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→History: previous party is named by its acronym, so I changed the subsequent one to match. also "Nazi Party" was never an official name
 
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{{short description|Occultist secret society in early 20th-century Germany}}
[[Image:Sebottendorff.jpg|left|thumb|182px|Rudolf von Sebottendorff: bust by German sculptor [[Hanns Goebl]]]]
{{distinguish|Teutonic Order|German Order (distinction)}}
⚫
The '''Germanenorden''' ('''Germanic''' or '''Teutonic Order''', not to be confused with the medieval German order of the [[Teutonic Knights]]) was a ''[[Völkisch movement|völkisch]]'' [[secret society]] in early 20th-century Germany. It was founded in Berlin in 1912 by [[Theodor Fritsch]] and several prominent German occultists including [[Philipp Stauff]], who held office in the [[Guido von List Society]] and [[High Armanen Order]] as well as [[Hermann Pohl]], who became the Germanenorden’s first leader. The group was a clandestine movement aimed at the upper echelons of society and was a sister movement to the more open and mainstream [[Reichshammerbund]].<ref>[[Richard S. Levy]], ''Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution, Volume 1'', ABC-CLIO, 2005, p. 269</ref>


The '''Germanenorden''' ('''Germanic''' or '''Teutonic Order''') was an [[occult]]ist and ''[[Völkisch movement|völkisch]]'' [[secret society]] in early 20th-century Germany.
The order, whose symbol was a [[swastika]], had a hierarchical fraternal structure based on [[Freemasonry]]. Local groups of the sect met to celebrate the summer [[solstice]], an important [[Modern paganism|neopagan]] festivity in ''völkisch'' circles (and later in Nazi Germany), and more regularly to read the [[Eddas]] as well as some of the [[German mystic]]s.<ref name="Intelinet">{{citation | url = http://www.intelinet.org/swastika/swasti01.htm#anchor36373 | publisher = Intelinet | title = Swastika | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070604170547/http://www.intelinet.org/swastika/swasti01.htm#anchor36373 | archivedate = 2007-06-04 | df = }}</ref>


==History==
In addition to occult and magical philosophies, it taught to its initiates nationalist ideologies of [[Nordic race|Nordic]] racial superiority and antisemitism, then rising throughout the Western world. As was becoming increasingly typical of ''völkisch'' organisations,{{Citation needed | date= November 2007}} it required its candidates to prove that they had no non-Aryan bloodlines and required from each a promise to maintain purity of his stock in marriage.
[[File:Theodor Fritsch 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Theodor Fritsch around 1920]]
⚫
The Germanenorden was founded in Berlin in 1912 by [[Theodor Fritsch]] and several prominent German occultists including [[Philipp Stauff]], who held office in the [[Guido von List Society]] and [[High Armanen Order]] as well as Hermann Pohl, who became the Germanenorden's first leader. The order was a clandestine movement that wished to create a small but devoted group and was a sister movement to the more open and mainstream [[Reichshammerbund]].<ref>[[Richard S. Levy]], ''Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution, Volume 1'', ABC-CLIO, 2005, p. 269</ref>


In 1916, during [[World War I]], the Germanenorden split into two parts. [[Eberhard von Brockhusen]] became the Grand Master of the "loyalist" Germanenorden. Pohl, previously the order’s Chancellor, founded a schismatic offshoot: the '''Germanenorden Walvater of the Holy Grail'''.<ref name = "Goodrick-Clarke1985:131–2">Goodrick-Clarke 1985: 131–32.</ref><ref name = "Thomas 2005">Thomas 2005.</ref> He was joined in the same year by [[Rudolf von Sebottendorff]] (formerly Rudolf Glauer), a wealthy adventurer with wide-ranging occult and mystical interests. A Freemason and a practitioner of [[sufism]] and [[astrology]], Sebottendorff was also an admirer of [[Guido von List]] and [[Lanz von Liebenfels]]. Convinced that the Islamic and Germanic mystical systems shared a common Aryan root, he was attracted by Pohl’s runic lore and became the Master of the Walvater's Bavarian province late in 1917. Charged with reviving the province's fortunes, Sebottendorff increased membership from about a hundred in 1917 to 1500 by the autumn of the following year.<ref name = "Goodrick-Clarke1985:142-3">Goodrick-Clarke 1985: 142–43.</ref>
In 1916, during [[World War I]], the Germanenorden split into two parts. [[Eberhard von Brockhusen]] became the Grand Master of the "loyalist" Germanenorden. Pohl, previously the order's Chancellor, founded a schismatic offshoot: the Germanenorden Walvater of the Holy Grail.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|pp=131–132}}<ref name = "Thomas 2005">Thomas 2005.</ref> He was joined in the same year by [[Rudolf von Sebottendorff]] (formerly Rudolf Glauer), a wealthy adventurer with wide-ranging occult and mystical interests. A Freemason and a practitioner of [[Sufism]] and [[astrology]], Sebottendorff was also an admirer of [[Guido von List]] and [[Lanz von Liebenfels]]. Convinced that the Islamic and Germanic mystical systems shared a common [[Aryan]] root, he was attracted by Pohl’s runic lore and became the Master of the Walvater's Bavarian province late in 1917. Charged with reviving the province's fortunes, Sebottendorff increased membership from about a hundred in 1917 to 1,500 by the autumn of the following year.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|pp=142–143}}


The Munich lodge of the Germanenorden Walvater when it was formally dedicated on August 18, 1918 was given the cover name, the [[Thule Society]],<ref name = "Goodrick-Clarke1985:144">Goodrick-Clarke 1985: 144</ref> which is notable chiefly as the organization that sponsored the [[German Workers' Party|Deutsche Arbeiterpartei]] (DAP), which was later transformed by [[Adolf Hitler]] into the [[Nazi Party|National Socialist German Workers' Party]] (Nazi Party).
The Munich lodge of the Germanenorden Walvater when it was formally dedicated on August 18, 1918, was given the cover name the [[Thule Society]],{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|p=144}} which is notable chiefly as the organization that sponsored the [[German Workers' Party|Deutsche Arbeiterpartei]] (DAP), which was later transformed by [[Adolf Hitler]] into the [[Nazi Party|National Socialist German Workers' Party]] (NSDAP).

==Activity==
The Germanenorden had a hierarchical fraternal structure based on [[Freemasonry]]. The structure was adopted due to the assumption that Jews engaged in secret organizing, and that it would be best to counter their influence over the German public life by using the same method.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|p=127}} The primary concern was to monitor Jewish activity and to be a centre for the distribution of [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] material. Secondary concerns involved the assistance between members in business and the circulation of ''völkisch'' journals, especially Fritsch's journal ''Hammer''.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|p=128}}

Applicants were required to prove their Germanic descent, and if they were married also their wife's.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|pp=128–129}} Through Bernhard Koerner, Stauff and Brockhusen, the order became imbued with the occult-nationalist ideas of List.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|p=123}} Influenced by List's [[Ariosophy]], it adopted a [[swastika]] superimposed on a cross as its symbol in 1916.{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|p=129}} The rituals of the order were influenced by theories about the [[Aryan race]], Freemasonry and the operas of [[Richard Wagner]].{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1985|pp=129–130}}

==See also==
* [[Secret society]]


==References==
==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

⚫
*[[Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke]] ''[[The Occult Roots of Nazism]]'' New York, [[New York University Press]] 1985
===Sources===
⚫
* {{cite book |last=Goodrick-Clarke |first=Nicholas |authorlink=Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke |year=1985 |title=[[The Occult Roots of Nazism]] |location=New York |publisher=[[New York University Press]] }}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Antisemitism in Germany]]
[[Category:Antisemitism in Germany]]
[[Category:Germanic mysticism]]
[[Category:Germanic mysticism]]
[[Category:Germanic neopagan organisations]]
[[Category:Secret societies in Germany]]
[[Category:Secret societies in Germany]]
[[Category:Neopaganism in Germany]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1912]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 1934]]

Latest revision as of 01:40, 8 June 2024

Not to be confused with Teutonic Order or German Order (distinction).

The Germanenorden (Germanic or Teutonic Order) was an occultist and völkisch secret society in early 20th-century Germany.

History

[edit]
Theodor Fritsch around 1920

The Germanenorden was founded in Berlin in 1912 by Theodor Fritsch and several prominent German occultists including Philipp Stauff, who held office in the Guido von List Society and High Armanen Order as well as Hermann Pohl, who became the Germanenorden's first leader. The order was a clandestine movement that wished to create a small but devoted group and was a sister movement to the more open and mainstream Reichshammerbund.[1]

In 1916, during World War I, the Germanenorden split into two parts. Eberhard von Brockhusen became the Grand Master of the "loyalist" Germanenorden. Pohl, previously the order's Chancellor, founded a schismatic offshoot: the Germanenorden Walvater of the Holy Grail.[2][3] He was joined in the same year by Rudolf von Sebottendorff (formerly Rudolf Glauer), a wealthy adventurer with wide-ranging occult and mystical interests. A Freemason and a practitioner of Sufism and astrology, Sebottendorff was also an admirer of Guido von List and Lanz von Liebenfels. Convinced that the Islamic and Germanic mystical systems shared a common Aryan root, he was attracted by Pohl’s runic lore and became the Master of the Walvater's Bavarian province late in 1917. Charged with reviving the province's fortunes, Sebottendorff increased membership from about a hundred in 1917 to 1,500 by the autumn of the following year.[4]

The Munich lodge of the Germanenorden Walvater when it was formally dedicated on August 18, 1918, was given the cover name the Thule Society,[5] which is notable chiefly as the organization that sponsored the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP), which was later transformed by Adolf Hitler into the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP).

Activity

[edit]

The Germanenorden had a hierarchical fraternal structure based on Freemasonry. The structure was adopted due to the assumption that Jews engaged in secret organizing, and that it would be best to counter their influence over the German public life by using the same method.[6] The primary concern was to monitor Jewish activity and to be a centre for the distribution of antisemitic material. Secondary concerns involved the assistance between members in business and the circulation of völkisch journals, especially Fritsch's journal Hammer.[7]

Applicants were required to prove their Germanic descent, and if they were married also their wife's.[8] Through Bernhard Koerner, Stauff and Brockhusen, the order became imbued with the occult-nationalist ideas of List.[9] Influenced by List's Ariosophy, it adopted a swastika superimposed on a cross as its symbol in 1916.[10] The rituals of the order were influenced by theories about the Aryan race, Freemasonry and the operas of Richard Wagner.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Richard S. Levy, Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution, Volume 1, ABC-CLIO, 2005, p. 269
  2. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, pp. 131–132.
  3. ^ Thomas 2005.
  4. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, pp. 142–143.
  5. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, p. 144.
  6. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, p. 127.
  7. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, p. 128.
  8. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, pp. 128–129.
  9. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, p. 123.
  10. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, p. 129.
  11. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 1985, pp. 129–130.

Sources

[edit]
  • Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas (1985). The Occult Roots of Nazism. New York: New York University Press.
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