The idea that Nazi Germany developed highly advanced aircraft or spacecraft appears in fiction as early as 1947. In Robert A. Heinlein's novel Rocket Ship Galileo, the protagonists discover Nazi fugitives living in a base on the moon. However, the idea is not limited to science fiction. Academic Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke has documented a fringe belief that the Nazis developed flying saucers that they launched, and continue to launch, from a base in the Antarctic territory of New Swabia (Neuschwabenland). He includes the theory under the heading of "esoteric Nazism," an ideology that hopes for Nazi restoration through supernatural or paranormal means.
Historical connections
Nazi UFO theories agree with mainstream history on the following points:
- Nazi Germany claimed the territory of New Swabia and sent expeditions there.
- Nazi Germany conducted research into advanced propulsion technology, including rocketry and Viktor Schauberger's turbine work.
- Some UFO sightings during World War II, particularly those known as foo fighters, were thought to be enemy aircraft.
Revisionist claims
Ernst Zündel
When German Holocaust denier Ernst Zündel started Samisdat Publishers in the 1970s, he initially catered to the UFOlogy community, which was then at its peak of public acceptance. His main offerings were his own books claiming that flying saucers were Nazi secret weapons launched from an underground base in Antarctica, from which the Nazis hoped to conquer the world. Zündel also sold (for $9999) seats on an exploration team to locate the underground base.[1] Some people who interviewed Zündel about this material claim that he privately admitted it was a deliberate hoax to build publicity for Samisdat, although he still defended it as late as 2002.[2][3]
Miguel Serrano
In 1984 Serrano, a Chilean diplomat and Nazi sympathizer, wrote The Golden Ribbon, in which he claimed that Adolf Hitler was an avatar of Vishnu and was then communing with Hyperborean gods in an underground Antarctic base. Serrano predicted that Hitler would lead a fleet of UFOs from the base to establish the Fourth Reich.
Vladimir Terziski
Vladimir Terziski, billing himself as president of the American Academy of Dissident Sciences, has produced pamphlets and videos claiming that the Germans landed on the Moon as early as 1942. These accounts suppose that the Nazis had a capability for spaceflight due to their advanced technology in engineering as well as the "exoatmospheric" rocket saucers of Richard Miethe and Shriever, which are described in Terziski's work along with pictures and designs. He also believes he has proven the existence of a lunar atmosphere, as well as the presence of water and vegetation on the Moon. He also claims space suits are not needed on the Moon. Since these claims quite directly contradict the experience of the Apollo moon landings, it is not surprising that Terziski also incorporates moon landing hoax theory elements. He claims that the Germans continued their space effort from New Swabia after the defeat in 1945.
See also
References
Books
Analysts
- Joscelyn Godwin. Arktos: The Polar Myth in Science, Symbolism, and Nazi Survival. Adventures Unlimited Press, 1996. ISBN 0932813356.
- Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke. Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity. New York University Press, 2002. ISBN 0814731244.
- Christopher Partridge. UFO Religions. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 0415263247.
Proponents
- Branton (Bruce Alan Walton) The Omega Files: Secret Nazi UFO Bases Revealed (April 15, 2000 ISBN 1892062097)
- Christof Friedrich (Ernst Zündel). UFO's – Nazi Secret Weapon? Samisdat Publishers, 1974. (self-published)
- Henry Stevens. Hitler's Flying Saucers: A Guide to German Flying Discs of the Second World War (February 1, 2003 ISBN 1931882134)
External links
- Nazi UFOs and Wonder Weapons
- German Moon Base - Vladimir Terziski article
- The Nazi UFO Connection
- Nazis And The Grays - from Metareligion