NORSE GODS AND THEIR INSPIRATION TO HITLER

Norse gods played an important in Hitler's reign over Germany. The Norse gods were all about power, just like Hitler.

Also the pure strength of gods like Thor for example was essential themes for Hitler and the Nazis alike. Even the people in Hitler’s inner circle saw themselves as god-like. For example Himmler, Goebbels, and Hitler himself believed they could never be beaten. Hitler had begun to take characteristics of Norse Gods and great German leaders, to almost take on a sort of "King Arthur" stature. The Nazis used the archetype of Wotan because of his "Warrior-King" traits, but many of even the top ranking officials believed in the Mythological character as more than merely Archetype. The Nazis at the highest level intended after Europe was in their control, to assimilate the Church. There is some evidence however that a few very high in power, while not open about their beliefs did invoke or believe in some spiritual entity or power named 'Wotan' or Odin. The Nazis did not claim themselves to be the descendants of any Viking. The Nazis at the highest level intended after Europe was in their control, to assimilate the Church, and re-interpret such central doctrines as Christ's crucifixtion and victory over death, with the keys to Heaven and Hell in terms of old Norse Legend, or as it was referred to as 'volkish mysticism'. Wotan or Odin is also said to have learned runes in this way, which fascinated the Nazis.(the swastika is an example of a rune). In Germany, though, the 'Volk meant even more than merely the people. It was seen as a mystical whole, greater than the sum of the parts, which comprised the Aryan peoples of Germany and their religions, folklore, language, arts, land, Weltanschaunng or World View and a sort of congregate 'soul' reflecting the embodiment of the totality of the people. Not only were these Gods Aryan, but they were filled with Magic and Power: many of the top leaders in Hitler's Inner Circle such as Himmler, Goebbels and Hitler himself began to envision themselves as god-like, taking on the characteristics of the Norse gods and Great German historical leaders such as Heinrich I, who had become in German legend of a sort of "king Arthur" stature. Grandiose plans and egos sought after black arts and occultism and ancient volkish rights in order to accomplish the world domination these men held as forefront. With regard to Nazi beliefs, it is important to remember that the men who ascribed to norse 'mysticism' translated much of their worldview, secretly in to these emblems or archetypes. Thus, especially toward the end as the psychotic zeitgeist of the Nazis grew, they saw themselves as god-like, battling demonic giants.

          The Norse mythology was all about war and power, that was the exact case with the third Reich. The Nazis saw themselves as powerful gods battling demonic giants (a.k.a. allies for example). See, to the Nazi hierarchy Norse mythology was mysticism: it was even more than archetype. For example, the runic emblem of the SS utilized the sig rune of the Elder Futhark and the youth organization Wiking-Jugend made extensive use of the odal rune. This trend still holds true today. What mades Norse mythology so central in the thinking of the Third Reich was its themes of war in every archetype. There were gods of war, their wives and sons and daughters. There were spirits of victory and defeat. There were places for fallen warriors in the Asgard of the gods, where war would rage eternally, only without pain. Josef Goebbels, in his conference notes once made the remark regarding what was to be let known about the Nazi agenda for the post-war period, said, "We will of course not let them know about Wotan. Warrior God and the warrior's exalted role in life and greater reward in the afterlife as a very real premise. Hitler and the Reich were immersed in Norse Mythology and archetype is no secret: they saw it as an integral part of the "volk", a national identity they sought to prosper. More remarkably, Wotan, or Odin, was rumored to have hung himself on a tree to obtain knowledge which was granted him, and gave his victory in doing so gave him the ability to travel freely in the nether-worlds. As you can see, Hitler and the Nazis did get a lot of "inspiration" from not only Norse gods, but the mysticism of the religion it self. Hitler believed that Norse mysticism was the right religion for the people of Germany, he definitely proved it to his people, but in the end the war changed things. This just proves how a religion can steer someone (or a group of people) can rule a nation in the harshest way and still live like they're heroes. This is how the Norse gods(and mythology) inspired Hitler and the Nazis to rule Germany the way they did. The appeal to the Nazis is self-evident: they envisioned themselves in terms of the gods and heroes, empowered themselves, they thought, by the same spirits, and hoped for victories that ended in the same goals. It is important to note that while some Nazis thoroughly integrated and believed in the mythology per se, most were more akin to the archetypes of their ancestors, seeing it instead as a integral part of the Volk and using the belief system as metaphorical and as a foundation for art and culture. There is some evidence however that a few very high in power, while not open about their beliefs did invoke or believe in some spiritual entity or power named 'Wotan' or Odin, not surprisingly due to their pre-Reich affiliations in societies promoting these viewpoints.

Notes:

*Norse mythology all about war, same thing with Hitler and Nazis.

*The Nazis saw themselves as powerful gods battling demonic giants (allies).

*Nazis used Norse mythology to "inspire" them to do the things they did.

*Hitler and the Reich were immersed in Norse Mythology and archetype is no secret: they saw it as an integral part of the "volk", a national identity they sought to prosper.

*Gave Nazis values to live by, and something to give the Nazis reason.

*Hitler had hoped that Norse or Volkische mysticism would become an important part in German culture.

*Hitler saw himself as the personification of a Wotan (or Odin) personality. 

*Great morale booster for the Nazis, and it made their horrible deeds seem just.

*Norse/Aryan archetypes and symbology were absolutely integral to the beliefs of the Nazis at the highest most command.

*The appeal to the Nazis is self-evident: they envisioned themselves in terms of the gods and heroes, empowered themselves, they thought, by the same spirits, and hoped for victories that ended in the same goals.

*What made Norse mythology so central in the thinking of the Third Reich were its themes of war in every archetype.

*Made their horrible deeds seem just, because war was such an important part in Norse mythology.

*War nature of mythology is forefront, focusing on powers that win war and cause failure such as disease, ice, "giants", or great opponents, and so on.

*The Nazis thought that they too would go to Asgard when they died, where war was waged eternally, but without pain.

*For example Himmler, Goebbels, and Hitler himself believed they could never be beaten.

*Hitler had begun to take characteristics of Norse Gods and great German leaders, to almost take on a sort of "King Arthur" stature.

*Also the Norse Gods were all about power, as well as Hitler.

*Norse Gods were originally worshiped by the Vikings.

*There is some evidence however that a few very high in power, while not open about their beliefs did invoke or believe in some spiritual entity or power named 'Wotan' or Odin.

*The Nazis used the archetype of Wotan because of his "Warrior-King" traits.

*The dwelling place of mankind. Earth; The Middle Dwelling Place.

*The romanticism of the heroic Viking ideal appealed to the Germanic supremacist thinkers of Nazi Germany.

*The Nazis did not claim themselves to be the descendants of any Viking.

*Most mythologies involve gods marrying and inter-marrying, great powers and wonders, a few battles, and spirits behind every door.

* Valhalla was considered a utopia and place of perfection, but was most often aligned in its fullness with the ideal reward of the warrior or soldier.

* “We do not want to have any other god, only Germany!" Adolph Hitler

* Hitler and Himmler in particular saw the archetypes of Wotan, the Warrior God and the warrior's exalted role in life and greater reward in the afterlife as a very real premise.

* Scandinavian folklore, some aspects surviving to the modern day.

* The Nazi's view of women as primarily mothers and progenitors was similar.

* The Alfar is a Scandanavian archetype of a dwarf-like entity which causes disease and distress³; some see them as thus able to protect against such.

* Called 'battle-maids' or 'swan-maids' because of their swan-feather attire, the Valkyries were women/spirits that gathered the slain in battle and placed them in attendance to the Gods.

* Provided entertainment and direction for Nazis.

* "Volk", a national identity they sought to prosper.

* Many times in reading about the Shoah, the word 'Volk' is used to refer to the German People, or the word is used language as an adjective such as Volkish Mysticism.

*Hitler sought to bring back Volkish culture and mysticism.

* Not all the Nazis believed in the Occult, in fact except for Jewish, there were Nazis of many faith backgrounds. All the Jewish belivers in German occult were killed.

EXTERNAL LINKS:

http://www.shoaheducation.com/hitler.html

http://www.shoaheducation.com/nazibeliefs.html

http://www.shoaheducation.com/thor.html