More than 65 years after the fall of the
Third Reich, Nazi Germany remains an obsession with millions of people
around the world. Adolf Hitler remains one of the most
prominent historical figure from the
20th century, evoking both disgust and
fascination. While other totalitarian
regimes -- including Fascist Italy and
imperial Japan -- have faded in the public's fascination, Nazi Germany still exerts a powerful hold on many for a
variety of reasons. Among the most interesting and
perplexing aspects of the Nazi regime
was its connection to India and Hinduism. Indeed, Hitler took the most
prominent symbol of ancient India -- the swastika -- as his own. The link between Nazi Germany and
ancient India, however, goes deeper
than the swastika symbol. The Nazis
venerated the notion of a pure, noble
Aryan race, who are believed to have
invaded India thousands of years ago and established a society based on a
rigid social structure, or castes. While scholars in India and Europe have
rejected the notion of an Aryan race,"
the myths and legends of ancient Vedic-
Hindu India have imparted a
tremendous influence on Germany. Perhaps the most fervent Nazi adherent
to Indian Hindu traditions was Heinrich
Himmler, one of the most brutal
members of the senior command. Himmler, responsible for the deaths of
millions of Jews as architect of the
Holocaust, was a highly complex and
fascinating man. He was also obsessed
with India and Hinduism. International Business Times spoke
with an expert on German history to
explore Himmler and Hinduism. Mathias Tietke is a German author,
editor and yoga enthusiast. His books
include Yoga in the Third Reich.
Concepts, Contrasts, Consequences. IB TIMES: Heinrich Himmler was reportedly fascinated by Hinduism
and ancient Indian culture and had read
the Bhagavad Gita, among other classic
Indian texts. How and when was he
introduced to Indian culture? Was it
prior to his joining the Nazi party, or afterward? TIETKE: As early as 1925, when Himmler was only 24 years old and had joined
the SS, and just two years after Adolf
Hitler's beer hall putsch, Himmler wrote:
"Kshatriyakaste, that is how we need to
be. This is the salvation." [Kshatriyakaste referred to the
military and ruling elite of the Vedic-
Hindu social system of ancient India.] Himmler was deeply influenced by the
Indologist, yoga scholar and SS Capt.
Jakob Wilhelm Hauer of the University
of Tübingen in Germany and the
Italian philosopher Baron Julius Evola. Himmler had a keen interest in the
Rigveda and the Bhagavad Gita.
According to his personal massage
therapist, Felix Kersten, Himmler carried
a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in his
pocket from 1941 until his death four years later. The book was a translation
by the German theosophist, Dr. Franz
Hartmann.
Nazi Germany?s Fascination With Ancient India: The Case Of Heinrich Himmler - International Business Times
Third Reich, Nazi Germany remains an obsession with millions of people
around the world. Adolf Hitler remains one of the most
prominent historical figure from the
20th century, evoking both disgust and
fascination. While other totalitarian
regimes -- including Fascist Italy and
imperial Japan -- have faded in the public's fascination, Nazi Germany still exerts a powerful hold on many for a
variety of reasons. Among the most interesting and
perplexing aspects of the Nazi regime
was its connection to India and Hinduism. Indeed, Hitler took the most
prominent symbol of ancient India -- the swastika -- as his own. The link between Nazi Germany and
ancient India, however, goes deeper
than the swastika symbol. The Nazis
venerated the notion of a pure, noble
Aryan race, who are believed to have
invaded India thousands of years ago and established a society based on a
rigid social structure, or castes. While scholars in India and Europe have
rejected the notion of an Aryan race,"
the myths and legends of ancient Vedic-
Hindu India have imparted a
tremendous influence on Germany. Perhaps the most fervent Nazi adherent
to Indian Hindu traditions was Heinrich
Himmler, one of the most brutal
members of the senior command. Himmler, responsible for the deaths of
millions of Jews as architect of the
Holocaust, was a highly complex and
fascinating man. He was also obsessed
with India and Hinduism. International Business Times spoke
with an expert on German history to
explore Himmler and Hinduism. Mathias Tietke is a German author,
editor and yoga enthusiast. His books
include Yoga in the Third Reich.
Concepts, Contrasts, Consequences. IB TIMES: Heinrich Himmler was reportedly fascinated by Hinduism
and ancient Indian culture and had read
the Bhagavad Gita, among other classic
Indian texts. How and when was he
introduced to Indian culture? Was it
prior to his joining the Nazi party, or afterward? TIETKE: As early as 1925, when Himmler was only 24 years old and had joined
the SS, and just two years after Adolf
Hitler's beer hall putsch, Himmler wrote:
"Kshatriyakaste, that is how we need to
be. This is the salvation." [Kshatriyakaste referred to the
military and ruling elite of the Vedic-
Hindu social system of ancient India.] Himmler was deeply influenced by the
Indologist, yoga scholar and SS Capt.
Jakob Wilhelm Hauer of the University
of Tübingen in Germany and the
Italian philosopher Baron Julius Evola. Himmler had a keen interest in the
Rigveda and the Bhagavad Gita.
According to his personal massage
therapist, Felix Kersten, Himmler carried
a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in his
pocket from 1941 until his death four years later. The book was a translation
by the German theosophist, Dr. Franz
Hartmann.
Nazi Germany?s Fascination With Ancient India: The Case Of Heinrich Himmler - International Business Times
