Esoteric neo-Nazism, also known asesoteric Nazism,esoteric fascism oresoteric Hitlerism, represents a fusion of Nazi ideology withmystical,occult, andesoteric traditions. This belief system emerged in theaftermath of World War II, as adherents sought to reinterpret and adapt the ideas of theThird Reich within the context of anew religious movement. Esoteric Nazism is characterized by its emphasis on the mythical and spiritual dimensions of Aryan supremacy, drawing from a range of sources includingTheosophy,Ariosophy, andGnostic dualism. These beliefs have evolved into a complex and often contradictory body of thought that seeks to justify and perpetuate racist andsupremacist ideologies under the guise of spiritual enlightenment.
The roots of esoteric Nazism can be traced back to early 20th-century occult movements and figures who sought to combine racial theories with mysticism. Key figures such asGuido von List andJörg Lanz von Liebenfels played significant roles in this development, with their ideas laying the groundwork for what would later become the esoteric underpinnings of Nazi ideology. These early esotericists promoted the idea of an ancient Aryan race, endowed with divine qualities, which they believed was destined to rule over other races. This notion of Aryan supremacy was further developed by theThule Society, an occult group that heavily influenced the early Nazi movement, blending nationalism with mystical beliefs in a mythical Aryan homeland known asHyperborea.
After the fall of the Third Reich, esoteric Nazism evolved and adapted to new contexts, with figures such asSavitri Devi andMiguel Serrano emerging as prominent proponents of what is now referred to as Esoteric Hitlerism. These post-war esotericists expanded on the idea of Hitler as a messianic figure, often deifying him as an avatar of divine forces. Savitri Devi, for example, integrated Nazi ideology with Hinduism, portraying Hitler as the ninth avatar ofVishnu and aligning Aryan supremacy with Hindu concepts of cosmic order.[1] Similarly, Miguel Serrano introduced extraterrestrial elements into Esoteric Hitlerism, claiming that the Aryan race had divine origins linked to a race of god-like beings from Hyperborea.
Esoteric Nazism has continued to influence various neo-Nazi and far-right groups in the post-war era, often merging with other esoteric and occult traditions. The concept of a "Collective Aryan Unconscious", inspired byCarl Jung's theories, and the symbol of theBlack Sun, representing hidden esoteric power, are central to these beliefs. These ideas have been perpetuated through various means, including literature, music, and digital media, contributing to the persistence of esoteric Nazism in contemporary culture. Despite its fringe status, esoteric Nazism remains a potent force within certain extremist circles, offering a mystical justification for racial and ideological supremacy.
The roots of esoteric Nazism lie in several early 20th-century movements and figures that sought to blend mysticism, racial theories, andnationalism.Guido von List andJörg Lanz von Liebenfels were pivotal in this development. List, a prominent figure in thevölkisch movement, createdAriosophy, combiningGermanic paganism with racial theories. Lanz von Liebenfels expanded these ideas through his publicationOstara, promoting Aryan superiority andanti-Semitic views throughoccultism andmysticism.[2]
TheThule Society, established in 1918, played a significant role in the formation of Nazi ideology. This occultist group believed inThule, a mythical Aryan homeland. The society's anti-Semitic and nationalist ideas influenced many who would become Nazi leaders, blending occultism, mythology, and political ideology to form the foundation of esoteric Nazism.[2]
Heinrich Himmler, head of theSS, deeply integrated mysticism into Nazi ideology, viewing the SS as a spiritual order. He established the SS's ideological center atWewelsburg Castle, where various esoteric and occult practices were conducted. Himmler's fascination with theHoly Grail andKing Arthur myths aimed to inspire the SS with a higher spiritual purpose.[3]Ariosophy, developed by List and Liebenfels, significantly shaped Nazi racial ideology. CombiningTheosophy,Germanic mythology, and racial theories, Ariosophy promotedAryan superiority by positing Aryans as descendants of a divine, ancient race. This concept was used by the Nazis to justify their racial purity and anti-Semitic policies.[4]
Mythological and mystical beliefs were integral to Nazi ideology. The concept ofHyperborea, a mythical northern Aryan homeland, suggested that Hyperboreans were divine beings who once ruled the earth.[5] The Nazis adopted several symbols with esoteric meanings. Theswastika, an ancient symbol found in various cultures, became the Nazi party emblem, symbolizing Aryan identity and cosmic order. Other symbols, such as theBlack Sun, signified occult power and the esoteric knowledge of the Aryan race.[6]
Greek writerSavitri Devi was the first major post-war exponent of what has since become known as Esoteric Hitlerism.[7] According to that ideology, subsequent to the fall of the Third Reich andHitler's suicide at the end of the war, Hitler himself could bedeified. Devi connected Hitler'sAryanist ideology to that of the pan-Hindu part of theIndian independence movement,[8] and activists such asSubhas Chandra Bose. For her, theswastika was an especially important symbol, as she felt it symbolized Aryan unity of Hindus and Germans.
Savitri Devi, above all, was interested in theIndian caste system, which she regarded as the archetype of racial laws intended to govern the segregation of different races and to maintain the pure blood of the fair-complexioned Aryans. She regarded the survival of the minority ofBrahmins among an enormous population of many different Indian races after sixty centuries as a living tribute to the value of the Aryan caste system.[9]
Savitri Devi integrated Nazism into a broadercyclical framework of Hindu history. She considered Hitler to be the ninthAvatar ofVishnu, and called him "the god-like Individual of our times; the Man against Time; the greatest European of all times",[10] having an ideal vision of returning his Aryan people to an earlier, more perfect time, and also having the practical wherewithal to fight the destructive forces "in Time". She saw his defeat—and the forestalling of his vision from coming to fruition—as a result of him being "too magnanimous, too trusting, too good", of not being merciless enough, of having in his "psychological make-up, too much 'sun' [beneficence] and not enough 'lightning.' [practical ruthlessness]",[11] unlike his coming incarnation:
"Kalki"will act with unprecedented ruthlessness. Contrarily to Adolf Hitler, He will spare not a single one of the enemies of the divine Cause: not a single one of its outspoken opponents but also not a single one of the lukewarm, of theopportunists, of the ideologicallyheretical, of the racially bastardised, of the unhealthy, of the hesitating, of the all-too-human; not a single one of those who, in body or in character or mind, bear the stamp of the fallen Ages.[12]
Unlike mostancient astronaut writers, Robert Charroux took a large interest inracialism. According to Charroux,Hyperborea was situated betweenIceland andGreenland and was the home of aNordicwhite race withblonde hair andblue eyes. Charroux wrote that this race wasextraterrestrial in origin and had originally come from a cold planet situated far from the sun.[13] Charroux also wrote that the white race of the Hyperboreans and their descendants, theCelts, had dominated the whole world in the ancient past. Some of these claims of Charroux have influenced the beliefs of esoteric Nazism such as the work ofMiguel Serrano.[14]
Miguel Serrano, a formerChilean diplomat, was a major figure in esoteric Nazism. Author of numerous books includingThe Golden Ribbon: Esoteric Hitlerism (1978) andAdolf Hitler, the Last Avatar (1984), Serrano was one of a number of Nazi esotericists who regard the "Aryan blood" as originallyextraterrestrial:
Serrano finds mythological evidence for the extraterrestrial origins of man in theNephilim [fallen angels] of theBook of Genesis... Serrano suggests that the sudden appearance ofCro-Magnon Man with his high artistic and cultural achievements in prehistoric Europe records the passage of one suchdivya-descended race alongside the abysmal inferiority ofNeanderthal Man, an abomination and manifest creation of thedemiurge... Of all the races on earth, the Aryans alone preserve the memory of their divine ancestors in their noble blood, which is still mingled with the light of theBlack Sun. All other races are the progeny of the demiurge's beast-men, native to the planet.[15]
Serrano supported this idea from various myths which assign divine ancestry to 'Aryan' peoples, and even theAztec myth ofQuetzalcoatl descending fromVenus. He also cited the hypothesis ofBal Gangadhar Tilak on the Arctic homeland of the Indo-Aryans, as his authority for identifying the earthly centre of the Aryan migrations with the 'lost' Arctic continent ofHyperborea. Thus, Serrano's extraterrestrial gods are also identified as Hyperboreans.[a]
In attempting to raise the spiritual development of the earthbound races, the Hyperboreandivyas (aSanskrit term for god-men) suffered a tragic setback. Expanding on a story from theBook of Enoch, Serrano lamented that a renegade group among the gods committedmiscegenation with the terrestrial races, thus diluting the light-bearing blood of their benefactors and diminishing the level of divine awareness on the planet.[16]
The concept of Hyperborea had a simultaneously racial and mystical meaning for Serrano.[17] He believed that Hitler was inShambhala, an underground centre inAntarctica (formerly at the North Pole and Tibet), where he was in contact with the Hyperborean gods and whence he would someday emerge with a fleet ofUFOs to lead the forces of light (the Hyperboreans, sometimes associated withVril) over the forces of darkness (inevitably including, for Serrano, those of theAbrahamic religions who worship theAbrahamic god) in a last battle and thus inaugurating aFourth Reich.
Serrano follows theGnostic tradition of theCathars (fl. 1025–1244) by identifying the evil demiurge asJehovah, the God of the Old Testament. As medieval dualists, these eleventh-century heretics had repudiated Jehovah as a false god and mere artificer opposed to the real God far beyond our earthly realm. This Gnostic doctrine clearly carried dangerous implications for the Jews. As Jehovah was the tribal deity of the Jews, it followed that they were devil worshipers. By casting the Jews in the role of the children of Satan, the Cathar heresy can elevate anti-Semitism to the status of a theological doctrine backed by a vast cosmology. If the Hyperborean Aryans are the archetype and blood descendents of Serrano'sdivyas from the Black Sun, then the archetype of the Lord of Darkness needed a counter-race. The demiurge sought and found the most fitting agent for its archetype in the Jews.
As religious scholars Frederick C. Grant andHyam Maccoby emphasize, in the view of the dualist Gnostics, "Jews were regarded as the special people of the Demiurge and as having the special historical role of obstructing the redemptive work of the High God's emissaries".[18] Serrano thus considered Hitler as one of the greatest emissaries of this High God, rejected and crucified by the tyranny of the Judaicized rabble like previous revolutionary light-bringers. Serrano had a special place in his ideology for theSS, who, in their quest to recreate the ancient race of Aryan god-men, he thought were above morality and therefore justified.[citation needed]
In the 1980s and 1990s, David Myatt developed an interpretation—or revisionist version[19]—of Nazism which, although based on Savitri Devi's three principles of "above", "against", and "in time" individuals,[20] did not involve either ancient mythology or extraterrestrial beings.
Instead, Myatt, described as "most commonly associated with the occult wing of the National Socialist movement,[21] focused—in pamphlets such asThe Meaning of National Socialism,[22]The Enlightenment of National Socialism[23] and hisThe Religion of National Socialism[24][25]—on what he described as "the numinous" aspects of Nazism, withJeffrey Kaplan writing that Myatt described Nazism as "unambiguously a religion while Adolf Hitler is treated unashamedly as the saviour of mankind."[21]
The concept of a "Collective Aryan Unconscious" is central to esoteric Nazism, drawing onCarl Jung's theory of thecollective unconscious. However, in esoteric Nazi thought, this unconscious is specifically linked to the Aryan race, believed to carry a shared racial memory or spiritual heritage. This idea posits that Aryans possess innate, inherited wisdom and knowledge that connect them to their divine origins and the ancientHyperborean homeland. This collective memory is thought to guide Aryans in their spiritual and racial mission, differentiating them from other races considered spiritually inferior.[26]
In the bookBlack Sun,Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke reports howCarl Gustav Jung described "Hitler as possessed by the archetype of the collective Aryan unconscious and could not help obeying the commands of an inner voice". In a series of interviews between 1936 and 1939, Jung characterized Hitler as an archetype, often manifesting itself to the complete exclusion of his own personality."'Hitler is a spiritual vessel, a demi-divinity; even better, a myth.Benito Mussolini is a man' ... themessiah of Germany who teaches the virtue of the sword. 'The voice he hears is that of the collective unconscious of his race'".[27]
Jung's suggestion that Hitler personified the collective Aryan unconscious deeply interested and influencedMiguel Serrano, who later concluded that Jung was merely psychologizing the ancient, sacred mystery of archetypal possession by the gods, independent metaphysical powers that rule over their respective races and occasionally possess their members.[28]
Hyperborea, a mythical land often associated with the Arctic region, is revered in esoteric Nazi ideology as the ancestral homeland of the Aryan race. According to this belief, Hyperborea was a paradise inhabited by the original Aryan gods or god-men, who were later exiled or descended to earth. The concept of Hyperborea is tied to the idea of a lostGolden Age, where Aryans lived in harmony with cosmic laws before their decline and corruption by external influences. This mythological narrative supports the esoteric Nazi view of Aryans as a superior race with a divine destiny, linked to their ancient, mythical origins.[29]
Since 1945, neo-Nazi writers have also proposedShambhala and the starAldebaran as the original homeland of the Aryans. The bookArktos: The Polar Myth in Science, Symbolism, and Nazi Survival, byHypnerotomachia Poliphili scholarJoscelyn Godwin, discussespseudoscientific theories about surviving Nazi elements inAntarctica.[30]
Esoteric Nazism incorporates elements of Gnosticdualism, particularly the belief in a cosmic struggle between forces oflight and darkness. In this worldview, the material world is seen as the creation of a malevolentdemiurge, often identified with the Judeo-Christian God, who seeks to enslave humanity. Aryans, in contrast, are viewed as the children of the divine light, destined to oppose the demiurge and his earthly agents, typically identified with Jews and other non-Aryans. This dualistic belief system reinforces the racial and spiritual hierarchy central to esoteric Nazism, with Aryans positioned as the rightful rulers of the world, destined to lead the final battle against the forces of darkness.[31]
The Black Sun is a significant symbol in esoteric Nazism, representing the hidden, esoteric power believed to guide the Aryan race. Often depicted as a mystical, inner sun, the Black Sun symbolizes the source of Aryan spiritual strength and the cosmic forces that support their racial mission. This concept is closely linked to variousextraterrestrial theories within esoteric Nazism, which suggest that the Aryan race has divine or extraterrestrial origins. Figures likeMiguel Serrano have popularized the idea that Aryans are descendants of an ancient extraterrestrial race, who once ruledHyperborea and will return to lead humanity into a newGolden Age. These beliefs combineoccult symbolism with pseudo-historical and mythological narratives to create a mystical foundation for Aryan supremacy.[32]
Godwin and other writers such asNicholas Goodrick-Clarke have discussed the connections between esoteric Nazism andVril energy, the hidden Shambhala andAgartha civilizations, and undergroundUFO bases, as well as Hitler's and theSS's supposed survival in underground Antarctic bases inNew Swabia, or in alliance withHyperboreans from the subterranean world.[33]
Esoteric Nazism is built on a foundation of core beliefs that combine mystical, racial, and occult ideologies. These beliefs form the central tenets of the tradition, distinguishing it from other esoteric movements and intertwining it with Nazi ideology.
At the core of esoteric Nazism is the belief in the racial purity and superiority of the Aryan race. Adherents of this ideology view Aryans as descendants of a divine or mystical lineage, endowed with unique spiritual and racial qualities that distinguish them from other races. This belief in racial purity is not only seen as a physical attribute but also as a spiritual one, where the purity of the bloodline is linked to the ability to access higher esoteric knowledge and maintain a connection with divine forces. The concept of a "spiritual aristocracy" is often emphasized, with the Aryan race considered the chosen people destined to lead humanity.[26]
The notion of racial purity in esoteric Nazism is often linked to an idealized past, where Aryans supposedly lived in harmony with cosmic laws before being corrupted by external influences. Maintaining this racial purity is seen as essential for the Aryan race to fulfill its divine mission on earth.[34]
Esoteric Nazism incorporates the concept of spiritual hierarchies, wherein different races and beings occupy different levels of spiritual advancement. Aryans are placed at the top of this hierarchy, believed to be closer to divine or cosmic forces that govern the universe. This spiritual hierarchy justifies the supremacist ideology inherent in esoteric Nazism, asserting that Aryans have a divine right to rule over other races, which are considered spiritually inferior or degenerate.[32]
Within this framework, the leaders and initiates of esoteric Nazism see themselves as the custodians of hidden knowledge and spiritual power. This belief in a cosmic order reinforces the hierarchical and authoritarian nature of Esoteric Nazi ideology, where only a select few are deemed worthy of accessing and wielding this knowledge.[35]
A central belief in esoteric Nazism is the pursuit and preservation of esoteric knowledge, considered key to unlocking the spiritual and racial potential of the Aryan race. This knowledge is believed to be hidden or occult, accessible only to those who are racially pure and spiritually advanced. Esoteric Nazis often claim that this knowledge has been passed down throughsecret societies or mystical traditions that have preserved it since ancient times.[36]
The content of this esoteric knowledge varies but often includes teachings on the origins of the Aryan race, the nature of the cosmos, and the laws governing spiritual and racial purity. This knowledge is seen as empowering the Aryan race to reclaim its rightful place as the spiritual and temporal leaders of the world, capable of ushering in a new Golden Age.[35]
Esoteric Nazism advocates for a detachment from conventional morality, which is viewed as a construct of inferior races or the oppressive forces of thedemiurge. Instead, it promotes a code of conduct that aligns with the perceived divine mission of the Aryan race. This includes the justification of violence, domination,genocide, and other actions deemed necessary to protect and advance the Aryan race and its spiritual goals.[32]
This belief system promotes a form of "might makes right" ideology, where actions are judged not by conventional ethical standards but by their effectiveness in achieving the goals of esoteric Nazism. This detachment from traditional morality is used to justify the extremist and often violent actions associated with the movement.[34]
Esoteric Nazism is fundamentally based on the belief in Aryan racial superiority and purity, incorporating racist doctrines that promote the dominance of the Aryan race. This ideology distorts ancient myths and symbols to support its racist agenda. In stark contrast, mainstreamneopaganism generally rejects racial exclusivity, instead, it focuses on spirituality, cultural heritage, and inclusivity. Many neopagan groups explicitlydenounce racism and as a result, they strive to create inclusive communities that celebratediversity.[26]
Esoteric Nazism intertwines its mystical and esoteric beliefs with afascist andfar-right political agenda. It seeks to reviveNazi ideology through anoccult framework, advocating the implementation of authoritarian and supremacist policies. Conversely, many neopagan groups are either apolitical or politically diverse, emphasizing spiritual practices and community building rather than political activism. This fundamental difference in political orientation further separates esoteric Nazism from mainstream neopaganism.[31]
Esoteric Nazism and neopaganism both draw upon ancient symbols and mythologies, but their interpretations and applications of those symbols and mythologies diverge significantly. Esoteric Nazis use symbols like theswastika,runes, and theBlack Sun to propagate their racial and mystical beliefs. Neopagans, on the other hand, use these symbols in a cultural or spiritual context, devoid of the racist connotations imposed by esoteric Nazism. Mainstream neopaganism often reclaims these symbols to highlight their original, non-racist meanings.[26]
Certain fringe elements within the neopagan community have adopted esoteric Nazi ideologies, blending them with their spiritual practices. These groups emphasize racial purity and draw on the same distorted mythologies as esoteric Nazism. Examples include specific factions withinOdinism andÁsatrú that espousewhite supremacist beliefs. These sects often face criticism and rejection from the broader neopagan community.[37]
Esoteric Nazi beliefs have influenced various far-right and neo-Nazi groups that incorporate elements of neopaganism into their ideologies. These groups use neopagan symbols and rituals to support their racial and political agendas, creating a hybrid ideology that merges occultism with white supremacist goals. This confluence of beliefs helps these groups to attract members who are drawn to both the mystical and the political aspects of their ideology.[32]
Mainstream neopagan organizations actively denounce racism andwhite supremacy, striving to distance themselves from the ideologies of esoteric Nazism. For example, groups have issued public statements rejecting racial exclusivity and promoting inclusivity within their communities. These actions are crucial in maintaining a clear boundary between neopagan spirituality and racist ideologies.[35]
Many neopagan groups engage in educational initiatives to promote a positive and inclusive image of their traditions. This includes workshops, public statements, and community events that emphasize the spiritual and cultural aspects of neopaganism without the racist overtones of esoteric Nazism. These efforts aim to educate both their members and the public about the true nature of neopaganism and its rejection of extremist ideologies.[37]
Mainstream neopagan communities often celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity, integrating various traditions and practices into their spiritual framework. This inclusive approach directly counters the exclusivist and supremacist ideologies of esoteric Nazism, fostering a more open and accepting spiritual environment. By embracing diversity, these communities work to dismantle the harmful narratives propagated by esoteric Nazi groups.[32]
The study of esoteric Nazism has attracted significant attention from scholars, particularly those interested in the intersections of occultism, political extremism, and modern mythology. These scholars have explored the origins, development, and influence of esoteric Nazism, offering critical analyses of its ideological foundations and the ways in which it has persisted and evolved in post-war contexts.
Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, one of the most prominent scholars in this field, has extensively studied the roots of esoteric Nazism. His seminal work,The Occult Roots of Nazism (1985), traces the origins of Nazi occultism to early 20th-centuryAriosophy and other Germanic mystical traditions that influenced figures likeGuido von List andLanz von Liebenfels. Goodrick-Clarke argues that these esoteric ideas played a crucial role in shaping the ideological underpinnings of the Nazi Party, particularly through the influence of the Thule Society. He emphasizes that while these ideas were not the sole cause of Nazi ideology, they provided a mystical and racial framework that supported and justified the more extreme aspects of Nazism.
In his later work,Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity (2002), Goodrick-Clarke explores the post-war survival of esoteric Nazi beliefs and their influence on various neo-Nazi and far-right groups. He discusses how these groups have adapted the mystical and occult elements of Nazism to contemporary contexts, often blending them with other esoteric traditions, conspiracy theories, and pseudo-historical narratives.
Joscelyn Godwin, a scholar ofWestern esotericism, has also contributed significantly to the study of esoteric Nazism, particularly through his bookArktos: The Polar Myth in Science, Symbolism, and Nazi Survival (1996). Godwin examines the mythological and symbolic elements of esoteric Nazism, focusing on the ideas ofHyperborea,Thule, and the supposed survival of Nazi elements inAntarctica. He explores how these myths have been used to create a mystical narrative that links the Aryan race to ancient, hidden civilizations and supernatural powers.
Godwin, along with Goodrick-Clarke, has also discussed the connections between esoteric Nazism and other esoteric traditions, such as the belief inVril energy, the hiddenShambhala andAgartha civilizations, and underground UFO bases. These scholars highlight how these ideas have been integrated into a broader esoteric framework, often merging with conspiracy theories about Nazi survival in underground Antarctic bases and alliances withHyperboreans from a subterranean world.
Scholars have also critically analyzed and debunked many of the myths associated with esoteric Nazism. Goodrick-Clarke, in particular, has been careful to distinguish between the historical reality of Nazi occultism and the exaggerated or fabricated claims made by later writers and neo-Nazi groups. InBlack Sun, he critically examines the so-called "Nazi UFO" myth and the variouspseudoscientific theories that have emerged around it, arguing that these ideas are largely modern inventions with little basis in historical fact.
Jeffrey Kaplan, in his bookThe Emergence of a Euro-American Radical Right (1998), also explores the role of esoteric Nazism in the broader context of the radical right. He analyzes how esoteric Nazi ideas have been co-opted by various white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, often serving as a mystical justification for their racist and extremist ideologies. Kaplan's work provides a broader sociopolitical context for understanding the appeal of esoteric Nazism, particularly in its ability to offer a sense of spiritual and racial superiority to its adherents.
The influence of esoteric Nazism on modern occult and far-right movements has been another area of scholarly focus. Scholars likeMatthias Gardell have explored how these ideas have permeated variousneopagan and white separatist groups, particularly in Europe and North America. Gardell'sGods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism (2003) examines how esoteric Nazi beliefs have been integrated into modern pagan practices, often serving as a spiritual justification for racial exclusivity and white supremacy. He highlights the ways in which these beliefs are transmitted through both traditional and digital means, contributing to the persistence of esoteric Nazism in contemporary culture.
Writing in 2002, Goodrick-Clarke described a contemporary loose network of small musical groups that combineneo-fascism andSatanism. These groups can be found in Britain, France, and New Zealand, under names such as "Black Order" or "Infernal Alliance", and draw their inspiration from the Esoteric Hitlerism ofMiguel Serrano.[38]
Esoteric themes, including references to artifacts such as theHoly Lance, are also often alluded to inneo-Nazi music (e.g.Rock Against Communism) and above all inNational Socialist black metal.[39]
