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The Occult Roots of Nazi Power

Wewelsburg Castle, home of the SS cult centre

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For those who doubt the infamous effects the machinations of secret societies can have on the world, we need look no further than the greatest holocaust of the 20th century. Dozens of books have been written explaining the mechanisms behind the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, but few of them have focused on the hidden guiding hand of secret societies and the worship of dark, occult forces.

The occult roots of Nazi power have their beginnings as far back as 1887, with the founding of the Rosicrucian-influenced Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn by, among others Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton, author of The Last Days of Pompeii. Lytton was also an acquaintance of the notorious Eliphas Levi, who wrote 'The Coming Race', which describes the mysterious "Vril" force. The name of this magickal energy source, along with other ideas from the book, would be adopted by those developing a new estoeric philosophy in Germany, with occult foundations owing a considerable debt to The Golden Dawn. This shadowy entity became known as the Vril Society.

The Vril might have remained an obscure group of cranks had it not been for another Golden Dawn-related figure. It was the mystical Helena Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, that first put forward the theory of the five 'root races': Polarians, Hyperboreans, Lemurians, Atlanteans and finally...Aryans.

In 1918, a devotee of the esoteric, one Rudolf von Sebottendorff set up the Thule Gesellschaft. Also heavily influenced by the occult and by Blavatsky's Theosophical theories, as well as those of the Anthrosophist Rudolf Steiner -- not to mention racism and anti-semitism -- the Thule Gesellschaft soon came to count among its members Hitler, Rudolf Hess, and other individuals who would later become prominent in the Nazi party. At some point prior to becoming Reichschancellor, Hitler was also schooled in diction by the esotericist and magician Hanussen, who was said to have been a great expert in the art of hypnotism.

The Thule Gesellschaft, then, along with its sister secret society, the Vril would provide the philosophical, intellectual and even spiritual underpinnings of the eventual National Socialist movement, along with a third stream, about to converge. That was the pan-Germanist and esotericist Guido Von List, whose occult, Templar-influenced secret society boasted a membership which included the wealthy and those from the conservative and nationalist circles, as well as the occult community.

These forces were to congeal to form a perfect storm of political, cultural, financial and spiritual forces that would eventually burst into the flame that would consume most of Europe.

Other members of what would become Hitler's inner circle shared his fascination with the occult. Josef Goebbels was a devotee of the prophecies of Nostradamus, while Goring believed passionately in the concept of The Hollow Earth. The Third Reich's premier architect, Albert Speer, was fascinated by geomancy or earth power, and many of his architectural layouts betray his fascination with mystic geometry. And of course, we have already mentioned Rudolf Hess. The imaginative reader can still envision him in the years following the war, the lone inhabitant of the echoing Spandau Prison, locked down like some supremely dangerous comic-book super-villain.

Lastly, there was Heinrich Himmler, perhaps the most evil and twisted of all Hitler's henchmen. As head of the SS, Himmler turned the Society for the Study of Ancestral Heritages founded by the mystic Frederick Hielscher in 1935, into the Deutches Ahenerbe SS, a special unit dedicated to locating the Aryan origin of the Nordic race. Among other pursuits, the Ahenerbe conducted a number of expeditions to Tibet, ostensibly to locate the origins of the 'indo-Germanic "Nordic" race, but more importantly to locate the spiritual "power-plant" producer of Vril. Other fixations included a search for the Holy Grail (supported by the explorations of Otto Rahn) and the Spear of Destiny, potent occult talismans which they imagined would render the Third Reich forever undefeatable. Himmler himself was recently revealed to have visited a monastery in the Pyrenees on a quest for the Grail.

For the SS, their occult centre of gravity was located at the fortress of Wewelsburg. The magnificent fortress, dating back to Renaissance times, was expanded and its surroundings manipulated in accordance with principles of sacred geometry such that its layout served as a metaphor for the Spear of Destiny in accordance with the hermetic principle 'as above, so below'.

Behind it all, some detect the hands of the Illuminati, founded in Bavaria in the late 1700s by Adam Weishaupt, and perhaps the most mysterious secret society of all. Certainly, the Rosicrucians have been linked with the Illuminati, as have the Ordo Templi Orientalis (which had relationships and interlocking memberships with the Order of the Golden Dawn) and the Thule Gesellschaft. This possible origin of the secret societies that gave birth to the Nazi cult is troublesome to researchers, not least of which because the Illuminati's presumed links to one of the most infamous secret societies in the U.S. today, Skull and Bones. Most troubling of all is the degree to which links between prominent Bonesmen; scions of today's ruling presidential dynasties can be drawn to the Nazi party (a story for another time).

Not only does this circumstantial evidence add weight to the argument regarding the Illuminati connection, it raises serious questions about whether or not the seeds of a return to power of a similar fascist cult lie dormant in the most sacred halls of power in the U.S. today.

Given the assaults on civil liberties being experienced in the U.S. almost daily, coupled with persistent rhetoric surrounding the New World Order and an equally relentless drive to focus life around 'spirituality', it's a question worth pondering.

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{"commentId":710603,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

I would be remiss if I didn't give a nod to this seed by Fenian, which got my thinking about this whole line of inquiry for an article.

I'm glad I finally got this out...way too many links to be much fun to format. And, while it's not formally part of the Crypto-History series, it's quite possible that it might be linked in at some point.

Hope you enjoy it.

{"commentId":710603,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 5 votes
Reply#1 - Wed May 16, 2007 1:12 AM EDT
{"commentId":721640,"authorDomain":"scientificblog"}

I waited until the weekend to read this. The fact that this has 4 votes while asinine bull@!$%# seeds about the latest hit piece on religious people gets 40 should be categorized as some sort of special category of human rights violation.

Screw it - this is going on Digg. You won't get as many votes but you will make more money for this than any of those crappy seeds.

{"commentId":721640,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"scientificblog"}
  • 9 votes
Reply#2 - Sun May 20, 2007 10:37 PM EDT
{"commentId":721676,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Seriously, Cash, I really appreciate the degree you're taking an interest in what I'm trying to do. It really does make it worthwhile. For this piece, I was starting to think that maybe it was a little too controversial...that maybe having 'Nazi' in the headline was a bad idea.

Although it seems like it works OK for the History Channel.

I am getting used to the fact that Newsvine has it's own kind of funny dynamic...and mostly I'm fine with that. I'm trying to do a broad array of stuff from the more overtly pandering to this. The more sensational stuff satisfies any craving for votes that I might have (and I do have some, let's be honest). Meantime, one or two people that appreciate these articles is all I really need.

I'm kind of kicking around an article about Serpent Cults from ancient times until today, explaining the connection between the Garden of Eden, the medical caduceus, the Tamil Tigers and Smaug in the Hobbit. Whattya think?

{"commentId":721676,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 5 votes
#2.1 - Sun May 20, 2007 10:54 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828421,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
an article about Serpent Cults from ancient times until today

Yes, yes, when, when?

{"commentId":1828421,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
  • 3 votes
#2.2 - Wed May 21, 2008 8:32 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828470,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

I thought you'd already seen this one, Glad!

If you'll hang tough for a minute, I'll go get you a link and you can check it out...!

{"commentId":1828470,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 3 votes
#2.3 - Wed May 21, 2008 8:43 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828486,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Right, there you go. Ask and ye shall receive.

(If only I could respond to requests for articles this fast normally. Heh.)

Honestly, tho, Glad...I really thought you had read this one! I'm glad I still have a back catalogue of my wacky stuff to regale you with! It takes some of the pressure off... : )

{"commentId":1828486,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 3 votes
#2.4 - Wed May 21, 2008 8:46 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828489,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

Right on, Syn. Thanks.

{"commentId":1828489,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
  • 3 votes
#2.5 - Wed May 21, 2008 8:48 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":721690,"authorDomain":"scientificblog"}
connection between the Garden of Eden, the medical caduceus, the Tamil Tigers and Smaug in the Hobbit. Whattya think?

Throw in a connection to the GOP and how much they suck so it gets the attention it deserves - that's all I'm saying.

{"commentId":721690,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"scientificblog"}
  • 7 votes
Reply#3 - Sun May 20, 2007 11:05 PM EDT
{"commentId":721702,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Heh. What if I just continued to crib from your book of tricks and used this as the article's accompanying photo?

{"commentId":721702,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 6 votes
#3.1 - Sun May 20, 2007 11:10 PM EDT
{"commentId":721744,"authorDomain":"scientificblog"}

I'm all for a little sizzle with my steak!

{"commentId":721744,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"scientificblog"}
  • 7 votes
#3.2 - Sun May 20, 2007 11:45 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":721936,"authorDomain":"chill888"}

Thanks for very interesting read.

Goebbels (an Aryan cripple??), Himmler, Hess (just read a great Nurenberg trials book), etc were more than just evil - also very bizarre.

Smaug the dragon

Easily won of my favorite characters of all time - (my father read me the hobbit when I was seven - so Smaug haunted my dreams);

{"commentId":721936,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"chill888"}
  • 6 votes
Reply#4 - Mon May 21, 2007 2:35 AM EDT
{"commentId":722101,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Glad you enjoyed it, Chill. For me, material like this tends to put the whole Nazi 'eruption' into a much broader perspective. Certainly the cult activities of some of the key players weren't the only drivers behind the second world war, but tidbits like this do help to understand certain aspects of it, making a pretty incomprehensible series of events that much more logical(?).

Smaug was indeed a wise old worm. A bit greedy and selfish, but dragons are just built that way...

{"commentId":722101,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 7 votes
#4.1 - Mon May 21, 2007 7:30 AM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":722243,"authorDomain":"NicOfTime"}

Wow, Syn. Thanks for a great read. History prefers to portray Hitler as a lone madman who came to power through a fluke of circumstance that could never happen again. How simplistic & comforting but how very wrong.

P.S. I also like your snake idea. Don't forget the holy-rolling-snake-handlers.

{"commentId":722243,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"NicOfTime"}
  • 7 votes
Reply#5 - Mon May 21, 2007 9:39 AM EDT
{"commentId":722265,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
lone madman who came to power through a fluke of circumstance

Very wrong, indeed. I didn't go into it at all (in fact I only brushed past it in a sentence or two), but the rise to power of the Nazis could also not have occurred without very concrete direction and support from the big business interests in Germany at the time (Krupp, Thyssen, Bavarian Motorwerks, etc.), which were already beginning to act as global concerns.

The nexus between overt power (business) and covertly wielded power (cults and secret societies) is one that's inarguably alive today, and not just in Skull and Bones. Bilderberg meetings and Bohemian Grove get-togethers, even if no more sinister than their most ardent defenders proclaim, are -- at the least -- a breeding ground for the same set of forces that brought Hitler to power.

And as for those crazy Appalachian snake handlers, I'll keep it in mind and see if I can't work it in somehow. They are not un-related, I suspect.

{"commentId":722265,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 6 votes
#5.1 - Mon May 21, 2007 10:14 AM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":742859,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Well, here it is. I didn't end up using that Nastassia Kinski/python pic, but I will hang on to it for possible use later on.

{"commentId":742859,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#6 - Tue May 29, 2007 11:01 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828277,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

An interesting article about SS archaeologist Otto Rahn...

{"commentId":1828277,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#7 - Wed May 21, 2008 7:41 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828437,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

Thanks for this article, Syn. Once again, I had read a few things about the US link with the Nazis, the occult, and all that, but this brings it all together so well. Great work!

{"commentId":1828437,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#8 - Wed May 21, 2008 8:35 PM EDT
{"commentId":1828959,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

You all might also like this page, "Nazi Cult Beliefs" at mystae.com. Am finding it quite absorbing.
Found another page about the Vril connection but I find it incredible that a cult could be based on a NOVEL, for pete's sake. And one by Bulwer Lytton. I mean, come ON, people. They really were stoned, weren't they?
Oh yes, the mystae page has stuff on that too. To wit:

"Other records show that Hitler's personal physician from 1936-1945, Theodore Morell, was prescribing and personally injecting Hitler with psychiatric drugs. The drugs, to which he was addicted, produced a sense of euphoria, for which Hitler expressed his extreme gratitude to Morell. "Among the drugs he was administered were Eukodal and Pervitin. Eukodal is a narcotic similar to morphine and codeine, with the known adverse effects of euphoria and dysphoria. Pervitin is a methamphetamine, known to cause euphoria, dysphoria, severe social disabilities, personality changes and psychosis. Both are highly addictive."

and later, this --

"According to Ravenscroft [Spear of Destiny], Eckart, like Hitler, first achieved transcendence through psychedelic drugs. Research on peyote by the German pharmacologist Ludwig Lewin had been published in 1886, leading to widespread popular experimentation. Later a heroin addict, in earlier days Eckart used peyote in the practice on neopagan magic in Berlin."
{"commentId":1828959,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
  • 5 votes
Reply#9 - Wed May 21, 2008 11:58 PM EDT
{"commentId":1831863,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Cool finds, Minnie....I'm well aware of the linkage between the occult and drugs, but I didn't know very much about the specific uses of it by the Nazis. Add one more 'Hmmm' to the file.

(The fact that Hitler was a meth-head explains a lot, actually).

{"commentId":1831863,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 3 votes
#9.1 - Thu May 22, 2008 6:32 PM EDT
{"commentId":1833030,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

According to History Channel, the whole German army was meth-heads, really. They handed out the amphetamines to keep the troops going thru blitzkriegs and days-long marches... Actually, it explains a lot, doesn't it?

{"commentId":1833030,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
  • 4 votes
#9.2 - Fri May 23, 2008 4:26 AM EDT
{"commentId":1833237,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

Hey, that does explain a helluva lot. I know the Vikings used hallucinogens for battle, but I didn't know that Hitler's army was using meth. Amazing.

{"commentId":1833237,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
  • 2 votes
#9.3 - Fri May 23, 2008 8:11 AM EDT
{"commentId":1842663,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Gives a whole new meaning to the Blitzkrieg concept, doesn't it?

Actually we shouldn't be all that surprised. Even today, pilots and others who have to serve demanding duty under rigourous conditions and with many hours of sleeplessness are issued 'pep pills'.

{"commentId":1842663,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 4 votes
#9.4 - Mon May 26, 2008 8:23 PM EDT
{"commentId":1845708,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

Yeah, I'd heard about the US using it for the military; I guess it's a perennial thing.

{"commentId":1845708,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
  • 2 votes
#9.5 - Tue May 27, 2008 6:54 PM EDT
{"commentId":1856710,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

I remember college exam time quite well....

{"commentId":1856710,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    #9.6 - Thu May 29, 2008 10:22 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1829048,"authorDomain":"newsguru"}

    Great article, Synthesis!

    {"commentId":1829048,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"newsguru"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#10 - Thu May 22, 2008 12:53 AM EDT
    {"commentId":1831868,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    Thanks, NG...glad you enjoyed it!

    And I'm glad this article is getting some revival-love. It was fun to write first time around, and if anything, it's more fun re-visiting it...!

    {"commentId":1831868,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 1 vote
    #10.1 - Thu May 22, 2008 6:33 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1835181,"authorDomain":"gumwars"}

    Another great article Synthesis. I agree with cash, it's BS that informative and interesting essays like this one get looked over while flame sponsored emotional rants get top pick.

    On a side note, have you looked into the history of the Nazi Bell?

    {"commentId":1835181,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"gumwars"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#11 - Fri May 23, 2008 5:41 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1842672,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    Hey, I believe in karma, so no worries...the flamewar inciters will get theirs one day...and it will probably involve being trapped in a closet with Raymonty....

    Nazi Bell? Hmmm...I don't know about that one.

    Do tell....

    {"commentId":1842672,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 3 votes
    #11.1 - Mon May 26, 2008 8:25 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1842960,"authorDomain":"gumwars"}

    If you get some free time check it out.

    {"commentId":1842960,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"gumwars"}
    • 2 votes
    #11.2 - Mon May 26, 2008 10:10 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1845939,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    Free time's not the easiest commodity to make more of, but I'm glad I checked this out, Gumwars. Very interesting indeed.

    Also interesting that the article speculates about Einstein being involved in the Philadelphia Experiment. I've read other theories (e.g., Brad Steiger in The Rainbow Conspiracy) that suggest it was Tesla who was the brains behind it.

    The whole German super-weapons angle is always endlessly fascinating. I was intrigued to find the Horten HO-229 Flying Wing was made of wood and canvas, both low-reflective materials, and impregnated with a glue that would have made it further radar absorptive. Those features, coupled with the low cross-section shape afforded by the flying wing design, would have made it effectively a stealth bomber...in 1945.

    {"commentId":1845939,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 3 votes
    #11.3 - Tue May 27, 2008 8:18 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1847631,"authorDomain":"gumwars"}

    I, too, am extremely interested in the Nazi black project experiments. I think you mentioned elsewhere that NASA borrowed quite heavily from the scientist ranks of the SS following the end of the war.

    I've always stuck by the statement that reality is far stranger than fiction (you couldn't write books that were this juicy!)

    {"commentId":1847631,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"gumwars"}
    • 1 vote
    #11.4 - Wed May 28, 2008 10:02 AM EDT
    {"commentId":1848755,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

    Hey, that was a fascinating link to the Nazi Bell. Thanks.

    {"commentId":1848755,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
    • 2 votes
    #11.5 - Wed May 28, 2008 3:28 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1842853,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

    Haha...not an article to read when one has a few minutes! Your interests are varied, to say the least.
    I've learned a lot here. I had no idea of the connections between the Nazi party & the occult. Hitler & paganism?! Wow. Thanks for making me smarter, Synth!

    {"commentId":1842853,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#12 - Mon May 26, 2008 9:36 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1842874,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    Your interests are varied, to say the least.

    Heh. I'm generally eclectic.

    The occult stuff pops up in some weird places. There was a thread not long ago about the occult links the British Secret Service have (and the intel community in general), and now I'm just finding out about the possiblity that there might be some occult stuff in NASA's closet, too. Stay tuned!

    {"commentId":1842874,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 3 votes
    #12.1 - Mon May 26, 2008 9:43 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1842901,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

    NASA? Wow...that'll be interesting!

    {"commentId":1842901,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
    • 3 votes
    #12.2 - Mon May 26, 2008 9:50 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1856715,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    Check it out, m'dear!

    {"commentId":1856715,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 1 vote
    #12.3 - Thu May 29, 2008 10:23 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1844406,"authorDomain":"sushicat"}

    Great article,
    You do find some really interesting ideas. This article really does raise some questions.

    And I have to agree with the above statements that there are other really important subjects being written on then what you normally see on the newsvine front page.

    I need to really censure what I read and focus on my education on subjects such as yours; those subjects that lends itself to learning! thanks

    {"commentId":1844406,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"sushicat"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#13 - Tue May 27, 2008 11:53 AM EDT
    {"commentId":1845949,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    Thanks Sushicat. I appreciate the encouragement.

    I sometimes wonder if I'm a frustrated journalist, or merely a frustrated sophomoric essayist, so I appreciate the feedback...

    {"commentId":1845949,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
      #13.1 - Tue May 27, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
      Reply
      {"commentId":1846832,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

      I have read books etc giving some accounts of psychics used by the Allies, particularly the British. Am going to see a new article about the British occult secret service, which mentions Ian Fleming's role in luring Rodolf Hess over the Channel, as well as explaining the crackdown in Germany on astrologers and fortunetellers.
      Now here's an unverifiable story for you: I also recall reading that Britain's witches, one of whom was Sybil Leek, got together in a rite to create a 'cone of protection' around the British Isles -- and that this was the real reason that Britain was never invaded by the Nazi forces, and why the bombing did not succeed in forcing a surrender.

      {"commentId":1846832,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
      • 3 votes
      Reply#14 - Wed May 28, 2008 1:13 AM EDT
      {"commentId":1847022,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

      I did locate one article on the subject from meta-religion.com here. Was Hitler defeated by witchcraft?

      In a clearing in the New Forest, near the Rufus stone, Gerald Gardner and his chums were also anxious to do their bit for the old country in its hour of peril.

      But what? Most of them had reached a ripe age, no longer taut enough in muscle, limb or mind for parachuting behind enemy lines.

      They did, though, possess a secret weapon of such potency that it would chill the Fuehrer's marrow and have his Pantzers back-pedalling before you could whisper "Russian winter".

      Gardner and his fellow witches, drawn from various covens, had what he called the Cone of Power. This, they claimed, had been responsible for half the Spanish Armada being wrecked before it could reach these shores and Napoleon's failure to mount an invasion of England...
      REPORTS suggested that two of the older witches did die soon after a series of rituals against an invasion conducted in the New Forest in the summer of 1940.

      Although the details are a little sketchy, it seems that a large number of witches marked a circle of about nine feet between the trees into which was placed a large pile of brushwood with a lantern in the centre.

      The magical power came from the people themselves. In some way, not fully explained, this force was formed into a cone, which could be directed at the mind of Adolf Hitler. Cynics will scoff, but history records that there was no invasion.

      {"commentId":1847022,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
      • 3 votes
      #14.1 - Wed May 28, 2008 3:32 AM EDT
      {"commentId":1850822,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

      Nice find. Gardner et al would seem to have been carrying on a tradition of using mysticism in warfare that goes back at least as far as the druids:

      As workers of magic, they influenced battles, war, and politics.

      ...and if my emerging theory suggests anything, it's that the role extended much further back than that.

      {"commentId":1850822,"threadId":"103856","contentId":"694118","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
      • 1 vote
      #14.2 - Wed May 28, 2008 7:09 PM EDT
      Reply
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