The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology

Nazis. They just refuse to go away, don't they? Why are people still so fascinated with them? In this respect, the somewhat salacious title seems to play into this fascination, combining as it does with the suggestion of secret evil cults intend on world domination. There is that, to an extent, but Goodrich-Clarke's book is actually a well-researched, sober, in fact quite dry treatment of the influence of religion and spirituality on the rise of Nazism. It begins with the 18th century pagan renaissance and interest in occult matters, and traces it through the various Germanic cults, societies and social movements that would have influenced the milieu in which young Hitler grew up. As I say, all this is quite dry, and it takes some show more determination for the casual reader to get to the end of it. As to what point such readers will draw from it, it's difficult to say. Nazism seemed to have no one point of origin, and it's plausible to argue that it was a hodgepodge of various political, philosophical and spiritual influences, from the kooky and cranky to the mainstream and respectable, all topped off with a dash of ad hoc opportunism. Whatever your take, the main moral of the book would seem to be that Nazism cannot be dismissed as the influence of irrational fringe elements, because such influences also underpin the mainstream - albeit less visibly.

Gareth Southwell is a philosopher, writer and illustrator. show less

All over the place. Author finally concludes that, Himmler aside, there were no occult roots to Nazism, and in fact the Nazis outlawed most of these groups. At most, according to the author, occult movements within Germany and Austria shared a similar Weltanschauung, but that no evidence exists to support the argument that Nazism had occult roots.

An excellent book which gives a very detailed look into the lives and thoughts many major players of nordic philosophy, magic, and religion, which in turn sharply influenced many of the leaders of the third reich. I would consider this an essential book for the period. The only problem I had was the occasional slip here and there where the author stops being objective and says what he really thinks. Pet peeve, perhaps, but some of the comments had me scribbling all over the margins in response LOL. But nonetheless a well put together book which I am sure I will come back to many times in the future.