In the 1930s, an unlikely trio—a left-leaning historian, a group of Nazis, and an ancient medieval text—came together in a bizarre quest for the Holy Grail. This convergence was part of a serious, albeit twisted, pursuit of one of Christianity’s most revered artifacts.
Key Takeaways
- Otto Rahn’s obsession with the Holy Grail led him to collaborate with the Nazis.
- Heinrich Himmler, the SS leader, believed the Grail held mystical powers.
- The Nazis sought ancient sites and artifacts to validate their ideology.
- Expeditions to Tibet and Bolivia aimed to uncover Aryan origins.
- Many of these quests ended in failure, yet they reveal the dark intersections of history and ideology.
Otto Rahn: The Historian’s Quest
In 1924, at just 20 years old, Otto Rahn earned his degree in history. A brilliant scholar, Rahn’s intelligence was overshadowed only by his obsession with locating the Holy Grail. This legendary cup, supposedly used by Christ at the Last Supper, has long been debated among historians, with many questioning its very existence. However, Rahn was convinced it had survived into the 20th century, waiting to be found.
Believing that lines from the medieval poem Parzival held clues to the Grail’s location, Rahn embarked on his first expedition to the former strongholds of the Cathars in Southern France, a now-extinct branch of Christianity. Although he didn’t find the Grail, he published a book detailing his search, which caught the attention of Heinrich Himmler.
Himmler’s Obsession
Himmler, the fanatical leader of the SS, shared Rahn’s obsession with the Grail. Upon reading Rahn’s account, he decided that this brilliant historian—despite his open opposition to Nazi ideology—might be the man to finally unearth the sacred relic. Driven by desperation, Rahn overlooked the dangers of aligning with the Nazis and joined the party in the early 1930s.
The SS funded his next expedition to the Cathar ruins, but once again, Rahn’s search ended in failure. He did, however, write another book detailing his journey. While Himler appreciated the book, he was furious at the failure and reassigned Rahn to a grueling post as a guard at Dachau concentration camp in 1937. Tragically, two years later, Rahn’s frozen body was found in the Alps, likely a victim of suicide.
The Search for Ancient Knowledge
Himmler’s obsession with the Holy Grail persisted. In 1940, he traveled to MRA Abbey near Barcelona, accompanied by SS guards, interrogating monks about any knowledge they might have of the Grail’s whereabouts. Convinced that the lines of Parzival pointed to the Grail’s location at Monsura, Himmler pressed the monks, who ultimately dismissed his theories. After making a donation to repair a local well—likely an attempt to influence Spain’s fascist dictator, Francisco Franco—Himmler left empty-handed.
The Extern China: A Darker Pursuit
In the heart of Germany’s Teutoburg Forest, sandstone pillars known as the Externsteine captured the attention of a darker force. Founded in 1935 by Himmler, the Ahnenerbe was a branch of the SS dedicated to studying and promoting what the Nazi regime considered the ancient history and cultural heritage of the Aryan race. Their work was far from objective, systematically distorting history to fit Nazi ideology.
The Externsteine became infamous as the Ahnenerbe seized upon centuries-old legends, claiming the stones were once the site of Irminul, a sacred pillar venerated by ancient Saxons. This false narrative became so powerful that Nazi youth would sing hymns at the site on Hitler’s birthday.
The Witches of Karelia
In the summer of 1936, a Nazi-backed expedition set out into the ancient forests of Karelia, straddling the border between Finland and Russia. Leading the expedition was Ilja von Grunhagen, a young Finnish nobleman fascinated by the region’s legendary sorcery. Himmler believed Karelia held lost Aryan knowledge that could strengthen the Nazi regime.
Grunhagen’s task was to record the chants and incantations of Karelia’s elders. Armed with a prototype tape recorder, the team collected over 100 recordings, believing these ancient songs could unlock secrets of the Aryan race. However, the local witch, Miron Aku, was horrified when she realized that capturing her sacred chants had robbed her of her magical powers.
Tibet: A Quest for Origins
On a cold January morning in 1939, five unusual figures entered the ancient city of Lhasa, Tibet. Led by Ernst Schäfer, they were emissaries of Himmler, tasked with a scientific and anthropological exploration. Beneath this facade lay the Nazis’ real interest: some theorists believed Tibet might hold clues to the origins of the Aryan race.
Schäfer’s team meticulously documented their findings, gathering anthropological data, including physical measurements of the Tibetan people. They were particularly fascinated by the Tibetan use of the swastika, a symbol of luck that had been co-opted by the Nazis. By the time the team returned to Germany, they had amassed a trove of samples and findings, which Himmler found impressive enough to envision a new mission to return to Tibet.
Tiwanaku: The Ruins of a Lost Civilization
In 1928, Edmund Kiss arrived at the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku in Bolivia, driven by a mission to prove a controversial theory. He believed these ruins were evidence of a superior Aryan origin. Kiss’s findings were eagerly published in Nazi party newspapers, aligning with the regime’s racist ideologies. However, World War II thwarted his plans for a return expedition.
Conclusion
The Nazis’ quests for ancient secrets reveal a dark intersection of history and ideology. While many of these missions ended in failure, they underscore the lengths to which the regime would go to validate their beliefs. The Holy Grail, the Externsteine, and the ruins of Tiwanaku remain shrouded in mystery, their true histories often overshadowed by the twisted narratives crafted by the Nazis.
