Podcast Summary: HISTORY This Week
Episode: Inside the Nazis’ Supernatural Obsession | A Conversation with Historian Eric Kurlander
Host: Sally Helm
Guest: Eric Kurlander
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Introduction to the Nazi Occult Crackdown
In this compelling episode of HISTORY This Week, host Sally Helm delves into a lesser-known yet pivotal moment in Nazi history—the crackdown on occult practitioners, known as the Hess Action. Joined by historian Eric Kurlander, the discussion unravels how Nazi ideology intertwined with supernatural beliefs, reshaping the Third Reich's policies and actions.
The Hess Action: Nazi Crackdown on the Occult [00:52 - 05:46]
The episode opens with a dramatic recounting of June 4, 1941, when Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy, embarks on a secret mission influenced by occult practices. Hess, convinced by astrologers to choose an auspicious date—May 10, under a full moon in Taurus—to fly to Great Britain, seeks to negotiate peace to prevent a two-front war for Germany. However, his mission falters when his plane crashes in Scotland, leading to his imprisonment.
Sally Helm narrates:
"By choosing the date for this mission, he does consult an astrologer who helps him pick an auspicious moment. May 10. There are six planets in the peaceful earth sign Taurus, and it's also a full moon." [03:10]
The failure of Hess’s mission ignites Hitler's fury, attributing Hess's actions to his obsession with the occult. This incident triggers the Hess Action, a swift and brutal crackdown on occultists, magicians, and spiritualists across Germany. Contrary to initial appearances, historian Eric Kurlander explains that the Nazis were not entirely against the occult but were more interested in appropriating its secrets for their own ends.
"When they arrest all of these astrologers and telepaths, they end up confiscating their books to learn their secrets and use them for themselves." [05:24]
Nazi Ambivalence Towards the Occult [06:06 - 19:24]
Sally Helm introduces Eric Kurlander, author of Hitler's Monsters: A Supernatural History of the Third Reich, to discuss the nuanced relationship between Nazi leadership and occult beliefs. Kurlander elucidates that the Nazi regime was fascinated by the supernatural, seeing it as both an ideological tool and a means to manipulate the German populace.
"They can't really go fully against it either. They see their constituency as very much invested in them." [06:34]
Kurlander categorizes the supernatural into three pillars:
- Occult/Esotericism: Combining supernatural beliefs with Darwinism and racism.
- Border Science: Fringe scientific ideas like parapsychology and telepathy.
- Folklore and Mythology: Interest in pagan and Eastern religions, mythological figures, and mystical practices.
This amalgamation provided the Nazis with a romantic and mystical framework to justify their ideology and actions, filling the void left by rapid modernization and industrialization.
Case Study: Eric Hannesen and Nazi Propaganda [19:24 - 31:14]
A pivotal moment in the discussion is the story of Eric Hannesen, a Jewish occultist who changed his name to Hanussen to escape persecution. Hannussen became a prominent figure, publishing horoscopes and hosting séances that aligned with Nazi propaganda. Notably, in February 1933, during a séance, he purportedly predicted the Reichstag fire—a pivotal event that the Nazis used to consolidate power.
"He has major séances where he invites some of his Nazi friends and what he calls the palace of Occultism in the middle of Berlin... He starts publishing horoscopes... he predicts that Hitler and the Nazis are going to take power." [19:24]
Despite his initial influence, Hannussen became a liability due to suspicions about his Jewish heritage and his bold predictions. He was ultimately found dead near Berlin, highlighting the Nazis' complex relationship with the occult—utilizing and then dispossessing those with supernatural insights.
Operationalizing Occult Beliefs in Nazi Missions [28:25 - 34:14]
The conversation shifts to how the Nazis enlisted occultists in high-profile missions, such as the search for Benito Mussolini. Kurlander describes how Heinrich Himmler employed occult practitioners to use dowsing techniques for locating Mussolini, reflecting the regime's deep-rooted reliance on supernatural methods despite their official stance.
"They hired a whole bunch of these people from the concentration camps... to find Mussolini." [28:25]
Although the dowsing mission ultimately failed, it exemplifies the Nazis' unwavering belief in occult solutions to strategic problems, further entangling supernatural ideology with their militaristic objectives.
The Occult as a Catalyst for the Holocaust [30:25 - 34:38]
Kurlander posits that occult beliefs acted as a catalyst for the radicalization and inhumanity of the Holocaust. By depicting Jewish people and other targeted groups as monstrous entities—parasitic vampires and corrupt influences—the Nazis dehumanized their victims, facilitating widespread acceptance of their atrocities.
"This image of Jews as these kind of parasitic, dirty, corrupt with vampiric qualities is so suffused throughout the culture that when it comes to making decisions about life or death... you can see how they've already created a situation where why would you keep these monsters alive?" [31:14]
Additionally, Kurlander references his research on modern parallels, suggesting that belief in the supernatural can correlate with authoritarian tendencies, as shown in surveys linking romanticism with far-right ideologies.
"People who are high on believing in the Loch Ness Monster, Area 51 and Spiritualism were far more likely to be far right..." [34:38]
This connection underscores the enduring impact of supernatural ideologies on political movements and societal structures.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Occult in Fascist Ideology
In wrapping up, Kurlander emphasizes that the Nazi fascination with the occult was not merely a fringe aspect but integral to their ideological framework and execution of power. By intertwining supernatural beliefs with political objectives, the Nazis were able to construct a compelling and manipulative narrative that justified their heinous actions and solidified their control.
"The supernatural imaginary squares every circle... you have an internal and external victim that helps mobilize fascism then and now." [34:14]
This episode serves as a profound exploration of how mystical and supernatural ideologies can be harnessed by authoritarian regimes to propagate and rationalize extreme policies, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms of historical and contemporary fascism.
About Eric Kurlander:
Eric Kurlander is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History at Stetson University and the author of Hitler's Monsters: A Supernatural History of the Third Reich. His work explores the intersection of occult beliefs and Nazi ideology, shedding light on the darker facets of historical fascism.
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