefinallypresenteditselftohim,Himmleradoptedperhapstheworstfalseidentityhe
couldhavechosen:theuniformofasergeantmajoroftheSecretMilitaryPolice,adivisionofthe
Gestapo.Suchwashis'divorcefromreality',eventhen,thatitdidnotoccurtohimthatanyGestapo
memberwouldbearrestedonsightbytheAllies.Thisindeedoccurredon21May1945.
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Liketheirmaster,manySSmentooktheirownlivesin1945,appalledlessatHimmler'sbetrayalof
HitlerthroughhisattemptstonegotiatewiththeAlliesthanathisbetrayaloftheSSitselfandofthe
idealsthathadgivenmeaning(atleasttothem)tothedestructiontheyhadwroughtupontheirsix
millionvictims.ThecollapseofthisSSideal'leftonlyasenseless,filthy,barbaricmurderindustry,for
whichtherecouldbenodefence'.(40)
NaziCosmologyandBeliefintheHollowEarth
ForreadersencounteringthefieldofNaziOccultism(anditsunholyspawn,contemporarybeliefin
genuineNazioccultpower)forthefirsttime,theHollowEarthTheorymaywellpromptasighof
exasperation.Wehavealreadyexaminedanumberofesotericconceptsthatmaybemoreorless
unpalatabletothemodernmind;therealmweareabouttoenter,however,maybeconsideredboththe
mostridiculousandthemostsinisteryet,sinceitconstitutesbothasynthesisandafurtherdevelopment
ofthestrangeideaspromulgatedbythevolkischoccultistsand,later,bythephilosophersandpseudo
scientistsoftheThirdReich.Asweshallseeinthischapter,theconceptofthehollowEarthandthe
relatednotionofvast,inhabitedcavernswithinasolidEarthhavecometooccupyacentralpositionin
thefieldsofufology,conspiracytheory,fringescienceandNazisurvivaltheories.Indeed,therelevance
ofthesesubjectstothebeliefsystemsthatdefinelatetwentiethcenturypopularoccultismmaycomeas
asurprisetomanyreaders.
TheProvenanceoftheHollowEarthTheory
OfallthestrangeandirrationalbeliefsheldbytheNazis,themostbizarreissurelytheideathatour
planetisnotaspherefloatingintheemptinessofspace,butratherisahollowbubble,witheverything
people,buildings,continents,oceansandevenotherplanetsandstarsexistingontheinside.The
originofthiscuriousnotion,whichwouldbedevelopedandacceptedinthetwentiethcenturyby
peoplesuchasPeterBender,DrHeinzFisherandmanymembersoftheGermanAdmiralty,canbe
tracedbacktotheseventeenthcenturyandthewritingsoftheJesuitAthanasiusKircher(16021680),
whospeculatedonconditionsbeneaththesurfaceoftheEarthinatreatisewrittenin1665
entitledMundusSubterraneus(TheSubterraneanWorld).Inthiswork,Kircherdrawsonthetheories
andspeculationsofvariousmedievalgeographersabouttheunexplorednorthandsouthpolarregions.
AsJoscelynGodwinnotes,Kircherpaidparticularattentiontothethirteenthcenturyfriar
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BartholomewofEngland,whomaintainedthat'attheNorthPolethereisablackrocksome33leagues
incircumference,beneathwhichtheoceanflowswithincrediblespeedthroughfourchannelsintothe
subpolarregions,andisabsorbedbyanimmensewhirlpool'.(1)Havingenteredthiswhirlpool,the
watersthentravelthroughamyriad'recesses'and'channels'insidetheplanetandfinallyemergeinthe
oceanattheSouthPole(thecontinentofAntarcticahadyettobediscovered).
Kircher'sjustificationforhisideaswasingenious,ifutterlyflawed.Heclaimedthatthepolarvortices
mustexist,otherwisethenorthernandsouthernoceanswouldbestillandwouldthusbecomestagnant,
releasingnoxiousvapoursthatwouldprovelethaltolifeonEarth.Inaddition,hebelievedthatthe
movementofwaterthroughthebodyoftheEarthwasanalogousbothtotherecentlydiscovered
circulationofthebloodandtotheanimaldigestivesystem,withelementsinseawaterextractedforthe
productionofmetalsandthewastevoidedattheSouthPole.(2)ThislikeningoftheEarthtoasingle,
livingentitywilldoubtlesscalltomindcertainNewAgeconcepts,inparticularthesocalled'Gaia
Hypothesis'.(WhileNewAgeismmightappeartobenothingbutbenign,concernedasitiswiththe
spiritualevolutionofhumanity,itdoescontaincertainaspectsthataremoresinisterandpotentially
dangerous.)
TheseventeenthcenturywriterThomasBurnet(1635?1715)alsosuggestedthatwatercirculated
throughthebodyoftheEarth,issuingfromanopeningattheNorthPole.In1768,thisideawasfurther
developedbyAlexanderColcott,whoaddedaninterestingandportentoustwist:Godwinsuggeststhat
hemayhavebeenthefirsttotheorisethat,onceinsidetheEarth,thewaterjoinedavast,concaveocean
inotherwords,thattheEarthwasactuallyahollowglobe.(3)
Intheeighteenthcentury,theHollowEarthTheorycarriedfarmoreintellectualcurrencythanitdoes
now:eventheillustriousSirEdmundHalley(16561742),discovererofthecometthatcarrieshisname,
proposedinthePhilosophicalTransactionsoftheRoyalSocietyof1692thattheEarthwasahollow
spherecontainingtwoadditionalconcentricspheres,atthecentreofwhichwasahotcore,akindof
centralsun.TheSwissmathematicianLeonhardEuler(17071783)concurredand,indeed,went
somewhatfurther,statingthatthere'wasacentersuninsidetheEarth'sinterior,whichprovided
daylighttoasplendidsubterraneancivilization'.(4)
Theapparentcredibilityofthesetheoriesresultedinabrandnewsubgenreoffantasticliterature.
Godwinprovidesabriefrundown,basedontheworkoftheFrenchauthorMichelLamy,ofthemost
significantofthesetales:
Whilemedievaltheology,ascelebratedinDante'sDivineComedy,hadfoundtheinterioroftheearthto
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beasuitablelocationforHell,laterwritersbegantoimaginequitethecontrary.Theuniversal
philosopherGuillaumePostel,inhisCompendiumCosmographicum(1561)andthetopographerGeorg
Braun,inhisUrbiumpraecipuarumtotiusmundi(1581),suggestedthatGodhadmadetheEarthly
ParadiseinaccessibletomankindbystowingitbeneaththeNorthPole.Amongtheearlynovelsonthe
themeofaUtopiabeneaththesurfaceoftheeartharetheChevalierdeMouhy'sLamekis,oules
voyagesextraordinairesd'unEgyptiendanslaTerreinterieure(Lamekis,ortheextraordinaryvoyages
ofanEgyptianintheinnerearth,1737),andLudvigBaronvonHolberg'sNicholasKlim(1741),the
lattermuchreadinHolberg'snativeDenmark.GiovanniJacopoCasanova,theadventurerandlibertine,
alsosituatedParadiseinsidetheearth.
InIcosameron(1788),aworksupposedlytranslatedbyhimfromtheEnglish,hedescribesthetwenty
oneyearspassedbyhisheroesEdwardandElizabethamongthe'megamicros,'theoriginalinhabitants
ofthe'protocosm'intheinteriorofourglobe.Onewayintothisrealmisthroughthelabyrinthinecaves
nearLakeZirchnitz,aregionofTransylvania.Themegamicrosissuefrombottomlesswellsand
assembleintemples,cladinredcoats.Theirgodsarereptiles,withsharpteethandamagneticstare.(5)
TheliteratureoftheRomanticera,needlesstosay,isrichinfantasiesofpolarmysteriesandlands
withintheearth.ThebestknownworksareprobablyGeorgeSand'sLauraoulevoyagedanslecrystal
(Laura,orthevoyageintheCrystal);EdgarAlienPoe'sTheNarrativeofArthurGordonPym;
AlexanderDumas'sIsaacLaquedem;BulwerLytton'sTheComingRace[seeChapterThree];Jules
Verne'sVoyageaucentredelaterre(VoyagetotheCentreoftheEarth)andLeSphinxdesglaces(The
SphinxoftheIce).NovelsbylaterandlessdistinguishedauthorsincludeWilliamBradshaw'sThe
GoddessofAtvatabar(1892),RobertAmesBennet'sThyra,aRomanceofthePolarPit(1901),
WillisGeorgeEmerson'sTheSmokyGod(1908),andthePellucidarianstoriesofEdgarRice
Burroughs,creatorofTarzan.(6)
InviewoftheexcitingpotentialoftheHollowEarthTheory,nottomentiontheliteraryvogueforsuch
romanticfictions,itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforesomeonehadthebrightideaofactuallysearching
fortheentrancestothemysteriousworldapparentlylyingbeneathhumanity'sfeet.Suchamanwas
JohnClevesSymmes(17801829),whospentagoodportionofhislifetryingtoconvincetheworldnot
onlythattheEarthwashollow,butthatitwouldbeworthwhiletofinanceanexpedition,underhis
leadership,tofindawayinside.
'IDeclaretheEarthisHollow...'
AnativeofNewJersey,SymmesenlistedintheUnitedStatesArmywherehedistinguishedhimselffor
braveryintheFrenchandIndianWars.Evidentlyamanofconsiderablepersonalintegrity,hemarrieda
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widownamedMaryAnneLockwoodin1808,andensuredthatherinheritancefromherhusbandwas
usedtoraiseherfivechildren(hehadfiveofhisown).In1816,heretiredwiththerankofCaptainand
becameatraderinStLouis.(7)Twoyearslater,Symmesfirstannouncedhisbeliefstotheworld,thus:
CIRCULAR
Lightgiveslighttodiscoveradinfinitum
StLouis,MissouriTerritory,NorthAmerica
April10,AD1818
ToalltheWorld:
Ideclaretheearthishollowandhabitablewithin;containinganumberofsolidconcentricspheres,one
withintheother,andthatitisopenatthepolestwelveorsixteendegrees.Ipledgemylifeinsupportof
thistruth,andamreadytoexplorethehollow,iftheworldwillsupportandaidmeintheundertaking.
Jno.ClevesSymmes
OfOhio,lateCaptainofInfantry.
N.B.Ihavereadyforthepressatreatiseontheprinciplesofmatter,whereinIshowproofsofthe
abovepositions,accountforvariousphenomena,anddiscloseDr.Darwin's'GoldenSecret.'
MytermsarethepatronageofTHISandtheNEWWORLDS.
Idedicatetomywifeandhertenchildren.
IselectDr.S.L.Mitchell,SirH.Davy,andBaronAlexanderVonHumboldtasmyprotectors.
Iaskonehundredbravecompanions,wellequipped,tostartfromSiberia,inthefallseason,with
reindeerandsleighs,ontheiceofthefrozensea;Iengagewewillfindawarmandrichland,stocked
withthriftyvegetablesandanimals,ifnotmen,onreachingonedegreenorthwardoflatitude82;we
willreturninthesucceedingspring.
J.C.S.(8)
OfalltheacademicsocietiesinAmericaandEuropetowhichSymmessenthiscircular,onlythe
FrenchAcademyofSciencesinParisbotheredtorespondandthatwastosay,ineffect,thatthe
theoryofconcentricspheresinsidetheEarthwasnonsense.Undauntedbythetotallackofacademic
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interestinhisideas,SymmesspentthenexttenyearstravellingaroundtheUnitedStates,giving
lecturesandtryingtoraisesufficientfundstostrikeoutfortheinterioroftheplanet.Hepetitioned
Congressin1822and1823tofinancehisexpedition,andevensecured25votesthesecondtime.(9)
Ultimately,thestrainofconstanttravellingandlecturingtookitstollonSymmes'shealth.Hediedat
Hamilton,Ohioon29May1829.HisgraveintheHamiltoncemeteryismarkedbyastonemodelofthe
hollowEarth,placedtherebyhisson,Americus.
Symmes'stheoryofthehollowEarthisdescribedprincipallyintwobooks:Symmes'sTheoryof
ConcentricSpheres(1826)byJamesMcBride,andTheSymmesTheoryofConcentricSpheres(1878)
byAmericusSymmes.(10)(Symmeshimselfwroteanovel,underthepseudonym'CaptainAdam
Seaborn',entitledSymzoniaAVoyageofDiscovery,publishedin1820.)AsMartinGardnernotes,in
thesebooks,'Hundredsofreasonsaregivenforbelievingtheearthhollowdrawnfromphysics,
astronomy,climatology,themigrationhabitsofanimals,andthereportsoftravelers.Moreover,a
hollowplanet,likethehollowbonesofthebody,wouldbeasturdyandeconomicalwayfortheCreator
toarrangethings.'(11)
Aswehavenoted,theHollowEarthTheoryattractedtheattentionofmanywritersoffiction.Aside
fromthebestknownmentionedabove,anumberofminorauthorsexploredthetopic.In1871,for
instance,ProfessorWilliamF.LyonpublishedTheHollowGlobe,ortheWorld'sAgitatororReconciler
thatincludedmanybizarrespeculationsonopenpolarseas,theelectromagneticoriginofearthquakes
(whichwerethoughtimpossibleunlesstheworldwerehollow)andthetheoryofgravitation(which
neededconsiderablereworkinginviewofthedrasticallyreducedmassofahollowplanet).Thetextof
thebookwasapparentlyreceivedduringmediumistictrancesbyaDrShermanandhiswife,with
ProfessorLyontranscribingthematerial.Amongthemanycuriousrevelationsinthisbookisthe'great
factthatthisglobeisaholloworsphericalshellwithaninterioraswellasanexteriorsurface,andthat
itcontainsaninnerconcaveaswellasouterconvexworld,andthattheinnerisaccessiblebyan
extensivespirallyformedaperture,providedwithadeepandcommodiouschannelsuitedtothe
purposesofnavigationforthelargestvesselsthatfloat,andthatthisaperturemaybefoundinthe
unexploredopenPolarSea'.(12)
TheReverendDrWilliamF.Warren,PresidentofBostonUniversity,publishedhisbookParadise
Foundin1885,inwhichhearguedfortheoriginofthehumanraceattheNorthPole.WhileWarrendid
notclaimthattheEarthwashollow,hisbookneverthelessaddedtothespeculationonthesignificance
ofthepolarregions,andtheideathatthesolutiontothemysteryofhumanity'soriginmightliethere.
(13)
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In1896,JohnUriLloydpublishedhisbookEtidorhpa(thetitleis'Aphrodite'reversed).Oneofthe
strangestbooksonthesubject,EtidorhpatellsthestoryofoneLlewellynDrury,aMasonandseeker
aftermystery,whoencountersatelepathichumanoidcreaturewithoutaface.ThecreaturetakesDrury
intoadeepcaveinKentucky,andthetwoemergeontheinnersurfaceoftheEarth,wherethe
adventureristaughttolevitatebeneaththeraysofthecentralsun.(14)
ASingleBubbleinInfiniteNothingness
In1870,perhapsthestrangestofallalternativecosmologicaltheorieswasformulatedbyCyrusTeed:
thetheorythatnotonlyistheEarthhollowbutwearetheoneslivingontheinside.Bornin1839in
DelawareCounty,NewYork,TeedreceivedaBaptistupbringing.Afteraspellasaprivatewiththe
UnitedStatesArmy,heattendedtheNewYorkEclecticMedicalCollegeinUtica,NewYork.
(Eclecticismwasanalternativeformofmedicinethatreliedonherbaltreatments.)ItseemsthatTeed
wasgreatlytroubledbytheconceptofinfinitespace,whichhecouldnotreconcilewiththewell
orderedUniverseoftheScriptures.WhileheacceptedthattheEarthwasround(hehadlittlechoice,
sinceithadbeencircumnavigated),hefoundthenotionofaballofrockfloatingendlesslythroughan
infinitevoidsounsettlingthathesetaboutattemptingtoformulateanalternativestructureforthe
observableCosmos.
TheanswerapparentlycametohiminavisioninhisalchemicallaboratoryinUticaatmidnightone
nightin1869.Abeautifulwomanappearedbeforehim,tellinghimofthepreviousliveshehadlived,
howhewasdestinedtobecomeamessiah,andaboutthetruestructureoftheUniverse.Underthe
pseudonymKoresh(theHebrewforCyrus),Teedpublishedtwoworks:TheIlluminationofKoresh:
MarvellousExperienceoftheGreatAlchemistatUtica,N.YandTheCellularCosmogony.Inhis
splendidbookFadsandFallaciesintheNameofScience,MartinGardnersummarisesthekeypointsof
Teed'soutrageouscosmology:
Theentirecosmos,Teedargued,islikeanegg.Weliveontheinnersurfaceoftheshell,andinsidethe
hollowarethesun,moon,stars,planets,andcomets.Whatisoutside?Absolutelynothing!Theinsideis
allthereis.Youcan'tseeacrossitbecausetheatmosphereistoodense.Theshellis100milesthickand
madeupofseventeenlayers.Theinnerfivearegeologicstrata,underwhicharefiveminerallayers,and
beneaththat,sevenmetallicones.Asunatthecenteroftheopenspaceisinvisible,butareflectionofit
isseenasoursun.Thecentralsunishalflightandhalfdark.Itsrotationcausesourillusorysuntorise
andset.Themoonisareflectionoftheearth,andtheplanetsarereflectionsof'mercurialdiscsfloating
betweenthelaminaeofthemetallicplanes'.Theheavenlybodieswesee,therefore,arenotmaterial,but
merelyfocalpointsoflight,thenatureofwhichTeedworkedoutingreatdetailbymeansofoptical
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laws...
Theearth,itistrue,seemstobeconvex,butaccordingtoTeed,itisallanillusionofoptics.Ifyoutake
thetroubletoextendahorizontallinefarenough,youwillalwaysencountertheearth'supward
curvature.Suchanexperimentwasactuallycarriedoutin1897bytheKoreshanGeodeticStaff,onthe
GulfCoastofFlorida.Therearephotographsinlatereditionsofthebookshowingthisdistinguished
groupofbeardedscientistsatwork.UsingasetofthreedoubleTsquaresTeedcallsthedevicea
'rectilineator'theyextendedastraightlineforfourmilesalongthecoastonlytohaveitplungefinally
intothesea[thusprovingtheEarthtobeaconcavesphere].Similarexperimentshadbeenconducted
thepreviousyearonthesurfaceoftheOldIllinoisDrainageCanal.(15)
AsGardnerobserves,Teedwasundoubtedlyapseudoscientistanddisplayedalltheparanoiaand
obfuscationassociatedwiththatfascinatingandinfuriatinggroup.Hisexplanationsofthestructureof
theUniverse(thewaysinwhichplanetsandcometsareformed,forinstance)werecouchedin
impossibletounderstandtermssuchas'cruosicforce','coloricsubstance'and'afferentandefferent
fluxionsofessence'.Inaddition,hebitterlyattackedorthodoxscience,whichsoughttoimposeits
erroneousviewofrealityona'credulouspublic'.Helikenedhimself'(asdoesalmosteverypseudo
scientist)tothegreatinnovatorsofthepastwhofounditdifficulttogettheirviewsaccepted'.(16)
Teed'sscientificpronouncementswerecombinedwithapocalypticreligiouselements,asdemonstrated
inthefollowingpropheticannouncement:
Wearenowapproachingagreatbiologicalconflagration.Thousandsofpeoplewilldematerialize,
throughabiologicalelectromagneticvibration.Thiswillbebroughtaboutthroughthedirectionofone
mind,theonlyonewhohasaknowledgeofthelawofthisbioalchemicaltransmutation.Thechange
willbeaccomplishedthroughtheformationofabiologicalbattery,thelawsofwhichareknownonlyto
oneman.ThismanisElijahtheprophet,ordainedofGod,theShepherdoftheGentilesandthecentral
reincarnationoftheages.FromthisconflagrationwillspringthesonsofGod,thebiuneoffspringof
theLordJesus,theChristandSonofGod.(17)
UnfortunatelyforTeed,hisrevelationsdidnotproveofanygreatinteresttothenativesofUtica,who
tooktocallinghimthe'crazydoctor'andsoughttheirmedicaladviceelsewhere.Withhismedical
practicefacingruinandhiswifealreadyhavinglefthim,Teeddecidedtotaketotheroadtospreadhis
curiousword.Asatravellingorator,hewasaspectacularsuccess(heissaidtohaveearned$60,000in
Californiaalone).(18)HewasparticularlypopularinChicago,wherehesettledin1886andfounded
firsttheCollegeofLifeandlaterKoreshanUnity,asmallcommunalsociety.
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Inthe1890s,TeedboughtasmallpieceoflandjustsouthofFortMeyers,Florida,andbuiltatown
calledEstero.Hereferredtothetownas'theNewJerusalem',predictedthatitwouldbecomethecapital
oftheworld,andtoldhisfollowerstoexpectthearrivalofeightmillionbelievers.Theactualnumber
whoarrivedwassomethingofadisappointment,beingcloserto200;nevertheless,thehappy,efficient
andhardworkingcommunityseemstohavefunctionedextremelywell.Theirstrangeideas
notwithstanding,themembers,maleandfemalealike,weretreatedasequals,whichisnobadthing.
(19)
Teeddiedin1908afterbeingbeatenbytheMarshalofFortMeyers.Hehadclaimedthatafterhisdeath
hewouldbetakenupintoHeavenwithhisfollowers.Theydutifullyheldaprayervigiloverhisbody,
awaitingtheeventthat,unsurprisingly,didnottakeplace.AsTeed'sbodystartedtodecompose,the
countyhealthofficerarrivedandorderedTeed'sburial.Hewasfinallyinterredinaconcretetombonan
islandofftheGulfCoast.In1921ahurricanesweptthetombaway:Teed'sbodywasneverfound.(20)
Asweshallseeshortly,inGermanyatheorycomparabletoTeed'swasdevelopedbyanaviatornamed
PeterBender.AlthoughBenderhimselfwoulddieinaNaziprisoncamp,hisHollowEarthDoctrine
(Hohlweltlehre)foundmanyfollowersintheThirdReich,includingsomenavalleaderswhothought
thatitmightbepossibletospyonBritishnavalmovementsbypointingtheirradarbeamsup!Aswith
themoreconventional(!)HollowEarthTheory,therearemanypeoplewhostillferventlybelievethat
wearelivingontheinsideofahollowsphere.
TheHollowEarthintheTwentiethCentury
InsteadofgoingthewayofotherstrangenotionsaboutthenatureoftheUniverseandcollapsinginthe
faceofempiricalscience,theHollowEarthTheorysurvivedtheendofthenineteenthcentury,refusing
tobebanishedtotherealmofthedefunctanddisproved.Indeed,inspiteofitsuttererroneousness,its
elegance,romanceandairoffantasticmysteryensureditaplaceintheheartsofthosewhofelt
dismayedbythearroganceoforthodoxscience,nottomentionthearroganceoftheworld'sleaders.As
weshallsee,itsverysimplicityenabled(andstillenables)believerstouseitasatemplateforall
mannerofesoteric'truths',conspiracytheoriesand'proofs'ofthesecretnefariousactivitiesof
governments.ThiswillbecomeespeciallyapparentwhenweexaminethecorollarytotheHollowEarth
Theorywhich,forwantofabetterexpression,wemighttermtheSubterraneanCavernTheory.The
ideathattheplanetishoneycombedwithvastcavesystems,manyofwhichareinhabitedbyhighly
advancedbeingsandmonstrouscreatures,developedthroughthecombinationofEasternmysticism
(seeChapterFour)withHollowEarthbeliefs,andresultedinafrighteninglyparanoidandbizarre
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scenariothatincludesthemachinationsofasecret,oneworldgovernment,clandestinealienoccupation
ofourplanet,andattemptstoperfectmindcontrolofEarth'spopulation.Wewillexaminethese
subjects,togetherwiththeperceivedinvolvementoftheNazisintheirdevelopment,alittlelater;butfor
now,letusreturntothestatusoftheHollowEarthTheoryattheopeningofthetwentiethcentury.
ThefirstimportantbookofthetwentiethcenturytodealwiththetheorywasThePhantomofthePoles
byWilliamReed,publishedin1906.Thisbookwasthefirstseriousattempttogatherevidencefora
hollowEarth,the'phantom'ofthetitlebeingareferencetothepoles'existenceonlyaslocationsin
space,andnotpointsontheEarth'ssurface.TheonlymajoralterationReedmadetoearlierversionsof
thetheorywastoreducethesizeoftheopeningsattheNorthandSouthPolestoafewhundredmiles
insteadofseveralthousand.Thereasonforthiswasthatexpeditionshadbeenpushingfurtherand
furtherintothepolarregions,withoutfindinganyevidenceofvastopeningsintotheEarth'sinterior.
Thisrefinementnotwithstanding,Reedreiteratedthebeliefsofearliertheorists:'Theearthishollow.
ThePoles,solongsought,arephantoms.Thereareopeningsatthenorthernandsouthernextremities.
Intheinteriorarevastcontinents,oceans,mountainsandrivers.Vegetableandanimallifeareevident
intheNewWorld,anditisprobablypeopledbyracesunknowntodwellersontheEarth'ssurface.'(21)
In1913,WilliamGardnerpublishedhisbookAJourneytotheEarth'sInterioror,HavethePolesReally
BeenDiscovered?ThebookcontainedthenowfamousillustrationoftheEarthwithhalfofitsnorthern
hemispherecutawaytorevealthecontinentsandoceanswithin.AccordingtoGardner,thecentralsun
was600milesindiameter,anditssurfacewas2,900milesfromtheinnersurfaceoftheEarth.The
polaropeningswere1,400mileswide,andtheplanetaryshellwas800milesthick.LikeReedand
othersbeforehim,GardnerbelievedthatconditionswithintheEarthwereextremelypleasant,akinto
somesemitropicalparadise.LikeSymmes,heattemptedtogathersufficientfundsforanexpedition,
withoutsuccess.AttheendofAJourneytotheEarth'sInterior,Gardnerwroteofhishopethatoneday,
withtheaidofairships,theopeningswouldbeprovedtoexist.(22)Ofcourse,theadventofroutine
mannedflightprovedhistheorywrong,although,asweshallseelaterinthischapter,thewordsofone
famousexplorerwhoflewoverthepoleshavebeentwistedbyhollowEarthbelieverstoimplythingshe
neverintended.
Horbiger'sWorldIceTheory
WhilenotproposingthattheEarthishollow,theWorldIceTheory(Welteislehre,orWEL)ofHans
Horbiger(18601931)amplydemonstrateshowoutrageouslyinaccuratecosmologicalmodelscanbe
usedforpoliticalandpropagandapurposes.SuchwasthecasewithHorbiger'sGlazialKosmogonie,
whichtheVienneseminingengineerwroteincollaborationwithanamateurastronomerandwhich
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MartinGardnercalls'oneofthegreatclassicsinthehistoryofcrackpotscience'.(23)Although
ridiculedbyastronomersinGermanyandbyjustabouteveryoneelseintherestoftheworldthe
WorldIceTheorywastogainafanaticalfollowinginNaziGermany,whereitwasseenasabrilliant
refutationoftheorthodoxmaterialisticsciencepersonifiedbytheJewishscientistAlbertEinstein.
Indeed,accordingtotherocketscientistWillyLey(whomwehavealreadymetinChapterThreeand
willmeetagaininthenextchapter),supportersofthistheoryactedverymuchlikeaminiaturepolitical
party,issuingleaflets,postersandcirculars,andpublishingamonthlyjournal,TheKeytoWorld
Events.(24)PauwelsandBergierofferarevealingsnapshotoftheirbehaviour:
[Horbiger]seemedtohaveconsiderablefundsathisdisposal,andoperatedlikeapartyleader.He
launchedacampaign,withaninformationservice,recruitingoffices,membershipsubscriptions,and
engagedpropagandistsandvolunteersfromamongtheHitlerYouth.Thewallswerecoveredwith
posters,thenewspapersfilledwithannouncements,tractsweredistributedandmeetingsorganized.
Whenastronomersmetinconferencetheirmeetingswereinterruptedbypartisansshouting:'Downwith
theorthodoxscientists!'Professorsweremolestedinthestreets;thedirectorsofscientificinstitutes
werebombardedwithleaflets:'Whenwehavewon,youandyourlikewillbebegginginthegutter.'
Businessmenandheadsoffirmsbeforeengaginganemployeemadehimorhersignadeclaration
saying:'IswearthatIbelieveinthetheoryofeternalice.'(25)
Horbigerwasdeeplyfascinatedbytheoriginandbehaviourofmoons,believingthattheyheldthekey
tothewayinwhichtheUniversefunctions.Forexample,ourpresentmoon,Luna,isnottheonly
satellitethattheEarthhashad:therehavebeenatleastsixothers,allofwhichcrashedintotheEarth,
causingmassivegeologicalupheavals,soHorbigerbelieved.AccordingtoHorbiger,too,spaceisnota
vacuumbutisfilledwithhydrogen,whichhastheeffectofslowingdowncelestialbodiesintheir
courses,causingthemtospiralingraduallytowardstheirparentbody.This,hemaintained,isthe
ultimatefateoftheSolarSystem,withalloftheplanetsfallingintotheSun.Astheyheadinexorably
towardstheirparentstar,smallerplanetsoccasionallyarecapturedbylargerworlds,becoming
temporarysatellites.
TheAustrianengineer'stheoriesweretakenupanddevelopedafterhisdeathbyaBritishmythologist
namedHansSchindlerBellamy,whowroteabookentitledMoons,MythsandManbasedontheWorld
IceTheory.(26)MartinGardnerprovidesuswithanadmirablycondensedsummaryofhisoddbeliefs.
BellamyconcentratedhisresearchontheperiodinwhichthepreLunarmoonorbitedEarth:since
humanitywaspresentatthistime,itwasabletopreservearecordofthemoon'scataclysmiccollision
withtheEarthintheformofmythsandlegends.Bellamyreferstothissatelliteasthe'tertiarymoon'.
AsitspiralledcloserandclosertotheEarth,itsgravitationalfieldpulledtheworld'soceansinto
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a'girdletide',agigantic,raisedbeltofwaterrisingupfromtheequator.Humanitywasforcedbythe
resultingplanetwideglaciationtoliveinmountainousregionsoneithersideofthegirdletide.Asthe
tertiarymoondrewcloser,itsorbitalvelocityincreaseduntilitwascirclingtheEarthsixtimesevery
day,itsscarredandpittedsurfaceapparentlygivingrisetothelegendsofdragonsandotherflying
monsters.
WhenthemoonreachedacertaindistancefromtheEarth,theplanet'sstrongergravitationalfieldtore
thesatelliteapartTheresultwasplanetwiderainsandhailstorms(allmoonshavingthickcoatingsof
iceontheirsurfaces),followedbybombardmentsofgiganticrocksandbouldersasthemoonfinally
disintegrated.Withthemoongone,thegirdletideofwatercollapsed,resultingintheBiblicalDeluge.
Eventually,theEarthrecoveredfromitstitanicbruising,andthisperiodoftranquillitygaverisetothe
legendsofaGoldenAgeandearthlyParadise.However,withthearrivalofthepresentmoon,Luna,
about13,500yearsago,chaosreignedonceagain,withearthquakes,axialshiftsandglaciation
disfiguringthefaceoftheplanet.AccordingtoBellamy,theAtlanteancivilisationwasdestroyedinthis
cataclysm.HealsobelievedthattheBookofRevelationisactuallyahistoricalaccountofthe
destructionofthetertiarymoon,andGenesisadescriptionoftheEarth'srecoveryfollowingthe
collision.
Forhisownpart,HorbigerclaimedthatLunaiscoveredwithacoatingofice140milesthick,andthat
icealsocoversMercury,VenusandMars.Infact,thefamous'canals'onMars(nowknowntobean
opticalillusion)are,inHorbiger'swarpedcosmology,cracksonthesurfaceofa250miledeepfrozen
seaontheMartiansurface.TheUniverse,Horbigermaintained,waspackedwithgiganticblocksofice,
theactionofwhichaccountedforthemajorityofastronomicalevents.TheMilkyWay,forinstance,
wasactuallyaringofenormousblocksofice,nothundredsofmillionsofstarsasthedoctored
photographsoforthodoxastronomyimplied.Likemoons,theblocksoficealsoencounterresistance
fromthehydrogenwithwhichspaceisfilled,andalsospiralintotheSun,causingsunspotswhenthey
hit.
Ofcourse,thefactthatatheorywasidioticwasnobarriertoitssuccessintheThirdReich,andthe
WorldIceTheorywaseagerlyembracedanddisseminatedbythePropagandaMinistryWillyLey
recordssomeofthestatementsmadebyrepresentativesofthecultofWELinitsliterature:
OurNordicancestorsgrewstronginiceandsnow;beliefintheWorldIceisconsequentlythenatural
heritageofNordicMan.
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JustasitneededachildofAustriancultureHitler!toputtheJewishpoliticiansintheirplace,soit
neededanAustriantocleansetheworldofJewishscience.
TheFuhrer,byhisverylife,hasprovedhowmuchasocalled'amateur'canbesuperiortoselfstyled
professionals;itneededanother'amateur'togiveuscompleteunderstandingoftheuniverse.(27)
Gardner,writinginthe1950s,endshisdiscussionofHorbigerwiththeamusingcomment(fromour
presentperspective)that'theCosmicIceTheorywillfinddisciplesuntilthefirstspaceshiplandsonthe
crateredsurfaceofanicelessmoon'.(28)Hewascertainlycorrect,andHorbigerwascertainly
incorrect.However,itisdifficulttoresistthetemptationtonotetherecentdiscoveryoflargeice
depositsatthelunarpoles,andthetheorythattheyaretheresultofcometaryimpactscometsbeing,
ofcourse,giganticlumpsofice...
ThePhantomUniverse
TheislandofRugenintheBalticwasthesiteofoneofthemostbizarreandmisguidedstrategiesofthe
SecondWorldWar.InApril1942,anexpeditionundertheleadershipoftheinfraredrayspecialistDr
HeinzFisherandequippedwithstateoftheartradarsetslandedonRugenandbegantomakeaseries
ofobservations.Fisherorderedtheradarsetstobepointedatanangleof45'intothesky,aposition
theymaintainedforseveraldays.ThereasonforthispeculiarexperimentwastoprovethattheEarthis
notaspherefloatinginspacebutisactuallyabubblesetinaninfinityofrock.Withtheradarpointed
upwardsata45'angle,itwashopedthatthebeamswouldbereflectedbackfromobjectsatsome
distancealongtheinternalsurfaceofthebubble.ItwasalsohopedthattheradarwouldprovideFisher's
teamwithanimageoftheBritishFleetatScapaFlow.(29)
AccordingtoProfessorGerardS.KuiperoftheMountPalomarObservatory,whowroteseveralarticles
ontheHollowEarthTheory:'HighofficialsintheGermanAdmiraltyandAirForcebelievedinthe
theoryofahollowEarth.TheythoughtthiswouldbeusefulforlocatingthewhereaboutsoftheBritish
Fleet,becausetheconcavecurvatureoftheEarthwouldfacilitatelongdistanceobservationbymeans
ofinfraredrays,whicharelesscurvedthanvisiblerays.'(30)
Althoughtheyarenotthemostreliableofsources,PauwelsandBergierneverthelessmakeagoodpoint
intheiroccultclassicTheMorningoftheMagicianswhentheynotethatifourmoderncivilisationis
unifiedbyanything,itisbythefundamentalagreementwereachovercosmologyinotherwords,we
areatleastabletoagreethattheEarthisanearsphericalobjectdriftinginanimmensevoidseveral
billionlightyearsinradius.Itisoneofthemany
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indicatorsofthebafflingandterrifyingperversityoftheNazisthatsomanyofthembelievedinthis
ridiculousinversionofreality:
ThedefendersoftheHollowEarththeory,whoorganizedthefamousparascientificexpeditiontothe
islandofRugen,believedthatwearelivinginsideaglobefixedintoamassofrockextendingto
infinity,adheringtoitsconcavesides.Theskyisinthemiddleofthisglobe;itisamassofbluishgas,
withpointsofbrilliantlightwhichwemistakeforstars.ThereareonlytheSunandtheMoonboth
infinitelysmallerthantheorthodoxastronomersthink.ThisistheentireUniverse.Weareallalone,
surroundedbyrock.(31)
Theoriginofthisidea,asappliedinNaziGermany,canbetracedto1918andayoungGermanaviator,
PeterBender,whocameuponsomeoldcopiesofCyrusTeed'speriodical,TheSwordofFire.Bender
developedand'refined'thetheory(ifsuchatermcanbeused)intowhathecalledtheHohlweltlehre
(HollowWorldTheory),alsoenlistingthestrangeideasofMarshallB.Gardnerwhohadclaimedthat
theSunisactuallyinsidetheEarthonwhosesurfacewearekeptnotbygravitybutbythepressureof
sunlight.(32)BenderclaimedthatthehollowbubbleoftheEarthwasthesamesizeaswebelieveour
sphericalEarthtobe,withsolarradiationkeepingeverythingpressedtotheconcavesurface.Beneath
ourfeetisaninfinitemassofrock;aboveourheadstheatmospherestretchesto45miles,beyondwhich
thereisahardvacuum.Atthecentreofthisvacuumtherearethreeobjects:theSun,theMoonandthe
PhantomUniverse,whichisaglobeofbluegascontainingtheshiningpointsoflightastronomers
mistakeforstars.
ItisnightoverapartofthisconcaveEarthwhenthebluemasspassesinfrontoftheSun,andthe
shadowofthismassontheMoonproduceseclipses...ThistheoryofBender'sbecamepopularround
aboutthe1930s.TherulersofGermanyandofficersoftheAdmiraltyandAirForceHighCommand
believedthattheEarthishollow.(33)
TheRugenexperimentwas,ofcourse,amiserablefailure.TheNazihierarchyturnedtheirbacksonthe
HohlweltlehreandonPeterBenderhimself,whowassenttohisdeathinaconcentrationcamp.
Horbiger'sWelteislehre,withitsequallyridiculousdoctrineoftheeternalconflictbetweeniceandfire
inaninfiniteUniverse,wontheday.
TheMuchabusedAdmiralByrd
FewtwentiethcenturypersonalitieshavebeenmorecloselyconnectedwiththeHollowEarthTheory
nottomentionthetheorythatUFOsaremanmadeandarebasedinAntarcticathanthegreatArctic
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andAntarcticexplorerRearAdmiralRichardE.Byrd.Asweshallseeinthissection,andinthefinal
chapterofthisbook,AdmiralByrd'sexploitsinthefastnessoftheSouthPolarregionshavebecomethe
stuffoflegend,notonlyinthehistoryoftheexplorationofourworldbutalsointhefieldsofufology,
cryptohistoryandparanoiacconspiracytheory.
BornintoanillustriousfamilyatWinchester,Virginiain1888,ByrdenrolledattheUnitedStatesNaval
Academyattheageoftwenty,andreceivedhiscommissionfouryearslater,in1912.Helearnedtofly
intheFirstWorldWar,andretainedaloveofandfascinationwithflightfortherestofhislife.
Followingthewarof19141918,heconductedanumberofexperimentsinflightoverwaterandoutof
sightofland(andthuswithoutanylandmarksbywhichtonavigate),usingvariousscientific
instrumentssuchasbubblesextantsanddriftindicators.Hispioneeringworkwiththisaspectof
navigationledtohisbeingappointedbytheUSNavytoplanthefirsttransatlanticflightin1919.The
tripwasmadebytheUSNavyFlyingBoatsNC1,NC3andNC4(theNC4beingthefirstplaneto
completetheflight,viaNewfoundlandandtheAzores,inMayofthatyear).(34)
Sevenyearslater,in1926,ByrdandFloydBennettbecamethefirstmentoflyovertheNorthPole.
ByrdhadbeenappointednavigatorontheproposedtranspolarflightfromAlaskatoSpitzbergenofthe
USNavydirigibleShenandoah;buttheflightwascancelledbyPresidentCoolidge.Upontheir
returntoNewYork,ByrdwasaskedbyRoaldAmundsenwhathisnextobjectivewouldbe.His
responsewasmatteroffact:toflyovertheSouthPole.
Byrd'sfirstAntarcticExpedition(19281930)wasthefirsttoutiliseaircraft,aerialcamerasand
snowmobiles.WithhisthreeplanesaFordTrimotormonoplane,aFokkerUniversalandaFairchild
K3monoplaneByrdbecamethefirstexplorertocombineaerialreconnaissancewithgroundsurveys
(makinghisexpeditionmoreimportantthanthatofSirHubertWilkins,whohadflowninAntarctica
tenweekspreviously).
TheSecondByrdAntarcticExpedition(19331935)was,likethefirst,privatelyfinanced,thankstothe
continuingAmericanfascinationwithpolarexploration.Formostofthewinterof1934,Byrdremained
aloneinameteorologicalhutsome120milesintotheAntarcticinterior,conductingobservationsofthe
weatherandaurora.Theseobservationswerethefirstoftheirkind,andnearlycostByrdhislife:hewas
rescuedfromthehutbyotherexpeditionmemberswhenhefellvictimtocarbonmonoxidepoisoning.
TheUnitedStatesAntarcticServiceExpedition(19391941)wasledbyByrd,butfinancedbytheUS
Government.
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ItsobjectiveswerecontainedwithinanorderfromPresidentRooseveltinNovember1939,whichwas
receivedbyByrdfivedayslateronboardhisship,theNorthStar,inthePanamaCanalZone.Roosevelt
wantedtwobasestobeestablished:EastBasewouldbesetupnearCharcotIslandorAlexanderILand;
WestBasewouldbebuiltnearKingEdwardVIILandorontheBayofWhales.Theprincipalobjective
oftheexpeditionwasthemappingoftheAntarcticcoastlinebetweenmeridians72W'and148'W,with
additionalmappingtobeundertakenonthewestcoastoftheWeddellSeabetweenCapeEielsonand
theLuitpoldCoast.
Theexpeditionwasagreatsuccess,withmostofthemapping(700milesofcoastline)beingachieved,
andtheestablishingoftwobases1,600milesapartbyair.Inaddition,numerousscientificobservations
weremadeonthesummitoftheAntarcticPeninsula,includingseismic,cosmicray,auroral,biological,
tidalandmagneticsurveys.ThebaseswereevacuatedwiththeoutbreakoftheSecondWorldWar,
duringwhichByrdreturnedtoactiveserviceastheChiefofNavalOperations.
Intheearlypostwaryears,ByrdcontributedtotheorganisationoftheUSNavyAntarctic
DevelopmentsProjectof19461947,alsoknownas'OperationHighjump'.Theprojectwasoneofthe
firstmilitaryeventsoftheColdWar,andwasdesignedtoofferUSpersonnelexperienceofoperatingin
polarconditions.OperationHighjumpdeployed4,700men,33aircraft,13shipsand10caterpillar
tractors,andalsosawthefirstuseofhelicoptersandicebreakersinAntarctica.SinceOperation
Highjumphasbecomeoneofthemostnotoriousandsignificanteventsinthecryptohistoryofpost
warNaziactivities,wemustleaveanindepthexaminationforthefinalchapter.Fornow,letusturnour
attentiontothereasonsforRichardByrdbeingsocloselyidentifiedwiththeconceptofahollowEarth.
TheblamecanbelaidfirmlyatthedoorsofthreecentralfiguresintheHollowEarthdebate:Amadeo
Giannini,RaymondBernardandRayPalmer.AllthreemadeastonishingclaimsregardingRear
AdmiralByrd'svoyageovertheNorthPolein1947avoyagethatdidnot,infact,takeplace:wehave
alreadyseenthathewasnotintheArcticin1947butinAntarctica.(Gianninigotaroundthis
inconvenientfactbyclaimingthatByrdmadeasecrettriptotheArcticin1947.)Beforewemeetthese
threefascinatingcharacters,wemustpausetoconsidertheirclaimsthat,regardlessoftheirveracity,
havebecomecentralintheargumentforahollowEarthandwhicharestillcitedbyproponentsofthis
bizarretheory.
TheclaimsarisefromcertaincommentsmadebyByrdabouttheNorthPolarregions.InFebruary
1947,Byrdreportedlysaid:'I'dliketoseethatlandbeyondthePole.ThatareabeyondthePoleisthe
centreofthegreatunknown.'Thiswasfollowedbyhismythicalflightinthatyear,whichtookhim
1,700milesbeyondtheNorthPole.Duringthisflight,heissaidtohavereportedbyradiothathesaw
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vastareasoficefreelandwithmountains,forests,lakes,riversandlushvegetation.Heevensawalarge
animal,resemblingamammoth,lumberingthroughtheundergrowth!(35)Nineyearslater,inJanuary
1956,ByrdissaidtohavemadesimilarlymonumentaldiscoveriesduringaUnitedStatesexpeditionto
Antarctica,duringwhichthey'accomplishedaflightof2,700milesfromthebaseatMcMurdoSound,
whichis400mileswestoftheSouthPole,andpenetratedalandextentof2,300milesbeyondthePole'.
(36)Uponhisreturn,Byrdstatedthattheexpeditionhad'openedupavastnewland'.Shortlybeforehis
deathin1957,Byrdreferredto'thatenchantedcontinentinthesky,landofeverlastingmystery'.(37)
ForbelieversinthehollowEarth,thesestatementswereagodsend:apparentlycorroborativetestimony
fromahighlyrespectedexplorer.Theinterpretationwasstraightforward:theEarthreallydoeshavea
vastopeningateachPole,leadingtothehollowinterior,anditwasintotheseopeningsthatByrdhad
flown.The'vastnewland'wasactuallythelipoftheSouthPolaropening,thecurvatureofwhichwas
sogradualthatByrddidnotrealisehewaswellonhiswayintotheinnerEarth.The'enchanted
continentinthesky'wasnoneotherthanthefabulousRainbowCity,homeofthehiddensuper
civilisationthatoperatedtheUFOs.(38)
Asthemoreresponsiblecommentatorsonthissubjectstate(oftenwithnoticeablerelish),thereis
absolutelynoevidencethattheEarthisahollowglobe,andthestatementsattributedtoRearAdmiral
Byrddonotrefertojourneys(wittingorunwitting)intothePolaropenings.AsW.A.Harbinsonand
JoscelynGodwinstate,the'greatunknown'andthe'landbeyondthePole'aremerelydescriptionsof
thosepartsofAntarcticathathadyettobeexplored;the'enchantedcontinentinthesky'was'nomore
thanadescriptionofaphenomenoncommoninAntarcticconditions:themiragelikereflectionofthe
landbelow'.(39)
HarbinsoncontinueswithhissweepingawayofthenonsensethathasdevelopedaroundByrd's
exploratoryflights:
[W]hat,precisely,didRearAdmiralByrdsay?Inextractsfromhisjournal,publishedintheNational
GeographicmagazineofOctober1947,hewrote:'AsIwritethis,wearecirclingtheSouthPole...The
Poleisapproximately2500feet[760metres]belowus.OntheothersideofthePolewearelookinginto
thatvastunknownareawehavestruggledsohardtoreach.'
DidByrdclaimtohaveflown1,700miles(2,750kilometres)beyondtheNorthPoleinFebruary1947?
No.DescribinghisflightbeyondtheSouthPoleon16February1947hewrote:'Weflewto
approximatelylatitude88'30'south,anestimated100miles[160kilometres].Thenwemade
approximatelyarightangleturneastwarduntilwereachedthe45theastmeridian,whenweturned
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again,thistimeonthewaybacktoLittleAmerica.'
DidByrdreportseeingonhisjourney,noticeandsnow,butlandareasconsistingofmountains,forests,
greenvegetation,lakesandrivers:and,intheundergrowth,astrangeanimalthatresembleda
mammoth?No.Accordingtohisjournal:'Altogetherwehadsurveyednearly10,000squaremiles
[25,900squarekilometres]of"thecountrybeyondthePole".Aswastobeexpected,althoughit
issomewhatdisappointingtoreport,therewasnoobservablefeatureofanysignificancebeyondthe
Pole.Therewasonlytherollingwhitedesertfromhorizontohorizon.'(40)
Itisafundamentalfeatureof'paranormal'debatethatbelieverswillalwaysfindawayaroundsceptics'
arguments,andalso,ofcourse,thatscepticswillalwaysfindawaytorubbishtheevidenceprovidedby
believers.TheHollowEarththeoryisnoexception,andRearAdmiralByrd'svoyagesofPolar
discoverycontinuetobepresentedasincontrovertibleproofoftheexistenceofthePolaropeningsand
thefabulouslandsandcreatureswithin,inspiteofthefactthatthosevoyages,epochmakingasthey
were,revealedlittlemorethanice.Asweshallnowsee,Byrd'sflightsservedastheinspirationforever
moreelaboratevariationsonthebasicHollowEarththeme.
AmadeoGianniniandthePhysicalContinuityoftheUniverse
ThefirstwritertoappropriateRearAdmiralByrd'spolarexperiences(realorotherwise)insupportof
hisowncosmologicaltheorieswasAmadeoGiannini,whohadhadakindofextrasensoryrevelation
aboutthestructureoftheEarthandthesurroundingUniversewhilewalkingthroughaforestinNew
EnglandinOctober1926.LikeSymmesbeforehim,Gianninispentmanyyearsattemptingtogainboth
officialrecognitionforhistheoryfromorthodoxscientistsandastronomersandadequatefundsto
mountanexpeditiontothePolarregionstoproveit.AgainlikeSymmes,hewasfrustratedinboth
endeavours.
In1959heproducedabookentitledWorldsBeyondthePolesthatwaspublishedbytheNewYork
vanitypublisherVantagePressatacosttoGianniniof$3,000andthatsetout,inconfusingandbadly
writtenprose,hisargumentconcerningwhathecalledthe'PhysicalContinuityoftheUniverse'.The
theorywasbizarreevenbythestandardsoftheHollowEarththinkingthathadspawnedBender's
Hohlweltlehre.AccordingtoGiannini,ourbeliefthattheEarthisaspherefloatinginspaceistheresult
ofanopticalillusion:theEarthisactuallyphysicallyconnectedtotherestoftheUniverseatthePoles.
InGiannini'sview,Byrd,inflyingbeyondthePoles,hadmanagedtoreachthelandsconnectingthis
worldtothenext.Indeed,accordingtoDavidHatcherChildress,Gianniniwasthefirsttoquotethe
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greatexplorer'swordsaboutthe'landbeyondthepole'andthe'greatunknown'.Gianninistated:'Itmust
beconcededthatthelandbeyondtowhichAdmiralByrdreferredhadtobelandbeyondandoutof
boundsoftheoreticEarthextent.IfithadbeenconsideredpartofthemathematizedEarthitwouldnot
havebeenreferredtoasthe"centerofthegreatunknown."(41)Aswehavealreadynoted,itisa
considerableleapoflogictotakeapoeticdescriptionofanunexploredlandandclaimthatitconnotesa
holloworinfinitelyextensiveplanet.
RayPalmer,RichardShaverandtheHorrorBeneathOurFeet
Anxiousthathisrevolutionarytheoryshouldreachaswideanaudienceaspossible,Gianninisenta
copyofWorldsBeyondthePolestothemanmostlikelytogiveitasympatheticreading:Raymond
Palmer.BorninMilwaukee,Wisconsinin1910,PalmerwouldbecomesomethingofaRenaissance
maninthefieldsofthebizarreandunusual,writingsciencefictionstories,editingpulpmagazinesand
foundingFate,theworld'slongestrunningjournaloftheparanormal.
Ithastobesaidthatlifedidnotdealhimthebestofhands:attheageofsevenhewasrunoverbya
truckandhisbackwasbroken;twoyearslater,afailedspinaloperationlefthimwithahunchback,and
this,combinedwithagrowthhormonedeficiency,resultedinanadultheightofjustfourfeet.
Understandablyenough,thisledhimtobecomesomethingofaloner,withavoraciousappetitefor
reading,particularlythefantasticromancesthatwerebecomingincreasinglypopularinthe1920sand
1930s.PalmerwasalsoagreatfanofHugoGernsback'spulpsciencefictionmagazineAmazing
Stones,thefirstofitskind.(Theterm'pulp'comesfromthelowgradepaperonwhichthesepopular
magazineswereprinted.)Palmerorganisedthefirsteversciencefictionfanclub,theScience
CorrespondenceClub,andfoundedthefirstSFfanzine,TheComet,in1930.Overthenextfewyears,
hewroteanumberofstoriesforthepulpsbeforebecomingeditorofAmazingStoriesin1938.Atthat
time,themagazinewasinseriousdifficulties,butPalmerturneditaroundwithanemphasison
romantic,suspensefulandpicaresqueadventures.Underhiseditorship,themagazine'scirculationrose
byseveraltensofthousands.(42)
TheprincipalreasonfortheimprovementinthefortunesofAmazingStorieswasPalmer'sknackof
spottingwhathisreadingpublicwantedandgivingittothem,inspiteofcriticismfrommanyofthe
'hard'SFfanswholaterdesertedhimforJohnW.Campbell'sAstoundingScienceFiction,which
publishedthetechnologyorientatedfictionofpeoplelikeRobertHeinlein,IsaacAsimovandA.E.van
Vogt.However,thesuccessorfailureofmagazinesdependsverymuchontheirperformanceatthe
newsstands,andbythatcriterionAmazingwasdoingjustfine.Palmernoticedthathisreadersseemed
fascinatedbytheideaoflostcivilisationsnottomentionthepaintingsofnubileyoungwomenin
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skintightcostumesthatfrequentlygracedthemagazine'scovers.Thissexualimagery,combinedwith
cosmicmysticism,seemedtoPalmerapotentiallylucrativemixture,anditdidnotescapehisnoticethat
AmazingalwaysseemedtojumpincirculationwheneveritfeaturedastoryaboutAtlantisorLemuria.
ThisledPalmertowonderhowbesthemightcapitaliseonthiscuriousinterestamonghisreaders.In
late1943,hefoundtheanswerintheformofastrangeletterfromamannamedRichardShaver.
BorninBerwick,Pennsylvaniain1907,RichardSharpeShaverwasveryfondofplayingprankson
people,whichearnedhimasomewhatdubiousreputation.Asachild,hehadhadtwoimaginary
companions,onegood,theotherevil,whobecamemorerealtohimthanthelivingpeoplearoundhim.
(43)Aftergraduatingfromhighschoolheworkedforameatpackerandthenatreesurgeonbefore
movingtoDetroitandenrollingintheWickerSchoolofArt.In1930,Shaverjoinedacommunistgroup
calledtheJohnReedClub(namedaftertheAmericancorrespondentwhohadreportedontheRussian
Revolution).(44)Likejustabouteveryoneelse,Shaverfellonhardtimeswiththearrivalofthe
Depression,butmanagedtoekeoutalivingasaparttimeartinstructorattheWickerArtSchool,
supplementinghismeagreincomebygoingtoaparkandsellingsketchesofpassersbyfor25cents
each.
In1933,ShavermarriedafellowartstudentnamedSophieGurivinchwhohadcomeoriginallyfrom
KievintheUkraine.Theyhadadaughterthesameyear,andShavertookajobasawelderinHighland
Park,Michigan.Hecontinuedinthisjobforaboutayearuntilhesufferedheatstroke,lostthepowerof
speechandwasadmittedtotheYpsilantiStateHospitalfortwoweeks.InFebruary1934,Shaver's
brotherTate,towhomhehadbeenveryclose,died.Hisbrother'sdeathaffectedShaververybadlyand
hebecameincreasinglydepressedandparanoid,claimingthatpeoplewerefollowinghim.However,as
Childressnotes,(45)asaknowncommunist,Shavermaywellhavebeengenuinelyundersurveillance.
ShaverreceivedanotherblowwhenhiswifeSophiediedinamysteriousaccidentinherapartment
(theywerelivingseparatelyatthetime).WhileShaverreturnedtohisweldingjob,theirdaughterwent
tolivewithSophie'sparents(whoapparentlytoldherthatherfather,too,wasdead).(46)Forthenext
fewyears,ShavertravelledaroundNorthAmerica,findingtheoddjobhereandthereandmarrying
again.Themarriagewasshortlived,hiswifeleavinghimwhenshefoundpapersindicatingthathehad
beeninasanitarium.ShavermovedbacktoPennsylvaniaandmarriedforathirdtime.
In1936,hecameacrossanarticleinScienceWorldmagazine.Entitled'TheTrueBasisofToday's
Alphabet'andwrittenbyamannamedAlbertF.Yeager,thearticleclaimedthatthereweresixlettersin
ouralphabetthatrepresentedconceptsinadditiontosounds.Thesesixletterscouldthusbeusedasa
keytounlockthehiddenmeaningsinwords.Inresponsetothisarticle,ShaverwrotetoScienceWorld,
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claimingthatheunderstoodthehiddenconceptsbehindallthelettersofthealphabet.Hecalledthis
conceptuallanguage'Mantong'.
AfterseveralyearsofworkwiththeMantonglanguage,ShaverwrotethefollowinglettertoAmazing
StonesinSeptember1943:
Sirs:
Amsendingthisinhopesyouwillinsertitinanissuetokeepitfromdyingwithme.Itwouldarousea
lotofdiscussion.Amsendingyouthelanguagesothatsometimeyoucanhaveitlookedatbysomeone
inthecollegeorafriendwhoisastudentofantiquetimes.Thelanguageseemstometobedefinite
proofoftheAtlanteanlegend.
AgreatnumberofourEnglishwordshavecomedownintactasromanticromantic'scienceofman
lifepatterningbycontrol.'Trocaderotroseeadero'goodoneseeabadone'appliednowtotheatre.
Thisisperhapstheonlycopyofthislanguageinexistenceanditrepresentsmyworkoveralongperiod
ofyears.Itisanimmenselyimportantfind,suggestingthegodlegendshaveabaseinsomewiserrace
thanmodernman;buttounderstandittakesagoodheadasitcontainsmultithoughtslikemanypuns
onthesamesubject.Itistoodeepforordinarymanwhothinksitisamistake.Alittlestudyreveals
ancientwordsinEnglishoccurringmanytimes.Itshouldbesavedandplacedinwisehands.Ican't,
willyou?Itreallyhasanimmensesignificance,andwillperhapsputmerightinyourthoughtsagainif
youwillreallyunderstandthis.
Ineedalittleencouragement.
R.S.Shaver,Barto,Pennsylvania(47)
EnclosedwiththisletterwastheRomanalphabettogetherwithitsassociatedMantongconcepts,which
ChildressreprintsinhisexcellentbookLostContinentsandtheHollowEarth:
AAnimal(usedANforshort)
BBe(toexistoftencommand)
CSee
D(alsousedDE)Disintegrantenergy;Detrimental(mostimportantsymbolin
language)
EEnergy(anallconcept,includingmotion)
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FFecund(useFEasinfemalefecundman)
GGenerate(usedGEN)
HHuman(somedoubtonthisone)
ISelf;Ego(sameasourI)
J(seeG)(sameasgenerate)
KKinetic(forceofmotion)
LLife
MMan
NChild;Spore;Seed
OOrifice(asourceconcept)
PPower
QQuest(asquestion)
R(usedasAR)Horror(symbolofdangerousquantityofdisforceinthe
object)
S(SIS)(animportantsymbolofthesun)
T(usedasTE)(themostimportantsymbol;originofthecrosssymbol)Integration;Forceofgrowth
(theintakeofTiscauseofgravity;theforceis
T;ticmeantscienceofgrowth;remainsascreditword)
UYou
VVital(usedasVI)(thestuffMesmercallsanimalmagnetism;sexappeal)
WWill
XConflict(crossedforcelines)
YWhy
ZZero(aquantityofenergyofTneutralizedbyanequalquantityofD)(48)
Byapplyingthesestrangehiddenmeaningsbehindthelettersofthealphabet,onecanperceiveeven
strangerhiddenmeaningsbehindvariouswords.Childresssuppliesanumberofexamples,butweneed
onlydetainourselveswithacouple.ThewordBAD,forinstance,canbeinterpretedas'Beade',tobea
destructiveforce.LADYisinterpretedas'Layde',acomplimentarytermmeaningtoallaydepression.
Thereaderwillnotethatinbothoftheseexamples,theletterD(DE)isused,meaningunpleasant,
destructiveanddetrimental.ThelettersDandTwereofgreatimportancetoShaver,asweshallsee
shortly.
Atthispoint,itisworthnotingapeculiarsimilaritybetweenShaver'sstrangeinterpretationofthe
alphabetandthespuriouspowerandsignificanceperceivedbyRudolfJohnGorsleben,theEdda
SocietyandKarlMariaWiligutintherunesofNorsemythology(seeChaptersOneandSix).Ineach
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case,ahiddenhistoryofhumanitywastobediscoveredbycarefulexaminationofthecomponentsof
writtenlanguagewiththeaid,thatis,ofanoverheatedimagination.Itmustbeadded,however,thatin
Shaver'scasetheresultwasharmless,ifsomewhatluridentertainment;whilethehistoricaland
linguisticfantasisingoftheEddaSocietyanditsmembersbecameoneofthemotivatorsofracial
hatred.
Shaver'sletterlandedonthedeskofAmazing's,associateeditorHowardBrowne.Perhaps
unsurprisingly,hethrewitintohiswastebasketassoonashehadfinishedreadingit,dismissingShaver
asacrackpot.(49)Palmer,however,wasintriguedanddecidedtopublishboththeletterandthe
accompanyingalphabetintheDecember1943issueofAmazingStones.AlongsideShaver'smaterial
wasacaptionthatread:'Wepresentthisinterestingletterconcerninganancientlanguagewithno
comment,excepttosaythatweappliedthelettermeaningtotheindividuallettersofmanyoldroot
wordsandpropernamesandgotanamazing"sense"outofthem.Perhapsifreadersinterestedwereto
applyhisformulatomoreoftheserootwords,wewill[sic]beabletodiscoveriftheformulaapplies...'
(50)
PalmerprovedmoreperspicaciousthanhiscolleagueHowardBrowne:theDecemberissueprompted
hundredsofpeopletowriteinclaimingthattheMantongalphabetreallydidreleasethehidden
meaningsofwords.Encouragedbythisresponse,PalmerwrotetoShaveraskingformoreinformation
ontheMantonglanguageandhowhisunderstandingofithaddeveloped.Shaverrespondedbysending
a10,000wordmanuscriptevocativelyentitled'AWarningtoFutureMan'.Palmerfeltthatthiswasthe
circulationboosterhehadbeenlookingfor:thearticledetailedthehiddenhistoryoftheEarth,
completewithancientspacefaringcivilisations,lostcontinents,sex,violenceandhighadventure.
Shaver'swritingstyle,however,wasnotasimpressiveashissubjectmatter,andPalmerdecidedto
rewrite'AWarningtoFutureMan',turningitintoa31,000wordstorywhichheretitled'IRemember
Lemuria!'andpublishedintheMarch1945issueofAmazingStones.(51)
Inthisstoryandthemanyothersthatfollowedit(allofwhichwerebilledastrue),Shaverpainteda
terrifyingpictureofaworldhoneycombedwithvastcavernsandtunnelsystemscontainingenormous
citiesandadvancedtechnology.Shaver'sawarenessofthisworldhadbegunwhilehewasawelderin
HighlandParkin1932.Herealisedthatoneoftheweldinggunswassomehowallowinghimtoreadthe
thoughtsofhisfellowworkersinthefactory.Asifthiswerenotbizarreenough,healsobegantopick
upthethoughtsofevilcreatureslivingfarundergroundcreaturesthatapparentlyhadthepowerto
kidnapsurfacepeopleandsubjectthemtounthinkabletorturesintheirsecretundergroundcaverns.
'ThevoicescamefrombeingsIcametorealizewerenothuman;notnormalmodernmenatall.They
livedingreatcavesfarbeneaththesurface.ThesealienmindsIlistenedtoseemedtoknowthatthey
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hadgreatpower,seemedconsciousofthefacttheywereevil.'(52)Thisrealisationprovedtoomuchfor
Shaver:hequithisjobandembarkedontheaimlesswanderingsthroughNorthAmericamentioned
earlier.Duringthistimehewastormentedbyinvisible,deleteriousraysprojectedathimbytheevil
subterraneans.Eventually,however,hewascontactedbyabeautifulyoungwomannamedNydiawho
wasamemberofanothersubterraneangroupopposedtotheevilones.Needlesstosay,theybecame
loversandwithherhelpShaverwasabletogainentryintotheunderworldandaccessthe'thought
records'thatcontainedthefantastichistoryoftheEarth.
Accordingtothethoughtrecords,theSunwasoriginallyahugeplanetwhosecoalbedswereignitedby
ameteorstrike,transformingitintoastar.Sincethisstarburnedcoal(!),itradiatedclean,positive
energy.TheEarthwasthencolonisedbytwospacefaringcivilisations,theTitansandtheAtlans,who
possessedmarvelloustechnologicaldevices'suchasthebenray,whichbroadcasthealingenergies;the
stimray,whichprolongedandheightenedsexualpleasure;thetelesolidograph,whichcouldbroadcast
threedimensionalimages;thepenetray,usedtoobserveeventsfromvastdistances;andthetelepathic
augmenterortelaug,whichtransmittedthought.'(53)
TheAtlansandTitanscalledtheEarthLemuria,andlivedinUtopianblissuntil20,000yearsago,
whentheSun'soutershellwasdestroyedanditentereditscurrentphase,producingharmfulradiation,
calledd,deordis.Thisdisintegrantenergyistheoppositeoftorte,theintegrative,formativeenergy
inShaver'sdualisticworldview.Theirimmortalityunderthreat,theAtlansandTitansexcavated
gargantuancavernsandtunnelsfarbelowLemuria/Earth'ssurface,inwhichtheybuiltfantastically
hugecities,thelargestofwhichwoulddwarfNewYorkorLondon.Thesesubterraneanrealmsshielded
theentireTitanandAtlanpopulation,some50billionindividuals.However,theundergroundcitiesdid
notproveapermanentsolutionand12,000yearsagoLemuria/Earthwasabandonedinfavourof
youngerstarsystems.(54)
ManyLemurianshadalreadyfallenvictimtothedebilitatingeffectsoftheSun'sharmfulradiationand
wereforcedtoremainonEarth.Someofthemmovedtothesurface(thereaderwillnotbesurprisedto
learnthattheseweretheancestorsofHomosapiens),whiletheoneswhoremainedinthesubterranean
realmsdegeneratedintoaraceofdisfigured,idioticandverymaliciousbeingsknownasthe'dero'.This
wordisacontractionof'abandondero',andisbasedontheMantongwords'de'(meaningnegativeor
destructive)and'ro'(meaningsubservient).Hencethederoswere,literally,controlledbynegative
forces.ThegrouptowhichShaver'sexoticgirlfriendbelongedareknownasthe'tero',orintegrativero,
'te'denotingpositiveorconstructiveenergy.Thetero,whosomehowmanagedtoavoidcontamination
bytheSun'sradiation,arelockedinaconstantstrugglewiththeirunpleasantcousins.
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AccordingtoShaver,thefiendish,sadisticandpervertedderokidnapthousandsofhaplesssurface
dwellerseveryyear,andtakethemintotheircaverncitieswheretheyaretortured,sexuallyabused,
usedasslavelabouroreaten.Althoughfundamentallystupidandbrutal,thederoneverthelessknow
howtousethefabulousmachineryleftbehindbytheLemuriansandareabletospreadeviland
destructionthroughouttheworldbymeansofdisrays.AsBruceLanierWrightwrylynotes:'Ifyou
doubtthis,youmaybesufferingfrombraindamage.Vastnumbersofsurfaceworldersyou,me,and
mostcertainlyRichardShaverhavebeenslylylobotomisedbyraysprojectedfromthecaverns.'(55)
Theresponseto'IRememberLemuria!'wasastonishing.NotonlydidtheMarch1945issueof
AmazingselloutbutPalmerreceivedatorrentofmail,numberingthousandsofletters,manyofwhich
werefrompeopleclaimingtohavehadbizarreexperienceswiththedenizensofthefabulous
subterraneanworld.Oneletter,fromanexAirForcecaptain,readinpart:
Forheaven'ssakedropthewholething!Youareplayingwithdynamite.MycompanionandIfought
ourwayoutofacavewithsubmachineguns.Ihavetwo9inchscarsonmyleftarm...[M]yfriendhas
aholethesizeofadimeinhisrightbiceps.Itwasscarredinside.Howwedon'tknow.Butweboth
believeweknowmoreaboutTheShaverMysterythananyotherpair...[D]on'tprintournames.Weare
notcowards,butwearenotcrazy.(56)
Whiletheabovemayormaynotbetrue(ChildresssuggeststhatPalmerhimselfmayhavefabricated
it),thereisnodoubtthatmanythousandsofpeopleweredeeplyaffectedby'theShaverMystery',and
wrotetoPalmertotellhimso.Manyhadtalesofencounterswithstrangepeoplewhomayhavebeen
deros,whileotherscomplainedthatthey,too,werehearingbizarrevoicesintheirheads.Someeven
claimedtohavevisitedthecavernworlditself.
Bynow,thephrase'paranoidschizophrenia'willsurelyhavesuggesteditselftothereader.Tobesure,
Shaver'sclaimssoundverymuchlikehewassufferingfromthiscondition:thevoicesinthehead
experiencedinconnectionwithamechanicaldevice(theweldinggun)areclassicsymptoms,asisthe
beliefthatunpleasantinfluencesarebeingprojectedatthevictimthroughairducts,pipesandsoon.As
Peeblesnotes,paranoidschizophrenics'commonlybelieveadeathrayiscausinghealthproblems,
destroyingtheirbrain,orcausingthemtohearvoices'.(57)Thissoundsremarkablylikewhatthe
haplessShaverwasapparentlygoingthrough,andyetitfallsfarshortofexplainingwhythenumberof
letterstoAmazingStoriesjumpedfrom50permonthbeforetheShaverMysteryto2,500permonth
duringandafter,virtuallyallofwhichmaintainedthatsomethingsinisterandterrifyingreallywas
goingonbeneaththeEarth'ssurface.
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PalmerhimselfwasreluctanttocommithimselfontheveracityofShaver'sclaims.Whileheinvariably
supportedShaver,healsosuggestedthatthederocavernsmightnotexistasphysicallocationsinthis
dimension,butratherontheastralplane.However,Palmerdidmaketheperhapsinevitableclaimthat
hehimselfhadheardthevoicesofthecaverndwellerswhilevisitingShaverandhislastwife,Dorothy,
attheirPennsylvaniahome.Palmerclaimedthatheheardfivedisembodiedvoicesdiscussingthe
dismembermentofahumanbeinginacavernfourmilesbelow.Forhispart,Shavermaintainedthatthe
derosandterosdidnotliveonsomeastralplanebutweresolid,fleshandbloodbeings,andthatthe
cavernworldwasarealplace.
DespiteitshugepopularitywiththereadersofAmazingStones,theShaverMysteryprompteda
powerfulbacklashamongdiversegroups,includinghardsciencefictionfanswhoobjectedtoa
pornographicfantasybeingmarketedastruth(andwhoorganisedacampaigntoboycottthemagazine)
andvariousoccultgroupswhocriticisedPalmerforreleasinginformationthatwouldsurelyprove
lethaltoanyoneinexperiencedorfoolishenoughtoattemptanexplorationofthecaverns.Attheendof
1948,theZiffDavisPublishingCompany,whichpublishedAmazing,decidedthatenoughwasenough,
andtheShaverMysterywasdroppedfromthemagazine,inspiteofthefactthatShaver's'revelations'
hadvirtuallydoubleditsreadershipandenabledittomovefromquarterlytomonthlypublication.(58)
PalmerwouldlaterclaimthattheShaverMysteryhadbeensuppressedbyapublisher'toosedate'for
materialofthisnature.However,WrightnotesthatPalmer'srelationswithZiffDavishadbecome
ratherstrained,possiblyasaresultofhislaunchingFatemagazine.(PalmerleftAmazingin1949to
concentrateonhisnewpublication.)(59)AccordingtoJimProbstinhisbookShaver:TheEarlyYears:
'TheQueensScienceFictionLeagueofNewYorkpassedaresolutionthattheShaverstories
endangeredthesanityoftheirreaders,andbroughttheresolutionbeforetheSocietyfortheSuppression
ofVice.AfanconferenceinPhiladelphiawasrockedbythreatstodrawupapetitiontothePostOffice,
askingthatAmazingStoriesbebannedfromthemail.'(60)
ThiswasnottheendoftheShaverMystery,however;itwouldlaterinspireanumberofpeopletostart
theirownpublications.RichardTorontopublishedShavertronbetween1979and1985.Subtitled'The
OnlySourceofPostDelugeShaverania',themagazinereportedonthecontinuingactivitiesofthe
nefariousdero,suchasthetimetheyapparentlyinterferedwithToronto'scarwhileitwasparkedona
steephillsideandhewasstandinginfrontofit(Torontobarelymanagedtoavoidbeingrunoverand
killed).(61)
TheHollowHasslewaspublishedbyMaryLeVesquebetween1979and1983andfeaturedaregular
columnbytheRevCharlesA.Marcoux,afascinatingandcolourfulcharacterwhoclaimedtohave
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huntedthederosduringhismanycaveexplorations.IntheAugust1981issueofTheHollowHasslehe
wrote(intypicallymuddledsyntax):'Myexperiencesinthecavernworldbeganataveryyoungage
withastralexperiencesinthecavernseversincemybirth,andinotherworldsfromotherdimensions
too.IjoinedR.A.PalmerandR.S.Shaver'sgroupinJanuaryof1945,andIamoneofthefeworiginal
membersleft.Istill"SEARCHFORTHEPORTALS,"andasfarasIknow,amtheonlyoriginal
memberwhodoes.'(62)
TheHollowEarthInsiderranforafewyearsintheearly1990s.EditedbyDennisCrenshaw,the
journalincludedreprintedmaterialbyShaver,inadditiontonewsclippingsandconspiracytheories,
suchasgovernment(anddero)mindcontrol.AsChildressnotes,theconceptofmindcontrolwas
centraltotheShaverMysteryandaddstheintriguingspeculationthatShaverhimselfmaywellhave
beenavictim.(Wewilltakeacloserlookatthesubjectofmindcontrolinthenextchapter.)
PalmermadealastefforttoperpetuatetheShaverMysteryintheearly1960swithTheHiddenWorld,a
tradepaperbackseriesthatcontainedreprintsoftheoriginalShaverstories,togetherwithyetmoretales
frompeopleclaimingtohaveencounteredandbeenvictimisedbythefiendishderos.Unfortunately,
TheHiddenWorldwasnotparticularlysuccessfulandpublicationceasedin1964.Shaverhimself
claimedtohavediscoveredpictorialrecordsoftheTitansandAtlanshiddenwithintherocksandstones
oftheWisconsinprairiesinthe1950s,andfortherestofhislifetriedinvaintopersuadevarious
scientiststhattheyconstitutedfinalproofoftherealityofthecavernworld.Hediedofaheartattackin
1975.Palmercontinuedtopublishjournals,althoughnoneevenapproachedthesuccessofAmazing
StoriesandFate.Hediedin1977.
Beforewecontinue,wemustpausetoexaminewhatPalmerandmanyothersconsideredtobethemost
impressiveevidencefortheHollowEarthTheory,andwhichisstillcitedasproofthatweareindeed
livingonthesurfaceofahollowsphere.Inviewoftheeasewithwhichthis'evidence'canbedismissed
(andhasbeenbyanumberofthemoreresponsiblecommentatorsonthissubject),itissurprisingthat
somanywritersstillclingtoitwithsuchmisguidedtenacity.
In1970,theEnvironmentalScienceServiceAdministrationoftheUSDepartmentofCommercemade
publicacollectionofphotographstakenbytheirweathersatelliteESSA7inNovember1968.Several
ofthesephotographscontained,atfirstsight,anabsolutelyextraordinaryimage:anenormousdarkarea
wheretheEarth'sNorthPoleshouldhavebeen.WhenPalmersawthephotographs,hehadno
hesitationinreproducingtheminhismagazineFlyingSaucers,withanaccompanyingarticlestating
thathere,atlast,wastheproofandfromanofficialsourcethattherewasindeedagiganticopening
attheNorthPole,leadingtothehollowinterioroftheplanet.
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Thetruereasonforthedarkareainthephotographswasnowherenearasromanticandexcitingasthe
HollowEartherswouldhavetheirreadersbelieve.TheESSA7photographswereactually
photomosaicscontainingmanyhundredsofelements,ratherthansingleexposures.Duetothesatellite's
orbitaltrajectory,theareaatandimmediatelyaroundthePolehadnotbeenincludedinthese
photomosaicstheyhadsimplynotbeenphotographed,andthusshowedupasdarkareasonthe
images.Unfortunately,thisexplanationhasnotdissuadedcertainsensationalistwritersfromcitingthe
ESSA7pictures,eventothisday,asconclusiveproofthattheEarthishollow.(63)
ThereisperhapssometruthinPeebles'sassertionthattheShaverMysteryconstituted,ineffect,a
modernmythologythatservedanumberoffunctions,includingescapismfrompostwarrealityandthe
incipientthreatoftheColdWar;ananswertothequestionofwhytherewassomuchevilandsuffering
intheworld;and,ofcourse,anexcitingcorollarytotheperceivedmenaceofCommunism:anew
enemywhoseveryexistencecouldbeusedtodefinethecontrasting,positiveattributesoftheAmerican
Way.Palmerhimselfwasaclevermanipulator(ifthatisnottoostrongaword)ofthepublicneedboth
forescapismandforanexplanationoftheviolenceandevilthatseemedtocharacteriselifeonEarth(it
wasallthefaultofthederos).ThiswasfurtherillustratedbyhisreactiontotheriseoftheUFO
mystery,whichcametotheworld'sattentionwithKennethArnold'ssightingofninecrescentshaped
objectsoverMountRainierinWashingtonStateon24June1947.Arnold'ssightingwasfollowedbya
torrentofreportsofstrangeobjectsflittingthroughtheskies.InthepagesofFatemagazine,Palmer
instantlyprovidedtheanswertothepuzzle:someoftheUFOswereindeedalienspacecraft,butmost
werevesselspilotedbythedenizensofthecavernworld.(WewilllookmuchmorecloselyattheUFO
mystery,whichhasbecomeintimatelyconnectedtotheideaofNazisurvival,inthenextchapter.)
Whatevertheunderlyingtruth(ifany)oftheclaimsofShaver,Palmerandothersaboutthestrangeand
frighteningdramaconstantlybeingplayedoutbeneathourfeet,theShaverMysteryhascometo
definetheHollowEarthTheoryinthetwentiethcenturyandnowoccupiesacentralpositioninthe
complexnetworkofrumours,speculations,cryptohistoricalinferences,anomalouseventsandgenuine
governmentviolationsofpublictrustthatconstitutesmodernconspiracytheory.
RaymondBernardandthe'GreatestGeographicalDiscoveryinHistory'
PerhapsthemostfamousofallbookspublishedonthesubjectofthehollowEarthisentitled
(unsurprisingly)TheHollowEarthandissubtitled(unbelievably)'TheGreatestGeographical
DiscoveryinHistory'.Itsauthorwasyetanothercolourfulandfarfromtrustworthypersonalitynamed
WalterSiegmeister,althoughhealsowentunderothernames,forreasonsthatwillbecomeclear.
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SiegmeisterwasborninNewYorkin1901.Hisfather'soccupationasadoctorperhapshadsomething
todowiththeboy'sintensefascinationwithsexualreproductionandthemaleandfemalereproductive
anatomy(hewasparticularlyinterestedinmenstruation).(64)Aftercompletinghiseducationat
ColumbiaUniversityandNewYorkUniversity(hegainedabachelor'sdegreefromColumbiain1924
andamaster'sdegreeanddoctoratefromNYUin1930and1932),SiegmeistermovedtoFloridain
1933wherehepublishedanewsletterentitledDietandHealth,throughwhichhepromulgatedhis
opinionsonthebenefitsofrawfoodandahealthylifestyle.
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HeinrichHimmler(1900
1945)ReichsfuhrerSS,
chiefoftheGerman
Police(TheTrusteesof
theImperialWar
Museum,London)
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MadameBlavatsky,(18311891)founderoftheTheosophicalSociety(ForteanPictureLibrary)
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ThuleSocietyemblem(DavidHatcherChildress)
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Plasticswastikabadges.Eachdepictstheuseoftheswastikainantiquitya
subjectdeartoHimm;er'sheart(RobinLumsden)
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RunicsymbolsusedbytheSS.ForacompleteguidetorunicsymbolsasusedbytheSS,seeRobin
Lumsden'sHimmler'sBlackOrder19231945(SuttonPublishing)
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KarlMariaWiligutWeisthorin1936(KreismuseumWewelsburg)
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Variousviewsofthe'totenkopfordeath'sheadring,displayingrunicsymbols(RobinLumsden)
152of257
Thisoakshield,carvedwithrunicsymbols,wastypicalofthewalldecorationshunginWewelsberg
castle(RobinLumsden)
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HitlerspeakingintheReichstag(TheTrusteesoftheImperialWarMuseum,London)
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ANazirally,1936(TheTrusteesoftheImperialWarMuseum,London)
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TheExternsteineintheTeutoburgerWaldnearPaderborn,Germanyaplaceofmythological
significanceinAryanhistory(KarlAarsleff/ForteanPictureLibrary)
Apseudopagansolsticecelebration1937,sponsoredbytheSSandheldinthe
BerlinOlympicStadium(RobinLumsden)
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Hitlerin'bloodbanner'ceremony.AfeatureofNazirallieswasthededicationofnewstandards.This
wasalwaysdonebyHitlerwhoheldacornerofthebannerinhishandandjoinedthiswiththebanner
thatwastobededicated.Hethenshookhandswiththeseniorofficeroftheescort,inthiscasea
StandartenfuhreroftheS.A.(TheTrusteesoftheImperialWarMuseum,London)
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EdwardG.E.L.BulwerLytton(18031873),authorofTheComingRace(MaryEvansPictureLibrary)
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PulpsciencefictionwriterRichardShaver'sHiddenWorldseries(ForteanPictureLibrary)
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MapofthemythicalrealmsofAghartaandShambala(SpiritWeb)
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GermanscientistNeupert'sillustrationofthe'hollowearth'1935(MaryEvansPictureLibrary)
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RearAdmiralRichardEvelynByrd(18881957)flewOvertheSouthPoleon29November1929with
threecompanionsandIgloohispetterrier(ForteanPictureLibrary)
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EmblemoftheDeutscheAntarktischeExpedition19389(DavidHatcherChildress)
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AntarctictopographyassurveyedbytheNazis(DavidHatcherChildress)
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NaziGermany'swartimerocketchiefWalterDornbergerseenhereontheleftwithWernervonBraun
in1944(DavidHatcherChildress)
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Dornbergerin1954afterenteringtheUnitedStatesunderProjectPaperclip.Hewentontoemergeas
seniorexecutiveoftheBellAerosystemsDivisionofTextron(DavidHatcherChildress)
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ViktorSchauberger(18851958),Austrianinventorofanumberof'flyingdiscs'whosupposedly
workedonatopsecretprojectinTexasafterthewar.Onhisdeathbedhesaidoverandover:'Theytook
everythingfromme.Idon'tevenownmyself.'(DavidHatcherChildress)
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Artist'simpressionofaSchrieverflyingdisc(LeeKrystek1998)
Artist'simpressionoftheBellonzoSchrieverMietheDisc(JamesH.Nichols1991)
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AfteradisastrousbusinesspartnershipwithaconfidencetricksternamedG.R.Clements,duringwhich
theysolduseless,waterloggedlandtopeoplewishingtogrowcrops,SiegmeisterfledtheUnitedStates
andthelegalactionwithwhichhewasthreatened,andwenttoEquadorin1941.Therehemetafriend,
JohnWierlo,whohadmovedfromAmericathepreviousyear,andtogethertheyconceivedtheideaof
creatinganewUtopiaanda'superrace'somewhereinthejunglesintheeastofthecountry.The'Adam'
ofthisschemewouldbeWierlo(byallaccountsanimpressiveexampleofmanhood);the'Eve'would
bea24yearoldwomannamedMarianWindish,ahermitwhohadapparentlylivedfortwoyearsinthe
Equadorianjungle.(65)ThenewUtopia,however,wasnottobe:Wierlolaterclaimedthathehadno
intentionofcreatingasuperrace,anditalsotranspiredthatMarianWindishwasalreadymarried.
WierloalsoaccusedSiegmeisteroffakinganabilitytowalkonwaterbymeansofaseriesofsupports
justbelowthesurface.SooutlandishwereSiegmeister'sclaimsofmiraculouspowersandmeetings
withTibetanmastersonEquadorianmountains(manyofwhichappearedintheAmericanpress)that
hewasforbiddenfromusingtheUSMailServiceanddeportedbytheEquadorianImmigration
Department.(66)
UponhisreturntotheUnitedStates,Siegmeister,nowusingthenameDrRobertRaymond,continued
hispromotionofahealthydietbysellinghealthfoodsandtwobookshehadwritten,entitledAreYou
BeingPoisonedlaytheFoodYouEat?andSuperHealththruOrganicSuperFoods.Hethenbegan
travellingagainthroughoutSouthAmerica,sellinghisbooksthroughmailorder,nowunderthename
DrUrielAdriana,AB,MA,PhD.Whenhismotherdiedin1955,leavinghimasubstantialamountof
money,hemovedtoBrazilandboughtalargeplotoflandwiththeintentionofcontinuinghiseffortsto
createasuperrace.Inhis1955bookEscapeFromDestruction,whichheagainwroteunderthe
pseudonymRaymondBernard,hewarnedofacomingnuclearwar,fromwhichafewpeoplewouldbe
savedbyextraterrestrialswhowouldtakethemtoMars.(67)
WhileinBrazil,SiegmeistercameacrossanoddbookentitledFromtheSubterraneanWorldtotheSky
byoneO.C.HugueninwhoseemstohaveheldahighpositionintheBrazilianTheosophicalSociety.
IncommonwithShaver,HugueninclaimedthattheUFOswerethehandiworkofanancientcivilisation
(HugueninclaimedtheyweretheAtlanteans)thathadbuiltthem12,000yearsago,justbeforethe
destructionoftheircontinent.SomeAtlanteansescapedthecataclysmbytakingtheircraftthroughthe
PolaropeningsandreestablishingtheirfabulouscivilisationintheinnerEarth.ThereasonUFOswere
beingseenbysomanysurfacedwellerswasthattheAtlanteanswereconcernedathumanity'suseof
nuclearenergy(concernsthatwerealsoattributedtothesocalled'SpaceBrothers'bytheAmerican
contacteesofthe1950sseeChapterEight).
Atthistime,twoTheosophistfriendsofHuguenin,CommanderPauloStraussandProfessorHenrique
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deSouza,werealsoactivelypromotinginBraziltheideaofthehollowEarth:Straussbylecturing
widelyaboutaUFObasecalledAgharta,anddeSouzabyclaimingthathewasincontactwiththe
Atlanteans.(68)SiegmeisteralsoclaimedtohavemetanAtlanteanwoman(wholookedlikean
eighteenyearold,butwhowasactually70)attheTheosophicalSocietyHeadquartersinSaoLourenco.
Atoneofthesemeetings,deSouzatoldSiegmeisterthatBrazilcontainedanumberoftunnelsleading
downtotheinnerEarth(ChildressnotesthatoneofthetunnelswassupposedtobeintheRoncador
MountainsoftheMattoGrosso,theregioninwhichthefamousexplorerColonelPercyFawcett
disappearedin1925).(69)AccordingtodeSouza,FawcettwasstillaliveandwellinanAtlanteancity,
althoughhewaspreventedfromleavingincasethesurfacedwellersforcedhimtorevealits
whereabouts.AlthoughheclaimedtohavemademanytripsintotheRoncadorMountains,Siegmeister
neverfoundanyofthetunnelentrances.
WhensomefriendsinAmericasenthimacopyofRayPalmer'sjournalFlyingSaucers,containing
articlesaboutRearAdmiralByrd'sflightsandtheHollowEarthTheory,Siegmeisterwentintocreative
overdrive,writingAgharta,TheSubterraneanWorldandFlyingSaucersfromtheEarth'sInterior.At
thistime,1960,SiegmeisterreceivedaletterfromoneOttmarKaub,whowasamemberofan
organisationcalledUFOWorldResearchbasedinStLouis,Missouri.Kaubwaswritingonbehalfof
theorganisation'sleader,DrGeorgeMarlo,whoclaimedtohavevisitedtheinnerEarthonboarda
UFO,andwhowishedtoliveatSiegmeister'sBraziliancolony.DrMarloclaimedtoknowtwobeings
calledSolMarandZola,wholivedinacitycalledMasarsII,underneathSouthAfrica.SolMarand
ZoladescribedtheinnerEarthasaparadisewithaperfectclimate,giantfruits,beautifulbirdswith30
footwingspans,andwherethepeoplegrewtoover12feettall.(70)
Forthenextfewyears,MarlotantalisedSiegmeisterwithpromisesofameetingwithSolMarandZola
meetingsthatwerealwaysunavoidablypostponedforvariousreasons.Eventually,Siegmeister
realisedthatMarlowaslyingabouthiscontactswiththeInnerEarthersanddecidedtocontinuehis
researchesalone.
In1964,hemanagedtofindaNewYorkpublisherforhislastbook,TheHollowEarth,whichwas
largelyarewriteofFlyingSaucersfromtheEarth'sInteriorandalsoborrowedheavilyfromReed,
GardnerandGiannini.Thebooksoldwell,butunfortunatelySiegmeisterdidnotlivetoenjoyits
success:hediedofpneumoniain1965.AlthoughTheHollowEarthcontainsagreatdealofmaterial
fromearlierwriters,itisdistinguishedbyitslengthytreatmentoftheideathatthegovernmentsofthe
worldarewellawareofthe'fact'thatUFOsarespacecraft,andthattheycomefromtheinnerEarth(it
wasoneofthefirstbookstopayseriousattentiontothisidea).Inaddition,Siegmeisterwasone
ofthefirstwriterstosuggestthattheUSandSovietGovernmentsweresecretalliesinthefaceofthe
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potentialthreatposedbytheInnerEarthcivilisation,aclaimthathasbecomeanintegralpartof
modernconspiracytheory.(71)
Siegmeister'sgreatestlegacy,however,mustbetheidentificationofBrazilasthemostsignificant
locationinthemythologyofthehollowEarth.NotonlyisthatcountryahotspotforUFOactivityand
encounterswithapparent'aliens',italsocontainspossiblymoresubterraneantunnelnetworksand
entrancestotheinnerEarththananyothercountry.Beforemovingon,wemaycastaglanceatsomeof
thereportsthathaverecentlybeencomingoutofBrazilconcerningsomeratherunusualdiscoveries.
Forinstance,theBrazilianorganisationSociedadedeEstudosExtraterrestres(SOCEX)hasspentthe
lastfewyearsinvestigatingclaimsthatanelaboratetunnelnetworkexistsinthemountainsofSanta
CatarinaandParanaStates,particularlyaroundthetownofJoinvilleabout190milessouthwestofSao
Paulo(which,oddlyenough,wasSiegmeister'sbaseofoperationsinBrazil).(72)
InanotherSOCEXreport,twomenenteredatunnelnearthecityofPontaGrossa,250milessouth
westofSaoPaulo,inwhichtheydiscoveredastaircaseleadingfurtherunderground.Descendingthe
staircase,themenfoundthemselvesinasmallundergroundcity,wheretheyremainedforfivedays
withits50inhabitants.ManypeoplehavereportedUFOsinthearea,andsomesaytheyhaveheard
singing,thevoicesapparentlycomingfromunderground.(73)
Whilethesestoriesmaybetakenwithalargegrainofsalt(theirprotagonistsareinvariablyreferredto
bypseudonymsorjustinitials),theclaimthatBrazil,andindeedtherestofSouthAmerica,isan
importantcentreofUFOactivityandofthebeliefinpowerfulsubterraneancivilisationsisof
considerablesignificancetothepresentstudy.InSouthAmericawefindthenexusoftheideasweshall
bediscussinginthelasttwochaptersofthisbook:firstly,thatbytheendoftheSecondWorldWarthe
Nazishadbeguntodevelopaircraftandweaponssystemsradicallyinadvanceofanythinginuse
elsewhereatthetime;andsecondly,thatNazismasapotentpoliticalforcedidnotceasetoexistwith
thedefeatoftheThirdReichbutcontinuesinoneormoresecretlocations,stillexertingapowerful
influenceonworldevents.
Aswithmostaspectsofwhatmaybroadlybetermed'theparanormal',theconceptsofNazioccultism
andgenuineNazioccultpower(theformeraverifiablehistoricalfact,thelatteranunsafeextrapolation
basedonrumorandhearsay)havemergedintooneanothertosuchadegreethataclearlineof
dichotomybetweenthetwohasbecomevirtuallyimpossibletodefine.Thiswillbecomeespecially
apparentasweconcludethischapteronthehollowEarthandsubterraneancivilisationswithalookat
thetunnelsystemthatissaidtoexistbeneathSouthAmerica.WhilelegendsoftunnelsbeneathSouth
AmericahaveexistedeversincetheSpanishconquestofthecontinent,referringtothemysterious
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placeswheretheIncasweresaidtohavehiddenmostoftheirgold,thereissomeevidencefortheir
actualexistence.Somemodernexplorersevenclaimtohavevisitedthem.
ChiefamongtheseisDavidHatcherChildress,whohaswrittenmanybooksonthemoreunorthodox
aspectsofarchaeologyandwhooffersanaccountofonesuchadventureheundertookinhisfascinating
andinformativestudyoftheShaverMysteryandtheHollowEarthTheory,LostContinentsandthe
HollowEarth.Childressdescribeshowhefollowedaleadprovidedinalettersenttohimbyoneofhis
SouthAmericanreaders,namedMarli,whodescribedanopeningleadingtoatunnelsystemnearthe
smallmountaintownofSaoTomedasLettres,northofSaoPaulo.
ChildresstravelledtothetownwithMarli,andinalocalrestauranttheylistened,togetherwithabout
twentyothers,totheownerashetoldastrangestoryofamanmadetunnelextendingfarintotheearth.
Marlitranslatedtherestaurantowner'sPortugese:
'TheBrazilianarmywentintothetunnelonetimetofindoutwhereitends.Aftertravellingforfour
daysthroughthetunneltheteamofArmyexplorerseventuallycametoalargeroomdeepunderground.
Thisroomhadfouropeningstofourtunnels,eachgoinginadifferentdirection.Theyhadarrivedinthe
roombyoneofthetunnels.
'Theystayedintheroomforsometime,usingitastheirbase,andattemptedtoexploreeachoftheother
threetunnels,butafterfollowingeachforsometime,turnedbacktothelargeroom.Eventuallythey
returnedtothesurface,hereatSaoTomedasLettres.
'...[T]hereisamanhereintownwhoclaimstoknowthetunnelandclaimsthathehasbeenmany
weeksinsidethetunnel.ThismanclaimsthatthetunnelgoesallthewaytoPeru,toMachuPicchuin
theAndes.ThismanclaimsthathewentcompletelyunderSouthAmerica,acrossBrazilandtoMachu
Picchu.'(74)
Therestaurantownerwentontotellhowhehimselfhadencounteredastrangemannearthetunnel
entranceonemorning.ThemanwasdressedintraditionalAndeanIndianclothes,andwasextremely
tall,approximatelysevenfeet.Assoonashesawtherestaurantowner,themanwalkedawaywithout
sayinganything.
Childressgoesontoreportthatthefollowingmorninghe,MarliandafellowexplorernamedCarlHart
wenttothetunnelentrancewiththeintentionofexploringasfarastheycould.Hecontinues:
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Iwasamazedatthisancientfeatofengineering.Weweredescendingdownintotheearthinawide,
graduallyslopingtunnelthatwasdugintoared,claytypedirt.Itwasnotthesmooth,lasercutrock
wallsthatErichvonDanikenhadclaimedtohaveseeninEquadorinhisbookGoldoftheGods,butit
wasjustasincredible.
Itwouldn'thavetakensomespaceagedevicetomakethistunnel,justsimpletools;yet,itwasclearlya
colossalundertaking.Whywouldanyonebuildsuchatunnel?Wasitanancientminethatwentdeep
intotheearth,searchingforanelusiveveinofgoldormerelyredclayforthelonggoneceramickilns?
WasitanelaborateescapetunnelusedinthehorrificwarsthatweresaidtohavebeenfoughtinSouth
Americaandaroundtheworldinthedistantpast?Orwasitsomebizarresubterraneanroadthat
linkedupwithothertunnelsintheAndesandultimatelycouldbeusedtojourneysafelytosuchplaces
asMachuPicchu,CuzcoortheAtacamaDesert?(75)
Intheevent,theanswerstothesequestionsevadedthesmallparty:afteranhour,theyarrivedatapoint
wherethefloordroppedapproximatelyonemetre,anddecidedthatthiswasaconvenientplacetoturn
back,sincethetunnelseemedtocontinueendlesslyon,andtheywerenotequippedforalengthy
exploration.Althoughthegroupdidnotencounteranyfabulouswondersofthesubterraneanrealm,the
veryexistenceofthetunnelprovesthatthelegendsassociatedwithSouthAmericahavesomebasisin
fact.
8ThecloudReich
NaziFlyingDiscs
Sofarinthisbookwehavelookedatsomeextremelystrangenotions,manyofwhichwereheldbythe
Nazisthemselvesandmanybycertainwriterswhohave,overtheyears,attemptedtoprovethatthe
ThirdReichwasruledbymenwhowere,quiteliterally,practitionersofBlackMagic.Wenowcometo
asubjectthat,atfirstsight,mightseemsomewhatoutofplaceinoursurvey,andyetthesuggestionhas
beenfrequentlymadethattheUFOs(unidentifiedflyingobjects)firstreportedinthelate1940swere
theproductsofexperimentalaircraftdesignsthatweredevelopedtowardstheendoftheSecondWorld
War.Most(ifnotall)serioushistorianswouldthrowuptheirhandsinhorrorattheverymentionof
suchaseeminglyludicrousidea,particularlywhenoneconsiderstheassociatedclaimsthat,since
sightingsofUFOsarestillreportedtodaybythousandsofpeoplearoundtheworld,theseradical
aircraftdesignsmusthavebeencaptured,copiedandfurtherdevelopedbythevictoriouspowers;and,
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whatismore,thatsomeUFOsmayevenbepilotedbyescapedNazisoperatingoutofoneormore
hiddenbases.
Aswillsurelybeapparentfromthematerialwehaveexaminedsofar,theNazioccultistideaisboth
bizarreandcomplicated,notleastbecauseitencompassesseveraladditionalfieldsofarcaneknowledge
andspeculation.WehavealreadyseenhowtheNazielitewerefascinatedbytheconceptsoftheHoly
GrailandtheKnightsTemplar,byEasternmysticismandtheHollowEarththeory,byodd
cosmologicalconceptsandthehiddenlegaciesoffabulous,longvanishedcivilisations.Infact,the
notionofthesecrettransmissionofesotericinformationthroughhistory(asdiscussedinChapterThree,
concerningthestoryoftheKnightsTemplarfollowingtheirsuppression)canalsobeappliedtothe
Nazisthemselvesandtheirawfullegacyofracialhatred.Whilemanywouldthinkthatthislegacyis
confinedtothedementedravingsofafewgroupsofneofascistsinEuropeandAmerica,thereissome
evidencetosuggestthatthetruthmaybefarmoresinisterandfrightening.
Thisevidence,whichhasbeengatheredandpresentedovertheyearsbyinvestigatorsoftheUFO
phenomenon,aswellasbythosewithaninterestinthemoreunusualGermanweaponsdesignsofthe
SecondWorldWar,pointstothepossibilitythatsomeextremelyadvancedaircraftdesignsdidactually
reachtheprototypestagein1944and1945.Thoseresearcherswhohaveuncoveredthisevidence,and
whomweshallmeetinthischapter,havealsotakenthelogicalnextstepofsuggestingthatthe
AmericansandRussianscapturedanumberofdesignsattheendofthewarandcontinuedtheir
developmentthroughoutthepostwaryears.Inaddition,theysuggestthatmanyleadingNazis
(including,accordingtosomeaccounts,Hitlerhimself)wereabletoescapetheruinsoftheThirdReich
andcontinuetheirnefariousplansforworlddominationintheicyfastnessesoftheArcticand
Antarctic.
Couldtherepossiblybeanytruthtotheseincrediblespeculations?CouldUFOsactuallybemanmade
airandspacecraft?Couldsomeofthembelongtoahidden'FourthReich'thatrepresentsacancerthat
wasnot,afterall,cutfromthebodyofhumankind?Todealwiththesequestions,wemust,onceagain,
enterthecuriousrealmofcryptohistory,wherethelinebetweenrealityandfantasticrumourbecomes
blurredandindistinct;inshort,wemustreturntoPauwels'sandBergier's'AbsoluteElsewhere'.Inthis
realm,scienceandoccultismmeet,asdotheoriesofvasthistoricalconspiraciesandoutrageous
cosmologicalspeculations.TheclaimsaboutthesurvivaloftheNazisareconnectedtoallthesefields,
anddependtoagreatextentontheuseofhighlyadvancedtechnologyandresourcesbysecretforces.
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TheMysteryoftheUFOs
Althoughhumanbeingshavebeenseeingstrangethingsintheskiessincethedawnofhistory,theidea
thatsomeofthemareactuallytechnologicaldevices(calledbysome'XDevices',althoughthattermis
nowobsolete)isrelativelyrecent.Thefirstpersontosuggestthatmysteriousobjectsandlightsinthe
skymightbemachinesfromanotherplanetwasprobablythegreatAmericananomalistCharlesFort
(18741932);however,itwasnotuntilthelate1940sthattheideabegantogainawidercurrency,
followingthefamoussightingbypilotKennethArnoldovertheCascadeMountainsinWashington
Stateon24June1947.
TheUFOmysteryhasnevergoneaway,andhascertainlyneverbeenexplainedtouniversalsatisfaction:
indeed,itisnowmoredeeplyingrainedinthepublicconsciousnessthaneverbefore,andthe'flying
saucer'cantruthfullybedescribedasoneofthegreatculturaliconsofthetwentiethcentury.While
scepticswouldarguethatthereasonforthisisamixtureofwishfulthinking,themisidentificationof
mundanephenomenaandoutandouthoaxes,thetruthofthematterismoresubtleandcomplex.Itis
certainlytruethatapproximately95percentofsightingscanbeattributedtostars,planets,meteorites,
satellites,aircraftandsoon;yetthereremainsthetantalisingfivepercentthatcannotbeexplainedso
easily.
Inordertoillustratethisfact,wecanlookverybrieflyatoneoftheclassicUFOsightingsfromthe
earlydaysofmodernufology.(Althoughtherearemanyimpressivesightingsfromthe1990s,theyare
stillthesubjectofintensedebateandIbelieveitismoreprudenttochooseasightingthathasstoodthe
testoftimeandisstillregardedasalmostcertainlygenuine.)Atabout7.45ontheeveningof11May
1950,MrandMrsPaulTrentwatchedalargeobjectflyovertheirfarmnearMcMinnville,Oregon,
USA.MrsTrenthadbeenoutfeedingtheirrabbitswhenshenoticedtheUFO.Shecalledherhusband,
whowasabletotaketwoblackandwhitephotographsofit.Thephotographsshowacircular
objectwithaflatundersurfaceandabevellededge;extendingfromtheuppersurfaceoftheobjectisa
curiousstructurereminiscentofasubmarineconningtower,whichisoffsetslightlyfromthevertical
axis.
Thebright,silveryobjectwastiltedslightlyasitmovedacrosstheskyinabsolutesilence,andpresently
waslosttoview.TheTrentslatersaidthattheyhadfeltaslightbreezefromtheundersideoftheUFO.
TheTrentssoughtnopublicityfollowingtheirsighting(infact,theywaiteduntiltheyhadusedupthe
remainderofthecamera'sfilmbeforehavingtheUFOphotographsdeveloped!);theymentionedthe
incidenttoonlyafewfriends.However,newsofthesightingquicklyspreadtoareporterfromthelocal
McMinnvilleTelephoneRegisterwhovisitedtheTrentsandfoundthephotographicnegativesundera
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writingdeskwheretheTrentchildrenhadbeenplayingwiththem.(1)Aweeklater,thephotographs
appearedinLifemagazineandbecameworldfamous.
Seventeenyearslater,theMcMinnvilleUFOsightingwasinvestigatedbyWilliamK.Hartmannand
wasincludedinthefamous(and,intheUFOcommunity,widelydespised)CondonReportproducedby
theUSAirForcesponsoredColoradoUniversityCommissionofEnquiry.TheCondonReport(named
aftertheenquiry'sleader,therespectedphysicistDrEdwardU.Condon)wasdismissiveoftheUFO
phenomenon,whichitconsideredtobeofnointeresttoscience.However,thereportcontaineda
numberofcasesthatitconcededwerenotamenabletoanyconventionalexplanation.Oneofthese
caseswastheMcMinnvillesighting.Thephotographsweresubmittedtoextremelyrigorousscientific
analysis,afterwhichHartmannconcluded:
ThisisoneofthefewUFOreportsinwhichallfactorsinvestigated,geometric,psychological,and
physical,appeartobeconsistentwiththeassertionthatanextraordinaryflyingobject,silvery,metallic,
diskshaped,tensofmetersindiameter,andevidentlyartificial,flewwithinsightoftwowitnesses.It
cannotbesaidthattheevidencepositivelyrulesoutafabrication,althoughtherearesomephysical
factorssuchastheaccuracyofcertainphotometricmeasuresoftheoriginalnegativeswhichargue
againstafabrication.(2)
Inthe50orsoyearssincetheTrentshadtheirstrangeencounter,thephotographshavebeenrepeatedly
subjectedtomoreandmoresophisticatedanalyses,andhavepassedeverytest.Thiscaseisjustoneofa
largenumberofsightingsofhighlyunusual,apparentlyintelligentlyguidedobjects,seenboth
intheskiesandontheground,thathavebeenoccurringfordecades.Thereare,ofcourse,various
theoriestoaccountforthesesightings,asidefromthescepticalnotionthatallare,withoutexception,
hoaxes,illusionsormisidentificationsofordinaryphenomena.
Themostwidelyacceptedtheoryis,ofcourse,theExtraterrestrialHypothesis(ETH),whichholdsthat
genuineUFOsarespacecraftpilotedbyexplorersfromanotherplanet.Thistheoryhasthegreatest
currencyintheUnitedStates.InEurope,morecredenceisgiventoanalternativetheoryknownasthe
PsychosocialHypothesis,whichsuggeststhatencounterswithUFOsand'aliens'maybeduetosubtle
andillunderstoodprocessesoccurringwithinthemindofthepercipient.InspiredbytheSwiss
psychoanalystCarlG.Jung,whoexaminedUFOsinhisbookFlyingSaucersAModernMythof
ThingsSeenintheSky(1959),thepsychosociologistsseesuchencountersassimilartowaking
dreamsthatfulfillanundefinedpsychicneed.(ToJung,thecircularshapeoftheUFOsuggesteda
psychicneedforwholenessandunity,representedbythemandala,acircularsymbolidentifiedbyJung
asoneofthearchetypesresidinginhumanity'scollectiveunconscious.)
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ThereareanumberofsecondarytheoriesforUFOs,includingtheideathattheyaretimemachines
fromthefuture,thattheyareactuallylivingbeingsindigenoustointerplanetaryspace,thatthey
originateinotherdimensionsofexistenceandsoon,allofwhicharebeyondthescopeofthisbook.
TheideathatUFOsaremanmade,andbasedonplanscapturedbytheAlliesintheruinsofNazi
GermanyattheendoftheSecondWorldWar,hasbeenputforwardbyanumberofwritersand
researchers.Outlandishasitmaysound,itisactuallywellworthexaminingtheevidencefor'Nazi
flyingsaucers'.
TheFooFighters
Althoughitsetthestageforthedramaofmodernufology,KennethArnold's1947sightingofnine
anomalousobjectsflittingbetweenthepeaksoftheCascadeMountainswasnotthefirsttwentieth
centuryUFOencounter.IntheclosingstagesoftheSecondWorldWar,Alliedpilotsonnighttime
bombingraidsoverEuropefrequentlyreportedstrangeflyingobjects.Theseobjectswerechristened
TooFighters',afteracatchphraseinthepopularSmokeyStovercomicstrip.'Wherethere'sfoo,there's
fire.'('Foo'wasalsoaplayontheFrenchwordfeu,meaningfire.)Theaircrewssuspectedthatthe
objectsmightbesomekindofGermansecretweapon.On2January1945,theNewYorkHerald
TribunecarriedthefollowingbriefAssociatedPressrelease:
Now,itseems,theNazishavethrownsomethingnewintothenightskiesoverGermany.Itistheweird,
mysteriousToofighter'ballswhichracealongsidethewingsofBeaufightersflyingintrudermissions
overGermany.Pilotshavebeenencounteringthiseerieweaponformorethanamonthintheirnight
flights.Nooneapparentlyknowswhatthisskyweaponis.The'ballsoffire'appearsuddenlyand
accompanytheplanesformiles.Theyseemtoberadiocontrolledfromtheground,soofficial
intelligencereportsreveal.(3)
IntheirbookManMadeUFOs(1994),RenatoVesco(apioneeroftheNaziUFOhypothesis)and
DavidHatcherChildresscitethetestimonyofaformerAmericanflyingofficerwhohadworkedforthe
intelligencesectionoftheEighthAirForcetowardstheendofthewar.Wishingtoremainanonymous,
theofficersaidtotheNewYorkpress:
'Itisquitepossiblethattheflyingsaucersarethelatestdevelopmentofa"psychological"antiaircraft
weaponthattheGermanshadalreadyused.DuringnightmissionsoverwesternGermanyIhappenedto
seeonseveraloccasionsshiningdiscsorballsthatfollowedourformations.Itwaswellknownthatthe
Germannightfightershadpowerfulheadlightsintheirnosesorpropellerhubslightsthatwould
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suddenlycatchthetarget,partlyinordertogivetheGermanpilotsbetteraimbutmostlyinorderto
blindtheenemytailgunnersintheirturrets.Theycausedfrequentalarmsandcontinualnervoustension
amongthecrews,therebyloweringtheirefficiency.DuringthelastyearofthewartheGermansalso
sentupanumberofradiocontrolledbrightobjectstointerferewiththeignitionsystemsofourengines
ortheoperationoftheonboardradar.InallprobabilityAmericanscientistspickedupthisinvention
andarenowperfectingitsothatitwillbeonaparwiththenewoffensiveanddefensiveairweapons.'
(4)
Unfortunately,VescoandChildressarenotforthcomingwithadetailedreferenceforthisstatement.
TheBritishUFOinvestigatorsPeterHoughandJennyRandiesmaketheinterestingpointthatthe
SecondWorldWarsawmorepeopleintheskiesthananyotherpriorperiod,andthatitwastherefore
nogreatsurprisethatUFOsshouldhavebeenspottedinabundance.(5)Ofcourse,thisstatement
carriestheimplicationofalikelynonhumanoriginoftheobjects,whichadvocatesoftheNaziUFO
hypothesishotlydispute:forthem,thelargenumberofFooFightersightings,coupledwiththeobvious
interesttheobjectsshowedinAlliedaircraft,stronglyimpliesthattheywerebuiltspecificallyto
interactinsomewaywiththoseaircraft.
AsissooftenthecasewiththeUFOmystery,genuinesightingsgeneratedvariousrumoursofofficial
interestinthephenomenon.Forinstance,therewas,allegedly,asecretBritishgovernmentinvestigation
intotheFooFighterreportscalledtheMasseyProject.'However,'writeHoughandRandies,'AirChief
MarshalSirVictorGoddardwhowasanoutspokenbelieverinaliencraftduringthe1950sflatly
deniedthisandsaidthatTreasuryapprovalforsuchaminorexerciseatatimewhenBritainwas
fightingforitssurvivalwouldhavebeenludicrous.'(6)
Someencountersundoubtedlyhadmundaneexplanations.Forexample,duringabombingraidona
factoryatSchweinfurt,Germanyon14October1943,flightcrewsoftheAmerican384thSquadron
observedalargeclusterofdiscs,whichweresilverincolour,oneinchthickandaboutthreeinchesin
diameter.TheywerefloatinggentlydownthroughtheairdirectlyinthepathoftheAmerican
aircraft,andonepilotfearedthathisB17FlyingFortresswouldbedestroyedoncontactwiththe
objects.However,thebombercutthroughtheclusterofdiscsandcontinuedonitswayundamaged.Itis
quitepossiblethatencounterssuchasthiswereactuallywith'chaff,piecesofmetalfoilreleasedby
GermanAphroditeballoonstoconfuseradarbyreturningfalseimages.(7)
Nevertheless,manyaircrewsreportedeventsthatwerenotsoeasytoexplain,includingtheharassment
oftheiraircraftbysmall,glowing,discshapedandsphericalobjectsthatwerehighlymanoeuvrable.
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On23November1944,LieutenantEdwardSchlueterofthe415thUSNightFighterSquadronwas
flyingaheavynightfighterfromhisbaseatDijontowardsMainz.TwentymilesfromStrasbourg,
LieutenantFredRingwald,anAirForceintelligenceofficerwhowasonthemissionasanobserver,
glancedoutofthecockpitandnoticedabouttenglowingredballsflyingveryfastinformation.
Schluetersuggestedthattheymightbestars,butthisexplanationwasprovedwrongwhentheobjects
approachedtheplane.
SchlueterradioedtheAmericangroundradarstation,informingthemthattheywerebeingchasedby
Germannightfighters,towhichthestationrepliedthatnothingwasshowingontheirscope.Schlueter's
radarobserver,LieutenantDonaldJ.Meiers,checkedhisownscope,butcoulddetectnothingunusual.
Schlueterthendecidedtomakefortheobjectsatfullthrottle.TheresponsefromtheFooFighterswas
instantaneous:theirfieryredglowrapidlydimmed,untiltheywerelosttosight.Lessthantwominutes
later,however,theyreappeared,althoughtheyseemedtohavelostinterestintheAmericanaircraftand
glidedoffintothenighttowardsGermany.(8)Upontheobjects'departure,thefighter'sradarbeganto
malfunction,forcingthecrewtoabandontheirmission.
Inanencounterof27November1944overSpeyer,pilotsHenryGiblinandWalterClearyreporteda
largeorangelightflyingat250mphabout1,500feetabovetheirfighter.Theradarstationinthesector
repliedthattherewasnothingelsethere.Nevertheless,asubsequentmalfunctionintheplane'sradar
systemforcedittoreturntobase.Anofficialreportwasmadethefirstofitskindwhichresultedin
manyjokesatthepilots'expense.(9)Afterthe27Novemberencounter,pilotswhosawtheFoo
Fightersdecidednottoincludethemintheirflightreports.
ThisselfimposedcensorshipwasbrokenbytwopilotsnamedMcFallsandBakerofthe415th,who
submittedaflightreportontheirmissionof22December1944.Inpart,thereportreads:
At0600,nearHagenau,at10,000feetaltitude,twoverybrightlightsclimbedtowardusfromthe
ground.Theyleveledoffandstayedonthetailofourplane.Theywerehugebrightorangelights.They
stayedtherefortwominutes.Onmytailallthetime.Theywereunderperfectcontrol.Thentheyturned
awayfromus,andthefireseemedtogoout.(10)
TheFooFighterswerenotonlywitnessedbyaircrews.HoughandRandiesciteareportfromaformer
prisonerofwarattheHeydebreckcampinUpperSilesia,Poland.
At3p.m.on22January1945anumberofmenwerebeingparadedbytheGermansbeforebeing
marchedawaytoevadetheliberatingRussianArmy.Abomberappearedoverhead,flyingatabout
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18,000feet,andthemengazedinhorroratwhatseemedtobefirepouringfromitsrearend.Thenthey
thoughtitmightbeaflarecaughtupintheslipstreamoftheaircraft.Finally,theyrealiseditwas
neitherofthesethings:theobjectwasasilveryballhuggingthebomber,whichwasdesperatelytrying
toevadeit.Thefoofighterwasstillrightonthetailoftheaircraftasbothpassedintothedistance.(11)
On1January1945,HowardW.Blakeslee,scienceeditoroftheAssociatedPress,claimedthatthe
mysteriousFooFighterswerenothingmorethanStElmo'sFire,spontaneouslightsproducedbyan
electrostaticdischargeonthefuselagesoftheAlliedaircraft.AccordingtoBlakeslee,thisexplanation
alsoaccountedforthefactthattheFooFightersdidnotshowuponradar.Thepilotswhoactually
encounteredtheobjectswereunimpressedwithBlakeslee'ssolution:mostofthemhadbeenflyingfora
numberofyears,andknewStElmo'sFirewhentheysawit.TheFooFightersweresomethingentirely
different:thelighttheyproducedwentonandoffatintervalsthatseemedtoberelatedtotheirspeed;
theirshapewasoftenclearlydiscernibleaseitherdiscoidorspherical;andtheywerefrequently
reportedasspinningrapidlyontheirverticalaxis.(12)NoAlliedaircraftwereeverbroughtdownby
FooFighters(whichseemedmorecontenttopacethemandinterferewiththeirradar),andsoitwas
consideredlikelythattheobjectsweredangerousGermansecretweapons,perhapsaradical
developmentofVweapontechnology.TheVlswerealreadycausingcarnageinLondon,anditwas
knownthatGermanscientistsweredesperatelytryingtodevelopaballisticmissilethatcouldhit
America.
AccordingtoVescoandChildress,severalFooFighterstorieswereleakedinDecember1944tothe
AmericanLegionMagazine,whichthenpublishedthepersonalopinionsofseveralUSIntelligence
officersthattheFooFighterswereradiocontrolledradarjammingdevicessentupbytheGermans.
(13)VescoandChildressgoontocitethetestimonyofanother(unnamed)B17pilotwhodecidedto
interceptaFooFighterandsucceededingettingwithinafewhundredyardsoftheshiningsphere.He
reportedhearing'astrangesound,likethe"backwashofinvisibleplanes"'.(14)Thelastreported
encounterwithFooFightersoccurredinearlyMay1945,neartheeasternedgeofthePfalzerwald.A
pilot,onceagainfromthe415thSquadron,sawfiveorangeballsoflightflyingina'Vformationinthe
distance.(15)
GhostRocketsOverScandinavia
InthetwoyearsbetweentheendoftheSecondWorldWarandtheKennethArnoldsighting,strange
unidentifiedaerialobjectsinvadedtheskiesoverFinland,Norway,SwedenandDenmark(andwere
laterreportedasfarafieldasMoroccoandIndia).Nicknamed'GhostRockets'becauseoftheirlong,
thinprofileandoccasionalfieryexhaust,theseobjectswerereportedtoperformastonishing
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manoeuvressuchasdivingandclimbingrapidlyatenormousspeeds.(16)
TheBritishUFOinvestigatorTimothyGoodcitesthefollowingconfidentialDepartmentofState
telegramfromtheAmericanEmbassyinStockholm,dated11July1946:
ForsomeweekstherehavebeennumerousreportsofstrangerocketlikemissilesbeingseeninSwedish
andFinnishskies.Duringpastfewdaysreportsofsuchobjectsbeingseenhavegreatlyincreased.
MemberofLegationsawoneTuesdayafternoon.OnelandedonbeachnearStockholmsameafternoon
withoutcausinganydamageandaccordingtopressfragmentsarenowbeingstudiedbymilitary
authorities.Localscientistonfirstinspectionstateditcontainedorganicsubstanceresemblingcarbide.
Defensestafflastnightissuedcommuniquelistingvariousplaceswheremissileshadbeenobserved
andurgingpublicreportallmysterioussoundandlightphenomena.Pressthisafternoonannouncesone
suchmissilefellinStockholmsuburb2:30thisafternoon.MissileobservedbymemberLegationmade
nosoundandseemedtobefallingrapidlytoearthwhenobserved.Nosoundofexplosionfollowed
however.
MilitaryAttacheisinvestigatingthroughSwedishchannelsandhasbeenpromisedresultsSwedish
observations.Swedesprofessignoranceastoorigin,characterorpurposeofmissilesbutstatedefinitely
theyarenotlaunchedbySwedes.Eyewitnessreportsstatemissilescameinfromsoutherlydirection
proceedingtonorthwest.SixunitsAtlanticFleetunderAdmiralHewittarrivedStockholmthis
morning.IfmissilesareofSovietoriginasgenerallybelieved(somereportssaytheyarelaunchedfrom
Estonia),purposemightbepoliticaltointimidateSwedesinconnectionwithSovietpressureon
Swedenbeingbuiltupinconnectionwithcurrentloannegotiationsortooffsetsupposedincreasein
ourmilitarypressureonSwedenresultingfromthenavalvisitandrecentBikini[atomic]testsorboth.
(17)
ThesuspicionvoicedinthistelegramthattheSovietsmightberesponsiblefortheGhostRocket
sightingswasnaturalenough,giventhattheColdWarwasthenjustgettingunderway.Boththe
AmericansandRussians,ofcourse,capturedGermanweaponstechnologyattheendofthewar,andit
wasassumedbymanyinauthoritythattheRussianswereexperimentingwithVlandV2rocket
designs.(Actually,aGermanV2rockethadalreadycrashedinSwedeninthesummerof1944.)The
factthatboththeUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnioncarriedoutextensiveexperimentswithcaptured
NazitechnologywillgainyetmoresignificanceasweexaminetheclaimsoftheNaziUFOproponents.
AnumberofBritishscientistsweresenttoSwedentoexaminetheGhostRocketreports,amongthem
ProfessorR.V.Jones,thethenDirectorofIntelligenceofBritain'sAirStaffandscientificadvisorto
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SectionIVofMI6.InMostSecretWar,hisaccountofhisinvolvementwithBritishScientific
Intelligencebetween1939and1949,ProfessorJoneswritesofthefearsthattherocketswereRussian:
Thegeneralinterpretation...wasthat[theGhostRockets]werelongrangeflyingbombsbeingflown
bytheRussiansoverSwedenasanactofintimidation.Thisinterpretationwasacceptedbyofficersin
ourownAirTechnicalIntelligence,whoworkedouttheperformanceofthebombsfromthereported
sightingsinoneoftheincidents,wheretheobjectappearedtohavedashedaboutatrandomoverthe
wholeofsouthernSwedenatspeedsupto2,000mph.Whattheofficersconcernedfailedtonoticewas
thateveryobserver,whereverhewas,reportedtheobjectaswelltotheeast.Byfarthemostlikely
explanationwasthatitwasameteor,perhapsasfareastasFinland,andthefantasticspeedsthatwere
reportedweremerelyduetothefactthatallobservershadseenitmoreorlesssimultaneously,butthat
theyhadvaryingerrorsintheirwatches,sothatanyattempttodrawatrackbylinkingupobservations
inatimesequencewasunsound.(18)
ProfessorJonesconsidereditextremelyunlikelythattheGhostRocketscouldbeRussianmissiles
basedonGermanV2designs:hestatedthattherocketsseenoverScandinaviahadmorethantwicethe
rangeoftheV2,anincreaseinperformancethatwastoogreatgiventheshorttimesincethecaptureof
theGermandesigns.
Formyself,Isimplyaskedtwoquestions.First,whatconceivablepurposecoulditservetheRussians,if
theyindeedhadacontrollableflyingbomb,toflyitingreatnumbersoverSweden,withoutdoingany
moreharmthantoalerttheWesttothefactthattheyhadsuchanimpressiveweapon?Mysecond
questionfollowedfromthefirst:howhadtheRussianssucceededinmakingaflyingbombofsuch
fantasticreliability?TheGermanshadachievednobetterthan90percentreliabilityintheirflying
bombtrialsof1944,atverymuchshorterrange.EveniftheRussianshadachievedareliabilityashigh
as99percentovertheirmuchlongerranges,thisstillmeantthatonepercentofallsortiesshouldhave
resultedinabombcrashingonSwedishterritory.Sincetherehadbeenallegedlyhundredsofsorties,
thereoughttobeatleastseveralcrashedbombsalreadyinSweden,andyetnobodyhadeverpickedup
afragment.IthereforesaidthatIwouldnotacceptthetheorythattheapparitionswereflyingbombs
fromRussiauntilsomeonebroughtapieceintomyoffice.(19)
ProfessorJonesgoesontorelateanamusingincidentthatfollowedhischallenge.Whenasubstance
thathadallegedlyfallenfromaGhostRocketwascollectedandsent,viatheSwedishGeneralStaffand
theBritishAirStaff,totheRoyalAircraftEstablishment(RAE)atFarnborough,thescientistswho
analysedthefragmentsclaimedthatover98percentoftheirmassconsistedofanunknownelement.
Joneshadalreadyseenthesamples,andhadquicklyconcludedthattheywerelumpsofcoke,'fouror
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fiveirregularlyshapedsolidlumps,noneofwhichlookedasifithadeverbeenassociatedwitha
mechanicaldevice'.(20)WhenhetelephonedtheheadofchemistryattheRAE,enquiringwhetherthey
hadthoughttotestforcarbon,thechemistliterallygasped.'Noonehadstoppedtolookatthematerial,
inanefforttogettheanalysismadequickly,andtheyhadfailedtotestforcarbon.Theotherlumpshad
similarlyinnocentexplanations.'(21)
Nevertheless,someGhostRocketsightingsremainedpuzzling.Oneoftheobjectswasphotographed
nearStockholmbyaSwedenamedErikReuterswaerd.WhentheSwedishauthoritiesexaminedthe
photograph,theyconcludedthattheobject'strailwasnotissuingfromitsrearbutwasactually
envelopingit.TheLondonDailyTelegraph,whichpublishedthephotographon6September1946,
opinedthatanewmethodofpropulsionwasbeingtested.(22)
Fortheirpart,theSwedishGovernmentconcludedinOctober1946that,ofthe1,000reportsofGhost
Rocketstheyhadreceived,80percentcouldbeattributedto'celestialphenomena';theremaining20
percent,theystated,couldnotbeeithernaturalphenomenaortheproductsofimagination.(23)
RadicalAircraftDesigns:FeuerballandKugelblitz
Theconventionalviewofhistoryisthat,whiletheGermanspossessedsomeremarkableanddeadly
weaponssuchastheVl,theV2andthejetenginedMesserschmittME262fighter,theirtechnological
innovationsdidnotextendmuchfurtherthanthat.Indeed,serioushistorianstreatclaimsoffantastic
advancesinNazitechnologywiththeutmostdisdain.(WehavealreadyquotedProfessorJones's
assertionthattheNaziflyingbombtrialsof1944wereonly90percentreliable.)Nevertheless,wemust
askthequestion:aretheyrighttodoso?HavinglookedbrieflyatthemysteryoftheFooFighters,
GhostRocketsandUFOs,whichmanyprofessionalscientistsadmit(howeverreluctantlyand
anonymously)constituteapuzzleworthyofseriousinvestigation,wemustnowexaminetheclaimsof
someUFOresearchersthatthewonderfuldevicesseensofrequentlyflittingthroughtheskiesare
actuallymachinesbasedonNazidesignsforultrahighperformancediscshapedcraft,capableof
travellingnotonlythroughouratmospherebutalsoinouterspace.Thereaderwhobaulksatthisidea
maywellbefurtheroutragedbytheclaimsmadebysomethattheNazisthemselvessucceededin
buildingprototypesofthesemachines.However,sincewearealreadydeepwithintheAbsolute
Elsewhere,wemustpressonthroughthatweirdrealm,bearinginmindPauwels'sandBergier's
perceptiveassertionthat'thehistorianmaybereasonable,buthistoryisnot'.
Aswehavealreadynoted,RenatoVescoisapioneeroftheNaziUFOtheory.Agraduateofthe
UniversityofRome,hestudiedaeronauticalengineeringattheGermanInstituteforAerial
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DevelopmentandduringthewarwassenttoworkatFiat'sundergroundinstallationatLakeGardain
northernItaly.Inthe1960s,VescoinvestigatedUFOsightingsfortheItalianAirMinistry.(24)In1971,
hepublishedtheseminalworkonthetheoryofmanmadeflyingsaucers;entitledIntercettatehSenza
Sparare(roughlytranslatedas'InterceptWithoutFiring'),thebookexaminesingreatdetailthepossible
technologybehindtheUFOsandreachestheastonishingandhighlycontroversialconclusionthatUFO
technology(seenintermsoftheperceivedflightcharacteristicsoftheobjects)iswellwithinthe
capabilitiesofhumanscienceandwassoevenduringtheSecondWorldWar.Indeed,Vescoisquite
certainthattheoriginoftheUFOsstillseentodaybywitnessesallovertheworldcanbeplacedfirmly
inNaziGermanyintheearly1940s.Inaddition,thetechnologicalprinciplesbehindthesecraftwere,he
believes,dividedbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnionattheendofthewar,withboth
superpowersgoingontodevelopandrefinethedesignsfortheirownends.
AccordingtoVesco,LuftwaffescientistsinOberammergau,Bavariaconductedextensiveresearchinto
anelectricaldevicecapableofinterferingwithanaircraftengineuptoadistanceofabout100feet.
Throughthegenerationofintenseelectromagneticfields,thisdevicecouldshortcircuitthetarget
aircraft'signitionsystem,causingtotallossofpower.Thisshortrange,however,wasconsidered
impracticalforasuccessfulweapon,sotheyattemptedtoincreaseitto300feet.Theseplanswerestill
onlyonthedrawingboardbytheendofthewar,sotheweaponwasneverputintoproduction.
Nevertheless,theseresearchesyieldedabyproductthatwasputtousebyAlbertSpeerandtheSS
TechnicalGeneralStaff.Theyproducedadevicecapableof'proximityradiointerference'onthe
delicateradarsystemsofAmericannightfighters.(25)
Thusahighlyoriginalflyingmachinewasborn;itwascircularandarmored,moreorlessresembling
theshellofatortoise,andwaspoweredbyaspecialturbojetengine,alsoflatandcircular,whose
principlesofoperationrecalledthewellknownaeolipileofHero,whichgeneratedagreathaloof
luminousflames.HenceitwasnamedFeuerball(Fireball).Itwasunarmedandpilotless.Radio
controlledatthemomentoftakeoff,itthenautomaticallyfollowedenemyaircraft,attractedbytheir
exhaustflames,andapproachedcloseenoughwithoutcollisiontowrecktheirradargear.(26)
Thefieryhaloaroundthecraft'sperimeterwasgeneratedbyacombinationoftherichfuelmixtureand
chemicaladditivescausingtheionisationoftheatmospherearoundtheFeuerball.Asitapproachedthe
targetaircraft,thisionisationwouldproducepowerfulelectrostaticandelectromagneticfieldsthat
wouldinterferewithitsH2Sradar.'Sinceametalarccarryinganoscillatingcurrentoftheproper
frequencyequal,thatis,tothefrequencyusedbytheradarstationcancanceltheblips(returnsignals
fromthetarget),theFeuerballwasalmostundetectablebythemostpowerfulAmericanradarofthe
time,despiteitsnighttimevisibility.'(27)
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VescogoesontostatethatthisnighttimevisibilityhadanadditionaladvantagefortheFeuerball:in
theabsenceofdaylight,thehaloproducedbytheenginegavetheimpressionofanenormoussize,
whichhadtheeffectofunnervingAlliedpilotsevenmore.AstheFeuerballeapproached,thepilots
refrainedfromfiringonthemforfearofbeingcaughtinagiganticexplosion.(28)Infact,thedevices
didcarryanexplosivechargethatwoulddestroythemintheeventofcapture,inadditiontoan
ingeniousfeaturethatwouldensureaquickescapeintheeventofanattackbyAlliedaircraft.
Underneathitsarmouredoutershell,eachFeuerballcontainedathinsheetofelectricallyinsulated
aluminium.Shouldabulletpiercethearmour,contactwouldbemadebetweenitandthealuminium
sheet,thusclosingacircuit,activatingaverticalmaximumaccelerationdeviceandtakingthecraftout
ofweaponsrangeinamatterofseconds.(29)
TheFeuerballewereconstructedattheHenschelRaxaeronauticalestablishmentatWienerNeustadt.
Accordingtoone(unnamed)witnesswhosawthembeingtestflown,indaylightthecraftlookedlike
shiningdiscsspinningontheirverticalaxes,andatnightlikehugeburningglobes.HermannGoering
inspectedtheprogressoftheFeuerballprojectonanumberofoccasions,hopingthatthemechanical
principlescouldbeappliedtoamuchlargeroffensivesaucershapedaircraft.Hishopesweretobe
quicklyrealised.
VescocallstheKugelblitz(BallLightning)automaticfighter'thesecondauthenticantecedent[afterthe
Feuerball]ofthepresentdayflyingsaucers',andthefirstexampleofthe'jetlift'aircraft.(30)In1952,
aformerLuftwaffeengineernamedRudolphSchrievergaveaseriesofinterviewstotheWestGerman
pressinwhichheclaimedtohavedesignedanaircraftstrikinglysimilartoVesco'sKugelblitz.
SchrieverhadbeenanengineerandtestpilotfortheHeinkelfactoryinEger.In1941,hebegantotoy
withtheideaofanaircraftthatcouldtakeoffvertically,thuseliminatingtheneedforrunways,
whichwerevulnerabletoenemybombing.
ByJunethefollowingyear,hehadbuiltandtestflownaworkingmodelofhisdesign,andwork
immediatelybeganonafullsizefifteenfootversion.Inmid1944,Schrieverwastransferredtothe
BMWplantnearPrague,Czechoslovakia,wherehewasjoinedbyanengineerfromtherocketsiteat
PeenemundenamedWalterMiethe,anotherengineernamedKlausHabermohlandanItalianphysicist
fromtheaeronauticalcomplexatRivadelGarda,DrGiuseppeBelluzzo.Together,theybuiltaneven
larger,pilotedversionofthedisc,featuringadomedpilot'scabinsittingatthecentreofacircularsetof
multiplewingsdrivenbyaturbineenginemountedonthedisc'sverticalaxis.
TheGermandiscprogrammewentunderthetitle'ProjectSaucer'(whichW.A.Harbinsonalsotookas
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thetitleforhisexcellentfivenovelseriesinspiredbytheNaziUFOtheory).Accordingtothemilitary
historianMajorRudolphLusar,Schriever'sdiscconsistedof'awidesurfaceringwhichrotatedaround
afixed,cupolashapedcockpit'.Theringcontained'adjustablewingdiscswhichcouldbebroughtinto
appropriatepositionforthetakeofforhorizontalflight'.(31)TheModel3flyingdischadadiameter
of138feetandaheightof105feet.
AccordingtoSchriever,thefinisheddiscwasreadyfortestflyingearlyin1944,butwasdestroyedby
itsbuilderstopreventitfromfallingintothehandsoftheadvancingAllies.Schrieverandhis
colleaguesfledastheBMWplantwastakenbyCzechoslovakianpatriots.InspiteofSchriever'sclaim,
RenatoVescostatesthatahighlyadvancedsupersonicdiscshapedaircraftcalledtheKugelblitzwas
indeedtestflownneartheNordhausenundergroundrocketcomplexinFebruary1945.(32)Alsoknown
astheV7,thismachinewassaidtohaveclimbedtoaheightof37,600feetinjustthreeminutes,and
reachedaspeedof1,218mph.Thiscraftandthetechnicianswhobuiltitwereapparentlyseizedbythe
RussiansandtakentoSiberia,wherethediscprojectcontinuedunderSovietcontrol.
WhileVescoconcedesthatthehardevidenceforaGermanflyingdiscprogrammeis'verytenuous',he
notesthat'theseniorofficialofa1945Britishtechnicalmissionrevealedthathehaddiscovered
Germanplansfor"entirelynewanddeadlydevelopmentsinairwarfare"'.Vescocontinues:
Theseplansmustobviouslyhavegonebeyondnormaljetaircraftdesigns,asbothsidesalreadyhadjet
poweredaircraftinproductionandoperationalservicebytheendofthewar.Moreover,beforeRudolf
Schrieverdiedsomefifteenyearsafterthewarhehadbecomeconvincedthatthelargenumbersof
postwarUFOsightingswereevidencethathisdesignshadbeenbuiltanddeveloped.(33)
On2May1980,anothermanclaimedtotheGermanpressthathehadworkedonProjectSaucer.
HeinrichFleiBner,then76yearsold,toldNeuePressemagazinethathehadbeenatechnicalconsultant
onajetpropelled,discshapedaircraftthathadbeenbuiltatPeenemundefrompartsmanufacturedina
numberofotherlocations.FleiBneralsoclaimedthatGoeringhadbeenthepatronoftheprojectand
plannedtousethediscasacourierplane,butthattheWehrmachthaddestroyedmostoftheplansin
thefaceoftheAlliedadvance.(34)Nevertheless,somematerialdidreachbothAmericaandRussia.
AccordingtoHarbinson,'ThenotesanddrawingsforFleiBner'sflyingsaucer,firstregisteredinWest
Germanyon27March1954,wereassignedtoTransOceanic,LosAngeles,Californiaon28Marchthe
following6yeaandregisteredwiththeUnitedStatesPatentOfficeon7JuneI960.'(35)
AccordingtoVesco,theAustrianinventorViktorSchauberger,afterbeingkidnappedbytheNazis,
designedanumberofdiscshapedaircraftfortheThirdReichbetween1938and1945.Thesaucers
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werepoweredbywhatSchaubergercalled'liquidvortexpropulsion':'Ifwaterorairisrotatedintoa
twistingformofoscillationknownas"colloidal",'hesaid,'abuildupofenergyresults,which,with
immensepower,cancauselevitation.'(36)Whetherthisbizarreformofpropulsionisworkableis,of
course,opentodebate.Onceagain,however,theAmericansseemtohavetakenmanyofSchauberger's
documentsattheendofthewar,withtheRussianstakingwhatwasleftandblowinguphisapartment
whentheyhadfinished.SchaubergersupposedlywenttoAmericainthe1950stoworkonatopsecret
projectinTexasfortheUSGovernment,althoughthisunspecifiedprojectwasapparentlynot
particularlysuccessful.Schaubergerdiedin1958,reportedlysayingonhisdeathbed:'Theytook
everythingfromme.Everything.Idon'tevenownmyself.'(37)Thereisnodoubtthatradicalaeroform
designswerebeingtestedatthistime.Forexample,theMesserschmitt163Awaspoweredbyaliquid
fuelWalterrocket,andwasgivenitsfirstpoweredflightinAugust1941.Itachievedspeedsofover600
mph,nearlytwiceasfastastheaveragespeedofafighteraircraftatthattime.Asecondversion,the
Me163B,wasbuiltwithmorepowerfulmotor.Thedesignwasnotperfected,however,untilmid1944,
whenapproximately370werebuiltanddeployedthroughoutGermanyinalastditchattempttothwart
theAlliedforces.TheRAFandUSAAFaircrewswhoencounteredthemcommentedintheirreports
onhowfastanddangerousthesecraftwere:onmanyoccasions,theMe163sweresofastthatthe
Alliedairgunnershadnochancetodealwiththem.However,theMe163couldonlyremainina
combatsituationfor25minutes,formostofwhichtimeitwasunpowered,andtheirrelativelysmall
numberpreventedthemfromhavingmuchsuccessagainsttheAlliedadvance.(38)
HansKammler
IftheGermansdidsucceedinproducingapilotedflyingdisc,whatbecameofit?Asseveral
researchershavenoted,theanswermayliewithSSObergruppenfuhrerDrHansKammler,whotowards
theendofthewarhadaccesstoallareasofsecretairarmamentsprojects.KammlerworkedontheV2
rocketproject,alongwithWernhervonBraun(whowouldlaterheadNASA'sApolloMoon
programme)andLuftwaffeMajorGeneralWalterDornberger(whowouldlaterbecomevicepresident
oftheBellAircraftCompanyintheUnitedStates).(39)
HeinrichHimmlerplannedtoseparatetheSSfromNaziPartyandstatecontrolthroughthe
establishmentofanumberofbusinessandindustrialfronts,makingitindependentofthestatebudget.
Hitlerapprovedthisproposalearlyin1944.(AsJimMarrsnotes,thisstrategywouldsubsequentlybe
copiedbytheCIAinAmerica.)(40)
Bytheendofthewar,HansKammlerhaddecidedtouseV2rockettechnologyandscientistsas
bargainingchipswiththeAllies.On2April1945,500techniciansandengineerswereplacedonatrain
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alongwith100SStroopsandsenttoasecretAlpinelocationinBavaria.Twodayslater,vonBraun
requestedpermissionfromKammlertoresumerocketresearch,towhichKammlerrepliedthat
hewasabouttodisappearforanindefinitelengthoftime.ThiswasthelastanyonesawofHans
Kammler.(41)Inviewoftheundoubtedadvantageheheldwhenitcametonegotiatingforhislifewith
theAllies,Kammler'sdisappearanceissomethingofapuzzle,untilwepausetoconsiderthepossibility
thathepossessedplansforatechnologyevenmoreadvancedthantheV2.'DidtheReich,oran
extensionofit,havethecapabilitytoproduceaUFOortheclouttodealfromapositionofstrength
withoneoftheAlliednations?'(42)AlthoughitisassumedthatKammlercommittedsuicidewhen
abouttobeapprehendedbytheCzechresistanceinPrague,thereisnoproofofthis.Whatreally
happenedtoKammler?Inthefinalchapter,wewillexaminethetheorythathe,alongwithmanyother
highrankingNazis,survivedtheendofthewarandescapedtoanunlikelylocation.
TheAvrocar
Theopinionoforthodoxhistoryisthat,whilemanyhighlyadvancedweaponsdesignswereonthe
drawingboard,withsomeactuallybeingputintolimitedproductioninthefinalmonthsofthewar,
nothingwiththedesignorperformancecharacteristicsofflyingsaucerswaseverbuiltinNazi
Germany.Andyet,in1953,onlyeightyearsaftertheendofthewar,theCanadianTorontoStar
announcedthataflyingsaucerwasbeingdevelopedbytheA.V.Roecompany(AVROCanada)atits
facilitiesnearMalton,Ontario.Accordingtothereport,apparentlyleakedbyawellinformedsource
withinthecompany,themachinewouldhaveatopspeedof1,500mph.
Thisunderstandablyprovokedasuddenandintenseinterestinthesubjectfromothermembersofthe
press,whoaskedforclarificationfromtheCanadianGovernment.Astatementwasreleased,declaring:
'TheDefenseauthoritiesareexaminingallideas,evenrevolutionaryones,thathavebeensuggestedfor
thedevelopmentofnewtypesofsupersonicaircraft,alsoincludingflyingdiscs.This,however,isstill
inthebeginningphaseofresearchanditwillbeanumberofmonthsbeforeweareabletoreach
anythingpositiveandsevenormoreyearsbeforewecometoactualproduction.'(43)
On16February1953,C.D.Howe,theMinisterofDefenseProduction,toldtheCanadianHouseof
Commonsthatthegovernmentwasstudyingnewfighteraircraftconcepts'addingweighttoreportsthat
AVROisevennowworkingonamockupmodelofa"flyingsaucer"capableofflying1500milesper
hourandclimbingstraightupintheair'.(44)Lessthantwoweekslater,on27February,the
AVROPresident,CrawfordGordon,Jr.,wroteinthecompany'sjournal:'Oneofourprojectscanbe
saidtobequiterevolutionaryinconceptandappearance.Theprototypebeingbuiltissorevolutionary
thatwhenitfliesallothertypesofsupersonicaircraftwillbecomeobsolescent.ThisisallthatAVRO
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Canadaaregoingtosayaboutthisproject.'(45)
Thisstatementwasfollowedbytwomonthsofsilence,afterwhichpressinterestwasfiredtoaneven
greaterdegreebyanotherrevelationintheTorontoStarof21April:
FieldMarshalMontgomery...becameoneofahandfulofpeopleevertoseeAVRO'smockupofa
'flyingsaucer,'reputedtobecapableofflying1500milesanhour.Aguidewhoaccompanied
Montgomeryquotedhimasdescribingitas'fantastic.'...Securityprecautionssurroundingthissuper
secretaresotightthattwoofMontgomery'sescortsfromScotlandYardwerebarredfromthe
forbidden,screenedoffareaoftheAVROplant.(46)
On24April,theTorontoStaraddedthattheflyingdiscwasconstructedofmetal,woodandplastics,
andreferredtoitasagyroscopicfighter,witharevolvinggasturbineengine.Littlemorewaswrittenin
theCanadianpressuntil1November,whenabriefreportappearedstating:'AmockupoftheCanadian
flyingsaucer,thehighlysecretaircraftinwhoseexistencefewbelieve,wasyesterdayshowntoagroup
oftwentyfiveAmericanexperts,includingmilitaryofficersandscientists.'(47)This$200million
dollarprototypewasalsoknownastheAVROOmega,probablybecauseitsshapewasmorelikethe
Greekletterthanaperfectcircle.
ThepressclaimedthattheCanadianGovernmentplannedtodeploysquadronsofflyingsaucersforthe
defenceofthefarnorthofthecountry,theirVTOL(verticaltakeoffandlanding)capabilitiesmaking
themidealforforestedandsnowcoveredterrain.Onceagain,however,therefollowedaperiodof
officialandpresssilenceonthematter,brokenonlybytherevelationthattheproject'sprincipal
designerwastheaeronauticalengineerJ.C.M.Frost,andpersistentrumoursthattheUSmilitaryhad
becomeinvolved.Vescoquotesanunnamedpresssource,whostatedenthusiastically:
Thisisashipthatwillbeabletotakeoffvertically,tohoverinmidairandtomoveataspeedofabout
1850mph.Thatis,itwouldbecapableofperformingallthemaneuversthatflyingdiscsaresaidtobe
capableof.ThisastonishingcraftisthebrainchildoftheEnglishaeronauticalengineerJohnFrost,who
workedforthelargedeHavillandfactoryinEnglandduringthewarandwholaterwentontoA.V.
Roe,inMalton,Canada.TheaircraftthatwillbebuiltfortheU.S.AirForceisnot,however,thefirstof
thistypethatFrosthasdesigned.TwoyearsagohehaddesignedandsubmittedtoAmericanexpertsan
aircraftwhichwascalledtheFlyingMantabecauseofitsbehaviorontakeoff.Itmoreorless
resembledthepresentdisc,butitcouldnottakeoffvertically.Inaddition,itstopspeeddidnotexceed
1430mph.TheMantahadinterestedtheAmericanGeneralStaff,butinviewoftheseoperating
deficiencies,itwasdecidednottobuildit.(48)
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ThesehighhopesforUSCanadianflyingdiscsweredashedwhen,on3December1954,theCanadian
DefenseMinistrysuddenlyannouncedthattheprojectwastobeabandonedonthegroundsthatthe
technologyrequiredtomakeitworkwastooexpensiveandspeculative.
Nearlyayearlater,however,on25October1955,USAirForceSecretaryDonaldQuarlesmadean
intriguingstatementthroughtheDepartmentofDefensepressoffice.
Wearenowenteringaperiodofaviationtechnologyinwhichaircraftofunusualconfigurationand
flightcharacteristicswillbegintoappear...TheAirForcewillflythefirstjetpoweredverticalrising
airplaneinamatterofdays.WehaveanotherprojectundercontractwithAVROLtd.,ofCanada,which
couldresultindiscshapedaircraftsomewhatsimilartothepopularconceptofaflyingsaucer...While
someofthesemaytakenovelforms,suchastheAVROproject,theyaredirectlinedescendantsof
conventionalaircraftandshouldnotberegardedassupranaturalormysterious...Verticalrising
aircraftcapableoftransitiontosupersonichorizontalflightwillbeanewphenomenoninourskies,and
undercertainconditionscouldgivetheillusionofthesocalledflyingsaucer.TheDepartmentof
Defensewillmakeeveryeffortwithintheboundsofsecuritytokeepthepublicinformedofthese
developmentssotheycanberecognizedforwhattheyare...Ithinkwemustrecognizethatother
countriesalsohavethecapabilityofdevelopingverticalrisingaircraft,perhapsofunconventional
shapes.However,wearesatisfiedatthistimethatnoneofthesightingsofsocalled'flyingsaucers'
reportedinthiscountrywereinfactaircraftofforeignorigin.(49)
Quarles'ssurprisingstatementnotwithstanding,theAVROcompanywasinfactgoingthrough
somethingofabadpatchfollowingthecancellationbytheCanadianGovernmentofthecontractforthe
CF105Arrowheavybomber,onthepretextofthediminishedairthreatfromRussiawhichhadonlya
limitednumberofintercontinentalbombers.Thisdecisionresultedin10,000peoplebeinglaidoff,
mostofthemspecialistsworkingonthesaucerproject,renamedtheAVROCar.
ItwasnotuntilAugust1960thatAmericanauthoritiesdecidedtoallowthepresstoseetheprototypeof
theAVROCar.Itsperformancewaslessthanimpressive:itmanagedtodolittlemorethanhoverafew
feetabovetheground,promptinganofficialstatementthat'evenforthistypeofVTOLplane...the
principalproblemislowspeedstability.Testswithafullscalemodelhavebeenmadeatthelargeforty
byeightyfootwindtunnelattheAmesResearchCenter,belongingtoNASA,buttheywerenot
completelysuccessful.Itbecameclear,however,thatthevariousproblemsinherentinacircularaircraft
ofthistypearenotinsurmountable.'(50)
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Justoverayearlater,itwasannouncedthattheUSDepartmentofDefensewouldbewithdrawingfrom
theAVROCarproject,onthegroundsthatitwasunlikelythatthedesigncouldeverbemadetowork
successfully.
ThelamentablestoryoftheAVROCar(anditsillustrationoftheproblemsbesettingdiscshaped
aircraft)hasdonenothingtodissuadeNaziUFOproponentsfrommaintainingthattheirbasicthesisis
correct.However,BritishufologistTimothyGoodquotesaCIAmemorandumfromW.E.Lexow,Chief
oftheAppliedScienceDivision,OfficeofScientificIntelligence,dated19October1955,whichmay
lendweighttothisidea.Accordingtothememorandum,JohnFrost,thedesigneroftheAVROCar,'is
reportedtohaveobtainedhisoriginalideafortheflyingmachinefromagroupofGermansjustafter
WorldWarII.TheSovietsmayalsohaveobtainedinformationfromthisGermangroup'.(51)
TheProblemoftheUFOOccupants
AnytheoryoftheoriginofUFOsmust,ofcourse,takeintoaccountalltheavailableevidence,andthis
includesreportedencounterswithanddescriptionsofUFOoccupants.Havinglookedattheideathat
UFOsaremanmadeaircraftinspiredbydesignsdevelopedbyNaziscientistsintheSecondWorldWar,
wenowfindourselvesconfrontingmaterialthatwould,atfirstsight,besufficienttomaketheNazi
UFOtheorycompletelyuntenable.ForassoonastheUFOlandsandopensitshatches,wemeeta
varietyofcreaturesthatareanythingbuthuman.(Tobesure,someUFOoccupantsaredescribedas
beingcompletelyhumanlookingbuttheyseemtobeverymuchintheminority.)Thishasnaturallyled
themajorityofUFOresearchersandinvestigatorstoconcludethatUFOsareextraterrestrialdevices.
Beforedealingwiththisproblem,letusillustrateitbyexaminingbrieflysomeoftheseallegedcontacts
withUFOoccupants.
OverthedecadessincethemoderneraofufologybeganwiththeArnoldsightingin1947,peopleall
overtheworldhaveclaimedtohaveencounteredanastonishingvarietyofcreatureslinkedwithUFOs
ontheground.Inthe1950sand1960sthesepeoplewereknownas'contactees'and,accordingtotheir
testimony,humanityhadnothingwhatsoevertofearfromtheufonauts.Theywerealmostinvariably
describedasbeingtallandstrikinglyattractive,withlong,sandycolouredhairandblueeyes,a
descriptionwhichresultedintheirbeingclassifiedas'Nordic'aliens.(Inthepresentcontext,this
descriptionhasobviousandsinisterconnotationsbut,asweshallsee,isalmostcertainlycoincidental.)
Themostfamousofthe1950scontacteeswasGeorgeAdamskiwho,on20November1952,
encounteredamanclaimingtocomefromVenus.Adamski,aselfstyledphilosopherandmystic,was
runningahamburgerstandafewmilesfromtheMountPalomarObservatoryinCaliforniawhenhehad
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hisencounter.HewashavinglunchwithseveralfriendsnearDesertCenterwhentheyallegedlysawa
giganticcigarshapedobjectinthesky.Tellinghisfriendstoremainbehind,Adamskidroveintothe
desert,wherehewitnessedthelandingofadiscshaped'scoutcraft'.Whentheship'ssingleoccupant
appeared,Adamskiwasabletocommunicatewithhimthroughacombinationofhandsignalsand
telepathyandlearnedthattheVenusians(togetherwithotherintelligentracesthroughouttheSolar
System)weredeeplyconcernedathumanity'smisuseofnuclearenergy(athemethatwouldberepeated
againandagainbythecontactees).
Incommonwiththeothercontactees,Adamski'sclaimssufferedfromegregiousscientificinaccuracies,
notleastofwhichwastheutterinabilityofalltheotherplanetsintheSolarSystemtosupport
intelligenthumanoidlife.InAdamski'scase,thisdifficultywassomewhatcompoundedbyacomment
hemadetotwofollowersregardingProhibition.Duringthisperiod,hehadsecuredaspeciallicence
fromthegovernmenttomakewineforreligiouspurposes(hehadfoundedamonasteryinLaguna
Beach),withtheresultthatheclaimedtohavemade'enoughwineforallofSouthernCalifornia'.Ifit
hadnotbeenfortherepealofProhibition,hetoldhisfriends,'Iwouldn'thavehadtogetintothissaucer
crap'.(52)
Thecontacteeclaimsofthe1950sarerightlyregardedasextremelydubiousbymostufologists;
however,inthedecadessincetherehavebeenanumberofcontactclaimsthatdemandmoreserious
attention.Beforeproceeding,itisnecessaryforustolookbrieflyatsomeofthemostimpressive
reports,sincetheyformthebackdroptoanincreasinglypopularconspiracytheoryregardingNazi
activitiesinthepostwarperiod.
WhenweexaminereportsofencounterswithUFOoccupants(particularlysincetheearly1960s),we
seethatthedefiningcharacteristicrevealsitselftobewhathascometobeknownas'abduction',in
whichwitnessesaretakenfromtheirnormalenvironmentagainsttheirwillandareforcedtointeractin
variouswayswithapparentlynonhumanentities.
Oneofthemostfamousabductioncasesoccurredon11October1973ontheshoresofthePascagoula
RiverinMississippi,USA.CharlieHickson,45,andCalvinParker,18,werefishingintheriverwhen
theywitnessedtheapproachofaUFO.Thefollowingday,theUnitedPressInternationalnewsservice
carriedthefollowingreport:
PASCAGOULA,Miss.TwoshipyardworkerswhoclaimedtheywerehauledaboardaUFOand
examinedbysilverskinnedcreatureswithbigeyesandpointedearswerecheckedtodayatamilitary
hospitalandfoundtobefreeofradiation.
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...JacksonCountychiefdeputyBarneyMathissaidthementoldhimtheywerefishingfromanoldpier
onthewestbankofthePascagoulaRiverabout7p.m.Thursdaywhentheynoticedastrangecraftabout
twomilesawayemittingabluishhaze.
Theysaiditmovedcloserandthenappearedtohoveraboutthreeorfourfeetabovethewater,then
'threewhatevertheywerescameout,eitherfloatingorwalking,andcarriedusintotheship,'officers
quotedHicksonassaying.
'Thethingshadbigeyes.Theykeptusabouttwentyminutes,photographedus,andthentookusbackto
thepier.Theonlysoundtheymadewasabuzzinghummingsound.Theyleftinaflash.'
'Thesearereliablepeople,'SheriffDiamondsaid.'Theyhadnoreasontosaythisifithadnotbeentrue.
Iknowsomethingdidhappentothem.'
Thesheriffsaidthe'spacecraft'wasdescribedasfishshaped,abouttenfeetlongwithaneightfoot
ceiling.Theoccupantsweresaidtohavepalesilveryskin,nohair,longpointedearsandnoses,withan
openingforamouthandhands'likecrabclaws.'
InsidetheUFO,thetwomenwereplacedonatableandexaminedwithadevicethatresembledahuge
eye.TheywerelaterinterviewedbyDrJ.AllenHynek,theastronomerwhoseworkasaconsultantfor
theUSAirForce'sUFOinvestigationproject,BlueBook,turnedhimfromsceptictocautiousadvocate
ofUFOreality.HynekconcludedthatHicksonandParkerwereinastateofgenuinefright.DrJames
A.Harder,aconsultantfortheAerialPhenomenaResearchOrganization(APRO)whoalsoinvestigated
thecase,describedtheUFOoccupantsas'automata',or'advancedrobots',judgingfromthewitnesses'
descriptions.
ManypeoplewhoarescepticalofUFOandalienabductionsstate,quitereasonably,thatanadvanced
spacefaringcivilisationwouldnotneedtoconductthehighlyintrusiveandtraumaticexperimentson
humanbeingsthattheirrepresentativesarereportedtoconduct.Therepeatedtakingofsamplesof
blood,flesh,spermandovafromunwillingsubjectsimpliesacuriouslyprimitivemedicaltechnology
forbeingsallegedlycapableofbuildinginterstellarspacecraft.However,thereisanintriguing
correlationbetweentheatrocitiescommittedby'aliens'ontheirhumanvictimsandthosecommittedby
Nazi'doctors'(Iusethetermloosely)intheconcentrationcampsduringtheSecondWorldWar.Aswe
shallseelaterinthischapter,proponentsoftheNaziUFOTheory,suchasW.A.Harbinson,have
suggestedthatthismaybeduetoanongoing(andforthemomenthighlysecret)Naziplottocreatea
masterracefromtherawmaterialofhumanityinitspresentform.
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Oneofthemostimpressiveandcarefullyinvestigatedabductioncasesoccurredon26August1976.
Fourartstudents,CharlieFoltz,ChuckRakandbrothersJackandJimWeinerwereonacampingtrip
ontheAllagashRiverinMaine,USA.WhilefishinginaboatonEastLake,theywatchedtheapproach
ofalargesphericallightthatfrightenedthemconsiderably.Thenextthingtheyknew,theywere
standingontheshoreofthelake,watchingtheobjectshootupintothesky.Therewasnothingleftof
theirblazingcampfirebutafewglowingembers,implyingthattheyhadbeenawayforseveralhours
althoughtheyonlyrememberedbeingonthelakeforabouttwentyminutes.
Severalyearslater,thecasecametotheattentionoftherespectedUFOresearcherRaymondE.Fowler,
whoinvestigatedonbehalfoftheMutualUFONetwork(MUFON),thelargestcivilianUFO
organisationintheworld.Fowlerarrangedforthefourwitnessestoundergohypnoticregressionto
recovertheirlostmemoriesoftheevening.Eachofthemen(whohadpromisednottodiscusswith
eachothertheirindividualhypnosissessions)recalledbeingtakenintotheUFOthroughabeamof
light.Onceinside,theyencounteredseveralhumanoidentitieswhoforcedthem(apparentlythrough
someformofmindcontrol)toundressandsitinamistfilledroom.Theirbodieswereexaminedand
probedwithvariousinstruments,andsamplesofsaliva,blood,skin,sperm,urineandfaeceswere
taken.Whentheexaminationhadbeencompleted,themenwereforcedtowalkthroughacircular
doorway,whereupontheyfoundthemselvesfloatingbackdowntotheirboatthroughthelightbeam.
FowlerlaterdiscoveredthatJackWeinerhadhadan'anomalouslump'surgicallyremovedseveralyears
earlier.Thepathologistwhoexaminedithadbeensomewhatmystifiedandhadsentitonforanalysisto
theCenterforDiseaseControlinAtlanta,Georgia.AtFowler'srequest,JackWeineraskedforhis
medicalrecordsanddiscoveredthatthelumphadbeensenttotheArmedForcesInstituteofPathology
(AFIP)inWashington,D.C.,insteadoftheCenterforDiseaseControl.WhenFowlertelephonedthe
AFIPforanexplanation,hewastoldbythepublicinformationofficerthattheAFIPoccasionally
assistedciviliandoctors.'WhenJackaskedwhythelumpwassenttotheAFIPratherthantheCenter
forDiseaseControl,hewastoldbyhissurgeon'ssecretarythatitwaslesscostlyeventhoughJackwas
coveredbyinsurance!'(53)
ThePascagoulaandAllagashencountersdisplaymanyofthehallmarksofthetypicalUFOabduction,
theprincipalelementsofwhichcanbelistedasfollows:(1)theinitialappearanceoftheentitiesandthe
takingofthepercipient;(2)medicalprobingwithvariousinstruments;(3)machineexaminationsand
mentaltesting;(4)sexualactivity,inwhichthepercipientissometimesforcedto'mate'withother
humansorevenwiththeentitiesthemselves;and(5)thereturningofthepercipienttohisorhernormal
environment.(54)Althoughanextremelywidevarietyof'alien'typeshasbeenencounteredbypeople
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allovertheworld,onetypeinparticularhasbecomemoreandmorecommonlyreported(particularly
intheUnitedStates).Thesocalled'Grey'isnowregardedasthequintessentialalienbeingandisone
ofthemostimmediatelyrecognisableimagesintoday'sworld.
Intheunlikelyeventthatthereaderisunfamiliarwiththisimage,wecanbrieflydescribetheGreys'
physicalcharacteristicsasfollows:theyareusuallydescribedasapproximatelyfourfeettall(although
someareastallaseightfeet),withextremelylargecraniumsandenormousjetblack,almondshaped
eyes.Theyhavenonoseorearstospeakof,merelysmallholeswheretheseshouldbe;likewise,their
mouthsareusuallydescribedasnomorethanliplessslits.Thetorsoandlimbsaredescribedasbeing
verythin,almoststicklike,andmorethanoneabducteehasreportedtheimpressionthattheyseemto
bemadeofanundifferentiatedmaterial,withnoboneormuscularstructure.Theirhandsarelongand
thin,sometimeswiththreefingers,sometimeswithfour.Inaddition,theGreysarefrequentlyreported
toberatheruncaringintheirattitudetowardshumans,treatingusmuchaswetreatlaboratoryanimals.
Indeed,theyhavebeendescribedbysomeasmilitaristicandbyothersashivelikeintheirdemeanour,
asiftheyhadnoindividualconsciousnessoftheirownbutwerecarryingoutcommandsfromsome
highersource.
ItisclearthatanyclaimsofaNazioriginofmodernUFOencountersmusttakeaccountofthebizarre
creaturesassociatedwiththediscs.Thisproblemmightseeminsurmountableinviewofthefactthat,
whilewemaynotexpecttheUFOpilotstobestruttingaroundinblackleathertrenchcoatsand
jackboots,theywouldsurelyneverthelessberecognisableashumanbeings.However,theresearch
undertakenbyW.A.Harbinsonmayofferawayaroundthisapparentimpasse,aswellasprovidingus
withsomeextremelyunsettlingfoodforthought.
NaziCyborgs?
Harbinson'sthesis,thatUFOoccupantsmaywellbecyborgsbiomedicallyengineeredamalgamations
ofhumanandmachineissupportedtoacertainextentbymedicalresearchconductedsincethe1960s.
Althoughthisresearchwasatthetimehighlysecret,thegruesomedetailshavesincecometolightin
theformofbooksandarticlesthatdescribenotonlythenatureoftheexperimentsconductedbutalso
thefrighteningattitudeofsomemembersofthemedicalprofession.AccordingtoDavidFishlock:
'Eventodaytherearepeoplewhobelievethatconvicts,especiallythecriminallunatic,andeven
conscientiousobjectors,shouldbecompelledtolendthemselvestoscience.'(55)
ReferringtoThePeopleShapers(1978)byVancePackard,Harbinsonremindsusofthedirectionin
whichmedicalresearchwasheadingmorethan30yearsago.
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[I]ntheClevelandClinic'sDepartmentofArtificialOrgans,notonlymedicalspecialists,but
'mechanical,electrical,chemical,andbiomedicalengineers,aswellasbiochemistsandpolymer
chemists',were,intheirbusyoperatingtheatres,enthusiasticallyengagedin'surgeryconnectedtothe
developmentofartificialsubstitutesfor...vitalorganssuchastheliver,lungs,pancreas,andkidneys'.
ConvenientlywithinwalkingdistanceoftheClevelandClinic'sDepartmentofArtificialOrgansarethe
NeurosurgicalResearchLaboratoriesoftheClevelandMetropolitanGeneralHospital,wheregreat
interestwasbeingexpressed,asfarbackas1967,inthepossibilityoftransferringtheentireheadofone
humanbeingtoanother.Switchinghumanbrainsfromoneheadtoanotherwouldbecomplicatedand
costly,but,asPackardexplains:'Bysimplyswitchingheads,ontheotherhand,onlyafewconnections
needtobeseveredandthenreestablishedintheneckoftherecipientbody.'(56)
ThisprocedurewassuccessfullycarriedoutonmonkeysattheClevelandClinic,witheachhead
apparentlyretainingitsoriginalmentalcharacteristicswhenattachedtoitsnewbody.Inotherwords,if
amonkeyhadbeenaggressivebeforetheoperation,itwouldremainsowhenitsheadwastransplanted
toanotherbody.Theeyesofthemonkeysfollowedpeopleastheywalkedpast,implyingthattheheads
retainedsomelevelofawareness.Theunfortunatesubjectsoftheseproceduresonlylivedforaboutone
week.
Ofcourse,themainprobleminaprocedureofthiskindwouldbetheregenerationoftheseveredspinal
cordsothatthebraincouldsendnerveimpulsestoitsnewbody;andyeteventhisfeatseemsnottobe
outsidetheboundsofpossibility.InJune1976,aSovietscientistnamedLevonA.Matinian'reported
fromthefourthbiennialconferenceonRegenerationoftheCentralNervousSystemthathehad
succeededinregrowingthespinalcordsofrats'.(57)Harbinsonsuggests,almostcertainlywithsome
justification,thatthisareaofresearchmusthavebeencontinued'behindcloseddoors'atmilitaryand
scientificestablishmentssincethen.Itissurelyreasonabletosupposethat,ifthisisthecase,scientists
haveprogressedwellbeyondthelevelofrats.
Onecanbeforgivenforwonderingwhatconceivableusesuchbarbaricexperimentscouldpossibly
haveforhumanity.Whileitismercifullyunlikelythatheadtransplantswilleverbeinvogue,such
researchundoubtedlyholdsmuchpotentialfortheenhancementofhumanbeingswhowilleventually
conductroutineworkinhostileenvironments,suchastheoceanfloorandouterspace.Fusionofasort
betweenhumanandmachinehasalreadybeenachieved,intheformofthesocalledCybernetic
AnthropomorphousMachineSystem(CAMS),'slave'machinerythatmimicsthemovementofits
humanoperators.AccordingtoHarbinson:
InanaerospaceconferencegiveninBostonin1966,engineerWilliamE.Bradley,whodevelopedthe
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ideaofcablelessmanmachinemanipulatorsystemsfortheUSDefenseDepartment'sInstitutefor
DefenseAnalysis,statedhisbeliefthatmanandmachinewouldeventuallybelinkedinsuchawaythat
byperformingthemanoeuvreshimself,themanwouldcausethemtotakeplace,throughthemachine,
atadistanceofthousandsofmiles.Thisconceptsoonledtotheweaponaimingsystemdevisedbythe
PhilcoCorporationfortheUSAirForce,inwhichthepilot'shelmetiscoupledwithaservosystemthat
enableshimtoaimandfirehisweaponsautomaticallybymerelyswivellinghisheaduntilacamera
locatedinhishelmetshowsthetarget.(58)
Inaddition,asearlyas1967USAirForcescientistshadsucceededintransmittingthoughtimpulsesto
acomputerusingavariationonMorsecodecomposedoflongandshortburstsofalphawaves(59)
(alphawavesareproducedbythebrainwhenitisatrest).Thistechnologyhasdevelopedtothepoint
wheretodaywehavethepotentialforamputeestocontroltheirprostheticlimbsbymeansofnerve
impulsesdirectlyfromthebrain.
Inthefieldoforgantransplantation,wehaveseenastonishingprogressoverthelast30yearsanditis
surelynotrashtosuggestthatwewillsoonseeartificialheartsandotherorgansroutinelyreplacing
thosedamagedthroughillnessoraccident.Likewise,inspiteofconcernsregardingtheethical
implicationsofhumancloning,wemayalsoseethedaywhenhumanorgansareproducedinthe
laboratory,readyfortransplantingwhentheneedarises.Inviewofthefactthatresearchconducted
undertheaegisofnationalsecurityisbetweentenandtwentyyearsaheadofwhatismadepublicatany
particulartime(workontheStealthfighterbeganinthemid1970s,althoughthepublicwerenotmade
awareofitsexistenceuntilthelate1980s),itispossibleperhapslikelythatadvancesinthefieldof
medicalandbioengineeringresearchhavealreadyextendedintotherealmofwhatthepublicwould
considersciencefiction.
Harbinsonbelievesthatwhatthepublicknowsismerelythetipoftheiceberg,andremindsusthat'the
USNavy,AirForce,ArmyandgovernmentagenciessuchasNASAallwithtopsecretresearch
establishmentsintheWhiteSandsProvingGroundandsimilarareashaveaparticularneedfor
advancedmanmachinemanipulationsorcyborgs'.(60)Headdsthatthecreaturesseeninandaround
landedUFOscouldbesuchcyborgs:humanbeingsradicallyaugmentedbysophisticatedmechanical
prosthetics.
Theoretically,thelungsofsuchcreatureswouldbepartiallycollapsedandthebloodinthemartificially
cooled.Thecyborgs'respirationandotherbodilyfunctionswouldthenbecontrolledcybernetically
withartificiallungsandsensorswhichmaintainconstanttemperature,metabolismandpressure,
irrespectiveofexternalenvironmentalfluctuationsthus,evenifnotprotectedbyanantigravity(or
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gravitic)propulsionsystem,theywouldnotbeaffectedbytheextraordinaryaccelerationsanddirection
changesoftheircraft.Thecyborgswouldhavenoindependentwill,butcouldberemotecontrolled,
bothphysicallyandmentally,evenacrossgreatdistances,bycomputerlinkedbrainimplants.Sincethis
operationwouldrenderthemouthandnosesuperfluous,thesewouldbesealed...andcompletelynon
functioning.(61)
IfwerememberthebasicdescriptionoftheGreysnotedearlier,withtheirslitlikeandapparently
uselessmouths,vestigialnosesandthintorsos,wecanbegintoseeafrighteningcorrespondencewith
thetheoreticalhumanbuiltcyborg,anightmarishcombinationofgeneticallyengineeredhumanand
highlysophisticatedmachine.Toastartled,disorientatedandterrifiedUFOwitness,suchacreature
wouldsurelylooklikenothingonearth...wouldlook,infact,likeanextraterrestrialalien.
Interestingly,manypeopleclaimingtohaveencounteredUFOcrewsmentionthepresenceofnormal
lookinghumansalongsidethebizarreentities.Someufologistssuggestthatthesehumantypesarethe
Nordicaliensmentionedearlier,workingalongsidetheGreysandperhapsformingpartofsome
interplanetaryfederation;other,moreconspiracymindedresearchersbelievethatthehumantypesare
justthat:humanbeingswhoareinleaguewithahostilealienoccupationforce.Thereis,however,
anotherpossibility,basedontheinformationwehavejustconsidered.Itisconceivablethatthehumans
seenonboardUFOsareactuallythecontrollersoftheGreys/cyborgs.Itisalsoconceivablethatthese
humansaremembersofanultrasecretgroup,existingcompletelyindependentlyofanynationon
Earth,andperhapshostiletoallnationsandallotherhumans.
Conceivable,yesbuttrue?
Thesesuggestions,ofcourse,raiseanumberofseriousanddifficultquestions.Ifthecontrollersofthe
UFOsandtheirnotquitehumancrewmembersreallyarefromEarth,whoarethey?Iftheyplacetheir
allegiancewithnoknownnation,withwhomdoestheirallegiancelie?Whydotheyabductwhatis
apparentlyanenormousnumberofordinaryhumans,someofwhomareneverreturned?Suchan
organisationorsocietycouldnotoperatewithoutawellsupplied,protectedandhighlysecrethome
base.Whereisit?
Inthefinalchapterofoursurvey,wewillexaminesomeofthetheoriesthathavebeenputforwardto
accountfortheoriginandactivitiesofthissinistergroupofhumans.Butfirst,wecanattempttoanswer
oneofthequestionswehavejustposed.Theanswer,iftrue,isterrifying,andleadsusinevitablytothe
finalstageofourjourneythroughtheAbsoluteElsewhere.
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TelemetricMindControl
WhatisthesecretofsocalledUFOabductions?Arehostilealienbeingsresponsible,oristhesolution
tothemysterytobefoundrighthereonEarth?Forapossibleanswertothesequestions,wemustlook
atthehistoryofasubjectthatmostpeoplewouldassumeliesfirmlywithintheboundariesofscience
fictionandthathasnoplaceintheworldofeverydayexperience.Thesubjectisthecontrolofthe
humanmindfromadistanceand,asweshallnowsee,itisfrighteninglypracticable.
AccordingtotheUSAirForceScientificAdvisoryBoardinits1996studyofweaponstechnology,
NewWorldVistasAirandSpacePowerforthe21stCentury,itispossibletoachievethecouplingof
humanandmachinethroughwhatisknownasBiologicalProcessControl.'Onecanenvisionthe
developmentofelectromagneticenergysources,theoutputofwhichcanbepulsed,shaped,and
focused,thatcancouplewiththehumanbodyinafashionthatwillallowonetopreventvoluntary
muscularmovements,controlemotions(andthusactions),producesleep,transmitsuggestions,
interferewithbothshorttermandlongtermmemory,produceanexperienceset,anddeletean
experienceset.'ResearcherDavidGuyattinformsusthat'experienceset'isjargonforone'slife's
memories:thistechnologyisquiteliterallycapableofdeletingone'smemoriesandreplacingthemwith
anentirelynewset.(62)
Thosewhobelievethatsuchtechnologymuststillbedecadesawayfromperfectionmaybesurprisedto
learnthatDrJoseDelgado,aneurophysiologistattheYaleUniversitySchoolofMedicine,hasbeen
experimentingwithElectronicStimulationoftheBrain(ESB)sincethelate1940s.Perhapshismost
impressiveexperimentwasconductedin1964,withthefinancialbackingoftheUSOfficeofNaval
Research.Anelectronicprobewasimplantedinthebrainofabullandasmallradioreceiverstrapped
toitshead.Theanimalwasthenplacedinabullring,alongwithDrDelgadowhowasequippedwitha
remotecontrolhandset.Asthebullchargedhim,Delgadoflippedaswitchonthehandsetandtheone
tonanimalstoppeddeadinfrontofhim,clearlyinastateofconfusion.Thisprocesswasrepeated
severaltimes.Guyattwrites:'Speakingtwoyearslater,in1966,Delgadostatedthathisexperiments
"supportthedistastefulconclusionthatmotion,emotion,andbehaviourcanbedirectedbyelectrical
[means]andthathumanscanbecontrolledlikerobotsbypushbuttons".'(63)AccordingtoDelgado,
thiswouldeventuallyresultina'psychocivilised'society,whosecitizens'brainswouldbecomputer
controlledthroughtheuseofimplanted'stimoceivers'.Guyattinformsusthatin1974neurophysiologist
LawrencePinneooftheStanfordResearchInstitute(SRI)developedacomputersystemcapableof
readingaperson'smindbycorrelatingbrainwavesonanelectroencephalograph(EEC)withspecific
commands.(64)
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Eighteenyearsearlier,in1956,attheNationalElectronicsConferenceinChicago,CurtissShafer,an
electricalengineerfortheNordenKetayCorporation,hadstatedthat'Theultimateachievementof
biocontrolmaybemanhimself.Hecontinued:Thecontrolledsubjectswouldneverbepermittedto
thinkasindividuals.Afewmonthsafterbirth,asurgeonwouldequipeachchildwithasocketmounted
underthescalpandelectrodesreachingselectedareasofbraintissue'.Thesubject's'sensory
perceptionsandmuscularactivitycouldbeeithermodifiedorcompletelycontrolledbybioelectric
signalsradiatingfromstatecontrolledtransmitters'.(65)
AmongthehorrorsperpetratedatAuschwitzandDachauconcentrationcampswerefrequentlyfatal
experimentsinmindcontrol,conductedmainlywithhypnosisandnarcohypnosis,usingdrugssuchas
mescalineandvariousbarbiturates.Afterthewar,manyNaziscientists,doctors,engineersand
intelligencepersonnelweresecretlytakentotheUnitedStatesintheoperationknownasProject
PAPERCLIP.ThirtyfourNaziscientistsweresenttoRandolphAirForceBaseinSanAntonio,Texasto
continuetheirnarcohypnosisexperimentsonnonvolunteersubjects,includingprisoners,mental
patientsandmembersofethnicminorities.(66)Theresultsofthenarcohypnosisexperiments
suggestedthatthetechniquewasunreliable(themainintentionbeingtoproduceaprogrammable
assassin),andgreateremphasiswasplacedonelectronictechnologytoeraseaperson'spersonality(a
processknownas'depatterning')andreplaceitwithanewpersonalitydevisedbytheexperimenter(a
techniquecalled'psychicdriving').(67)
Asmightbeexpected,theCIAhasalwaysbeenextremelyinterestedintheconceptofmindcontrol.
OneoftheirexperimentalfacilitieswascontainedwithintheAllenMemorialInstitute,thepsychiatric
divisionofMcGillUniversityinMontreal,Canada,directedbyDrEwenCameronMDonagrantfrom
theRockefellerandGerschickterFoundations.CameronestablishedaRadioTelemetryLaboratoryin
whichexperimentswereconductedonnonvolunteersubjects.MindcontrolresearcherAlex
Constantineprovidesuswithaglimpseofthenatureoftheseexperiments,whichincludeddepatterning
andpsychicdriving.
ThepsychotronicheartofthelaboratorywastheGridRoom,withitsverticed,AmazingTalesinterior.
Thesubjectwasstrappedintoachairinvoluntarily,byforce,hisheadbristlingwithelectrodesand
transducers.Anyresistancewasmetwithaparalyzingdoseofcurare.Thesubject'sbrainwaveswere
beamedtoanearbyreceptionroomcrammedwithvoiceanalyzers,awirerecorderandradioreceivers
cobbledtogetherby[Cameron'sassistant]Rubenstein.Thesystematicannihilation,or'depatterning'of
asubject'smindandmemory,wasaccomplishedwithoverdosesofLSD,barbituratesleepfor65days
atastretchandECTshocksat75timestherecommendeddosage.Psychicdriving,therepetitionofa
recordedmessagefor16hoursaday,programmedtheemptymind.(68)
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TheCIAhas,overtheyears,establishedanumberofsecretprojectstostudyandexperimentwith
methodsofmindcontrol,usingdrugsandvariousformsofelectromagnetic(EM)radiation.The
notoriousMKULTRAbehaviourcontrolprogrammeismerelythebestknownoftheseprojects.The
othersinclude:ProjectCHATTER,aUSNavyprogrammeaimedattheeliminationoffreewillin
subjectsthroughtheuseofdrugsandpsychology;ProjectBLUEBIRD,aCIA/OfficeofScientific
Intelligenceprogrammetodevelopbehaviouraldrugsforusein'unconventionalwarfare';andProject
PANDORA,whichwasestablishedasaresultoftheSovietbombardmentoftheUSembassyin
Moscowwithlowintensitymicrowavesduringthe1960sand1970s.(69)PANDORAwassetupto
studythehealtheffectsofmicrowaveradiationandexperimentedwiththeinductionofhallucinations
andheartseizures.AccordingtoRichardCesaro,thedirectoroftheDefenseAdvancedResearch
ProjectsAgency(DARPA),theinitialgoalofPANDORAwasto'discoverwhetheracarefully
controlledmicrowavesignalcouldcontrolthemind'.(70)
AccordingtoConstantine,CIAresearchersconductedfurtherexperimentswithradiowaves,which
resultedintheirsubjectsexperiencingvariousemotions,sensationsandvisions.AttheUniversityof
CaliforniaatLosAngeles(UCLA),'DrRossAdey(whoworkedcloselywithemigreNazitechnicians
afterWWII)riggedthebrainsoflabanimalstotransmittoaradioreceiver,whichshotsignalsbackto
adevicethatsparkedanybehaviourdesiredbytheresearcher'.(71)
Theuseofelectronic'stimoceivers'insidethebrainsofsubjectstocontrolthoughtandbehaviouris
paralleledbyoneofthemostdisturbingaspectsofUFOabduction:thesocalled'alienimplants'which,
itisclaimed,areinsertedintothebodiesofabducteesforunknownpurposes.Alienimplantsfirstcame
towidespreadpublicattentionwiththepublicationofCommunion(1987)byWhitleyStrieberand
MissingTime(1981)byBuddHopkins.Oneofthedefiningcharacteristicsofalienabductionisthe
introductionintotheabductee'sbodyofoneormoresmalldevices,frequentlythroughthetopofthe
nasalcavityandintothebrainbutalsobeneaththeskinofarms,handsandlegs.Someresearchers
speculatethatthemysterious,socalled'unknownbrightobjects'thatoccasionallyshowuponXrays
andCATscansoftheheadareactuallyalienimplants.
Inthelastfewyears,intensiveeffortshavebeenmadebyresearchersandinvestigatorstoretrievethese
objectsfromthebodyforscientificstudy.Theyhavemetwithagooddealofsuccess,withmany
alleged'implants'havingbeensurgicallyremoved.Theresultsofanalysis,however,havebeen
inconclusive,withnoabsoluteproofofanextraterrestrialoriginforthcomingtodate.Indeed,the
objects(whicharetypicallytwoorthreemillimetresinlength)havebeenshowntobecomposedof
earthlymaterialssuchascarbon,silicon,oxygenandothertraceelements.(Supportersofan
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extraterrestrialoriginforimplantsstate,quitereasonably,thatthesesubstancesarecommonthroughout
theUniverseandthatthisshouldnotbetakenasproofoftheirearthlyorigin.Nevertheless,onewould
expectagenuinealienartefact,evenifconstructedofmaterialsfoundonEarth,toshowutterlyunusual
combinationsormethodsofconstruction.)
Whiletheexactpurposeoftheimplantsisunknown,ithasbeensuggestedbyvariousresearchersthat
theymaybetrackingdevices,bywhichthe'aliens'cankeeptabsonhumanstheywishtoabduct(in
muchthesamewayaszoologiststaganimalsinthewild).Alternatively,theymayfunctionasmonitors
ofmetabolismandotherphysicalprocesseswithinthebody.Someinvestigators,fearfulofapossible
alieninvasionofourplanet,suggestthattheimplantsaremindcontroldevicesthatwillbeactivatedif
andwhenthealiensfinallycomeoutintotheopen,thusturningwhatmaybemillionsofhumansintoa
giganticarmyofaliencontrolledrobots.
Althoughtheseideasmightseemratherparanoidandfarfetched,thelastoneraisestheintriguingand
extremelyunsettlingpossibilitythatwhatareassumedbymanytobealienimplantsareactuallyhuman
implantselectromagneticmicrowavedevicesgivingthecontrollersdirectaccesstothemindsofthe
abductees.Naturally,inthisscenario,theabductionsthemselveshavenothingtodowithalienactivity:
astheFrenchAmericanufologistJacquesValleehasnoted,(72)manyapparent'alienabductions'give
everyindicationofbeingcarefullyengineeredhoaxeshoaxes,moreover,notperpetratedbythe
witnessesthemselvesbutratherbyahumanagencywithaccesstohightechnologyandvastresources.
Toillustratethispossibility,letuslookatthecaseofanunfortunatemannamedLeonardKille.A
talentedandsuccessfulelectronicsengineer,KillewasthecoinventoroftheLandcamera(namedafter
EdwinLandofthePolaroidCorporation,whofoundedtheScientificEngineeringInstitute[SEI]on
behalfoftheCIA).(73)AlexConstantinewrites:'AtSouthVietnam'sBienHoaHospital...anSEI
teamburiedelectrodesintheskullsofVietcongPOWsandattemptedtospurthemintoviolenceby
remotecontrol.Uponcompletionoftheexperiments,thePOWswereshotandcrematedbyacompany
of"America'sbest,"theGreenBerets.'(74)
In1966,Killesuspectedhiswifeofhavinganaffairwithalodger.Hedidnotbelieveherdenials,anda
psychiatristinterpretedhisresultantangerasa'personalitypatterndisturbance'.HewasreferredtoCIA
psychiatristsforneurologicaltests.TheyconcludedthatKillewasaparanoidandamildpsychomotor
epileptic.KillewasadmittedtotheMassachusettsGeneralHospitalandhiswifethreatenedtodivorce
himifhedidnotsubmittobrainsurgery.Infact,hiswifehadbeenconductinganaffairwiththeir
lodger,anddiddivorceKilleafterhissurgery.(75)
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ThesurgeryconductedonLeonardKilleconsistedoffourelectricalstrands,eachcontainingtwenty
electrodes,beingimplantedinhisbrain.TheinsertionofthesestimoceiverstotallydisabledKilleand
lefthimterrifiedthathewouldbeoperatedonagain.AccordingtoConstantine,'in1971anattendant
foundhimwithawastebasketonhisheadto"stopthemicrowaves"'.(76)Whenhewastransferredto
Boston'sVAHospital,hisdoctorswerenotinformedthathehadbeenimplantedwithelectrodestrands
andthereforeassumedthathisclaimswerethoseofadelusionalparanoiac.Kille'smoodswere
controlledwithelectronicstimulation.'The"hauntingfear"leftbyKille'sordeal,apsychiatristwrotein
theNewEnglandJournalofMedicine,isthat"menmaybecomeslaves,perhaps,toanauthoritarian
state".'(77)
ConstantinebelievesthatUFOactivityisconductedbyhumanintelligenceagencies:
UFOsarestrictlyterrestrial,asoneUFOabducteerecognized.ShephonedJulianneMcKinneyatthe
[Electronic]SurveillanceProjectinWashingtontoreportherabduction,awarethatitwasgovernment
directed.'Herhouseisbeingshotat,'McKinneysays,'andtheyareharassingherviciously,thetargetof
massivemicrowaveassault.'Theabuseofpsychoactivetechnologyisescalating,unbeknownsttothe
Americanpublic.Recurrenthypnoprogrammedstalkers,ritualand'alien'outragesandpsychotronic
formsofpoliticalpersecutionareontheupswingatthehandsoftheDIA[DefenseIntelligence
Agency],CIA,FBI,NSA[NationalSecurityAgency]andothercovertbranchesofgovernment.Hired
gunsinmedia,lawenforcementandpsychiatryprotectthembydiscreditingthevictims.Ineffect,an
ambitiousbutmeticulouslyconcealed,undeclaredwaronAmericanprivatecitizensisinprogressa
psywar.(78)[Originalemphasis.]
MoreandmorepeopleinAmericaarecomingforwardwithcomplaintsofpsychotronicharassment.
OneoftheirgreatestchampionswasJulianneMcKinney(mentionedabove),aCIAtrainedmilitary
officerwhodecidedtodosomethingtohelpthevictimsandusedherretirementbonustofinancethe
ElectronicSurveillanceProject(ESP),basedintheofficesoftheAssociationofNationalSecurity
AlumniinWashington,D.C.Therunningoftheorganisationeventuallydrainedallhersavings,andin
late1995McKinneyleftWashington.Shehasnotbeenseensince,althoughsheisrumouredtobestill
alive.(79)
MicrowaveharassmentandmindcontrolexperimentsarenotconfinedtotheUnitedStates.Followinga
routineoperationinaStockholmhospital,SwedeRobertNaeslunddiscoveredthathehadbeen
implantedwitharadiohypnoticintracerebralcontroldeviceandhadbecomethetargetofdirected
microwaveradiation.Hesubsequentlyclaimedthathewasunabletoreceivecorrectivetreatmentfrom
anydoctorinSwedenduetointerferencefromSAPO,theSwedishsecurityservice.Naeslundtravelled
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toIndonesiaandsucceededinfindingasurgeonwillingtoremovetheimplants;however,theoperation
wasallegedlyhaltedmidwaybytheCIA.Althoughhehasmadenumerousattemptstofocuspublic
awarenessonhisplightandthatofothersinhisposition,thishasmerelyresultedinmore
electromagneticharassment.(80)
IntheUnitedKingdom,ithasbeenclaimedthatthewomenwhobeganprotestingagainstthestationing
oftacticalnuclearweaponsattheGreenhamUSAFbaseonGreenhamCommonin1981werealsothe
victimsofelectromagneticharassment.'Protestorscomplainedofsevereheadaches,temporary
paralysis,nausea,palpitationsandotherclassicsymptomsofmicrowavepoisoning.Testsrevealed
microwaveradiationupto100timesgreaterthanbackgroundreadingstakenaroundthebase.'(81)
Inaddition,targetedelectromagneticradiationhasbeenimplicatedinthedeathsof25Britishscientists
whowereworkingonsecretelectronicwarfareprojectsforNATO,includingtheStrategicDefence
Initiative('StarWars')inthemid1980s.AccordingtoAlexConstantine:
ApatterntothekillingsinGreatBritainbeginswiththefactthatsevenofthescientistsworkedfor
Marconi,asubsidiaryofGeneralElectric.Atthetime,Marconiwasunderinvestigationforbribingand
defraudingministersofgovernment.ButBritain'sMoDfound'noevidence'linkingthedeaths.Blame
forthesuddenoutbreakofsuicidesamongMarconiengineerswaslaidonstress.(Anotherunlikely
explanationwasgivenforthe'hum'inBristol,homeofMarconi,alowfrequencynoise...blamedon
'frogs'.)JonathanWalsh,adigitalcommunicationsspecialistatMarconi,wasassignedtothesecretive
MartleshamHeathResearchLaboratoryunderaGeneralElectriccontract.(GEhaslongled
thefieldinthedevelopmentofantipersonnelelectronicweapons,aninterestthatgestatedwith
participationinProjectComet,thePentagonbasedresearchprogramtoexplorethepsychological
effectsoffrequenciesontheelectromagneticspectrum.)Walshdroppedfromhishotelwindowin
November1985.(82)Ithasbeensuggestedthatthesescientists,oneofwhomkilledhimselfby
chewingonliveelectricalwires,weredriventotheirdeathsthroughelectromagneticmindcontrol.
AlexConstantineandothermindcontrolresearchersfirmlybelievethatAmericanandEuropean
intelligenceservicesaretoblamenotonlyforbarbaricmindcontrolexperimentsbutalsoforstaging
UFOsightingsand'alien'encountersasacoverfortheiractivities.Aswehaveseen,thereismuch
evidencetosupporttheseassertions.However,wehavealsonotedthatthereisevidencetosuggest
thatmodernUFOsarebasedonhighlysecretdesignsthatweredrawnupbyNaziengineerstowardsthe
endoftheSecondWorldWar.Takentogether,theseclaimshaveledsomeUFOresearchersand
conspiracytheoriststoturntheirbacksontheconceptofalienvisitationandtosuggestthatinnocent
peoplethroughouttheworldarebeingvictimisedandabusedbyasinister,ultrasecretsociety
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asocietyhavinglittleornothingtodowiththeUnitedStates,Russiaoranyothercountry.
Theoutrageoussuggestionputforwardbytheseresearchersisthatthissocietyisactuallycomposedof
NaziswhoescapedfromtheruinsofGermanyattheendoftheSecondWorldWar,andwhoare
continuingtheirpursuitofworlddominationfromtheicyfastnessofAntarctica.
9InvisibleEagle
RumoursofNaziSurvivaltothePresent
Thereare,ofcourse,anumberofproblemsposedbytheideathatthepatternofworldeventsisbeing
controlledbyasecretcolonyofNazisoperatingoutofanimpregnablefortresssomewherein
Antarctica.TheclaimsmadebyconspiracytheoristsaboutongoingNaziactivityinthepresentday
soundatbestlikeluridandratherdistastefulsciencefiction,atworstliketheravingsofseriously
unbalancedminds.Amongthequestionsonefeelsobligedtoaskare:howwouldsuchanoperationbe
financed?Howcouldsuchanelaboratecolonyremainhiddenforthelast55years?Forthatmatter,how
couldithavebeenbuiltinthefirstplace?Andwhatcouldbeitsultimateaim?Giventheenormous
powerandfantastictechnologyattributedtoitbyconspiratologists,whatareits(doubtlessnefarious)
plansfortherestofhumanity?Inthisfinalchapter,wewilllookatsomeoftheclaimsconcerning
Antarctica'shiddenresidents,andattheevidencefortherealityofthisultimateconspiracy.
OperationEagleFlight
Aswehavejustnoted,oneofthemostimportantquestionsraisedbytheNazisinAntarcticatheory
involvesfinance:howcouldalarge,permanentbasebeconstructedandmaintainedformorethanhalfa
centuryonthemostinhospitablecontinentintheworld?Forananswertothisquestion,wemustreturn
totheclosingmonthsoftheSecondWorldWarwhenitwasbecomingcleartoNaziofficialsthattheir
'ThousandYearReich'facedimminentdestruction.
InAugust1944,whileanamphetaminefuelledAdolfHitlerwasventinghiscontemptfortheGerman
peoplewhoseincipientdefeathadbetrayedhisvision('IftheGermanpeoplewastobeconqueredinthe
struggle,'hesaid,'thenithadbeentooweaktofacethetestofhistory,andwasfitonlyfor
destruction"),hisdeputy,ReichsleiterMartinBormann,wasattheHotelMaisonRougeinStrasbourg
planningthecontinuationofNazipowerandideology.AddressingthemeetingofNaziPartyofficials
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andGermanbusinessleaders,Bormannstated:'Germanindustrymustrealizethatthewarcannotnow
bewon,andmusttakestepstoprepareforapostwarcommercialcampaignwhichwillintimeensure
theeconomicresurgenceofGermany.'(2)
ThesestepswereimplementedunderthecodenameAktionAdlerflug(OperationEagleFlight)and
resultedinthe'massiveflightofmoney,gold,stocks,bonds,patents,copyrights,andeventechnical
specialistsfromGermany'.(3)AlongwiththecentralDeutscheBankandthechemicalcartelI.G.
Farben,oneofthelargestindustrialorganisationsinEurope,Bormannsucceededinestablishing750
frontcorporationsinPortugal,Spain,Sweden,Switzerland,TurkeyandArgentina.Ofcourse,Bormann
wouldhavebeenunabletoachievethiswithoutsubstantialhelpfrombothwithinandoutsideGermany.
Thiscameintheformofconnectionswithbanksandbusinessesdatingbacktobeforethewar,(4)
indeedtothefinancingoftheNaziPartyitselffollowingtheelectionsof1933.On20Februaryofthat
year,25ofthemostprominentindustrialistsinGermanywereinvitedbyHermannGoeringtoa
meetingwithAdolfHitler,whostated:'Animpossiblesituationiscreatedwhenonesectionofapeople
favorsprivatepropertywhileanotherdeniesit.Astruggleofthatsorttearsapeopleapartandthefight
continuesuntilonesectionemergesvictorious...Itisnotbyaccidentthatonemanproducesmorethan
another;theconceptofprivatepropertyisrootedinthisfact...Humanbeingsareanythingbutequal.
Asfarastheeconomyisconcerned,Ihavebutonedesire,namely,thatitmayenteruponapeaceful
future...Therewill,however,notbeadomesticpeaceunlessMarxismhasbeenexterminated.'(5)
AnotheroftheseconnectionswaswiththeAmericanInternationalTelephone&TelegraphCorporation
(ITT),whichcontinuedtotradewithNaziGermanyafterAmerica'sentryintothewar,selling
communicationsandmilitaryequipmentsuchasartilleryfuses.JournalistJimMarrsstatesthatITT's
Germanchairman,GerhardtWestrick,was'acloseassociateofJohnFosterDulles,whowouldbecome
USsecretaryofstateunderPresidentDwightEisenhower,andpartnertoDrHeinrichAlbert,headof
theFordMotorCo.inGermanyuntil1945'.Headds:'TwoITTdirectorswereGermanbankerBaron
KurtvonSchroderandWalterSchellenberg,headofcounterintelligencefortheNaziGestapo.'(6)
AccordingtoformerNewYorkTimeswriterCharlesHigham,StandardOilofNewJersey(ESSO)
secretlysoldgasolinetoGermanyandfascistSpain.'TheshipmentstoSpainindirectlyassistedthe
AxisthroughSpanishtransferencestoHamburg.'(7)Bychangingthecountryofregistrationfor
Standard'stankerfleettoPanama,companyspokesmencouldclaimthattheoilwascomingnotfrom
theUnitedStatesbuttheCaribbean.(8)
Therewerealsonumerousbankingconnections,oneofwhichwasthepartnershipestablishedin1936
betweentheJ.HenrySchroderBankofNewYorkandseveralRockefellerfamilymemberstoform
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Schroder,RockefellerandCompany,InvestmentBankersthatprovidedeconomicsupporttotheRome
BerlinAxis.'ThepartnersinSchroder,RockefellerandCompanyincludedAveryRockefeller,nephew
ofJohnD.,BaronBrunovonSchroderinLondon,andKurtvonSchroder[oftheBankofInternational
Settlements]andtheGestapoinCologne...StandardOil'sParisrepresentativesweredirectorsofthe
BanquedeParisetdePaysBas,whichhadintricateconnectionstotheNazisandtoChase[National
Bank].'(9)
AccordingtoinvestigatorPaulManning,HermannSchmitz,headofI.G.Farben,waspresidentof
ChaseNationalBankforsevenyearspriortothewar,andlaterheldasmuchstockinStandardOilas
didtheRockefellers.HeheldothersharesinGeneralMotors'andotherUSbluechipindustrialstocks,
andthe700secretcompaniescontrolledinhistimebyI.G.[Farben],aswellassharesinthe750
corporationshehelpedBormannestablishduringthelastyearsofWorldWarII'.Manningcontinues:
'TheBormannorganizationinSouthAmericautilizesthevotingpoweroftheSchmitztrustalongwith
theirownassetstoguidethemultinationalstheycontrol,astheykeepsteadytheeconomiccourseof
theFatherland.TheBormannorganizationisnotmerelyagroupofexNazis.Itisagreateconomic
powerwhoseintereststodaysupersedetheirideology.'(10)
ThefinancialrelationshipbetweentheNazisandtheSwissbankshasbeenwelldocumented.Through
processesofinvestmentandmoneylaundering,approximately15billionReichsmarkswasmoved
throughSwitzerland,equivalenttothreepercentofAmerica'sgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)in1944.
'Toputthisintotoday'sterms,threepercentofAmerica'sGDPis$200billion,whichismorethanthe
entireGDPofSwitzerland.Allowforinterest,compoundedover50years,andthevalueoftheNazi
cachethatwentthroughSwitzerlandmovesintotheregionofatrilliondollars.'(11)
OvertheyearstherehasbeenconsiderablespeculationonthefateofMartinBormann,Hitler'sdeputy
andthesecondmostpowerfulmanintheThirdReich.OneofthemaincharacteristicsoftheNazi
survivaltheoryis,perhapsunsurprisingly,theideathattheNazileadersthemselvesmanagedtoescape
fromBerlinduringtheAllies'finalassault.SinceBormannplayedsuchalargepartinplanningthe
continuationofNazifinancialinterestsandpowerafterthewar,itisworthpausingbrieflytonotethe
findingsoftheinternationallyesteemedhistorianHughTrevorRoperwho,asawartimeintelligence
officer,waschargedwiththetaskofestablishingtheultimatefateofHitlerandhisinnercircle.
AccordingtoTrevorRoper:
In1945theevidence[onBormann'sfate]wasconflictinganduncertain.Severalwitnessesmaintained
thatBormannhadbeenkilledinatankwhichexplodedwhenhitbyaPanzerfaust[bazooka]onthe
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WeidendammerBridgeduringtheattemptedbreakthroughonthenightof12May.Ontheotherhand,
allthesewitnesseshaveadmittedthatthescenewasoneofgreatconfusionandnoneofthemclaimsto
haveseenBormann'sbody...Further,evenin1945Ihadthreewitnesseswhoindependentlyclaimedto
haveaccompaniedBormanninhisattemptedescape.Oneofthesewitnesses,ArturAxmann,claimed
afterwardstohaveseenhimdead.WhetherwebelieveAxmannornotisentirelyamatterofchoice,for
hiswordisunsupportedbyanyothertestimony.Inhisfavouritcanbesaidthathisevidenceonall
otherpointshasbeenvindicated.Ontheotherhand,ifhewishedtoprotectBormannagainstfurther
search,hisnaturalcoursewouldbetogivefalseevidenceofhisdeath.ThisbeingsoIcamein1945,to
theonlypermissibleconclusion,viz:thatBormannhadcertainlysurvivedthetankexplosionbuthad
possibly,thoughbynomeanscertainly,beenkilledlaterthatnight.Suchwasthebalanceofevidencein
1945.(12)
TrevorRoperaddsthatby1956thesituationremainedunchangedbynewevidence.In1953,aformer
SSmajor,JoachimTibertius,madeastatementtoaSwissnewspaper,DerBund,inwhichheclaimedto
haveseenBormannafterthetankexplosion,attheHotelAtlas.AccordingtoTibertius:'Hehadbythen
changedintocivilianclothes.WepushedontogethertowardstheSchiffbauerdammandthe
Albrechtstrasse.ThenIfinallylostsightofhim.ButhehadasgoodachancetoescapeasIhad.'(13)
TheabsenceofconcreteevidenceforBormann'sdeathin1945spawnedanumberofclaimsofhis
survival,includingonethatplacedhiminBolivia.AnotherclaimcamefromReinhardtGehlen,who
hadbeenanAbwehrofficerduringthewarandhadsubsequentlybecomeheadofthenewWest
Germanintelligenceservice,theBundesnachrichtendienst,'thankstohisusefulexperience...andthe
beginningoftheColdWar'.(14)In1971,Gehlenstatedinhismemoirsthatduringthewarhehadcome
totheconclusionthatBormannwasactuallyaSovietspy.Followingthewar,'Bormannhadsoughtand
foundprotectioninMoscow,wherehehadoccasionallybeenseenbyreliablewitnessesandhad
recentlydied'.(15)
However,asTrevorRoperinformsus,Gehlen'sclaimswererefutedin1972'whentwohuman
skeletons,whichhadbeendugupinwastegroundneartheLehrterStationinWestBerlini.e.notfar
fromtheplacewhereAxmannclaimedtohaveseenthebodieswereforensicallyexaminedand
identifiedasthoseofBormannandhiscompanioninflight,Dr[Ludwig]Stumpfegger',Hitler's
surgeon.(16)
Althoughithasbeenestablishedsince1972thatBormann'sattempttoescapefromtheruinsofthe
ThirdReichendedindeath,itisequallycertainthathisbrainchild,OperationEagleFlight,metwith
considerablygreatersuccess.AccordingtoconspiracyresearcherJimKeith,theResearchandAnalysis
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branchoftheOfficeofStrategicServices(OSS),theforerunneroftheCIA,statedin1945that'Nazi
Partymembers,GermanindustrialistsandtheGermanmilitary,realizingtheirvictorycannolongerbe
attained,arenowdevelopingpostwarcommercialprojects,endeavoringtorenewandcement
friendshipsinforeigncommercialcirclesandplanningforrenewalsofprewarcartelagreements'.(17)
KeithgoesontoquotetheminutesofthesecretmeetingbetweenBormannandagroupofGerman
industrialists,mentionedearlier:'The[Nazi]Partyisreadytosupplylargeamountsofmoneytothose
industrialistswhocontributetothepostwarorganizationabroad.Inreturn,thePartydemandsall
financialreserveswhichhavealreadybeentransferredabroadormaybelatertransferred,sothatafter
thedefeatastrongnewReichcanbebuilt.'(18)
ProjectPaperclip
ThosewhosubscribetotheideaofNazisurvivalinthepostwarperiodciteanotherdocumented
historicalfactinsupportoftheirtheories.Aftertheendofthewar,boththeAmericansandthe
RussiansbegantosearchthroughoutoccupiedGermanyfortechnical,intelligence,militaryandother
scientificinformation.InSeptember1946,PresidentHarryTrumanauthorisedProjectPAPERCLIP,a
programmetobringselectedGermanscientiststoAmerica.Asidefromexpertiseintheirfields,the
mainrequisitefortheiracceptanceforresidenceintheUnitedStateswasproofthattheyhadnotbeen
activemembersoftheNaziParty,andhadnotdisplayedanyallegiancetoHitler.
BackgroundinvestigationsofvariousGermanscientistswereconductedbytheJointIntelligence
ObjectivesAgency(JIOA),whichfoundthemalltohavebeenenthusiasticNazis.Nevertheless,itwas
decidedthattosendthembacktoGermanywouldprobablyresultintheirexpertisebeingexploitedby
theSovietsandwouldthusconstituteagreaterthreattoUSsecuritythananyNazisympathiesthey
mighthavehad.Amongthesescientistswas,ofcourse,WernhervonBraun,whohadbeentechnical
directorofthePeenemunderocketresearchcentre,homeofthedreadedV2missilethathadcaused
suchcarnageinLondonandelsewhere.Accordingtoconspiratologists,OSSDirectorAllenDulles
orderedthescientists'dossierstobecleansedofNazireferences,withtheresultthatby1955morethan
760GermanscientistshadbeengrantedUScitizenship.Thiswasdonewithouttheknowledgeof
PresidentTruman.
OneofthosewhobenefitedfromProjectPAPERCLIPwastheAbwehrofficerReinhardtGehlen,
whoseinsurancepolicyofmicrofilmingavastnumberofdocumentsconcerningSovietintelligence
cametotheattentionofDulles.GehlenandDullesformulatedanarrangementbywhichtheNaziand
Americanintelligenceapparatuswouldbecombined,ostensiblyonthebasisofacommoninterestina
defenceagainstcommunism.However,farfrombeingcommittedexclusivelytotheprotectionofthe
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UnitedStatesandWesternEurope,Gehlen'sorganisationwascommittedexclusivelytothesecurityof
theODESSA(OrganisationofVeteransoftheSS)andother'ratlines'thathadbeensetuptoaidthe
escapeofmorethan5,000NazisandtosetupNazicoloniesthroughouttheworld.
JimKeithwrites:
OncetheGehlenOrganisation]wasinplace,withanestimated4,000intelligencespecialistsin
Germanyandmorethan4,000undercoveroperativesintheSovietbloc,theperceivedthreattothe
UnitedStatesbytheSovietswasaggravatedbyNaziintelligence,andtheColdWarwasinevitable.
GehlenandhiscroniesseeminglyneveradmittedthatGermanyhadlostthewarandsimplypersisted
withNaziobjectives,usingdifferentmeanstodestroytheUSSR,namelycollaborationwiththeUnited
StatesandtheOSS/CIA.TheNazismayhave,inaddition,foreseenthedevastatingresultsofaCold
WarbetweentheUSandtheUSSR.TheColdWarprovidedafinancialburdenwhichhasdestroyed
RussiaandlefttheUnitedStatesastheworld'sbiggestdebtornation...(19)
Withsecretcontrolofhundredsofbillionsofdollarsinfinancialandindustrialassets,nottomention
accesstotheintelligenceagenciesofthepostwarsuperpowersandwithhiddencoloniesthroughout
theworld,this'NaziInternational'wasinapositiontoreversethefailureoftheThirdReichand
finallyachieveglobaldomination.Accordingtoconspiratologists,themainheadquartersoftheNazi
InternationalwasandisinAntarctica.
TheMysteriousVoyageofCaptainSchaeffer
On25April1945,theGermansubmarineU977embarkedononeofthemostremarkablevoyagesof
theSecondWorldWar.CommandedbyCaptainHansSchaeffer,thesubmarineleftKielHarbourinthe
Baltic,stoppedbrieflyforfuelatChristiansandSouththefollowingday,andarrivedatMardelPlata,
Argentinanearlyfourmonthslater,on17August.(20)InhissubsequentinterrogationbytheAllies,
Schaefferstatedthathehadheardovertheradiothatthewarhadendedseveraldaysafterleaving
ChristiansandSouth,andhaddecidedtomakeforArgentinaratherthanstayinginEurope.Heoffered
hiscrewtheoptionofbeingputoffthesubmarineontheNorwegiancoastorcontinuingonwithhim.
SomeofSchaeffer'screwoptedtoreturntoGermany,sotheU977remainedhiddeninNorwegian
watersuntil10May,whenthedepartingcrewmemberswereputashorenearBergen.Schaefferandthe
restofhiscrew'thenembarkeduponwhatsurelymusthavebeenoneofthemostremarkablenavalfeats
ofthewar:ajourneythroughtheNorthSeaandEnglishChannel,pastGibraltarandalongthecoastof
Africa,tofinallysurface,allofsixtysixdayslater,inthemiddleoftheSouthAtlanticOcean'.(21)
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Overthenextmonth,theU977evadedcapturebydiving,surfacing,anderectingimitationsailsand
funneltomakeitlooklikeacargosteamerfromadistance.(22)
On17August1945,theU977putintoMardelPlata,inspiteofSchaefferhavingheardovertheradio
thatthecrewofanotherfleeingGermansubmarine,theU530,hadbeenapprehendedontheRiver
PlateandhandedovertotheUnitedStates.DuringhisinitialinterrogationbytheArgentineauthorities,
Schaefferwasaskedifhehadcarriedanyoneof'politicalimportance'onthevoyage,towhichhe
repliedthathehadnot.HarbinsoninformsusthatseveralweekslaterSchaefferwasagaininterrogated,
thistimebyaspecialAngloAmericancommissioncomposedofhighrankingofficers.Itseemsthat
thiscommissionwantedtoexplorethepossibilitythattheU977hadtransportedHitlerandMartin
BormannfirsttoArgentinaandthenontoasecretNazibaseinAntarctica.(23)
TheEnglishandAmericansapparentlyconsideredthistobearealisticpossibility,fortheysubsequently
flewbothSchaefferandOttoWehrmut,thecommanderoftheU530,toWashington,D.C.,wherethe
interrogationscontinuedforseveralmoremonths.ItisnotclearwhathappenedtoWehrmutatthis
point,butSchaefferwastakentoAntwerp,Belgium,wherehewasinterrogatedyetagain.TheU977
itselfwasthoroughlysearchedandthentakentotheUnitedStateswhereitwasdestroyedunderorders
fromtheUSWarDepartment.SchaefferwasthensentbacktoGermany,butdecidedtoleavehis
countryandreturntoArgentina.(24)
ThetestimonyofCaptainSchaefferservedasanearlyinspirationfortheideathathighrankingNazis
hadescapedthedestructionoftheThirdReichandwerecontinuingwiththeirplansforworld
dominationinoneormoresecretlocations.Schaeffer'svoyagesuggestedtosomethattheultimate
destinationforescapingNaziswasAntarctica,viaArgentina.TheGermanNavyAdmiralKarlDoenitz
isreportedtohavestatedin1943:'TheGermansubmarinefleltisproudofhavingbuiltfortheFuhrer
inanotherpartoftheworldaShangrilaonland,animpregnablefortress.'(25)
Wherewasthis'impregnablefortress'ifitexisted?ItisamatterofhistoricalfactthatNaziGermany
maintainedanintenseinterestintheAntarcticcontinentthroughoutthewar.Asweshallnowsee,that
beautiful,mysteriousandhostileplacealsoholdsaprominentpositioninthethoughtsofthosewho
subscribetotheNazisurvivaltheory.
OperationHighjump
Between1946and1947,RearAdmiralRichardE.ByrdcontributedtotheUSNavyAntarctic
DevelopmentsProject,alsoknownasOperationHighjump(seepage179).Thisoperationwas
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ostensiblyanexerciseinpolarcombat,survivalandexploration;however,conspiracytheoristshave
suggestedanother,farmoresinisterpurpose.OperationHighjumpbeganapproximatelyoneyearafter
thearrivaloftheU977atMardelPlata,Argentina.ThevastresourcesplacedatByrd'sdisposalhave
suggestedtomanythattheoperationwasintendedasanactualassaultforcebutanassaultagainst
what,orwhom?
TheBritishauthorW.A.Harbinsonhasperhapsdonemorethananyotherwritertopopularisetheidea
thattheNazishaddevelopedextremelyadvancedaircraftdesignsbytheendoftheSecondWorldWar.
InhisnovelsequenceProjektSaucerandhisnonfictionstudyProjectUFO,healsooffersevidenceof
asecretflyingdiscbaseinAntarctica.InhisnovelGenesis(1980)Harbinsonincludesalengthy
afterword,whichwaslaterreprintedastheintroductiontoManModeUFOs1944199450Yearsof
Suppression(1994)byRenatoVescoandDavidHatcherChildressandwhichdescribeshow,inMay
1978,asingleissuetabloidpapercalledBrisantwasbeinggivenawayatStand111,inascientific
exhibitionintheHannoverMesseHall.Thispapercontainedtwoarticles:oneonthescientificfutureof
Antarctica,andtheotheronflyingdisctechnologyattheendofthewar(seeChapterEight).
InitsarticleonAntarctica,BrisantaskedwhytheOperationHighjumpassaultforcedockednearthe
GermanclaimedregionofNeuSchwabenlandon27January1947,whyitthendividedintothree
separatetaskforcesand,mostimportantly,whytherehadbeensomanyforeignpressreportsthatthe
operationhadbeenadisaster.Harbinsonwrites:
Thatexpeditionbecamesomethingofamystery.Subsequentofficialreportsstatedthatithadbeenan
enormoussuccess,revealingmoreabouttheAntarcticthanhadeverbeenknownbefore.However,
other,mainlyforeignreportssuggestedthatsuchinfacthadnotbeenthecase:thatmanyofByrd'smen
werelostduringthefirstday,thatatleastfourofhisairplanesinexplicablydisappeared,andthatwhile
theexpeditionhadgoneprovisionedforsixtoeightmonths,themenactuallyreturnedtoAmericain
February1947,afteronlyafewweeks.AccordingtoBrisant,AdmiralByrdlatertoldareporter(Icould
findnoverificationonthis)thatitwas'necessaryfortheUSAtotakedefensiveactionsagainstenemy
airfighterswhichcomefromthepolarregions'andthatinthecaseofanewwartheUSAwouldbe
'attackedbyfightersthatareabletoflyfromonepoletotheotherwithincrediblespeed.'Also,
accordingtoBrisant,shortlyafterhisreturnfromtheAntarctic,AdmiralByrdwasorderedtoundergoa
secretcrossexaminationandtheUnitedStateswithdrewfromtheAntarcticforalmostadecade.(26)
Thearticlecarriedaseriousandstartlingimplication:thatOperationHighjumphadbeenamilitary
invasionforcedisguisedasatrainingandexploratorygroup,thatithadintendedtodealwithasecret
colonyofNazisurvivorsinanelaborateundergroundfacilitythathadbeenconstructedduringthe
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SecondWorldWar,andthatthisinvasionforcehadmetitsmatchintheformofasquadronofNazi
builtflyingdiscsbasedatthecolony.ThereasonfortheUnitedStates'temporarywithdrawalfrom
Antarcticawas,allegedly,toallowitselftimetodevelopitsownflyingdiscs,basedupondesigns
capturedattheendofthewar.(27)
NaziUFOBasesinAntarctica?
MostreasonablepeoplewoulddismissasfantasticnonsensetheideathatmanyNazisfledtheruinsof
theThirdReichandtookupresidenceinasecretAntarcticcolony,armedwithasquadronofflying
discswithwhichtoprotectthemselves.However,theparanoidconspiracytheoriesthathave
proliferatedinthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcenturyarebasednotsomuchonreasonbut
ratheronelaborateextrapolationsofpuzzlingbutinconclusiveevidence.Inthepresentcase,this
evidencecentresontheundeniableinteresttheThirdReichmaintainedinAntarcticathroughoutthe
war:GermanshipsandUboatsconstantlypatrolledtheSouthAtlanticbetweenSouthAfricaandthe
regionofAntarcticacontainingNeuSchwabenland,anditiscertainlypossiblethatmanyofthese
voyagescouldhaveincludedshipmentsofpersonnelandsuppliesfortheconstructionofheavily
fortifiedfacilities.WhenweaddtothisthetestimonyofthecaptainoftheU977,HansSchaeffer
(whichadmittedlymaywellbefalse),theclaimsoftheneoNazipublicationBrisantthatsuchtrips
includedthetransferofflyingdiscresearchteamsanddisccomponents,andtherumoursregardingthe
disastrousfailureofByrd'sOperationHighjump,wehavetheingredientsofapowerfulandenduring
modernmyth,inwhichtheevilsofNazismdidnotmeetdestructionatthehandsofthevictorious
Alliesin1945butcontinuetoexertaterribleinfluenceoverhumanaffairstothisday.
Indeed,itissomewhatironicthatthepoliticalsystemthatidentifiedtheJewsasitsscapegoatand
movedwithsuchbarbarismagainstthemshouldnowbechosenbymanyconspiracytheoristsasthe
scapegoatresponsibleforthemachinationsofaputative'NewWorldOrder'.Itisquitepossiblethatthe
conceptofNazisurvivalitselfhassurvivedtothepresentdaybecauseoftheveryextremityofthe
crimesperpetratedbytheThirdReich.WhileitmaybearguedthatourcontinuinginterestinNazi
Germanyconstitutesanunhealthyfascinationwiththesufferingandterrorofanultimateinhumanity,
thereisalsoacaseforsayingthatthisinterestisbornofadeepanddespairingbafflement(seethe
Introduction).Ibelieveitisnotgoingtoofartosuggestthattheelaborateconspiracytheoryinvolving
Nazisurvivalisbornofadeeplyingrainedsuspicionthatsuchwickednesscouldnothavebeen
completelydefeatedatthewar'send;thissuspicionmaywellhavebeenreinforcedbythefactthatthe
volkischandPanGermanforerunnersoftheNaziPartywereinfluencedbyoccultandmythological
beliefsystems,combinedwiththemoregeneralisedoccultrevivaloccurringthroughoutEuropeinthe
postwaryears.
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Ofcourse,conspiracytheoriescannotsurvivewithoutconspiratologiststoconceiveandpropagate
them.Weshallnow,therefore,turnourattentiontothemeansbywhichthetheoryofNazisurvivalhas
beendeveloped.
TheBlackOrder
Throughoutthepostwarperiod,materialhasbeenaddedconstantlytothesinistermythologicalsystem
builtaroundtheideathattheThirdReichcontinuesitsactivitiesinahiddenlocation.Thiscabalof
survivingNazisissometimesreferredtoastheFourthReichbutmoreoftenasthe'BlackOrder'.Those
whocontendthatsuchaconceptcanhavenoplaceinarationalperson'sworldvieware
underestimatingthesubtlepowerexertedbythestrangeconceptscontainedwithinthefieldofpopular
occultism.TheBritishwriterJoscelynGodwinhasproducedasplendid,highlyinformativestudyof
thisfieldinhisbookArktosThePolarMythinScience,Symbolism,andNaziSurvival,inwhichhe
maintainsanadmirablyscepticalstandpointwhileacknowledgingthatthenotionsembodiedinpopular
occultismmustbetreatedwithrespect,ifonlyfortheirpowerfulinfluenceoverthepublicmind.He
alsoincludesapertinentquotefromtheGermanPastorEkkehardHieronimusregardingpopular
beliefs:
Whatisgoingoninthelowerreachesofsocietyisprobablyverymuchmorepotentandeffectivethan
whathappensinintellectualcircles.Wethink,ofcourse,thatitistheintellectualsnowinthebroadest
senseoftheterm,inwhichIincludethescientistswhodefineourlife.Butlatelytheintellectualshave
beenratherlikeafilmofoilonagreatpuddleofwater:itshinesmischievouslyandthinksthatitisthe
wholething,butitisonlyonemoleculethick.Icanseequitedefinitethingscomingtowardsus.The
thingsgoingoninthesocalledculturalunderground,orthesocalledsubculture,areverystrange.(28)
Godwinthenwrylyoffersanexampleofaproductofthis'subculture',areportfromthe16April1991
issueoftheLondonnewspapertheSun,thatclaimsthattheruinsofAtlantishavebeendiscoveredin
theArcticbyajointFrenchSovietresearchexpedition.The'proofisaphotomontageofsomeDoric
columnsrisingfromanicylandscape.Whilethevastmajorityofpeopleseeingthiswouldprobably
thinkitinterestingbutalmostcertainlyspurious,theideaisneverthelessfirmlyembeddedintheir
unconscious.AsGodwinnotes(andaswehavediscussedinearlierchapters),uncriticalbeliefinthe
literalrealityofcertainoccultconceptsaidedinnosmalldegreetheriseofNationalSocialism.'One
hastobethankfulthatourtabloidsarenotproclaimingAryansupremacyordescribingJewishritual
murder;butonemaywellaskwhatcollectiveattitudesarebeingformedbythecurrentsinthe"great
puddle"ofpopularoccultism.'(29)
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Itisonethingforacollectiveattitudetoadmitthepossibilityofvisitationbyalienspacecraft,orthe
existenceofghostsorrelicthominidssuchasBigfoot,theYetiandsoon;itisquiteanothertoadmitof
theundyingperhapssupernaturalpowerofanideologythathasalreadyirreparablydemeaned
humanityandcouldquiteconceivablywreakhavoconceagain.
'GotzenGegenThule'
In1971,WilhelmLandigpublishedastrangenovelentitledGotzengegenThule(GodletsAgainst
Thule).Inanechoofthenineteenthcenturyvogueforpresentingfantasyasa'truestory',Landig
subtitleshisnovel'afictionfulloffacts'andclaimsthatitcontainsaccurateinformationontheradical
advancesinaviationandweaponstechnologymadeintheyearssincetheendofthewar.Gotzengegen
ThuleisfundamentallyanadventurestorythatfollowstheexploitsoftwoGermanairmen,Reckeand
Reimer(whichGodwintranslatesas'BraveWarrior'and'Poet'respectively)(30),whoaresenttoa
secretGermanbaseinthefarnorthofCanadatowardstheendoftheSecondWorldWar.Thisbase,
knownasPoint103,isalargeundergroundfacilitypossessinghighlyadvancedtechnologyand
suppliedbypowerfulalliesintheUnitedStates.ItsoccupantsconstituteaforceopposedtotheThird
Reich,whichisseenasaSatanicforce.
Point103is,infact,solidlyantiracist,asevidencedbyonesceneinwhichaconferencethereis
attendedby'aTibetanlama,Japanese,Chinese,andAmericanofficers,Indians,aBlackEthiopian,
Arabs,Persians,aBrazilianofficer,aVenezuelan,aSiamese,andafullbloodedMexicanIndian'.(31)
TraveltoandfromthisremoteandultrasecretfacilityisbyahighlyadvancedaircraftcalledtheV7,
whichisshapedlikeaspherewitharotatingcircularwingcontainingjetturbines.Interestinglyenough,
eventheresponsibleandscepticalGodwiniswillingtoconcedethatthispartofLandig'snovelmay
wellhaveabasisinfact(seeChapterEight).
ThetwoairmenaresentonamissiontoPraguetopreventthediscplanetechnologyfromfallinginto
Alliedhands;followingtheendofthewarandthedefeatofNaziGermany,Point103declaresitself
independentandcontinueswithitspursuitofThuleanideals.Theseidealsareexplainedbyanother
character,anexWaffenSSofficernamedGutmann('Goodman').Godwinprovidesasummaryof
theThuleanphilosophy:
ThelightofThulecomesnotfromtheEastbutfromtheNorth.Itstraditionis'Uranian,'beingderived
fromUranos,lordofthecosmicworldorderandoftheprimordialParadiseoftheAryanRace,situated
attheNorthPole.ItwasUranos'susurpingsonSaturnwhobroughtuponthisoriginallyhappyand
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unifiedhumanitythedubiousgiftoftheegoicstate.Thetemptationsconsequentuponthischangein
thehumanconstitutionleadtothelossofprimevalunityand,eventually,thedestructionofSaturn's
realm,Atlantis.ThereuponthewarmclimateofthesecretislandoftheHyperboreanswassuddenly
replacedbybitterwinter.TheprimordialracesoftheArcticandoftheNordicAtlantisbothlosttheir
homes,andwereforcedtomigratesouthwards.WherevertheysettledinEurope,Persia,India,and
elsewheretheytriedtoremaketheirlostParadise,andintheirmythsandlegendscherishedthe
memoryofit.(32)
AsGodwinnotes,UranosandSaturnseemtobepersonificationsofeventsinremoteantiquity;
however,theThuleanreligionincludedanunmanifestedGodbeyondspaceandtime,andaSonthrough
whomthewilloftheFatheroperatesandwhoisidentifiedwiththelawsofnature.Landighimself
identifiesthelegendofThule(whichingeographicaltermsislocatedclosetoPoint103)withthatof
thespiritualcentreoftheworld,sometimescalledShambhala.ThereaderwillrecallNicholasRoerich's
encounterwithagoldenflyingdisc,describedinChapterFour,andhowhisguidestatedthattheUFO
representedthebeneficentinfluenceofRigdenJyepo,theKingoftheWorld,whowaswatchingover
them.Throughanothercharacter,aFrenchcollaboratornamedBelisse('fromBelisane,sungodofthe
Gauls'),(33)Landigdescribesinelaboratedetailthenatureofthisphenomenon,whichhecalls
'Manisolas'.Theyareliving,intelligentbiomechanicalentitieswithacomplexlifecyclethatbeginsas
acircleoflightandcontinuesthroughametallicformbeforereachingthereproductivestage.Through
aregenerativeprocess,anewManisolagrowswithinthewomboftheadult.
Theregeneratedpartisexpelledbytheremainingmothernucleusasanewenergeticcircleoflight,
correspondingtoabirthingtechnique.Thisnewcircleentersonthesamesevendevelopmentalstages,
whiletheexpellingmaternalelementrollsitselfintoaball,whichthenexplodes.Themetallic
remainscontainparticlesofcopper.TheopticalimpressionsthateyewitnessesoftheseManisolashave
haduptonowarebasicallyquiteuniform.Inthedaytimetheydisplayanextremelybrightgoldorsilver
luminescence,sometimeswithtracesofrosecoloredsmokewhichthenoftencondenseintograyish
whitetrails.Atnightthedisksshineinglowingorglossycolors,showingonoccasionlongflamesat
theedgesandredandbluesparks,whichcangrowsostrongastowreathetheminfire.Most
remarkableistheirpowerofreactionagainstpursuers,likethatofarationalcreature,farexceedingany
possibleelectronicselfsteeringorradiocontrol.(34)
Landiggoesontodescribehow,throughouttheages,allmythologiesreferinonewayoranothertothe
Manisolas,whichareseenassymbolsofspiritualpotency,unityandlove.AlthoughPoint103is
claimedtobeanonracistsociety,theThuleansneverthelessconsiderIsraeltobeineternalopposition
totheirideals,andrememberthetimewhentheirancestors,theNordicAtlanteans,wereheldinslavery
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bySemiticsorcerers.
Perhapsunsurprisingly,theArkoftheCovenantisbroughtintothisbizarreoccultadventureandis
describedasakindofbatteryforastralenergytobeusedinmagicaloperations.Thisenergyisthe
fertilising'forcefieldoftheAryans',whichisstolenbyHebrewmagiciansandstoredintheArkfor
theirownantiAryanpurposes.TheinternationalconspiracyagainsttheAryansisfurtherdefinedwhen
thecharacterstraveltoTibetandmeetanotherGerman,Juncker('Aristocrat'),(35)whotellsthemthat
theAsiaticpeoplesarewaitingforagreatwarriorwhowillcomefromthesubterraneanrealmof
Agarthaandleadthemtodominationoftheworld.Wethenlearnofthenatureof'Shambala'and
'Agartha',whichisanotherperversionofBuddhistteaching,similartothatsuggestedbyRavenscroftin
TheSpearofDestiny(seeChapterFive).ThecentralpointofGotzengegenThuleisthattheThird
ReicharosewiththeassistanceofthetwinpowercentresofAgarthaandShambhalaandwasdefeated
whenitsuccumbedtothematerialisticattractionsofShambhala,thusdestroyingthebalancebetween
thetwo.WecanlookagaintoGodwinforagoodtranslationofLandig'soriginal:
Thesourceofmaterialenergiesofthelefthand,whichhavetheirseatinShambala,istheupperearth
cityofpowerandmight,whichisruledbyagreatKingofFear.ButitisthesameseatofShambalathat
apartofthewesternsecretbrotherhoodsandlodgesregardsastheirpointoforigin,fromwhichcome
thepromisesandwarningsofaLordoftheWorld.ThisShambalaisasearchlightofourwill!Then
thereisthesecondsource:Agartha,theinner,underworldrealmofcontemplationanditsenergies.
TheretooisaLordandKingoftheWorld,whopromiseshisdomination.Atthepropermoment,this
centerwillleadgoodmenagainsttheevilones;anditisfirmlyconnectedwithBrahytma,that
is,God.Andthatisthekingtoserve,theonewhowillsetupourempireandruleovertheothers...
[T]hemenin[theThird]Reich...joinedthemselveswiththeenergiesofShambala,ofpureforce,and
intheirsecretwayworkedagainsttheothermenof[the]Reich...Andbehindtheseenergieswhich
manifestthemselvesinShambalastandstheCaucasian,StalinDugaschvili!Hekneweverything,he
knewthemenofthecirclein[the]Reichandheplayedhisowncardswiththemasiftheyweretheir
own.StalinDugaschvilihadthesupportoftheLordofFearandPoweragainst[the]Reich!(36)
Inthefinalstagesofthenovel,theheroesleaveTibetbutarecapturedinIndiabytheBritish,whoplace
theminaprisonerofwarcamp.WhentheyfinallyreturntoGermany,itbecomesclearthattheywill
probablyneverrejoinPoint103,which'seemstohaveforgottenthem:theyruefullyadmit...thatif
itstillexists,ithasprobablyhadtoisolateitselfcompletelyfromtheworldoftoday'.
Allthatremainsto[theThuleans]istoconstitutea'FourthReichinexile,'patientlywaitingfortheAge
ofPiscestoreachitsinevitableend.AndastheFishAgepasses,soStPeter'sreligioustyrannyinRome
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willcrumble...andtheJewishArkwillloseitspotency.Then,saysLandig,the...banneroftheAryans
willflyagain...(37)
Addedtotheweirdflightsoffancy,GotzengegenThulecontainsseveralstatementsthatmarkitoutas
aworkofpernicioushistoricalrevisionism,suchasJuncker'sclaimthatthebodiesintheliberated
concentrationcampswereactuallythoseofGermanskilledinAlliedairraidsonMunich.(38)Aside
fromthis,thenovelmanagestoweavetogetherawidevarietyofmyths,allofwhichhavecometobe
associatedwiththeconceptofNazisurvival:Nordicmythology,UFOsasmanmadeaircraft,the
subterraneanrealmsofShambhalaandAgartha,theHollowEarth,theHolyGrail,andtheinternational
conspiracytoinaugurateasecretOneWorldGovernment.Whileitmightbeexpectedthatsucha
ridiculousand(initsattemptathistoricalrevisionism)morallyreprehensibletalewouldsinkintoa
mercifulliteraryoblivion,itdidnothingofthekind;instead,itenteredthemurkyrealmofthecultural
underground,whereitwasdiscoveredbycertaininterestedpartieswhosawinitanopportunityto
furthertheirownagendas.
ErnstZundeland'Samisdat'
ThearticlesintheneoNazipublicationBrisantdidnotcarrybylines.Intriguedandunsettledbythe
strangeinformationtheycontained,W.A.Harbinsonembarkedonalittledetectivework,checkingthe
originsofthemagazineanddiscoveringthatithadbeenpublishedinWestGermanybyacompany
thathadsincedisappeared,LintecGmbHofHamburg.AccordingtoHarbinson,the'companywasnot
listedwithanyoftheWestGermanpressorganizations,norwithanypublicrelationsbureau'.(39)
Nevertheless,herealisedthattheinformationcontainedintheBrisantarticleshadbeenculledfromtwo
books:UFOs.NaziSecretWeapons?byMatternFriedrichandSecretNaziPolarExpeditionsby
ChristofFriedrich.BothbookswerepublishedbyacompanycalledSamisdatPublishersLimitedof
Toronto,Canada.
AsHarbinsonnotes,'MatternFriedrich'and'ChristofFriedrich'areactuallypseudonymsforErnst
Zundel,aCanadianresidentbutGermancitizenandoneofthemostoutspokenandactiveofthosewho
denythattheHolocaustoccurred.ThroughhismanyapparentlinkswithsurvivingNazisinSouth
Americaandelsewhere,Zundel'nowrunsSamisdatPublishersLimitedasamouthpieceofneoNazi
propagandaandcommercialenterprise,specializinginthesaleofNazibooks,recordalbums,tape
recordings,photographs,medalsandotherNazimemorabilia'.(40)Zundelmaintainsinhisbooksthat
UFOsareactuallyNazisecretweapons,launchedfromtheirhiddenbaseatorneartheSouthPole.He
alsoisanadvocate(apparently)oftheHollowEarthTheory,andinhisSamisdatnewsletterin1978
advertisedanexpeditionbycharteredjettotheSouthPolewhere,heclaimed,thepassengerswould
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discovernotonlyHitler'sAntarcticUFObasebutalsotheentrancetotheinterioroftheplanet.Aticket
forthecharteredflightwouldcost$9,999.
ThefollowingselectionfromtheSamisdatarticlewillenablethereadertogainsomeideaofthenature
ofZundel'sclaims:
ACHTUNG!SAMISDATNEWSBULLETIN
SAMISDATHOLLOWEARTHEXPEDITION$9999.00
INSEARCHOFHOLESINTHEPOLES
SEARCHFORHITLER'SANTARCTICU.F.O.BASES...
Yourresponsetoourmostrecentmailoutandactivitieshasbeenmostencouraging!Wehavereceived
ordersandenquiriesfromasfarawayasNoumeaintheSouthPacific,EasterIsland,Chile,Argentina,
Brazil,Venezuela,Panama,Mexico,SovietSatellitecountries,China,SouthAfrica,Persia,theCongo,
Australia,Japan,aswellasfromeverycountryinWesternEuropeandalmosteverystateintheU.S.A.
Notonlyisthisresponseextensive,itismassiveaclearindicationonthepartofknowledgeableUFO
researchersandmembersofthepublicthattheyaretiredofthe'Junkfood'beingservedupbyoldline
UFOgroupsandpublicationswhoexpoundtheofficialCIAKGBalibithatallUFOsare
extraterrestrial.WhattheUFOwatchingworldwantsnowistherealmeatofthematteraserious
investigationofUFOswhoseoriginsareterrestrial.
SAMISDATistheonlyorganizationmakingsuchaneffort,butwearenotalone,forwehavethousands
ofsupporterslikeyourselfwhowanttoknowthetruthwhichthesaucercharlatanshavefor30years
triedtocoverupwithfairytalefantasiesof'littlegreenmen'.Itispeoplelikeyourselfwhohavemade
SAMISDATthemostactiveUFOOrganizationandpublisheronPlanetEarth!...
Ourdiscoverieshaveledusintotheproductionofanumberofcurrentlysuppressedandsometimes
vilifiedbookswhicharenowundergroundbestsellers."UFOsNAZISECRETWEAPON?"wasour
firsttitle,nowsoldoutin5completeeditions.Oursecondbook,"SECRETNAZIPOLAR
EXPEDITIONS",iscomingupfastandhassoldout2fulleditions.Foreignlanguagetranslationsof
thesebooksaresellingbriskly,anditisbecomingobvioustoeveryonethatthemediaenforced
blockadeofthetruthhasnowbeenbroken.Threeadditionalbooksarecurrentlyunderproductionand
thesewillroundoutourPhaseIPublishingProgram:"THECIAKGBUFOCOVERUP","THE
ANTARCTICATHEORY"and"THELASTBATTALION".
WehavealsobeenabletoestablishresearchteamsinCanada,theU.S.A.andinparticular,Germany,
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whosetaskitistorediscoverbasicwinglessflightwhichbroughttheoriginalNaziUFOsintobeing.
Already,theseteamshavedesignedandconstructedsmallscalemodels,someusingconventional
powerandotherswhichhavepropulsionsystemsunprecedentedintoday'saerospacetechnology.
Withadditionalresearch,wehopetomakeavailableseveraldifferentmodelsinkitformforhobby
builders.Anycontributionstotheseresearchprojects,whetherofideasormoney,willbeverymuch
appreciated.ChecksshouldbemadeouttoSAMISDATwiththenotation"ForSAMPROJRl"...
ForthetrulydedicatedUFOresearcher,SAMISDATisembarkinguponamagnificentandawe
inspiringexperience!Wearenegotiatingwithseveralinternationalairlinesandcharteredaircarriersin
regardtoourplannedinvestigationofthe"InnerEarthTheory"coupledwithoursearchfor"Hitler's
FlyingSaucerBasesinAntarctica."Our'launchingpad'forwhichwearealsonegotiatingwillbe
locatedinRiodeJaneiroorBuenosAires.ThissitewillbethegatheringplaceforanInternational
UFOConventionwhichisscheduledtotakeplacesometimein1979or1980.Fromthisconvention
site,thosewhoareinterestedandfinanciallyablemayjoinChristofFriedrichandmembersofa
speciallyselectedSAMISDATresearchteamontheAntarcticExpeditionwhowillnotonlysearchfor
Hitler'sSaucerBasesinGermanAntarctica,butwhowillfurtherattempttosettlethecontroversyabout
AdmiralByrd's"FlightintothePolarOpening"byactuallyflyingovertheSouthPole!Ourtentative
flightpathishereshown.Itisanticipatedthataspeciallyprepared,longrangejetwillbeavailablefor
theAntarcticExpedition'spolarflight...
SAMISDAT'sAntarcticExpeditioninSearchofHitler'sFlyingSaucerBasesandtheSouthPolar
OpeningintoInnerEarthwillbetheuniqueeventofalifetime.Asonlyaverylimitednumberof
peoplecanbeaccommodated,ourselectionstandardsareofnecessityrigorous.Theapproximatecost
perpersononthisexpeditionmaybeashighas$9,999.00.However,thecostcouldbereduced
considerably,providedweareabletoraisemoneyfromourSAMISDATSERIESoflectures,tapes,
conventions,UFOmodelsandbooksalesinthisinterimperiod.Youcanhelptorealizethisdreamofa
lifetimeinseveralways:
1. YoucanbecomeoneofourbookdistributorsbybuyingSAMISDATbooksandotheritemsat
wholesaledealers'pricesandthenretailingthemtofriends,colleagues,UFOconventioneers,
andvisitorstocountyfairs,psychicfairsandfleamarkets.BypurchasingSAMISDATtitlesin
bulk,youcouldeasilyrealizealmosta100%profitoneachitemsold.Thismoneyyoucould
thenapplytowardyourshareintheExpeditionoruseasyouseefit.
2. YoucanorganizeaUFOclubandholdyourownUFOconventionsonaprofitsharingbasis
withSAMISDAT.
3. YoucanhelpusfindsponsorsfortheExpedition.
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4. Ifyouarerichandconscientious,youcanunderwritethewholeorpartoftheExpeditionand
realizeourgoalofalifetimemuch,muchfaster.Butemptypromisesandotherhotairproducts
fromwindbagsanddonothings,howeverwelloff,willnotservetowafttheExpeditionto
Antarcticaandback.Theonlythingcapableofdoingthatiscold,hardcashupfront.Ifyou've
gotwhatittakesandwanttoputyourmoneytoworkrightaway,thenpleasecontactus!
5. YoucansetupyourownfundraisingcampaignfortheExpedition.Fordetailsandassistancein
regardtotheseandotherideas,donothesitatetocontactus.
Thesearebutafewofthewaysinwhichwecanhastenthatgloriousdaywhenweboardoursleek,
silveryaircraftandwingourwaytoAntarcticaandbeyondtoourrendezvouswithhistory.Whenwe
return,weshallhaveunearthedInnerEarthand/orfoundevidenceofHitler'sUFOBasesorweshall
havegonealongwaytowarddispellingtwoofthemosttenaciouslypersistentmysteriesofour
ScientificEra.(41)
ThereaderwillnotethatZimdel'sapparentintentiontolaunchanexpeditiontoAntarcticacouldonly
berealisedifreadersofSamisdatboughthisproducts'inbulk'(needlesstosay,thecharterflighttothe
Antarcticnevertookplace).Zundel'sapparentlynonsensicalclaimsregardingNaziUFOs,secretbases
attheSouthPoleandtheHollowEarthhideanaltogethermoresinisterrevisionistagenda.
Infact,Zundelhimselfhasadmittedasmuch.AccordingtoFrankMiele,amemberoftheSkeptics
SocietyintheUnitedStates,whowroteanarticleonHolocaustrevisionismforthatsociety'smagazine
in1994,ZundeltoldhimthathisbookUFOs:NaziSecretWeapons?(whichbecameanunderground
bestseller,goingthroughsevenprintings)wasnothingmorethanaploytoattractreaders.SaidZundel
inatelephoneconversationwithMiele:'IrealizedthatNorthAmericanswerenotinterestedinbeing
educated.Theywanttobeentertained.Thebookwasforfun.WithapictureoftheFuhreronthecover
andflyingsaucerscomingoutofAntarcticaitwasachancetogetonradioandTVtalkshows.For
about15minutesofanhourprogramI'dtalkaboutthatesotericstuff.ThenIwouldstarttalkingabout
allthoseJewishscientistsinconcentrationcamps,workingonthesesecretweapons.Andthatwasmy
chancetotalkaboutwhatIwantedtotalkabout.'(42)
Asonemightexpect(andhope),Zundel'sHolocaustrevisionismhaslandedhiminhotwaterwiththe
Canadianauthorities.In1984,criminalproceedingswereinitiatedagainsthimbytheCanadian
Government,basedonaprivatecomplaintmadebyaHolocaustsurvivornamedSabrinaCitron.Zundel
waschargedunderSection177oftheCriminalCodeofCanada,whichmakesitacriminaloffenceto
publishwilfullyastatementoneknowsisfalseandthatcauses,orislikelytocause,injurytothepublic
interest.Zundelhadpublishedtwobooksbyotherauthors:TheWest,War,andIslamandDidSix
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MillionReallyDie?Hewasconvictedforpublishingthelattertitleandsentencedtofifteenmonthsin
jail.Theconviction,however,wasoverturnedonappealandasecondtrialwasordered.
ThesecondtrialreceivedmassivecoverageintheCanadianmedia,withZundelcallingotherleading
revisionistsasexpertwitnesses.Hewasagainconvicted,butthecasewastakentotheCanadian
SupremeCourt,whichfoundthatthestatuteonfalsestatementswasanunconstitutionalviolationof
freespeech.AsMieleironicallyremarks,ZundeltheHolocaustrevisionistfoundhimself'acivil
libertarianheroofCanada'.(43)Notwithstandingthis,severalCanadianJewishgroupshaveinitiated
proceedingsagainsthimunderCanadianantihatelaws.
MiguelSerranoandtheGlorificationofHitler
ThestrangeandesotericnotionsthatseemsooftentogohandinhandwithHolocaustrevisionismare
moststrikinglyexemplifiedbytheChileandiplomatMiguelSerrano(b.1917),whowasAmbassadorto
India(195362),Yugoslavia(196264)andAustria(196470).(44)Thepossessorofaformidable
intellect,SerranowroteonanumberofarcanesubjectsincludingYoga,Tantraandotherareasof
mysticism,aswellasabookonhisfriendshipswithCarlJungandHermannHesse.Healsotravelled
widelyinsearchofwisdominIndia,SouthAmericaandAntarctica.In1984hepublishedalong
explicationofhismysticalandphilosophicalthought,entitledAdolfHitler,elUltimoAvatara(Adolf
Hitler,theLastAvatar),whichhededicatesTothegloryoftheFuhrer,AdolfHitler'.(45)
AccordingtoGodwin:
Wearetounderstandthetitlequiteliterally:SerranomeansthatHitleristheTenthAvatarofVishnu,
theKalkiAvatar,whohasincarnatedtobringabouttheendoftheKaliYugaandusherinaNewAge.
IntheterminologyofBuddhism,HitlerisaTulkuoraBodhisattva,whohavingpreviously
emancipatedhimselffrombondagetothecirclesofthisworldhastakenonvoluntarybirthforthe
sakeofmankind.Thereforeheisbeyondcriticism.(46)
SerranobelievesthatHitlerhimselfisstillalive,havingescapedfromtheruinsofBerlininoneofthe
Nazidiscplanes,andiscontinuingtodirectanEsotericWarfromthesafetyofasecretrealmatthe
SouthPole.Thebackgroundtothisscenarioinvolves,onceagain,thelegendarylandofHyperborea
anditsfabulousinhabitants,withfurthervariationsonthethemewehavealreadydiscussed(see
ChapterTwo).AccordingtoSerrano,theHyperboreanswereoriginallyfrombeyondourgalaxy,
arrivingonEarthinremoteantiquity.Theirexistencehasbeensuppressedbyamonumentalconspiracy,
whichalsoseekstomisrepresentthemasphysical'aliens';infact,weonlyperceivethemas'flying
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saucers'becausewelacktheperceptiontoseethemastheyreallyare.TheyfoundedtheFirst
HyperboreahereonEarth,arealmthatwasnotcomposedofmundanematterbutwhichextended
beyondthephysicalplaneofexistencecreatedandcontrolledbytheDemiurge,aninferiorgodwhose
firstexperimentsinthecreationofintelligentliferesultedinNeanderthalMan.(47)
TheDemiurgeinstitutedacosmicregimebywhichallcreatureswouldtaketheWayoftheAncestors
inotherwords,theywouldbereincarnatedonEarthindefinitely.Thiswasunacceptabletothe
HyperboreanswhopreferredtotaketheWayoftheGods,onlybeingreincarnatediftheychose.The
HyperboreanspossessedthepowerofVril(seeChapterThree),whichtheywieldedintheirbattleswith
themechanisticDemiurge.(48)ThewarbetweentheHyperboreansandtheDemiurgeresultedinthe
foundingofaSecondHyperboreaattheNorthPole,takingtheformofaphysical,circularcontinent
fromwhichtheHyperboreansbegantoorganisethespiritualisationoftheEarth.Thiswouldbe
achievedthroughtheinstillingofasingleparticleofimmortalityintheNeanderthalsandotherproto
humans,whichwouldraisethemoutoftheirsemianimalstate.
TheHyperboreans'plansseemedtobegoingwellenough,untiltheymadethemistakeofhavingsexual
intercoursewiththecreationsoftheDemiurge.Thismiscegenationwasassociatedwithacatastrophic
cometaryimpactthatcausedtheNorthandSouthPolestochangeposition.Fromthatmomenton,the
Earthbecame'thebattlegroundbetweentheDemiurgeandtheHyperboreans,thelatteralwaysin
dangerofdilutingtheirblood'.(49)GodwinquotesSerranothus:'Thereisnothingmoremysterious
thanblood.Paracelsusconsidereditacondensationoflight.IbelievethattheAryan,Hyperborean
bloodisthatbutnotthelightoftheGoldenSun,notofagalacticsun,butofthelightoftheBlack
Sun...',(50)theBlackSunbeingasymbolnotonlyofthevoidinsidetheHollowEarthbutalsoofthe
ultimatevoidfromwhichallcreationflows.
SerranoclaimstohavemetacertainMasterwhotoldhimthatatacertainpointinthepracticeofYoga
oneisabletoleaveone'sbodyandgothroughmysticaldeathtoreachtheBlackSun,therealm
occupiedbytheHyperboreansbeyondthephysicaluniverse.However,suchaspiritualvoyageisnot
withinthecapabilitiesofallhumanityonlythose'whosebloodpreservesthememoryoftheancient
White,Hyperboreanrace'.(51)
TheJewishpeopleareseenbySerranoastheinstrumentsoftheDemiurge(whomheidentifieswith
Jehovah).Theyconstitutean'antirace'thatisengagedinagiganticconspiracyinvolvingalltheworld's
institutions,theundeclaredenemiesofHyperboreanideals.TheseidealsgaverisetotheThuleSociety,
whichSerranoclaimshadlinkswiththeHermeticOrderoftheGoldenDawnbut'waspervertedbythe
degeneracyofAleisterCrowleyandtheJewishBergsons'.(52)
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DuringtheearlierpartofHitler'scampaigns,accordingtoSerrano,hisintentionhadsimplybeento
reconquertheancientterritoriesoftheAryansorHyperboreans.RudolfHess'sflighttoEnglandin
1941wasthelaststageofthiseffort,intendedthroughrenewedcontactswiththeGoldenDawntounite
GermanywithherAryancousins,theBritish,andencouragethemalsotopurifytheirrace.Butafter
theapparentfailureofthismission,Hitlertookuphisavataricdestinyoftotalwaronallfrontsagainst
internationalJewryandtheDemiurge,attackingthemintheirmostpowerfulcreation,theCommunist
SovietUnion.(53)
Aswithotherrevisionists,SerranodeniesthattheHolocausttookplace(hecallsitthe'MythoftheSix
Million')onthegroundsthattheGermanisheroicbutnotcruel(crueltybeinganattributeofmixed
blood).Indeed,duringtheSecondWorldWar,theNaziswereallegedlyconcentratingontheperfection
of'magicalrealism',includingthedevelopmentofdiscplanes,establishingcontactwithascended
MastersinTibetanddematerialisation.Hitlerhimselfdidnotcommitsuicidebutescapedthroughan
undergroundpassage,designedbyAlbertSpeer,connectingtheBunkerwithTempelhofAirfieldwhere
heboardedoneofthediscplanesandlefttheruinsoftheThirdReichbehind.(54)
AsGodwinnotes,quotingtheChileanwriterthus,Serranohereentersrealmsusuallyidentifiedwith
thebizarrefringesofufologyandcosmology:
HadtheGermansubmarinesdiscoveredattheNorthPoleorinJohnDee'sGreenlandtheexactpoint
throughwhichonepenetrates,asthroughablackfunnel,goingtoconnectwiththeOtherPole,
emerginginthatparadisallandandseathatarenolongerhere,yetexist?Animpregnableparadise,
fromwhichonecancontinuethewarandwinitforwhenthiswarislost,theotheriswon.The
GoldenAge,UltimaThule,Hyperborea,theothersideofthings;soeasyandsodifficulttoattain.The
innerearth,theOtherEarth,thecounterearth,theastralearth,towhichonepassesasitwerewitha
'click';abilocation,ortrilocationofspace.(55)
SerranobelievesthattheHollowEarthisstillinhabitedbytheFirstHyperboreansandthattheNazis
foundawaythroughtotheirrealmviatheSouthPole,abeliefshared(apparently)bytheFrenchwriter
JeanRobinalthoughitmustbeaddedthatRobinisnodenieroftheHolocaust.In1989,Robin
publishedhisOperationOrth,whichofferstheaccount,supposedlygiventoRobinbyafriend,ofa
journeytoasubterraneancomplexmadeaboardaflyingsaucerthatcouldpassthroughsolidrock.The
undergroundcitywasneartheChileancoastalcityofValparaiso,northofSantiago;ithadapopulation
ofsome350,000,allofwhomweremembersoftheBlackOrderandsomeofwhomwereJewswho
blamed'theirfellowsfortheir"refusaltocollaborate"withtheevolutionaryprocess'.(56)Robin'sstory
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differsfromotherNazisurvivalmythsinthatHitlerdiedinthisnewAgarthain1953andhisbodywas
placedinatransparent,hexagonalcasket.Ratherastonishingly,thiscasketalsocontainedthebodyof
theSwedishdiplomatRaoulWallenberg,whosavedthousandsofJewsfromtheconcentrationcamps
andwhomysteriouslydisappearedattheendofthewar.Godwinisjustifiablynonplussedbythis:
OperationOrthposeseverymannerofproblem...tothereader,whocanonlywonderwhatprompted
JeanRobintopresenttheshockingimagesofHitlerandWallenbergreconciled,andthecasual
dismissaloftheHolocaustbytheJewsoftheBlackOrder.InthecontextofGuenonianattitudes,which
arenothingifnotrespectfuloftheJewishpeopleandtheirtradition,thereisnothingtobesaid,unlessit
bethatRobinactuallyacceptshisfriend'saccount,andiswarningusofthe[evolutionaryprocess's]
finalobscenity.(57)
Alternative3
Anyonefamiliarwiththeabovephrasewillsurelybewonderingwhatpossiblesignificanceitcanhave
tothepresentstudy.Ihavedecidedtodiscussitfortworeasons:firstly,theterrifyingconspiracyto
endallconspiraciesknownas'Alternative3'hasbeenimplicatedbymorethanonewriterinthe
ongoingsagaofultrasecretNaziactivities;andsecondlybecause,sinceAlternative3wasactually
nothingmorethanacleverlyengineeredhoax,itoffersusasalutarylessoninhowthepubliccanbe
manipulatedbyfantasyandpropagandamasqueradingasfact.Sincemanyreadersmaybeunfamiliar
withAlternative3,wemustreviewitsprincipalelementsbeforeturningourattentiontotheNazi
connectionandthereasonswhy,eventoday,itisstillbelievedbymanytobeessentiallytrue.
Thetalebeginson20June1977,whentheUKIndependentTelevisionCompanyAngliatransmitteda
documentaryprogrammeinitshighlyregardedScienceReportseries.Theprogrammewasentitled
Alternative3,andtheBritishTVguideTVTimeshadthistosayaboutit:'Whatthisprogrammeshows
maybeconsideredunethical,butthisfilmistransmitted...asachallengetothosewhoknowthe
answerstothequestionsraisedtotellthetruth.'(58)Theprogrammefinishedat10p.m.,andfromthen
untilmidnightandthroughoutthefollowingdayAngliaTelevisionwasswampedwithtelephonecalls
(10,000,accordingtooneestimate),somefrompeoplewhohadenjoyedtheprogrammeandwantedto
knowiftherewasanytruthinitbutmanyfromviewerswhoweregenuinelyfrightenedbyits
'revelations'andwhowantedtoknowwhatwasbeingdoneaboutthem.Angliahastilyissueda
statementassuringitsviewersthatAlternative3had,infact,originallybeenmeantasanAprilFool's
Dayjokeasevidencedbytheclosingcredits,whichincludedthecopyrightcaption:'AngliaTelevision
April1,1977'.
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Shortlybeforethetransmission,Angliahadissuedapressrelease,stating:
Ateamofjournalistsinvestigating,amongothertopicalsubjects,thedroughtof1976,andthechanges
intheworld'satmosphericconditions,andalsoadisturbingriseinthestatisticsofdisappearingpeople,
followatrailofinformationandscientificresearchthroughEnglandandAmerica.
ACambridgescientistandanexastronautlivinginunpublicisedretirementfollowinganervous
breakdown,areamongthelinksintheirinvestigations,whichcometogetherfinallyinsomestrange
discoveriesaboutthefutureoflifeonEarthandelsewhereintheSolarSystem.
Asaresultofourprivatescreeningsafewweeksago,thisprogrammehasbeenacquiredfor
simultaneoustransmissioninAustralia,NewZealand,Canada,DenmarkandIcelandandwillbeseen
eventuallyinthemajorityofEuropeanandAsianmarkets.
Theprogramme'sthememayseemextraordinary,butitisscientificallypossible.Thequestionis,how
fardoesitmirrorthetruth?
Onthedayofthetransmission,journalistKennethHughes,whohadgainedaccesstosomeofthe
materialtobepresented,wroteanarticleintheLondonDailyMirrorentitled'WHATONEARTHIS
GOINGON?'
AscienceprogrammeislikelytokeepmillionsofBritonsgluedtotheirarmchairs.
ALTERNATIVE3...isaninvestigationintothedisappearanceofseveralscientists.
TheyseemsimplytohavevanishedfromthefaceoftheEarth.
ChillingnewsisreadbyformerITVnewscasterSimonButlerwhogivesagloomyreportonthefuture.
TheprogrammewillbescreenedinseveralothercountriesbutnotinAmerica.Networkbossesthere
wanttoassessitseffectonBritishviewers.
Theprogramme'sstructurecentredonaseriesofinterviewswithoneDrCarlGerstein,whodescribed
thehideousnatureofAlternative3.DrGersteinclaimedtohaveattendedasecretconferencein
Huntsville,Alabamain1957,atwhichitwasagreedthatindustrialpollutionandtheaccompanying
greenhouseeffect(causedbyhighlevelsofcarbondioxidetrappingheatwithintheatmosphere)
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wasdestroyingtheEarth'sbiosphere,andthatthedeclineinairqualitywasirreversible,sothatbythe
year2000theEarthwouldundergoacompleteenvironmentalcollapse,wipingoutmostlife(including
humanity).
Threealternativesforsurvivalweresuggested.Alternative1calledforthedeploymentofalarge
numberofnuclearbombsintheupperatmosphere.Itwassuggestedthattheirdetonationwouldblow
holesinthecarbondioxideenvelope,allowingtheexcessheatintheatmospheretoescapeintospace.
Thisideawasrejectedonthegroundsthatitwouldhavereplacedoneproblemwithanotheramassive
amountofradiationintheatmosphere.Gerstein'sdescriptionofAlternative2takesusrightbacktothe
subterraneanrealmsdiscussedinChapterSeven.InthebookversionofAlternative3,Gersteinis
quotedthus:
'Alternative2,inmyview,wasevencrazierthanAlternative1.Irecognise,ofcourse,thatthereis
enoughatmospherelockedinthesoiltosupportlifebut...no,thiswasthemostunrealisticofallthe
alternatives.
'Thereisgoodreasontobelievethatthisworldwasoncemorecivilisedandfarmorescientifically
advancedthanitistoday.Ourreallydistantancestors,livingmillenniabeforewhatwecallPrehistoric
Man,hadprogressedfarbeyondourpresentstateofknowledge.
'Then,itisargued,therewassomecataclysmicdisastermaybeonecomparablewiththatfacingus
nowandthesehighlysophisticatedpeoplebuiltcompletelynewcivilisationsdeepbeneaththesurface
oftheearth...
'Thereisevidence,quiteconsiderableevidence,tosuggestthattherewereoncewholecitieslinkedby
anelaboratecomplexoftunnelsfarbelowthesurface.Remainsofthemhavebeenfoundundermany
partsoftheworld.UnderSouthAmerica...China...Russia...oh,allovertheplace.Andinthis
subterraneanworld,soitissaid,thereisagreenluminescencewhichreplacesthesunasasourceof
energyandwhichmakesitpossibleforcropstobegrown...
'Maybethere'ssomehistoricaltruthintheBiblicalstoryofthegreatFlood.Maybethedisasterwhich
drovethemthereinthefirstplacewasfollowedbytheFloodandtheywerealltrappedanddrowned
downthere.Maybethat'showtheircivilisationsended...
'AnditcouldfollowthatthepeoplewethinkofasprehistoricMenweremerelythedescendantsofa
handfulofsurvivorstherealchildrenofNoah,ifyouaccepttheBibleversionwhohadtostartfrom
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scratchinaworldwhichhadbeenutterlydevastated.Isthatwhytheytooksonaturallyinstinctively,if
youliketolivingincaves?Thentheagonisinglyslowprocessofrebuildingtheworldstartedallover
againuntilnowwefindourselvesinasimilarposition...'(59)
Thus,Alternative2calledfortheevacuationoftheworld'selites(therestwouldhavetotaketheir
chancesonthesurface)intotheseabandonedcities.However,thisalternativewasalsodiscarded,since
theheatfromthegreenhouseeffectwouldeventuallypermeatedownthroughtheEarth'scrust,making
lifeequallyimpossibleforthoselivingunderground.
TheonlyoptionleftwasAlternative3,whichcalledfortheevacuation(oftheelites,onceagain)from
EarthtoMars.GersteinreiteratedthetheorythattheRedPlanetwasonceinhabited,andthatits
atmospheremightstillbelockedawayinthesoil.Headdedthatin1959aRussianrockethadexploded
onthelaunchpad,killingalargenumberofpeopleanddevastatingthesurroundingarea.The
implicationwasthattherockethadbeencarryinganucleardevicewhosedetonationwouldhave
unlockedtheatmosphereonMarsandtransformeditintoahabitableplanetonceagain.Gersteinwent
ontosuggestthatanotherrocketmighthavebeensenttoMars,andthatthismissionmighthavebeen
successful.
TheAlternative3programmealsocontainedsomefootageofanallegedtopsecretunmannedmission
toMars,undertakenbytheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnionin1962.Thefilmshowedtherocky
landscapeofMars,seenfromtheapproachingprobe,accompaniedbyRussianandAmericanvoices.
Neartheendofthefootage,anAmericanvoicesaid:'That'sit!Wegotit...wegotit!Boy,iftheyever
takethewrapsoffthisthing,it'sgoingtobethebiggestdateinhistory!May22,1962.We'reonthe
planetMarsandwehaveair!'Thepresenteroftheprogramme,TimBrinton,commentedthatthere
musthavebeenaverygoodreasonwhythetrueconditionsonMarswerekeptfromthepublic,and
whythemissionhadbeenjointlyundertakenbytheUSandtheUSSR.Theimplicationwasofan
ultrasecretinterplanetaryprojectwhich,Brintonclaimed,couldwellbeGerstein'sAlternative3.(60)
Bywayofcorroborative'evidence',themakersofAlternative3pointedtothelargenumbersofpeople
whogomissingthroughouttheworldeachyear,suggestingthatmanyareactuallybeingabductedby
theAlternative3controllersandtransformed,throughsurgicalandchemicalmeans,intomindlessslave
labourerswhoarethentransportedas'BatchConsignments'tothecolonyonMars.Thesehapless
victimsarereferredtoas'superfluouspeople'bythecontrollers,whoseetheirbarbarictreatmentas
perfectlyacceptable.
Thecontrollerswerealsointerestedinrecruitingscientistsandacademicsfromawiderangeof
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disciplines.Thesepersonnelwerecalled'DesignatedMovers',andapparentlyaccountedfortheso
called'braindrain'ofthe1960sand1970swherebymanyscientistsleftBritain,ostensiblytotakeup
betterpaidpostsoverseas.(Itwasclaimedthataninvestigationofthebraindrainhadbeentheoriginal
impetusbehindtheScienceReportprogramme.)TheentireoperationwasheadquarteredinGenevaand
wasalsocontrolled,intypicalJamesBondfashion,byafleetofnuclearsubmarinesstationed
underneaththeNorthPolaricecap.Herethecontrollersensuredtheconspiracy'scontinuedsecrecyby
arranging'hotjobs'(remotecontrolledspontaneoushumancombustion)forthoseinvestigatorswhogot
tooclosetothetruth.
TheingeniousmakersofAlternative3alsobroughtintheNASAMoonflightsasmoreevidenceofthe
conspiracy.ThereadermaybeawarethattheApolloprogrammeisafirmfavouriteof
conspiratologists,someofwhommaintainthatNASAishidingthediscoveryofderelictaliencitieson
theMoon,whileothersclaimthatalloftheMoonlandingswereactuallyhoaxed,withtheastronauts
bouncingaroundasoundstagesomewhereinNevadaorCalifornia.InAlternative3,itwassuggested
thattheApolloastronautsdidnotstumbleuponaderelictaliencitybutafullyfunctioningmanmade
waystationforflightsenroutetotheMartiancolony.Thefollowingtranscriptofaconversation
betweenMissionControlinHouston,TexasandanastronautnamedBobGrodinwaspresentedinthe
book:
MISSIONCONTROL:Couldyoutakealookoutoverthatflatareathere?Doyouseeanything
beyond?
GRODIN:There'sakindofaridgewithaprettyspectacular...oh,myGod!Whatisthatthere?That's
allIwanttoknow!Whatthehellisthat?
MISSIONCONTROL:Roger.Interesting.GoTango...immediately...goTango...
GRODIN:There'sakindofalightnow...
MISSIONCONTROL(hurriedly):Roger.We'vegotit,we'vemarkedit.Losealittlecommunication,
huh?BravoTango...BravoTango...selectJezebel,Jezebel...
GRODIN:Yeah...yeah...butthisisunbelievable...recorderoff...(61)
Anothertranscript,thistimebetweenastronautsScottandIrwinandMissionControlduringtheir
MoonwalkinAugust1971,runsthus:
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SCOTT:Arrowheadreallyrunseasttowest.
MISSIONCONTROL:Roger,wecopy.
IRWIN:Trackshereaswegodownslope.
MISSIONCONTROL:Justfollowthetracks,huh?
IRWIN:Right...we're(garble)...weknowthat'safairlygoodrun.We'rebearing320,hittingrangefor
413...Ican'tgetoverthoselineations,thatlayeringonMountHadley.
SCOTT:Ican'teither.That'sreallyspectacular.
IRWIN:Theysurelookbeautiful.
SCOTT:Talkaboutorganization!
IRWIN:That'sthemostorganizedstructureI'veeverseen!
SCOTT:It's(garble)...souniforminwidth...
IRWIN:Nothingwe'veseenbeforethishasshownsuchuniformthicknessfromthetopofthetracksto
thebottom.(62)
ThebookversionofAlternative3alsocontainsanepisodedescribedbyaninsidesourcecalling
himself'Trojan'.TheeventsoccurredinabaseinsidethecraterArchimedes,whichliesonthewestern
borderoftheMareImbrium.TheArchimedesBaseisallegedlyalargetransitcampbeneatha
hermeticallysealedtransparentdome.HereoneoftheDesignatedMovers,amarinebiologistnamed
MattAnderson,secretlyvisitedasegregatedareawheretheBatchConsignmentsofslaveswerehoused.
Inthisslavevillage,Andersonencounteredachildhoodfriend.Havingyettoundergothepsychological
conditioningthatenabledtheDesignatedMoverstoaccepttheconceptofslavery,Andersonwas
appalledanddecidedtoescapewithasmanyslavesaspossibleandexposethehorrorofAlternative3.
TeamingupwithaNASAtrainedaerospacetechniciannamedCowers,Andersonmanagedtoget84
slavesaboardaMoonshipandheadedforoneofthegiganticairlocksinthedome.However,a
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technicianinthemaincontrolroomsawwhatwashappeningandraisedthealarm.Theairlockwas
sealedshutandGowers,whowasflyingtheship,panickedandlostcontrol,sendingitcrashingintothe
dome.Theresultingexplosiontoreaholeintheprotectiveshellandtheresultantcataclysmic
depressurisationkilledalmosteveryoneatthebase.Asaresultofthisdisaster,anearlierbaseinthe
craterCassiniwasredeveloped,andAlternative3isgoingaheadasplanned.
Asmentioned,thehugenumberoftelephonecallsfromconcernedviewersresultedinaspeedy
statementfromAngliaTelevisionthatAlternative3hadbeenanAprilFool'sDayjapeandnothing
more.Indeed,theparticipationofseveralquitewellknownactors(oneofwhomappearedinadogfood
commercialbeforethebeginningoftheprogramme!)couldmeanlittleelse.Inspiteofthis,Alternative
3hastakenonalifeofitsown,offeringakindoftemplateforthesuspicionsofotherwritersand
conspiracyresearchers.
MostnotableamongtheseistheAmericanconspiratologistJimKeith(whosadlydiedinSeptember
1999).InhisCasebookonAlternative3(1994),helistsmorethan30scientistsconnectedwiththe
StrategicDefenceInitiative(SDI)'StarWars'antimissileprojectwhoeithercommittedsuicide,
disappearedorotherwisediedinmysteriouscircumstances.Thisparallelwiththemissingscientistsin
theAlternative3scenarioisanexampleofKeith'scaseaspresentedinhisbook.Whentheconspiracy
isexaminedclosely,itsprincipalelementsbecomerecognisableaspectsofotherconspiracytheories.It
isasifthecreatorsoftheAngliaTelevisionprogrammehadpreemptedtheprotagonistsofUmberto
Eco'snovelFoucault'sPendulum,inwhichasmallgroupofboredintellectualsworkingforapublisher
ofesoterictextstakealltheinformationtheycanfindonsecretsocietiesandhistoricalconspiracies,
andfeeditintoacomputernicknamed'Abulafia'(aftertheCabalist).Thecomputerthenlinks
allofthesnippetsithasbeengivenintoacogentandinternallyconsistent(althoughcompletely
fictitious)scenarioinwhichallthesecretsocietiesinhistoryhavehandeddowntoeachotherthe
elementsofafantasticSecretthatwillgivetheholderincrediblepower.Throughindiscretion,wordof
theprotagonists'discoveryspreadsthroughtheinternationalnetworkofcontemporarysecretoccult
groups,whothenhoundtheintellectuals(literally)todeath,thinkingthattheyhavetheSecret.The
book'shero,Casaubon,meetshisdeathatthehandsofoccultistswhowishtheSecrettoremaina
secret.
WithAlternative3,wecanseeasimilarprocessatwork.Thebasictemplateofasecretpowerelite
makingplanstoabandonadyingEarthandcoloniseMarsoffersthebasisforawiderandmore
elaboratescenario.Itbeginswiththeriseofhumancivilisation,whichfromitsveryinception
containedtherootsofapowerfulandtotallyunscrupulouselitethathassecretlydirectedthecourse
ofhistoryforthousandsofyears.Inthetwentiethcentury(withwhichweareprimarilyconcernedin
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thischapter),themostextremeandbarbaricexampleofthispowereliteatworkwasNaziideology.
JimKeithmakestheinterestingpointthatHitlerhimselfconceivedoffour'alternatives'todealwiththe
comingworldofscarcitythatheenvisaged.InMeinKampfHitlerwrote:
AclearexaminationofthepremisesforforeignactivityonthepartofGermanstatecraftinevitablyled
tothefollowingconviction:
Germanyhasanannualincreaseinpopulationofnearlyninehundredthousandsouls.Thedifficultyof
feedingthisarmyofnewcitizensmustgrowgreaterfromyeartoyearandultimatelyendincatastrophe,
unlesswaysandmeansarefoundtoforestallthedangerofstarvationandmiseryintime.
Therewerefourwaysofavoidingsoterribleadevelopmentforthefuture:
1.FollowingtheFrenchexample,theincreaseofbirthscouldbeartificiallyrestricted,thusmeetingthe
problemofoverpopulation...
2.Asecondwaywouldbeonewhichtodaywe,timeandtimeagain,seeproposedandrecommended:
internalcolonisation...
3.Eithernewsoilcouldbeacquiredandthesuperfluousmillionssentoffeachyear,thuskeepingthe
nationonaselfsustainingbasis;orwecould
4.Produceforforeignneedsthroughindustryandcommerce,anddefraythecostoflivingfromthe
proceeds.(63)
Hitlerrejectedthefirstoftheseoptionsonthegroundsthattheselflimitationofapopulationthrough
birthcontrolwouldnecessarilyresultinaweakeningofthatpopulation,sincethenaturallawsof
Darwiniansurvivalofthefittestwouldbecircumvented.'Forassoonasprocreationassuchislimited
andthenumberofbirthsdiminished,thenaturalstruggleforexistencewhichleavesonlythestrongest
andhealthiestaliveisobviouslyreplacedbytheobviousdesireto'save'eventheweakestandmost
sicklyatanyprice,andthisplantstheseedofafuturegenerationwhichmustinevitablygrowmoreand
moredeplorablethelongerthismockeryofNatureandherwillcontinues.'(64)
Thesecondoptionof'internalcolonisation'andtheincreaseofresourceyieldwithinGermanyhe
rejectedonthegroundsthatitcouldnotbesustainedindefinitely:'Withoutdoubttheproductivityof
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thesoilcanbeincreaseduptoacertainlimit.Butonlyuptoacertainlimit,andnotcontinuously
withoutend.ForacertaintimeitwillbepossibletocompensatefortheincreaseoftheGermanpeople
withouthavingtothinkofhunger,byincreasingtheproductivityofoursoil.Butbesidethis,wemust
facethefactthatourdemandsonlifeordinarilyriseevenmorerapidlythanthenumberofthe
population.'(65)
Thethirdoptionrefers,ofcourse,totheconceptofLebensraum:
Theacquisitionofnewsoilforthesettlementoftheexcesspopulationpossessesaninfinitenumberof
advantages,particularlyifweturnfromthepresenttothefuture....Wemust...coollyandobjectively
adoptthestandpointthatitcancertainlynotbetheintentionofHeaventogiveonepeoplefiftytimesas
muchlandandsoilinthisworldasanother.Inthiscasewemustnotletpoliticalboundariesobscurefor
ustheboundariesofeternaljustice.Ifthisearthreallyhasroomforalltolivein,letusbegiventhe
soilweneedforourlivelihood.
True,theywillnotwillinglydothis.Butthenthelawofselfpreservationgoesintoeffect;andwhatis
refusedtoamicablemethods,itisuptothefisttotake.(66)
Thefourthoption,whichreliedonGermaninterdependencewithothernationsthroughinternational
commerce,HitlerrejectedonthegroundsthatthesurvivaloftheAryanracewouldnecessarilydepend
ontheactivitiesofothernationstates:
If...Germanytookthisroad,sheshouldatleasthaveclearlyrecognisedthatthisdevelopmentwould
someday...endinstruggle.Onlychildrencouldhavethoughtthattheycouldgettheirbananasinthe
'peacefulcontestofnations',byfriendlyandmoralconductandconstantemphasisontheirpeaceful
intentions,astheysohighsoundinglyandunctuouslybabbled;inotherwords,withouteverhavingto
takeuparms.(67)
HavingmadetheinterestingbutrathertenuousconnectionbetweenHitler'salternativesandthe
possibleoptionsstatedinAlternative3(theformerreferringtoHitler'sperceptionoftheproblems
facingtheGermanpeople;thelatterreferringtotheproblemsfacinghumanityasawhole),Keiththen
quotesapassagefromMeinKampfinwhichHitlerwrites:
[T]hefolkishphilosophyfindstheimportanceofmankindinitsbasicracialelements.Inthestateit
seesonprincipleonlyameanstoanendandconstruesitsendasthepreservationoftheracialexistence
ofman....AndsothefolkishphilosophyoflifecorrespondstotheinnermostwillofNature,sinceit
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restoresthatfreeplayofforceswhichmustleadtoacontinuousmutualhigherbreeding,untilatlastthe
bestofhumanity,havingachievedpossessionofthisearth,willhaveafreepathforactivityindomains
whichwillhepartlyaboveitandpartlyoutsideit.(68)[Keith'semphasis.]
KeithconsidersithighlysignificantthatHitlershouldhavementioneddomainslyingaboveandoutside
theEarth,inviewoftheeventsfollowingthedefeatoftheThirdReich.Hecontinues:
Summingupideasthatseemtoaddupto...Alternative3,wearefamiliarwiththeadvanceddisk
aircraftdesignsperfectedbytheNazisduringWorldWarII,andalsoknowthattheAmericanspace
programwasrunbyprominentNazis,oratleastexNazis.Naziinterestshavealsobeenentwined,since
theemergenceofthephilosophy,withothertotalitariancontrolmechanismsoftheworld,withthe
intelligence,police,andpsychiatricestablishments,witheugenicsandgeneticresearch,aswellaswith
theplansofmoniedeliteswhosephilosophiesmightbetterbedefinedinparapolitical,ratherthan
politicalterms.(69)
WehavealreadyexaminedthetheoryofGermanflyingdiscsinChapterEight,andnotedatthe
beginningofthischapterthatmanyprominentNazisweretransferredtotheUnitedStatesattheendof
thewar,underProjectPAPERCLIPincludingWernhervonBraun,whodesignedmuchofthe
hardwareforNASA'sApolloprogramme.WithregardtothecontinuationofNaziobjectivesinthe
postwaryears,mentionedearlierinthischapter,KeithoffersthefollowingquotefromtheResearch
andAnalysisbranchoftheOSSfrom1945:
TheNaziregimeinGermanyhasdevelopedwellarrangedplansfortheperpetuationofNazidoctrines
afterthewar.Someoftheseplanshavealreadybeenputintooperationandothersarereadytobe
launchedonawidespreadscaleimmediatelyuponterminationofhostilitiesinEurope...Naziparty
members,GermanindustrialistsandtheGermanmilitary,realizingthatvictorycannolongerbe
attained,arenowdevelopingpostwarcommercialprojects,endeavouringtorenewandcement
friendshipsinforeigncommercialcirclesandplanningforrenewalsofprewarcartelagreements.
Germantechnicians,culturalexpertsandundercoveragentshavewelllaidplanstoinfiltrateinto
foreigncountrieswiththeobjectofdevelopingeconomic,culturalandpoliticalties.German
techniciansandscientificresearchexpertswillbemadeavailableatlowcosttoindustrialfirmsand
technicalschoolsinforeigncountries.Germancapitalandplansfortheconstructionofultramodern
technicalschoolsandresearchlaboratorieswillbeofferedatextremelyfavorabletermssincethey
willaffordtheGermansanexcellentopportunitytodesignandperfectnewweapons.(70)
ForconspiratologistssuchasKeith,thefabricofAlternative3canbeunwoventorevealitscomponent
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strands,allofwhichseemtobesupportedbyevidenceofvaryingquality.AsKeithhimselfstates:'One
ofthedifficultiesinresearchingAlternative3wasthattheevidencekeptleadingmeinadirectionI
wasn'tparticularlyhappytogoin:towardtheNazis....Apossibility,whichIadmitiswildspeculation,
yetatthesametimecomprisesastartlingalignmentoffacts,isthatAlternative3isanexpressionof
NazioccultdoctrineandthatthereisalongtermelitistprogramtoabandonEarthandtoimplement
anotherstepinHitler's"FinalSolution".'(71)
ThecomponentstrandsofKeith'svisionofAlternative3canbesummarisedasfollows:Towardsthe
endoftheSecondWorldWar,theNazisdevelopedradicalaircraftdesigns,includingtheFooFighters
andlarger,mannedflyingdiscs.Theplansforthesemachines,alongwithanumberofcomponentsand
scientificpersonnel,weretransferredtoahiddencolonyinNeuSchwabenland,Antarcticainthe
closingstagesofthewar.Thetwooperationsknownas'EagleFlight'and'Paperclip'ensuredthatNazi
financialinterestsandespionagerespectivelyweremaintainedafterthewar'send.Giventhatcolonies
ofNaziscontinuetoexistinAntarcticaandSouthAmerica,itisprobablethattheirownaerospace
researchhascontinuedunabated,tothepointwheretheyhavemademannedspaceflightsafeand
routine.ThediscoverythatlifeonEarthisdoomedasaresultofpollutionandoverpopulationledtothe
formulationofAlternative3,wherebythemoniedelitesoftheworldwouldeffectivelyjumpshipand
establishahumancolonyonMars.Farfrombeingmortalenemies,theUnitedStatesandtheSoviet
Unionwereactuallytheclosestofallies:theColdWarwasamonumentalconontherestofhumanity,
whichunwittinglysuppliedtheslavelabourrequiredforthegiganticconstructionprojects.TheNazi
survivors,oneofthemainplayersinthisscenarioofsecretworldhistory,sawthisasaperfect
opportunitytocontinuewiththecreationofamasterrace,withtheirLebensraumrelocatedtoMars.
Keithcontinues:
MybeliefisthattheNazishavebeenmajor,butfarfromtheonlyplayersinthegameofworld
dominationsincetheendofWorldWarII:oneamongmanyheadsoftheHydra.InfluentialNazis
(possiblyincludingHitler)havebeenbehindthescenessincetheendofthewar,creatingand
implementingschemesfortheultimatetriumphofDieNeuordnung[NewOrder].AlmostallofHitler's
cohortssurvivedNurembergandmayhavebeeninvolvedinmanipulationsincludinginternational
terrorismandtheestablishmentofdrugandarmsmarkets,aswellasincollaborationwithothermore
'respectable'networksofworldinfluence.
WhileIcannotstatewithcertaintythatNazisarecreatingthe'real'dominationofAlternative3,that
theyhaveconstructedorareconstructingbasesonMarsorthemoontocarrytheancientGrailof
AryanracialpurityawayfromwhattheyconceiveasacataclysmdoomedEarth,Idohavetowonderat
thelogicandsymmetryofdetail.(72)
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Thecomplex,interconnectedsystemofrumoursparanormal,historicalandpoliticalthathasgrown
uparoundAlternative3isperhapsthemostextremeexpressionofthepostwarNazisurvivalidea.
Indeed,itsveryextremenessprovidesaperfectexampleofthewayinwhichseeminglyunconnected
mysteries,truthsandhalftruthscantakeonanindependentlifethatquicklyragesbeyondcontrol,
spawningfantasticallybaroqueconspiracytheoriesthatbearscantresemblancetothecomponentsfrom
whichtheyarose.
Conclusion:themythmachine
TheRealityandFantasyofNaziOccultism
Occultismisacuriousandfecundbeast.Beliefs,andtheeventstowhichtheygiverise,havea
frequentlyunfortunatehabitofgeneratingadditionalbeliefs.If,asinthecaseofNazioccultism,the
initialbeliefswerelittlemorethancryptohistoricalidiocies,therecanbelittlehopeofimprovementin
theirideologicalprogeny.ThisbookhasbeenasmuchahistoryofbeliefaboutNazioccultismasabout
Nazioccultismitself,andthereislittledoubtthattheprincipaldrivingforcebehindthedevelopmentof
thisbeliefisanattempttoexplainthedreadfulaberrationthatwastheThirdReich.
Giventhathumanbeingshavealwaysbeenfascinatedwiththeoccultandthesupernatural,precisely
becausetheypromisesomuchinofferingtheprospectofahighermeaningtothevagariesofexistence,
andgivenalsoourquestforananswertotheproblemofevil,itisonlytobeexpectedthatmanyshould
seektoexplainNazismintermsthattranscendthemerelyhuman.WenotedintheIntroductionthat
someseriousorthodoxhistoriansplaceHitleroutsidethespectrumofhumanbehaviouraspectrum
thatincludesthemostbarbarousofcrimes.Hitlerisseenbythemasuniquelyevil,wickedbeyondeven
thehumancapacityforwickedness.Others,whoareinclinedtoaccepttherealityofacosmicevil
originatingbeyondhumanity,insomeOuterDarknesseternallyforsakenbyGod,seeHitlerandthe
Nazisasexamplesofhow,giventherightcircumstances,thisDarknesscanenterhumanity,an'eruption
ofdemonismintohistory'.
Nevertheless,thedemoniccaneasilybeconfusedwithinsanity:oneshudderstothinkofthenumberof
unfortunatesthroughouthistorywhosemadnesswasmistakenbytheirfellowsforpossessionbythe
forcesofDarkness.WehaveseenthattheoriginsofNationalSocialismcanbetracedtovolkisch
occultistswhobelievedwholeheartedlynotonlyintheexistenceofaprehistoricGermanicraceof
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superhumansbutalsothattheirverysuperiorityhadbeentransmittedthroughtheagestomodern
Germansbymeansofamagicallyactive,pureAryanblood.Thebizarreoccultstatementsof
TheosophistssuchasMadameBlavatsky,RudolfSteinerandothersseemedtoofferevidenceofthe
existenceofafabulousAryanracethatestablishedgreatcivilisationsonthelostcontinentsofAtlantis,
LemuriaandthemythicalislandofThuleintheincrediblyremotepast.
TheideaofgenuineNazioccultpower(asopposedtoNazibeliefinthatpower)seemstohavearisen
outofourowncontinuingfascinationwiththelegendsinwhichthevolkischandPanGerman
occultistsbelievedsofervently.Beliefinallaspectsoftheparanormalisextremelyprevalent,whetherit
bebeliefinalienvisitation,thespiritsofthedead,darkanddemonicforcesfrombeyondtherealmof
humanity,ortechnologicallyadvancedprehistoriccivilisationssuchasthoseofAtlantisandLemuria;
anditseemstomethatthisbeliefliesatthecoreofthemythologicaldevelopmentofNazioccultism
thathasoccurredinthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury.Forifthesupernaturalreallyexists,might
nottheNazishavediscoveredawaytoharnessitspowertofurthertheirdreadfulambitions?
Theanswertothisquestionmustbenegative:wehavealreadyseenthattheevidenceforHitler's
initiationintothemysteriesoftheblackartsisnonexistent,whiletheevidenceforhisuttercontempt
formysticismofanykind(particularlythatpractisedbyHimmlerinWewelsburg,hissickjokeofa
Grailcastle)isdocumentedtimeandagain.Indeed,suchwasHitler'slackofinterestinthesematters
thatheneverdeignedeventovisitWewelsburg.WhatofHimmler,then?Didhenotpractisedarkrites
withhisSSGruppenfuhrersintheirOrderCastle,attemptingtocontactthesoulsoflongdeparted
Teutons?Theanswertothisquestionis,ofcourse,yes.However,occultorientatedwritershave,over
theyears,continuallymadethesamemistakeinclaimingthat,becauseHimmlerattemptedtocontact
supernaturalforces,thoseforcesexisttobecontacted.Iconsidermyselfasceptic,ratherthanan
incredulousdoubter,[*]andsoIcannotsaythatsupernaturalforcesdonotexist,anymorethanIcan
saythattheydoexist.Intruth,noonecan.Butwemustnotallowourselvestomakeanyconnection
whatsoeverbetweenHimmler'sideasonthesupernaturalandtheveracityofthesupernaturalitself.
KenAndersonmakesaninterestingpointinhisHitlerandtheOccult:
FromearlyintheirrisetopowerHitlerandhisNaziswereenvelopedinanauraofmysticismalmost
despitethemselves.Thisauraappearsclosertotheexperienceofoccultismthananyothermajor
movementinthetwentiethcentury.Hitlercametopersonifytheinvisiblestructurewhichbecamethe
occultmythdealtwithhere.Withthehelpofcontemporaryoccultwriters,theillusionistodaymore
pervasive.Wefindnosuchoccultmystiquesurroundingotheraberrationsof
civilisation...'
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TothiswemightaddthattheauraofmysticismsurroundingtheNaziswasenhancedanddisseminated
throughoutGermansocietybymeansofphotographyandcinema,notablyLeniRiefenstahl'svirulently
propagandistfilms,whichincludeTriumphoftheWillandOlympia,andwhichglorifyGermanness
andemphasisetheinherentsuperiorityoftheAryanrace.TheNaziswerenothingifnotmastersof
selfpromotion.
Note:
(*)SeethequotefromUmbertoEcoatthefrontofthisbook.
Justastheearlyvolkischoccultiststookvariouselementsofprehistoricmythologytoconstructatotally
spurioushistoryfortheGermanic'masterrace',somanyoccultorientatedwritershavetakentheimage
oftheNaziblackmagicianandhisdiabolicalalliesandwithithaveattemptedtocreateanequally
spurioushistoryoftheThirdReich.Theinsubstantialedificeoftheirwildspeculationsis'supported'by
theincorporationofEasternmysticism,withitstalesofhiddencitiesinhabitedbyascendedmasters
whoaretherealcontrollersofhumanity'sdestinyonEarth.Whatevertheirveracity,thesemythsare
exquisitelybeautifulandelaborate,anditissomethingofatragedythattheyshouldhavebeenhijacked
byWesternwritersintheirquesttoconnectNazismwithaputativesourceofgenuineoccultpowerin
theEast.
WehavealsoseenhowNazicosmology,withitsutterlyinsanenotionsof'WorldIce'andtheEarthasa
bubbleinaninfinityofrock,arosefromthegrandiosebutuntenablecosmologicaltheoriesofprevious
centuries.Moreover,aftertheendoftheSecondWorldWartheybecamepartofthetwentiethcentury
fascinationwithalternativecosmologies,includingtheHollowEarththeory,whichhasstubbornly
persistedtothisday.
AnotherexampleofhowtheThirdReichgeneratedstrangerumourscanbeseenintheconceptofthe
Naziflyingdiscs,whicharosepartlyfromadmittedlyintriguing(butstillinconclusive)evidence,and
partlyfromtheunassailableevidencethatNaziscientistswereindeedexperimentingwithradical
aircraftdesignsandweaponssystems.ThankstoclevermanipulatorsofpublicopinionsuchasRay
Palmer,thequitepossiblygenuinemysteryoftheUFOswas'explained'intermsoftherumoursthatthe
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Nazishadactuallyperfectedhighperformancediscshapedaircraft.
Aswehaveseen,thisinturngaverisetotheideathatthesediscplaneswereusedbyhighranking
NazistoescapefromtheAlliesduringthefallofBerlin.Onceagain,itisclearthatthevarious
outlandishclaimsofNazihideoutsinAntarcticaowetheirinceptiontogenuinelypuzzlingeventssuch
asAdmiralByrd'sapparentlydisastrousOperationHighjump,inadditiontotheindisputablefactthat
manyNaziwarcriminalsdidindeedescapefromtheruinsoftheThirdReichtotakeupresidencein
variousSouthAmericancountries.Allofthisprovidesconspiracytheoristswithaheadymixtureof
componentswithwhichtoconstructtheirnightmarishscenarioofhideousclandestineforces
maliciouslypullingthestringsonwhichwealldance.Attheriskofofferingacliche,whatwehave
hereisaclassicexampleofputtingtwoandtwotogetherandgettingfive.
AswenotedintheIntroduction,withthepassageoftimeandthedeathsofimportantfirsthand
witnessesanychanceoffindinganadequateexplanationofNazismandthehorrorsitunleashedhas
nowalmostcertainlybeenlost.Weareleftwiththeawfulquestionthatwillcontinuetohauntusforas
longasweremainhuman:why?Thequestionismademoreawfulbythelikelihoodthattheanswerlies
notinOuterDarkness,notinthe'AbsoluteElsewhere',butmuchcloser,inthatmostfrighteningandill
exploredofrealms:thehumanmind.
Notes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.Rosenbaum1999,p.xiii.
2.Ibid,p.xvi.
3.Davies1997,p.40.
4.Ibid.
5.Godwin1993,p.63.
6.TrevorRoper1995,p.xxviii.
7.Rosenbaum1999,p.xv.
8.Ibid.,p.xxi.
9.Ibid.,p.xxii.
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10.Ibid.,p.xxii.
11.Ibid.,pxxiii.
12.Ibid.,p.xxvii.
13.Ibid.,p.xxxv.
14.Ibid.,p.xliii.15Ibid.,xliv.16.Ibid.,p.xlvi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.GoodrickClarke1985,p.7.AnyoneattemptingtoexaminetheoriginsofNazioccultismwill
necessarilyoweaconsiderabledebttoTheOccultRootsofNazism,adebtwhichthepresentauthor
gratefullyacknowledges.Thisisstillbyfarthemostlevelheaded,wellwrittenandresearchedbook
coveringthisperiod;indeed,itremainstheyardstickagainstwhichallwritingonGermanoccultismin
thelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturiesshouldbejudged.
2.GermanGenealogyHabsburgEmpire,fromtheGermanGenealogyHomepageat:
http://w3g.med.unigiessen.de/gene/reg/ahel814.html
3.Sowards,TwentyFiveLecturesonModernBalkanHistory.
4.Davies1997,p.829.
5.GoodrickClarke1985,p.3.
6.Ibid.,p.4.
7.Ibid.,p.5.
8.Davidson1997,p11.
9.Ibid.
10.Ibid.,p.13.
11.Ibid.,p.14.
12.Ibid.
14.Ibid.
15.Davidson1997,p.11.
17.Ibid.,p.12.
18.Ibid.
240of257
19.Ibid.,p.13.
20.Maser1973,p.170.
21.CitedinMaser1973,p.170.
22.BaigentandLeigh1997,p.24.
23.Ibid.
24.Guiley1991,pp.25960;BaigentandLeigh1997,p.22.
25.Washington1996,pp.2931.
26.Ibid.,p.27.
27.Ibid.,p.51.
28.Ibid.,p.32.
29.Ibid.,p.33.
30.Wilson1996,p.111.
32.Ibid.,pp.2223.
33.Ibid.,p.23
34.Ibid.,p.25.
35.Ibid.,p.28
36.Ibid.,p.56.
37.NewLarousseEncyclopediaofMythology1985,p.248.
38.GoodrickClarke1985,pp.4950.
39.Ibid.,p.50.
40.Ibid.
41.Kershaw1998,p.50.
43.NewLarousseEncyclopediaofMythology1985,pp.2489.
45.Kershaw1998,p.50.
47.Ibid.,p.108.
48.Runciman1952,p.127.
49.Daraul1994,p.40.
50.Guiley1991,p.416.
51.Daraul1994,p.40.
52.Guiley1991,p.416.
53.Ibid.,p.417.
54.Ibid.
241of257
56.Ibid.,p.109.
57.Ibid.,p.95.
58.Levenda1995,p.44.
59.GoodrickClarke1985,p,124,
60.Ibid.
61.Ibid.,p.125.
62.Payne1995,p.31.
63.Ibid.
65.Ibid.,p.126.
66.Ibid.,p.127.
67.Ibid.,p.128.
68.Ibid.,p.129.
69.Ibid.,p.130.
70.Ibid.
71.Ibid.,p.131.
72.Ibid.,p.133.
73.Davidson1997,p.137.
74.Godwin1993,pp.489.
76.RudolfvonSebottendorff,BevorHitlerkam(BeforeHitlerCame),1934,p.
57.QuotedinGoodrickClarke1985,p.145.
78.Ibid.,p.157.
242of257
79.Ibid.,p.159.
80.Ibid.,p.161.
81.Ibid.,pp.1612.
82.Ibid.,p.162.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.Godwin1993,p.37.
2.Ibid.,p.38.
3.Ibid.
4.Ibid.,p.39.
5.Ibid.,p.40.
6.ErnestRenan,Reves(Dreams),1876,quotedinGodwin1993,pp.4041.
7.Ibid.,p.27.
8.Ibid.,p.29.
9.Ibid.,p.30.
10.Ibid.,p32.
11.Ibid,p.33.
12.Ibid.,p.34.
13.BlavatskyII1999,p.7.
14.Ibid.,p.8.
15.Ibid.,pp.89.
16.Ibid.,p.404.
17.Godwin1993,pp.2021.
18.Ibid.,p.22.
19.Ibid.,pp.2223.
20.Ibid.,pp.2324.
22.Ibid.,p.15.
23.Ibid.
24.Ibid.,p.23.
25.Rosenbaum1999,p.55.
27.Hitler1998,p.279.
243of257
28.Rosenbaum1999,p.57.
30.Washington1996,p.283.
32.Godwin1993,pp.4748.
33.Levenda1995,p.168.
34.QuotedinLevenda1995,p.170.
35.Speer1998,p.150.
36.QuotedinGodwin1993,pp.5657.
37.QuotedinLevenda1995,pp.1712.
38.Harbinson1996,p.247.
39.Godwin1993,p.146.
40.Ibid.,pp.1467.
41.Ibid.,p.147.
42.Ibid.,p.148.
43.Ibid
44.Ibid.
45.Ibid.,pp.1489.
46.King1976,p.116.
47.Anderson1995,pp.1423.
48.Hitler1998,pp.4512.
49.Anderson1995,pp.1434.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
244of257
3Ahideousstrength
1.SeeTheMorningoftheMagiciansbyLouisPauwelsandJacquesBergier,afascinating,hugely
entertaining(butnotterriblyreliable)book,whichmoreorlesssinglehandedlylaunchedtheEuropean
occultrevivalintheearly1960s.PartTwoisentitled'AFewYearsintheAbsoluteElsewhere',and
dealsextensivelywiththeideaofgenuineNazioccultpower.Totheauthors,the'AbsoluteElsewhere'
denotestherealmofextremenotions,whereweencountertheHollowEarthTheory,Horbiger'sWorld
IceTheory,lostprehistoriccivilisations,andsoon.
2.Maclellan1996,pp.100101.
3.SeeJulianWolfreys'sIntroductiontotheAlanSuttoneditionofTheComingRace.
4.BulwerLytton1995,p.20.
5.Ibid.,p.53.
6.Ibid.,p.26.
7.Ibid.,p.111.
8.Ibid.,p.120.
9.Maclellan1996,p.90.
10.Ibid.,p.84.
11.Ibid.,p.103.
12.PauwelsandBergier1971,p.195.
13.Ibid.,p.193.
15.Kershaw1998,p.248.
16.Ibid.,p.240.
19.WillyLey1947:'PseudoscienceinNaziland',AstoundingScienceFiction39/3(May),pp.9098.
QuotedinGodwin1993,p.53.
20.Godwin1993,p.54.
21.Ibid.
23.Ibid.
24.Ibid.,pp.109110.
25.QuotedinMaclellan1996,p.111.
26.Kershaw1998,p.xiv.
245of257
28.Ibid.,pp.11314.
29.Levenda1995,pp.1734.
30.Ibid.,p.175.
31.Ibid.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4Thephantomkingdom
1.Godwin1993,p.79.
2.Tomas1977,p.25.
3.Ibid.,pp.256.
4.Ibid.,p.32n.
5.Ibid.,p.32.
6.LePage1996,p.4.
7.Ibid.,p.7.
8.LePage1996,p.110.
9.Ibid.,pp.11011.
11.Roerich1930,p.211.
12.Ibid.
246of257
13.Ibid,p.212.
14.Ibid,p.215.
15.Ibid.
16.Ibid,p.222.
17.Tomas1977,p.42.
18.Ibid,pp.423.
19.Godwin1993,pp.8081.
20.Ibid,p.81.
21.Ibid.
22.Childress1999,p.304.
23.QuotedinMaclellan1996,pp.634.
24.QuotedinMaclellan1996,pp.645.
26.Ibid.
27.Godwin1993,p.83.
28.Ibid,pp.834.
29.Godwin1993,p.87.
31.Ibid,p.323.
32.Ibid,p.324.
33.Ibid.
34.Ibid,p.325.
35.Ibid,p.327.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5Talismanofconquest
1.Ravenscroft1982,p.xviii.
2.Ibid,pp.ixx.
3.Ibid,p.xii.
4.Ibid,p.xv.
5.Ibid,p.50.(SeealsoGoodrickClarke1985,pp.2212.)
6.Ibid,p.40.
7.Ibid,p.48.
8.Ibid,p.49.
247of257
9.Anderson1995,p.47.
10.Ravenscroft1982,p.9.
11.Ibid,pp.634.
12.Ibid,p.64.
14.Ibid,p.148.
16.Godwin1993,p.99.
18.Ibid.
19.Ravenscroft1982,pp.1112.
21.Ibid,pp.789.
22.Ibid,p.79.
23.Ibid,p.80.
24.Ibid,pp.8081.SeealsoRavenscroft1982,p.13.
25.Ibid,p.81.SeealsoSmith1971,p.325.
26.Ibid,p.85.
27.Ibid,p.86.
28.Ibid.
29.Ibid,p.88.
30.Ibid,p.96.
31.Ibid,p.97.
32.Ravenscroft1982,pp.31516.
33.Fest1974,pp.5489.
248of257
35.Ibid.
37.Ibid,pp.14950.
38.Ibid,p.151.
39.Ibid.
40.Ravenscroft1982,pp.1035.SeealsoGoodrickClarke'sessay'TheModernMythologyofNazi
Occultism'(AppendixEinTheOccultRootsofNazism);hisdemolitionjobonsuchluridfantasiesis
aseconomicalasitiseloquent.
41.Speer1998,p.147.
42.Ibid,p.148.
43.Ibid,p.183.
44.Langer1972,p.32,quotedinAnderson1995,p.224.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6Ordinarymadness
2.Ibid,p.179.
3.Ibid,p.180.
4.Ibid,p.181.
5.Ibid,p.182.
6.Levenda1995,pp.1956.
7.Ibid,p.196.
9.Ibid,p.185.
10.Ibid.
11.Ibid.,p.186.
12.Ibid.,p.188.
13.Levenda1995,p.187.14Ibid.,p.189.
15.Ibid.
16.Ibid.,pp.18990.
18.Ibid.,p.190.
19.Ibid.,p.191.
249of257
20.Fest1979,p.178.
21.Ibid.
22.Ibid.,p.179.
23.Payne1995,p.184.
24.Fest1979,pp.1801.
25.GoodrickClarke1985,p.178,
26.Levenda1995,p.153.
27.Ibid.
28.Ibid.,p.154.
29.Ibid.
30.Ibid.,p.155.
31.Padfield1990,p.248,quotedinLevenda1995,p.156.
32.Fest1979,p.173.
33.Levenda1995,p.156.
34.Ibid.,p.157.
37.Levenda1995,p.160.
38.Payne1995,p.375.
39.Fest1979,p.189.
40.Ibid.,p.190.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.Godwin1993,p.106.
2.Ibid.,p.107.
3.Ibid.,p.108.
5.MichelLamy:JulesVerne,initieetmitiateurLacledusecretdeRennesle
ChateauetletresordesRoisdeFrance,Paris,Payot,1984,p.194.Citedin
Godwin1993,pp.1089.
6.Godwin1993,p.109.
7.Ibid.
250of257
9.Gardner1957,p.20.
10.Ibid.
11.Ibid.
12.QuotedinGodwin1993,p.117.
14.Ibid.,pp.23940.
15.Gardner1957,pp.234.
16.Ibid.,p.24.
18.Gardner1957,p.25.
19.Godwin1993,p.117.
21.QuotedinChildress1999,p.240.
24.Ibid.
26.Ibid.,pp.3841.
27.QuotedinGardner1957,p.41.
28.Ibid.
30.QuotedinPauwelsandBergier1971,pp.1856.
32.Ibid.,p.188.
33.Ibid.,p.189.
34.ForadetaileddescriptionofByrd'slifeandexpeditions,seethepolar
explorers'Internetpagesathttp://www.southpole.com/homepage.html,from
whichthisaccountisborrowed.
36.Giannini1959,p.14.
38.Ibid.
39.Ibid.,p.211.
40.Ibid.
251of257
42.SeeBruceLanierWright'spiece,'FromHerotoDero'inForteanTimesNo.
127(October1999),pp.3641.
44.Ibid.
45.Ibid.,p.219.
46.Ibid.,p.220.
47.QuotedinChildress1999,pp.2212.
49.ForteanTimes127,p.38.
50.QuotedinChildress1999,pp.2223.
52Shaver,'ThoughtRecordsofLemuria',AmazingStones,June1945,quotedin
Peebles1995,p.5.
54.Ibid.
55.Ibid.
57.Peebles1995,p.6.
61.Childress1999,pp.2323.
65.Ibid.,p.245.
66.Ibid.
67.Ibid.,p.246.
68.Ibid.,p.247.
69.Ibid.
70.Ibid.,p.249.
71.Ibid.,p.251.
72.Ibid.
73.Ibid.,pp.2512.
74.Ibid.,pp.2934.
252of257
75.Ibid.,p.295.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8ThecloudReich
1.Brookesmith1984,p.202.
2.CitedinSaganandPage1996,pp.2078.
3.CitedinHarbinson1996,pp.456.
4.CitedinVescoandChildress1994,p.79.Thevastmajorityofthisbookisactuallytheworkof
RenatoVesco,withasmallamountofadditionalmaterialbyDavidHatcherChildress.Theoriginal
workwasentitledIntercettatehSenzaSparare,andwaspublishedinanEnglishtranslationbyGrove
Press,NewYorkin1971underthetitleInterceptButDon'tShoot.
5.HoughandRandies1996,p.46.
6.Ibid.,p.47.
7.VescoandChildress1994,p.84.
8.VescoandChildress1994,pp.8081.
9.Ibid.,p.81.
10.QuotedinVescoandChildress1994,p.82.
11.HoughandRandies1996,p.50.
12.Ibid.,p.83.
14.Ibid.,p.83.
15.Ibid,p.84.
16.Good1996,p.xxviii.
17.Ibid.,pp.xxviiixxix.
18.Jones1998,p.510.
19.Ibid.,p.511.
20.Ibid.
21.Ibid.,p.512.
22.Good1996,p.xxxiii.
23.Ibid.
253of257
26.Ibid,pp.856.
27.Ibid,p.86.
28.Ibid.
29.Ibid,p.113n.
30.Ibid,p.157.
31.QuotedinHarbinson1996,p.72.
32.Ibid,p.73.
33.VescoandChildress1994,pp.2556.
35.Ibid.
37.Ibid.
38.Hogg1999,p.52.
39.Marrs1997,p.69.
40.Ibid.
41.Ibid,p.70.
42.Ibid.
44.Ibid,pp.2523.
45.Ibid,p.253.
46.Ibid.
47.Ibid,p.255.
48.Ibid,p.258.
49.Ibid,pp.25960.
50.Ibid,p.262.
51.Good1996,p.228.
52.Peebles1995,p.113.
53.EvansandStacy1997,p.136.
54.SeeJacobs1994,pp.49236.
55.QuotedinHarbinson1996,p.172,
56.Ibid,p.173.
57.Ibid,p.175.
58.Ibid.,p.177.
59.Ibid.
60.Ibid.,pp17980.
61.Ibid.,p.180.
254of257
62DavidGuyatt,'PoliceStateofMind1,ForteanTimesNo,95,p.35.
63.Ibid.,p.38.
64.Ibid.,p.36.
65.QuotedinConstantine1995,pp.23.
66.Guyatt,p.36.
67.Ibid.,pp.367.
68.Constantine1995,p.4.
69.Guyatt,p.36.
70.DefenseIntelligenceAgency(DIA)report,quotedinGuyatt,p.37.
72.SeeVallee1993.
74.Ibid.
75.Ibid.
76.Ibid.
77.Ibid.,p.19.
78.Ibid.,p.26.
79.SidQue,'RadioHead',ForteanTimesNo.113,p.39.
80.Ibid.,p.37.
81.Ibid.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9InvisibleEagle
1.TrevorRoper1995,p.43.
2.Marrs1997,p.72.
3.Ibid.
4.Ibid.,p.73.
5.QuotedinPool1997,pp.312.
6.Marrs1997,p.73.
7.Higham1983,quotedinMarrs1997,p.73.
8.Ibid.
9.QuotedinMarrs1997,p.74.
10.Ibid.
255of257
11.WorldPressReview,vol.41,no.11,November1996.QuotedinMarrs1997,pp.745.
12.TrevorRoper1995,pp.xxxviixxxviii.
13.Ibid.,p.xxxviii.
14.Ibid.,p.xi.
15.Ibid.,p.xii.
16.Ibid.
17.Keith1994,p.30.
18.Ibid.,p.31.
19.Ibid.,p.33.
21.Ibid.
22.Ibid.,pp.21920.
23.Ibid.,p.220.
24.Ibid.,p.221.
25.Marrs1997,p.75.
26.VescoandChildress1994,pp.xvxvi.
27.Ibid.,p.xvi.
28.Godwin1993,p.105.
29.Ibid.
30.Ibid.,p.63.
31.Ibid.,p.64.
32.Ibid.
33.Ibid.,p.66.
34.TranslatedbyGodwin,ibid.,p.65.
35.Ibid.,p.67.
36.Ibid.
37.Ibid.,p.68.
38.Ibid.
40.Ibid.,p.249.
41.QuotedfromareproductionoftheSamisdatnewsletter,availableontheNizkorWebsite.Nizkoris
aneducationalorganisationdedicatedtoprovidingaccurateinformationontheHolocaustandrelated
Holocauststudies.Oneofitslaudableobjectivesistoexposeanddismantlethedespicablearguments
ofHolocaustdenierssuchasErnstZundel.Attheriskofpatronisingthereader(whichisbynomeans
myintention),ImuststatethatanyonewiththeslightestsuspicionthattheHolocaustdidnottakeplace
256of257
shouldvisitthisexcellentWebsite,whichwillimmediatelysetthemstraight.TheNizkorProject
RememberingtheHolocaustcanbereachedathttp://www.nizkor.org/
42.See'GivingtheDevilHisDue:HolocaustRevisionismasaTestCaseforFreeSpeechandthe
SkepticalEthic'byFrankMiele,reproducedontheNizkorProjectwebsite.
43.Ibid.
44.Godwin1993,p.70.
45.Ibid.
46.Ibid.
47.Ibid.,pp.7071.
48.Ibid.,p.71.
49.Ibid.
50.Ibid.
51.Ibid.,p.72.
52.Ibid.
53.Ibid.,p.73.
54.Ibid.
55.QuotedinGodwin1993,p.73.
56.Ibid.,p.127.
57.Ibid.
58.ForteanTimesNo.121(April1999),p.29.
59.WatkinsandAmbrose1989,pp.99100.
60.Ibid.,p.207.61Ibid.,p.106.
62.Ibid.,p.214.
63.Hitler1998,pp.1206.
64.Ibid.,pp.1212.
65.Ibid.,p.122.
66.Ibid.,pp.1267.
67.Ibid.,p.131.
68.Ibid.,p.348,quotedinKeith1994,p.152.
69.Keith1994,pp.1523.
70.QuotedinKeith1994,pp.3031.
71.Keith1994,p.148.
72.Ibid.,p.153.
257of257
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conclusionthemythmachine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Index(Removed)
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