Ahnenerbe

The history of the secret society of Ahnenerbe begins in 1933. That time in Munich there was a traveling exhibition called "ancestral heritage", or "ahnenerbe" in German.

Its organizer was a specialist in ancient religions, Hermann Wirth. He was interested in the history of the ancient Germanic tribes, studied their beliefs. The leadership of the Third Reich approved this activity.
Three person - Hermann Wirth, Richard Walter and Heinrich Himmler established a public organization, which was called "German heritage", "Deutsche Ahnenerbe". Over time, the charter of the society was changed, Hermann Wirth became a separate practicing researcher, and many SS officers joined the society. Soon Ahnenerbe became SS structure and carried out its activity under the patronage of both Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler and personal control of the Fuhrer himself.
Ahnenerbe’s activities covered almost all areas of science, from Indo-European-Aryan music to, in fact, the mysticism. Most, however, worked in the historical-archaeological and anthropological directions - Himmler hoped to obtain scientific evidence of the superiority of the Aryan race. Some researchers believe that Hitler spent more money in Ahnenerbe and in the field of occultism than the Americans to create an atomic bomb. All the occult studies of Ahnenerbe at the end of the 30's were “classified”- results of studies were reported directly to the top leadership of the Third Reich. At the same time, the " ancestral heritage " acquired a new symbol - "Irminsul" or "Irmin's pillar" - a shrine, which in the 8th century was destroyed by Charlemagne. This tree, the German deity, indicated interconnection of heaven and earth.

Some of Ahnenerbe’s classified projects are puzzling. The patrons of this organization, Heinrich Himmler, was particularly interested in everything that concerned the occult mysticism. One of the dubious "responsible tasks" was entrusted to Ernst Schaeffer, who returned from the Tibetan expedition. He had to search for some potion, the secret of which was allegedly kept by the gypsies.
Another Himmle’r occult hobby - the practicing of the sidereal pendulum, led to the appearance in the SS of a whole unit, which was called the "closed SP structure." They believed, that a sidereal pendulum would give them power to sense at once the presence of any Jews or persons of partial Jewish ancestry, and to pick them out in any group of people.

You might be interested:

Atrocities of patriotism or, the ideal religion https://steemit.com/life/@vladimirk800i/atrocities-of-patriotism-or-the-ideal-religion-part-i
What is Cargo cult? https://steemit.com/life/@vladimirk800i/cargo-cult
The Victorian Era alarm-clocks https://steemit.com/life/@vladimirk800i/the-victorian-era-alarm-clocks