Buzz
It would be an understatement to say that the Nazis' sudden display of military power in the late 1930s caught the world by surprise. Over the 70 years following the collapse of the Third Reich, numerous theories have emerged, questioning how the German military became so powerful so quickly.
Some of these theories delve into the realm of the highly improbable. Yet, whether absurd or not, they remain among the most captivating conspiracy theories of their era.
10. The 1936 Black Forest Incident
Various reports from the late 20th century suggest that in 1936, a UFO allegedly crash-landed in Germany's Black Forest near Freiburg. It is said that the craft had a saucer shape and was soon after retrieved by SS soldiers.
The object was reportedly transported to Wewelsburg Castle, the primary headquarters of the Third Reich, where top scientists tried to reverse-engineer the technology for their own use. While it's still unclear whether they succeeded, it is generally believed that German scientists and engineers were far more advanced than other nations at the time.
Although this claim should be taken with skepticism, a 2013 online article suggested that its author was able to 'channel' into the crash site that evening. The author supposedly traced a pair of field glasses once owned by an SS officer who had witnessed the event.
The article alleged that there were survivors from the crash, but they were shot on sight by the SS. Furthermore, it claimed that the craft was not an alien vehicle, but a time machine carrying humans from the future.
9. The Nazi Bell
In his 2000 book *The Truth About The Wonder Weapon*, author Igor Witkowski claimed to have translated documents from Nazi SS officer Jakob Sporrenberg concerning a top-secret Nazi weapon. According to Witkowski, the documents were given to him by an anonymous source from the Polish intelligence service. He was permitted to translate them but was not allowed to make any copies.
The documents described a mysterious object called Die Glocke—also referred to as the Nazi Bell—and offered detailed information on its function and capabilities. It was said to be housed in a military facility called Der Riese, located near the Czech border in Poland, close to the Wenceslas Mine. Die Glocke stood around 5 meters (15 feet) tall and was 3 meters (9 feet) wide.
The object was stored underground beneath a stone circular structure known as 'The Henge,' which still exists today. The bell-shaped object was said to feature ancient symbols, similar to hieroglyphics, around its base. Inside the structure were two counter-rotating cylinders filled with a mysterious substance called 'Xerum 525.' Die Glocke was rumored to have employed antigravity technology. During testing, the device was released from its underground location while being tethered to The Henge to prevent it from flying away.
When Die Glocke was in operation, it was reported that visions of the past could be seen on its inner, mirror-like surface. Some even claimed that the antigravity technology had the ability to warp time and space, suggesting that Die Glocke's true purpose was to serve as a time machine.
Although Die Glocke has never been found, a 1965 incident in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, caught the attention of conspiracy theorists. Initial reports indicated that a strange, bell-shaped object had crashed in the woods near the town. The unidentified craft was said to have mysterious hieroglyphic symbols around its base.
8. Ahnenerbe and the Quest for Ancient Artifacts and Relics
Although the *Indiana Jones* films are purely fictional, they do accurately reflect the Nazis' deep fascination with ancient relics and artifacts. Hitler is said to have been obsessed with ancient texts and philosophies, making serious efforts to acquire revered items such as the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Spear of Destiny.
It was Heinrich Himmler, however, who is often credited as the driving force behind Ahnenerbe—a study institute dedicated to German ancestral heritage. The true aim of Ahnenerbe, however, was to obtain knowledge about the Aryan race of 'superior' humans, whom Himmler believed were once residents of Atlantis.
Moreover, Himmler claimed that survivors of the disaster at Atlantis had migrated northward and that true Germans were descendants of this race. Privately, he believed that proving this would pave the way for him to establish a new Aryan religion to replace Christianity.
Under Himmler's leadership, the SS explored various regions across the globe, including Scotland, Iceland, France, North Africa, and India. Following his research, Himmler came to the conclusion that the Tibetans were descendants of the Aryan people. In 1939, a controversial SS expedition was launched to Tibet, where they carried out strange procedures, such as measuring people's heads to determine their 'true' race.
Himmler returned to Germany from this expedition feeling confident that he had proven his theory. More disturbingly, especially considering the horrific events that unfolded across Nazi-occupied Europe over the next few years, he believed that the descendants of the Aryan race had been weakened by mixing with the indigenous Tibetans. Himmler is widely held responsible for the millions of deaths in the concentration camps during the early 1940s.
7. The Pursuit of Knowledge in Ancient Sanskrit Texts
In shaping their twisted ideology, Hitler and the Nazis turned to a variety of ancient beliefs and occult philosophies, with ancient Sanskrit texts being among the most notable. The swastika, a symbol that we overwhelmingly associate with Nazi Germany, was actually 'borrowed' from ancient cultures in that region. The term 'swastika' itself is Sanskrit, though the Nazis referred to their version as the Hakenkreutz.
The Nazis were particularly captivated by the ancient Hindu texts of India, believing in a myth that an ancient Aryan race had once invaded the country, establishing a rigid caste system. It is essential to note that mainstream scholars wholly reject this idea, asserting that the Aryan civilization, as described by the Nazis, never existed.
Himmler was reportedly highly skilled in reading and translating Sanskrit texts. Much like ancient astronaut theorists who interpret ancient writings literally to support their theories, Himmler took these particular texts at face value. For instance, he believed that references to thunderbolts in the texts actually described ancient technological weapons of the Aryan society—technologies that both Himmler and Hitler were eager to discover and master.
6. The Haunebu Disc
Starting in 1935, Nazi scientists are said to have initiated the development of an antigravity-powered flying disc—essentially a flying saucer. Much of this research involved alternative, 'free' energy sources designed to generate electromagnetic fields, which would then power the craft.
These craft were reportedly tested and developed in northwest Germany, specifically in Hauneburg. They were said to measure around 8 meters (25 ft) in diameter and could accommodate eight crew members. Although capable of flying only at low altitudes, they were rumored to reach an astonishing speed of 4,800 kilometers per hour (3,000 mph). In their most advanced form, these craft were claimed to have reached speeds of up to 17,000 kilometers per hour (11,000 mph). Additionally, it was believed that metallurgists had created a heat-resistant armor called Victalen (also known as Frozen Smoke).
In 1942, three years after the first Haunebu test flights, the Haunebu II was created. Slightly larger than its predecessor and capable of holding one more crew member, the main improvement of the Haunebu II was its impressive flight endurance, reportedly lasting 55 hours compared to the 18-hour limit of the original flying disc.
Whether the Haunebu ever truly existed or remains a mere legend is still unknown. However, the fact that Nazi scientists and engineers explored antigravity technology suggests that it was not entirely beyond the realm of possibility, although it remains highly improbable.
5. Vril and the Vril Society
The Vril Society was believed to be a secret organization, whose membership allegedly included Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials. The name and some of their philosophical beliefs were inspired by the 1871 science fiction novel, The Coming Race, by Bulwer Lytton. The book describes an advanced civilization (the Aryans) capable of harnessing the Vril—essentially the cosmic energy of the universe—and using it for their own purposes.
The Vril Society, convinced they were direct descendants of the Aryan race, believed they could tap into and control this universal energy. Female members of the society were said to grow their hair as long as possible, believing that doing so helped them connect with the Vril energy.
It is said that the Vril Society strongly encouraged Hitler and other influential figures in the Nazi Party to pursue their quests for ancient artifacts and technology.
4. Secret Arctic Expeditions
In 1938, the Nazi regime dispatched the Schwabenland vessel to western Antarctica, and upon their arrival, they claimed the region of New Swabia for Germany. They justified this by saying it was necessary to 'secure Germany's whaling industry,' which, considering the valuable products whaling could provide, seemed plausible for the Third Reich's needs.
However, some speculate that the true aim of the expedition was far more mysterious. They argue that the Nazis intended to establish a secret military base called Base 211 in Antarctica, while also allegedly searching for an entrance to the 'inner Earth,' which they believed had once been inhabited by the Aryan race.
Curiously, an Alaskan man named Joe Watson recently claimed to possess a letter from a German crew member aboard submarine U-209. According to the letter, the crew's mission was to locate the entrance to the inner Earth, a goal they purportedly succeeded in achieving. German records do confirm that U-209 was in the vicinity in 1943, but the submarine mysteriously vanished in early July.
A remark worth closer inspection comes from Karl Donitz, the commander of the German U-Boat fleet. In 1943, he mentioned that the Germans had 'rebuilt their submarines in another part of the world—a Shangri-la land—an impregnable fortress!' Could this have been a reference to the highly secretive base in Antarctica?
Some have even gone so far as to claim that Hitler managed to escape to the Nazi base in Antarctica, surviving and avoiding the suicide in his Berlin bunker. While this theory is almost certainly false, there are documented reports of Nazi activity in Antarctica in the weeks leading up to their surrender to Allied forces.
3. Hitler Really Escaped To South America
In the summer of 2014, declassified FBI documents suggested that Adolf Hitler did not take his own life in Berlin but instead managed to escape war-torn Europe, heading to Argentina. According to the documents, he is said to have arrived in the South American country just over two weeks after Berlin was captured by Allied forces.
The declassified files claim that an informant, who was seeking political asylum in the United States, provided this information. Allegedly assisted by the Argentine government, Hitler supposedly settled in a small village near the Andes Mountains for a period. However, the files concluded that the information was insufficient to warrant further investigation.
Shortly before these files were made public, a photograph purporting to show Hitler in Brazil emerged online. The photo was released by a Nazi hunter and author who believed Hitler first traveled to Paraguay from Argentina, eventually making his permanent residence in Brazil. The photograph supposedly depicts a mustache-less Hitler in 1984, with his arm around Cutinga, his Brazilian lover, taken two years before his death at age 95.
If Hitler truly escaped Germany in the final days of World War II, the question arises: did the Russians, who discovered and identified his body, know he had actually fled and covered it up? Or did they genuinely believe they had recovered the remains of the Third Reich’s leader? As illustrated above, an artist’s retouched photograph from the US Secret Service shows how Hitler might have appeared in disguise had he managed to escape Germany in 1945.
In 2009, archaeologist Nicholas Bellantoni was granted permission to conduct DNA testing on a fragment of Hitler’s skull. The results revealed that the DNA samples thought to belong to Hitler did not match the skull fragment held by the Russians. Naturally, this fueled the conspiracy theories even further.
2. Was Hitler Under the Influence of the Devil?
Although widely dismissed by most historians and researchers, Hermann Rauschning is just one of several individuals who suggested that Hitler might have been possessed by none other than the Devil. In his book Hitler Speaks, Rauschning claimed that Hitler would enter a “trance” while delivering speeches, believing that he served as a conduit for malevolent spirits, including the Devil himself.
August Kubizek, a childhood friend of Hitler, echoed similar thoughts. In his memoir, The Young Hitler I Knew—The Memoirs of Hitler’s Childhood Friend, Kubizek recounted a conversation in which 17-year-old Hitler expressed his desire to restore Germany to its former glory. Kubizek remarked, “It was as though another being spoke through him!”
Some members of the Catholic Church have even claimed that Pope Pius XII attempted an exorcism on Hitler from afar, though it ultimately proved unsuccessful. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI’s chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, stated that Hitler was almost certainly possessed by the Devil. He further argued that it is not just individuals who can be possessed, but entire nations are vulnerable to such influence.
It is worth noting that Father Amorth also criticized the Harry Potter series, suggesting it encouraged children to experiment with the occult. He went so far as to declare, “Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the King of Darkness, the Devil!”
1. Claims of Assistance from Beings Beyond Earth
While there is no denying that the Nazis were far ahead of the Allies in terms of technology and advanced weaponry, some believe they may have received help from extraterrestrial beings. It sounds absurd, doesn’t it?
The rumors have persisted since the conclusion of World War II, and recently, an Iranian news outlet claimed to possess documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden that support these allegations. According to this report, a group of extraterrestrials known as the “tall whites” are purportedly controlling the US government to this day. Interpret these claims as you wish.
A similar tale surfaced decades earlier in 1970, when UFO researcher Allen Greenfield recounted a conversation he had with Dr. Wernher von Braun, the man often credited with putting the US on the Moon. Greenfield asked how Germany had managed to advance so far ahead of its enemies during World War II.
Greenfield claimed that von Braun responded with, 'We had help! From them!' and pointed to UFO files that Greenfield was perusing at the time. When Greenfield clarified, asking if he meant extraterrestrial help, von Braun confirmed, 'Yes!'
Hermann Oberth, another German engineer, echoed similar sentiments in Robyn Collins' book, Did Spacemen Colonize The Earth. When asked about Germany's scientific advancements in the 1930s and 1940s, Oberth stated, 'We cannot take credit for our record advancement in certain scientific fields alone—we have been helped.' When asked who had provided this assistance, he responded, 'The people of other worlds!'
Of course, both von Braun and Oberth have since passed, making it impossible to verify their statements.
