Heinrich Himmler's Hunt For The ‘Bible For The Aryan Race’ | Myth Hunters | War Stories
War Stories・2 minutes read
Hitler and Himmler promoted the myth of Aryan superiority, based on Tacitus' "Germania," to justify Nazi racial policies, but the Codex revealed flaws in their interpretations and historical inaccuracies that fueled racist ideologies and atrocities resulting in millions of deaths.
Insights
- The Nazis, led by Heinrich Himmler, were obsessed with the idea of Aryan superiority, utilizing Tacitus' "Germania" manuscript to justify racial laws and rewrite history to fit their narrative.
- The discovery and pursuit of the "Asus Codex" by Himmler symbolized the Nazis' desperate attempt to validate their beliefs, showcasing how historical misinterpretations and manipulations were used to support racist policies that resulted in catastrophic consequences.
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Recent questions
What was the Nazis' belief about Aryan superiority?
The Nazis believed in a myth of Aryan superiority, aiming to unite Germany by promoting the idea that Germans descended from a superior race originating from Atlantis.
Who was tasked with rewriting history to prove Aryan superiority?
Himmler's Ancestral Heritage Research and Teaching Society (Ancestral Heritage) was tasked with rewriting history to prove Aryan superiority.
Where was the lost manuscript, the "Asus Codex," eventually found?
The lost manuscript, the "Asus Codex," was eventually found in the private library of an Italian count in 1936.
What significant moment did the discovery of the "Asus Codex" provide for Himmler and the Nazis?
The discovery of the "Asus Codex" was a significant moment for Himmler and the Nazis as it provided a written account of the Germanic past they sought to validate.
Where does the Codex now reside after extensive restoration efforts?
The Codex now resides in the Biblioteca Nazionale in Rome, open for public viewing after the family donated it.
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Summary
00:00
"Nazi Quest for Aryan Treasure"
- In 1944, elite German troops, under Heinrich Himmler, are on a mission in wartime Italy to seize a valuable treasure known as the "Bible for the Aryan race."
- Adolf Hitler aimed to unite Germany by promoting the myth that Germans were descended from a superior race, the Aryans, originating from Atlantis.
- The Nazis believed in the existence of a manuscript, the "Germania," written by Roman historian Tacitus, which supported their theories of Aryan superiority.
- Tacitus' "Germania" described the fierce Germanic tribes with physical characteristics like blue eyes and blond hair, idealized by the Nazis.
- Himmler, inspired by Tacitus' writings, became a key figure in the Nazi regime, shaping the SS to reflect the warrior race described in the "Germania."
- Himmler believed every German should possess the "Germania" as a moral guide, promoting loyalty to Hitler and the reproduction of strong offspring.
- The Nazis used a paragraph from the "Germania" to justify the first racial laws against Jews, based on the idea of Germans being a pure and superior race.
- Himmler's Ancestral Heritage Research and Teaching Society (Ancestral Heritage) was tasked with rewriting history to prove Aryan superiority.
- The Ancestral Heritage searched for Tacitus' lost manuscript, the "Asus Codex," which was eventually found in the private library of an Italian count in 1936.
- The discovery of the "Asus Codex" was a significant moment for Himmler and the Nazis, as it provided a written account of the Germanic past they sought to validate.
23:26
The Stolen Codex: Nazis, Resistance, Restoration
- The Codex IAS was stored in the library at The Palazo in Yai, forgotten by many due to the Count's extensive collection of important documents.
- The Nazis considered the Asus Codex crucial, with Himmler eager to obtain it from the Count's family in 1936.
- Mussolini agreed to give the book to Hitler, but the Count, disliking fascism, refused to hand it over.
- Despite Himmler's persistence, the Count only allowed the Germans to photograph the Codex in 1939.
- With Italy switching allegiance in 1943, Himmler sent SS troops to seize the Codex from the Count's properties.
- The Codex was hidden in a secret room at the Count's Villa, evading discovery by Himmler's soldiers.
- After the war, the Codex was recognized as a National Treasure and displayed in the family's library in Yai.
- In 1966, a flood in Florence damaged the Codex, but extensive restoration efforts saved it.
- The Codex now resides in the Biblioteca Nazionale in Rome, open for public viewing after the family donated it.
- Tacitus' descriptions in the Codex painted a different picture of ancient Germans than Himmler's idealized view, revealing flaws and misinterpretations by the Nazis.
48:35
Misidentification of German Ancestors and Nazi Manipulation
- The term "German" historically referred to a group of people different from what we now consider Germans, as it was a misidentification of German ancestors with Germanic tribes. Hitler's Germans were actually descendants of various peoples, not a single ancient tribe, and the tribal situation changed over centuries. Himmler manipulated Tacitus' words in the Asus codex to support the Nazis' racist policies, leading to millions of deaths.
