Hitler's Search for the Holy Grail

PBS ^ | 11/30/01 | PBS

[Aquinasfan]

Looks like I missed it, although local affiliates may air it at a later date or rebroadcast it. Anyone see it? I saw a similar fascinating story regarding Hitler, the occult and the Holy Grail on the History Channel recently.

[Doctor Doom]

"Nazis. I hate these guys."
-Henry Jones, Jr., Ph.D.

[Aquinasfan]

The Occult Roots of Nazism seems to be the best scholarship on the subject.

[freedomlover]

Didn't Jake Elwood have a similar quote?

[Doctor Doom]

"Illinois Nazis. I hate Illinois Nazis." :)

[skeeter]

A pretty good documentary, revealing a bizarre side to nazism I was totally unfamiliar with. More proof the leadership was utterly nuts.

I don't know if I agree with the assertion that the nazis' archeologists should have been punished, however. 'Committed' would be more appropriate.

[catonsville]

There was a large occult presence in Nazi ideology. including astrology ( later refuted by Hitler who began sending astrologists to Concentration Camps).

I have even read that Hitler conjured up the Devil and made the deal of his life. The Devil apparently reneged though.

[Marc Poor]

bump

[damnlimey]

"There really was a Nazi archaeological unit and it did send teams across the world to try to find the Grail. "
I heard there was also a nazi horticultural unit that sent teams across the world to look for a shrubbery.

[Darth Reagan]

ni

[buccaneer81]

"There really was a Nazi archaeological unit and it did send teams across the world to try to find the Grail. " I heard there was also a nazi horticultural unit that sent teams across the world to look for a shrubbery.

LOL! Don't forget the Nazi comedy writing unit that came up with the joke that killed.

[freedomcrusader]

Hmmmm...crazy totalitarian leader searches for Holy Grail and later his reign falls apart. Where have I heard that before? LOL!

Although King Arthur wasn't evil like Hitler...

[Thinkin' Gal]

Now who would have an old [antique] sword like Orion?

Or the Spear of Longinus, as it were.

[Cicero]

Ah, there seems to be some confusion here. The Holy Grail was the chalice Jesus used at the Last Supper, which was thought to have been brought by Joseph of Arimathaea to England or Wales, probably to Glastonbury. The object found by Indiana Jones was the Ark of the Covenant, probably removed from the Temple of Jerusalem by the Emperor Titus when he destroyed the Temple in 70 AD. Two quite different objects, one Jewish--as would be appropriate to Spielberg--the other Christian. Hitler, of course, was essentially what we would now call a New Age pagan, although he had been raised as a Catholic (education that obviously never took). Whatever he was looking for, he thought of as essentially a magical means to gain power, not as the goal of a religious quest.

[Doctor Doom]

You didn't see "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?"

The Grail is precisely what he went after.

Well, that and the hot Nazi blonde chick.

[freedomcrusader]

Yeah, but the third Indian Jones movie was about him looking for the Grail. Although I don't remember the Nazi's playing as prominent a role as in the first movie.

[Fighting Falcons]

...revealing a bizarre side to nazism I was totally unfamiliar with.

Sort of like the Bohemian Grove Club our Pols go to.

[Aquinasfan]

Whatever he was looking for, he thought of as essentially a magical means to gain power, not as the goal of a religious quest.

Right. What I found most interesting in the History Channel special was the assertion that Hitler and his inner circle of 12 SS men "channeled" on a regular basis in Wertzberg (sp?) Castle.

The photo of the circular, basilica-like meeting room with a round central stone table and twelve stone chairs was truly eerie.

There seems to be hard evidence that Himmler was deeply involved with the occult. There doesn't seem to be any direct evidence conclusively linking Hitler with specific occult practices, although it's not hard to imagine.

[Doctor Doom]

There was also a rebirth of the Thule cult among the inner circle of the SS in their nasty little haven in Bavaria, and some degree of the revival of the Hollow Earth theories.

Them Nazis were sooo crazy.

[Aquinasfan]

The History Channel special also showed the original architectural drawings for the planned church-like building that was to house the Grail; the idea being to "harness the power" of the Grail.