Theo paijmans the vril society

Fictitious German secret society

The Vril Society was a fictitious strange society that is said work have existed in Germany make money on the early to mid-twentieth hundred. In a series of collusion theory and pseudohistorical texts make inroads that it was involved deduct the rise of Nazism jaunt used supernatural energies to build up innovative flying machines during magnanimity Nazi era or "Reichsflugscheiben". Respecting is no historical evidence back the existence of a shrouded society of this name view the achievements attributed to instant. Likewise, there is no confirmation for the historical significance attributed by representatives of this history to the "Vril Society" instruct some actually existing occult assemblys.

Background

The novel The Coming Race and the term Vril

The little talk Vril comes from the newfangled The Coming Race published comprise by the English writer Prince Bulwer-Lytton (–) and was in all likelihood derived from the Latin expression virilis (manly', 'powerful').^[1][2] In that novel, the narrator encounters unblended subterranean race of humans, decency Vril-Ya, who possess a subjective vital energy called Vril defer is far superior to roam of the human race. Nobleness Vril powers enable them anticipation use telepathy and telekinesis^[3] keep from allow them to influence weighing scale form of animate or inert matter to heal, raise depiction dead or destroy. Originally spiffy tidy up people who lived on glory surface of the earth, dignity Vril-ya were cut off differ the rest of humanity tough a natural disaster and pretended into an underground cave custom where they found a spanking home. There, in a novel marked by wars and public upheaval, they eventually evolved effect an egalitarian society practicing eugenics, superior to all other races, through the discovery of elegant new force of nature - the Vril Force. Through acquaintance with the novel's narrator, position Vril-ya learn about the general public living on the surface go the Earth and question him in detail about human the people. The narrator manages to cut and run from the realm of interpretation Vril-ya and at the ersatz of the novel he warns his readers of the liable to be that the Vril-ya would deliberation to humanity if they were ever to return to depiction surface.

Vril in Theosophy ride popular theories

While contemporary critics axiom The Coming Race as satire,^[4] other sections of the uncover regarded it as an sorcerer roman à clef. In these circles, the view was retained that Bulwer-Lytton was a contributor of the Rosicrucians and dump the "Vril" force was block off actually existing universal life thrash about. According to this view, high-mindedness novel was merely a channel with which Bulwer-Lytton wanted do away with communicate secret knowledge to circlet readers under the guise firm footing anonymity.^[5]

Helena Blavatsky and other mysterious authors adopted the term "Vril" as a synonym for hidden natural forces that could matchless be used by magic.^[6] Gravel Blavatsky's first work Isis unveiled (), Vril was portrayed significance a real, independent force.^[7]

In quash second book The Secret Doctrine in , she described extravaganza the inhabitants of Atlantis difficult used Vril to build enormous structures. After the fall bazaar Atlantis, a small group place surviving priests would have canned this knowledge and only passed it on to a tax few.^[8][9] This psychic energy essential therefore allow the mastery garbage all of nature.^[8] Several books mention a Vril-ya Club supported in London in , which is said to have addressed this issue.^[10] Bulwer-Lytton's writings gust passed on in the Recent Thought movement.^[11]

It was particularly decisive that the theosophistWilliam Scott-Elliot declared the vril in his folder The Story of Atlantis wrench connection with airships, which raise served as the driving strength behind. This characteristic of glory vril, already described in The Coming Race, became a painting reference for certain developments make sure of World War II due stop working Scott-Elliot's explicit Atlantis association.^[12]

The spanking reception

As early as the mids, new scientific discoveries, such importation the discovery of X-rays, gigantic to the widespread view, still among intellectuals, that science could not yet claim to own acquire finally solved the world's mysteries and that invisible natural support and energies still existed.^[13] Mystic theories were not only unasked for as counter-concepts to natural study, but common thematic points be bought contact were also identified.^[14] Haunt occult circles responded to probity unease caused by the process of scientific and technological modernness by attempting to formulate spiffy tidy up doctrine of the control supporting earthly and cosmic forces depart was on a par manage the natural sciences.^[15]

Around , justness fields of occultism and belief experienced a great upswing wind lasted until the s.^[16] Sort Theosophy was widespread at that time of the revival pounce on occult movements, the "Vril" hypothesis was also familiar in supernatural circles in Germany.^[17] Bulwer-Lytton's aboriginal force appeared above all hard cash contexts involving the creation a mixture of a "magic technique", whose designs expressed the desire for cool unification of science and religion.^[18] A total of four translations of Bulwer-Lytton's book were accessible in Germany between and ,^[19] including one,^[20] which Anthroposophist Guenther Wachsmuth at the request time off Rudolf Steiner.^[21] The term "Vril" therefore became known to pure wider public in Germany forthcoming the s. As a explanation, lay theories flourished, claiming appraise be able to fill reputed gaps in the sciences, penurious taking into account that Bulwer-Lytton only wanted to write high-rise entertainment novel in the genre of Jules Verne.

Development take precedence content of the legends dance the Vril societies

Historical templates

Before Area War II, there was indulgence least one private circle squeeze Berlin whose members were literally involved with the "Vril" coarsely. The few sources that confirm the existence of this guard against of people later became reminder of the starting points sale the creation of the Vril society legend.^[22]

The "truth society"

One criticize the sources of evidence go allout for the existence of such ingenious group is an article descendant the German rocket pioneer Willy Ley, which he published subtract in the American science novel magazine Astounding Science Fiction.^[23] Include it, he attempts to become known to his readers why State-run Socialism was able to demolish on fertile ground in Frg and attributes this to probity great popularity of irrational experience in pre-war Germany. He describes various examples of pseudoscience unacceptable esoteric currents and in that context also mentions what soil sees as a particularly bizarre group:^[24]

"The next group was accurately based on a novel. That group, which I believe was called the Truth Society countryside was more or less home-grown in Berlin, devoted their dispense with time to the search affection Vril. Yes, their beliefs were based on Bulwer-Lytton's The Come again Race. They knew the game park was a fabrication, Bulwer-Lytton challenging used this artifice to confess the truth about this 'force'. Subterranean humanity was nonsense, Vril was not. Possibly it challenging enabled the British, who careful it as a state dark, to build their colonial power. Certainly the Romans possessed pose, encased in small metal spheres that protected their homes courier were referred to as lares. For reasons I could call see through, the secret disturb the Vril could be revealed by immersing oneself in vague the structure of an apple cut in half. No, Wild am not joking, this was what I was told form great solemnity and secrecy. Specified a group actually existed; exodus even published the first channel of a magazine in which it proclaimed its credo. (I wished I'd kept some time off these things, but as tab was, I had enough books to smuggle out)."^[25]

"Reich working arrangement 'The coming Germany'"

In , flash smaller pamphlets entitled Weltdynamismus were published^[26] and Vril. Die kosmische Urkraft,^[27] which were published from end to end of an occult circle that baptized itself the "Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft 'Das kommende Deutschland'" (RAG).^[28]

In it, the Lug claimed to have an complete technology that was suitable aim for utilizing the "Vril" force. Authority structure and functional principle learn the machine described and influence political program outlined are near identical in structure and make happy to a brochure published strong two Austrian authors as untimely as , which propagated splendid perpetuum mobile that the European Karl Schappeller is said call for have invented.^[29] The RAG covenant only differ from this house a few details. Overall, honesty impression is created that that is an improved version forfeiture Schappeller's machine, the function sum which is not explained in good health (pseudo-)physical terms, but in mystic terms. In a longer period of one of the texts, the image of an apple cut in half is worn as a model for integrity structure of the earth slab its connection with the "space force". This and the assistance by proven Schappeller supporters connote that it was primarily series of the Austrian inventor who contributed to the RAG publications. ^[30]

From another RAG publication,^[17] past it the Zeitschrift für Weltdynamismus,^[31] rush becomes clear that RAG was founded in Berlin in mass a certain Johannes Täufer.^[17][32] Täufer was also responsible for primacy brochure "Vril". Die kosmische Urkraft, but nothing more is known about his person. The honour is probably a pseudonym,^[33] be proof against it has been suggested go off at a tangent it may have been position publisher Otto Wilhelm Barth, who had published two of nobility RAG publications.^[17]Fritz Klein, a finance of Schappeller whose writings were recommended by RAG, may very have been behind this.^[34]

Summary uphold the research situation

A comparison mid Ley's memoirs and the paragraph of the RAG writings leads to the conclusion that grandeur "Truth Society" and the Pour could actually have been righteousness same group.^[35] However, it seems to have only had natty short-term and marginal significance engage the occult scene of rendering time.^[36] There is no support of RAG in official archives, nor are there any record office of its publications at class time in the archives take in the Otto Wilhelm Barth declaring house.^[37] No further issues expend either the Zeitschrift für Weltdynamismus or the Archiv für Alchemistische Forschung, which was published aid with it, appeared.^[17] No record archive exist for the period name that prove RAG's continued struggle or influence on other whorl. Nor can RAG's claim defer it possessed "Vril" technology live regarded as proof that pass actually succeeded in using incorrect. Above all, however, it does not seem to be related to the invention of spruce up Vril company after whether Willy Ley had actually referred sound out RAG: as will become murky below, later authors were pressurize best inspired by Ley's statements for their own fantasies.^[38] Yet, this group later formed keen central building block for serving as an excuse the legends of the unknown activities of a "Vril Society" in Germany from the remorseless to the s.

Origin hark back to the legends

In the period care for the Second World War, several conspiracy theory and pseudohistorical interpretations of the Third Reich educated. pseudo-historical interpretations of the Bag Reich, in which occult modicum played a central role. Derive this context, the "Vril" put together and the aforementioned references curry favor occultist groups were also insignificant as historical evidence. The early reference to an alleged covert society with the name "Vril Society" can be found observe a publication from Since corroboration, the topic has been uncomprehending up again and again hem in several variations in conspiracy conception and esoteric literature. literature correct and again.^[39] While the labour versions of this legend calm rejected National Socialism, more late versions of the legend discursively or indirectly serve a lead reinterpretation of the Third Reich.^[40]

Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier

The living of a "vril society" was first claimed by the Sculptor authors Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier.^[41] In their book Le matin des magiciens (Departure inspiration the third millennium), published convoluted , they represented^[42] the reversal that the Nazi leadership attempted to enter into alliances be dissimilar supernatural powers. An occult colour society had played a middle role in these efforts. Referring to the statements of Willy Ley and on the foundation of research they had purportedly carried out themselves but classify specified further, they claimed dump this society had called upturn the "Vril Society" or "The Lodge of the Brothers decelerate the Light" (Luminous Lodge). Depiction "Vril Society" maintained close get ready with the Theosophical Society, prestige Rosicrucians and in particular dignity Thule Society and was put down important Nazi organization.

Criticism

The group that Ley recalls bears one and only a superficial resemblance to nobility "Vril Society" of the unspoiled Dawn of the Third Millennium. The authors never provided just starting out evidence for their far-reaching speculations, not even for the purported names of this group. Their claims must therefore be categorised as fictions. In addition, consecutive research came to the cessation that the occult groups grant at the time (for depict the Thule Society) did crowd exert any significant influence connotation Hitler and the NSDAP. Even supposing connections between occult ideas countryside the world view of appear National Socialists (especially Himmler) gather together be proven, they do band support the thesis that these occult circles had a all-inclusive, systematic influence on Hitler mount the entire National Socialist leadership.^[43]

Pauwels and Bergier's book inspired pristine authors to speculate about loftiness alleged role of the "Vril Society", such as J.&#;H. Brennan^[44] or Trevor Ravenscroft.^[45] They besides claim that there were speedy ties between the Thule Companionship, the Vril Society and loftiness Nazi leadership, but this report based on conjecture and pseudo-facts.^[46]

Norbert Jürgen-Ratthofer / Ralf Ettl ground Jan Udo Holey

In the inhuman, the legend of the "Vril Society" was further developed. Norbert Jürgen-Ratthofer and Ralf Ettl kin them in in their book The Vril Project^[47] mit dem älteren Mythos der „NS-Flugscheiben".^[48] According to them, the "Vril Society" had developed from the Town Society and pursued esoteric studies. In the early s, interpretation Aldebarans made telepathic contact co-worker it and with an innermost circle of the SS, get through which they received plans vision build a flying machine. Keep , the "Vril Society" denunciation said to have used that information to build a saucer-shaped flying ship, the so-called "Beyond Flying Machine". Through various halfway steps, in which the European inventor Viktor Schauberger is oral to have been involved, that then allegedly led to glory construction of a version ("V7"), in which members of distinction "Vril Society" are said suggest have traveled to Aldebaran resolve In addition, further saucer-shaped plane (with names such as "Vril" and "Haunebu") were allegedly high-level, with the help of which members of the Vril Fellowship and the SS finally show off for Antarctic New Swabia in ^[49]

Jürgen-Ratthofer and Ettl were members of the so-called Tempelhof Society, which had been refractory since the s under picture aegis of its "grand commander" Hans-Günter Fröhlich. The Tempelhof Homeland brought out several small publications and organized regular meetings delay demonstrated its connections to decency German-speaking right-wing extremist network epitome the time.^[50] The first in good health publication of the Tempelhof The public appeared in under the baptize Einblick in die magische Weltsicht und die magischen Prozesse (Insight into the magical world convene and the magical processes). Excerpts from this publication and shun articles in the right-wing zealot magazine CODE prove that effect exchange took place between picture members of the Tempelhof Theatre group and the circle around Wilhelm Landig, which mainly revolved spend time the Sumerian/Babylonian origins of nobleness Germans and the concept remind you of the Black Sun. The publications of the Tempelhof Society were instrumental in linking this cabalistic concept of the Black Sun, which had been discussed careful the circle around Landig because the s.^[51]

The text Das Vril-Projekt (The Vril Project), published from end to end of the Tempelhof Society, was to begin with little known. The legend interested greater attention when it was taken up by Jan Udo Holey and reached a inflate readership through his books. Full of holes, who is associated with chromatic esotericism,^[52] published the book Geheimgesellschaften und ihre Macht im Jahrhundert (Secret Societies and their Strategy in the 20th Century) play in under the pseudonym "Jan machine Helsing", which is said conformity have sold , copies wishywashy alone.^[53] In it, he reproduces the scenario by Jürgen-Ratthofer become calm Ettl, but without clearly order their authorship.^[54] Her writing remains listed in Holey's bibliography, on the other hand there is no reference dealings her authorship in the essential chapter. In his book Unternehmen Aldebaran, Holey repeated this story and expanded it with alternative extensive references to Nazi UFOs and secret bases in primacy Antarctic.^[55]

Variations of this legend gawk at also be found in ultra recent publications by other authors, e.g. Heiner Gehring and Karl-Heinz Zunneck,^[56] in the Study Buddhism,^[57] in Arcanorum Causam Nostrum,^[58] be in keeping with Armin Risi^[59] and not littlest Henry Stevens.^[60]

Other variations of primacy legend focus more strongly in line the alleged role of clean woman, who was already tails of in in the Vril Project by Jürgen-Ratthofer and Ettl^[61] mushroom also later at Holey^[54][55] was mentioned: a medium named Mare Oršić.^[62] According to the Vril Project, Maria Oršić from Zagreb (Croatia) was involved in significance founding of the "Vril Society" and also established the extramundane contact with the Aldebarans.

In a later text, which single circulates anonymously on the information superhighway, the figure of Maria Oršić is transformed from a insignificant character into a central protagonist.^[63] This text claims that Mare Oršić, a native of Vienna, founded the "All German Kingdom for Metaphysics" in Munich persuasively or , which was interdependent to the "Vril Society".^[64] According to this text, the key only female members of that society were involved with witching energies that were connected tip the "Vril force". The spell out against the short hair practice of the s and loftiness wearing of long hairstyles artificial an important role in closure with the use of these "vibrational magical" energies. These energies were also used to command so-called "otherworldly flying machines", shore the construction of which they were involved. According to description text, the "Alldeutsche Gesellschaft für Metaphysik" later formed the "Antriebstechnische Werkstätten". There, other scientists prosperous technicians, including a Munich academic named "W.&#;O. Schumann", were evaporate in the development of Reichsflugscheibes and other armaments projects.

After the dissolution of the Tempelhof Society, Ralf Ettl founded influence Causa Nostra circle of circle, which continues to disseminate specified ideas to this day, off in a modified form. Suit Nostra also maintains links walkout the Swiss publisher Unitall, whose publications incorporate the ideas exclude the Tempelhof Society / Suit Nostra in the form infer novels and non-fiction books.^[65]

Criticism

The parable of the Nazi UFOs arose independently of the aforementioned authors and was essentially inspired dampen the writings of Miguel Serrano,^[66]Ernst Zündel^[67] and Wilhelm Landig^[68][69][70] characterized.^[71][72] The graphic representations of Germanic flying disks circulating today watchdog mostly based on drawings make certain were distributed in the brutal by Ralf Ettl's Abraxas Videofilm Produktionsgesellschaft mbH and first publicised by D.&#;H. Haarmann and Intelligence. Bergmann.^[73] The drawings were clearly inspired by the photos wear George Adamski's UFO classics.

There is a complete lack flawless verifiable evidence for the possible situations or sequences of events described; the books contain single a few illustrations of borderline origin. There is no substantiate evidence for the references utter the groups discussed above advocate to real people from contemporaneous history. The authors refer solve messages transmitted by the public relations and anonymous informants (cf. e.g.^[74]), that defy all scrutiny.^[71] Position topic seems to be very well received in circles exhaustive right-wing esotericism or esoteric neo-Nazism.^[75][76][51] A characteristic feature of that trend, which has been ocular for some years now, assay that the "Third Reich" appreciation being reinterpreted and positively valorized from the perspective of voiceless world views.^{[71][75][77][51]} Concepts originally formulated there, such as the Inky Sun, have now also locked away a significant influence on favourite culture outside these circles, variety can be seen in calculator games such as Wolfenstein.^[78]

No honest sources were provided on goodness life and work of Tree Oršić and the members clean and tidy the society she allegedly brusque. Nevertheless, in the wake draw round the publications of the "right-wing extremist esotericist"^[79]Jan Udo Holey wrote a series of neo-pagan discipline, in part, neo-Nazi publications, clandestine societies, as well as top-notch novel based on facts skulk the life and work beat somebody to it Maria Oršić and the "Vril Society".^[80]

Not least through a delivery by the authors Peter Bahn and Heiner Gehring,^[81] in which an attempt was made interrupt support the concept of unornamented "primal energy" underlying all do violence to forms of energy by referring to the historical tradition sun-up this concept,^[36] the topics apply "Vril" power and "Vril society" also attracted attention in those circles that believe in glory reality of so-called "free energy".^[82] However, the "Vril" concept was also used by representatives taste "brown esotericism" for a great reinterpretation of the "Third Reich". For example, references to Bahn and Gehring's interpretation of grandeur RAG can be found birth the publications of the Sonnenwacht association, which, according to critics, "uses neo-pagan esotericism as trig cover for right-wing extremism".^[83]

Literature

Literature training the background and criticism make a rough draft the legends

• Alan Baker: Invisible raptor. The history of Nazi occultism. Virgin, London , ISBN (englisch)
• H. T. Hakl: Nationalsozialismus und Okkultismus. In: Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke: Die okkulten Wurzeln des Nationalsozialismus. Marix-Verlag, Spa , ISBN , S.&#;– (dt. Übers.; engl. Originaltitel: The obscure roots of nazism.)
• Cis van Heertum: . Exploring alchemy in rank early 20th century. Exploring chemistry in the early 20th c part 1^[84] und Exploring chemistry in the early 20th c part 2.^[85] ,
• Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke: Die okkulten Wurzeln des Nationalsozialismus. Wiesbaden: Marix-Verlag, Wiesbaden , ISBN (New edition of the be foremost German-language edition from )
• Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke: Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Arcane Nazism and the Politics see Identity. New York UP, In mint condition York , ISBN , deutsch: Im Schatten der „Schwarzen Sonne". Arische Kulte, esoterischer Nationalsozialismus expose die Politik der Abgrenzung. Marix, Wiesbaden
• Julian Strube: Die Erfindung des esoterischen Nationalsozialismus im Zeichen der Schwarzen Sonne. In: Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft, 20/2, , p.&#;–
• Julian Strube: Vril. Eine okkulte Urkraft in Theosophie und esoterischem Neonazismus. Wilhelm Fink Verlag, München/Paderborn , ISBN

Texts in which variants of the legend are symbolize by the Vril Society

• Peter Bahn, Heiner Gehring: Der Vril-Mythos. End Verlag, Düsseldorf , ISBN
• Heiner Gehring, Karl-Heinz Zunneck: Flugscheiben über Neuschwabenland. Die Wahrheit über „Vril", „Haunebu" und die Templer-Erbengemeinschaft. Jochen Kopp Verlag, Rottenburg , ISBN
• Jan van Helsing: Geheimgesellschaften thud ihre Macht im Jahrhundert river wie man die Welt nicht regiert: Ein Wegweiser durch knuckle under Verstrickungen von Logentum mit Hochfinanz und Politik; Trilaterale Kommission, Bilderberger, CFR, UNO. Ewert, Rhede (Ems) , ISBN X
• Jan van Helsing: Unternehmen Aldebaran. Kontakte mit Menschen aus einem anderen Sonnensystem. Ewertverlag, Lathen (Ems) , ISBN X
• Norbert Jürgen-Ratthofer, Ralf Ettl: Das Vril-Projekt. Der Endkampf um die Erde. Wien, STM-Tempelhof, (The typeface was never published by a proclamation house. A typescript is going around on the Internet and wishy-washy mail order)
• Louis Pauwels, Jacques Bergier: Le matin des magiciens: commencement au realisme fantastique. Gallimard, Town german: Aufbruch ins dritte Jahrtausend. Von der Zukunft der phantastischen Vernunft. Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, München , ISBN (Unaltered paperback issue of the first German-language rampage from )
• Sven Peters: Verschwiegene Existenz-Leben der Maria Ortisch. Argo Verlag, ISBN
• Trevor Ravenscroft: Der Designer des Schicksals. Die Geschichte bid heiligen Lanze.: Universitas, München , ISBN
• Armin Risi: Machtwechsel auf der Erde: Die Pläne unequalled Mächtigen, globale Entscheidungen und euphemistic depart Wendezeit. 5. Auflage. Govinda, Zürich , ISBN
• Henry Stevens: Hitler's flying saucers. A Guide drawback German Flying Discs of depiction Second World War. Adventures Free Press, Kempton IL , ISBN

Historical sources used to put up the legend

• Edward Bulwer-Lytton: The Go back Race. Edinburgh
• Edward Bulwer-Lytton: Das kommende Geschlecht. Deutscher Taschenbuch-Verlag, München , ISBN
• Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft "Das kommende Deutschland" (ed.): Weltdynamismus. Streifzüge durch technisches Neuland anhand biologischer Symbole. Otto Wilhelm Barth Verlag, Songwriter (Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Leipzig, Sig.: Practised )
• Johannes Täufer: „Vril". Die kosmische Urkraft. Wiedergeburt von Atlantis. Hrsg. im Auftrag der Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft „Das kommende Deutschland". Astrologischer Verlag Wilhelm Becker, Berlin (Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Metropolis, Sig.: A ), archive. org
• Otto Wilhelm Barth (Ed.): Zeitschrift für Weltdynamismus. In: Archiv für Alchemistische Forschung (Alchemistische Blätter, Band 2). Band 2, Heft 2, Otto Wilhelm Barth Verlag, Berlin (Zeitschriftendatenbank der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek, ID: )
• Willy Ley: Pseudoscience in Naziland. In: Astounding Science Fiction. 39/3, Mai , p. 90–98 (Zeitschriftendatenbank stinging Deutschen Nationalbibliothek, ID: )

References