National Socialism and occultism

Especially in fictional depictions, National Socialism is often linked to occultism and pre-Christian/pagan traditions, usually in politically correct media in a way that creates negative impressions. There are various criticisms of such politically correct views. See the "External links" section.

Popularity in the entertainment media

Especially strongly is this image presented in entertainment media. The subject of National Socialist occultism comes over and over again in various novels, films, and computer games. Typical for this are the first and third Indiana Jones films. Another example is the computer game "Return to Castle Wolfenstein".

Esoteric Hitlerism

Esoteric Hitlerism was developed after WWII and is associated with the writings of Savitri Devi, Miguel Serrano, and others.

Hermann Rauschning

"Since Hitler’s National Socialism has been regarded as “the ultimate in evil,” linking Hitlerism with black magic and Satanism is a logical development. [...] Much of this can be traced to a piece of wartime propaganda, Hitler Speaks, by Hermann Rauschning, who claimed to be one of Hitler’s “inner circle.” In this book there are many references to Hitler’s dealing with black magic and dark powers, and to the presence of an early NSDAP member, Marthe Kuntzel, who was also both a theosophist and a leading German follower of the British occultist Aleister Crowley.[1] Rauchning was taken seriously by historians until quite recently. Mark Weber writes that in 1983 a Swiss historian exposed the hoax".

Kerry R. Bolton

Kerry R. Bolton in the conclusion on an article on the "Occult Reich" states that "Hitler ridiculed “superstition” but recognized the role it played on the psyche, and rejected the efficacy of prophecies and of astrology.[75] The National Socialist party, so far from being neo-heathen, as is often contended, while reviving many old Germanic customs and festivals, from the start had a wide Christian base, particularly of Lutherans, and many Lutheran pastors were officers of the SA. They held early party meetings in their parsonages. Hitler became disillusioned with the failure of the Christian denominations to unite as a German national church, however he also remained dismissive of attempts at reviving paganism.[76] The latter remained a peripheral influence within an inner core of the SS.

Himmler sought to create the SS as a neo-heathen order with its own marriage, birth and death ceremonies outside the Christian churches, and with SS officers serving as the priests.[77] The Feast of Midsummer was substituted for Christmas. However, these measures that Himmler attempted to impose were so unpopular and disregarded among the SS that by November 1940 he was obliged to abrogate previous punishments for disobeying regulations on religion. Himmler was also unsuccessful in weaning his SS away from Christianity. “Two thirds of the Allgemeine–SS remained in the Church – 54.2 percent Evangelicals and 23.7 percent Catholics.”[78]"

See also the "External links" section regarding various views.

See also

• Ahnenerbe
• Armanism and Ariosophy
• Esoteric Hitlerism
• Karl Maria Wiligut
• Landig Group
• Miguel Serrano
• Otto Rahn
• Runes
• Savitri Devi
• Thule Society
• The Catholic Church and the Holocaust
• Völkisch movement

External links

• The Occult Roots of Nazism: Book Review
• Religion, Mysticism and the Myth of the “Occult Reich”
• Saturday Afternoon: Roots of the myth of National-Socialism's "occult roots"