03/21/2026
Wewelsburg Castle, a triangular 17th-century fortress in Westphalia, Germany, was transformed by Heinrich Himmler into the "spiritual center" and ideological heart of the SS. Often referred to as the "N**i Temple of Doom" or "Himmler's Camelot," it was intended to serve as a cultic headquarters where occult mythology, N**i ideology, and regime rituals converged.
Key Ceremonial Rooms
The most significant modifications were made to the castle's North Tower, which was designed to be the "Center of the World".
Obergruppenführersaal (SS Generals' Hall): Located on the ground floor, this circular hall features twelve Romanesque columns and twelve windows. Its most famous feature is the "Black Sun" (Sonnenrad), a dark green mosaic sun-wheel embedded in the floor. The room was intended as a prestigious meeting hall for the highest-ranking SS leaders.
The Crypt (Gruft): A vaulted underground chamber located directly beneath the Generals' Hall, modeled after Mycenaean domed tombs. It contains twelve stone pedestals and a gas pipe in the center, suggesting it was intended to house an eternal flame. A relief of a sw****ka remains on the apex of its domed ceiling. It was likely meant as a memorial site for fallen SS officers.
The "N**i Camelot" Vision
Himmler's obsession with Germanic mythology led to several Arthurian and pseudo-pagan elements:
Knights of the Round Table: Himmler appointed twelve senior SS officers as his "knights," who were meant to gather in the castle. An Arthurian-style round table with twelve chairs was discovered at the castle after the war.
Mythological Names: Rooms within the castle were named after historical and folkloric heroes such as King Arthur, Frederick the Great, and King Henry the Lion.
Relics and Rituals: Himmler envisioned the castle as a repository for mystical artifacts, including the Holy Grail and the Spear of Destiny. Though the exact nature of rituals is unproven, it is believed ceremonies like "baptisms" for SS children took place there.
Construction and Current Status
The grandiose plans for the castle were never fully realized.
Slave Labor: Much of the construction was carried out by prisoners from the nearby Niederhagen concentration camp, where approximately 1,229 people died due to brutal conditions.
Museum Today: After a failed attempt by the SS to demolish the castle in 1945, it was restored and now houses the Wewelsburg 1933–1945 Memorial Museum, which focuses on the crimes of the SS and the reality behind the occult myths.
The Thule Society (Thule-Gesellschaft) was a German occultist and Völkisch group founded in Munich shortly after World War I. It is primarily known for sponsoring the German Workers' Party (DAP), which Adolf Hi**er later transformed into the N**i Party (NSDAP).
Founding and Origins
Establishment: Originally founded as the "Study Group for Germanic Antiquity" by Walter Nauhaus in 1917, it became the Thule Society in August 1918 under the leadership of Rudolf von
Sebottendorf.
Purpose: It served as a cover for the Munich branch of the Germanenorden, a secret society dedicated to promoting Germanic racial superiority and anti-Semitism.
Naming: It was named after "Thule," a mythical northern land described by ancient Greek geographers, which the society identified as the lost homeland of the "A***n" race.
Core Beliefs and Ideology
Ariosophy: The society followed "Ariosophy," an esoteric doctrine asserting that A***ns were a master race who had lost their ancient magical powers through interbreeding.
Racial Purity: Potential members had to sign a "blood declaration of faith," swearing they had no "Jewish or colored blood" in their lineage.
Political Stance: They were fiercely anti-communist and anti-Semitic, actively opposing the Bavarian Soviet Republic through paramilitary activities and propaganda.
Link to the N**i Party
Incubation: Members of the Thule Society, including Anton Drexler and Karl Harrer, founded the DAP in 1919.
Dissolution
As Hi**er rose to power, he distanced the N**i Party from its occultist roots to maintain a more mainstream political image. The Thule Society was officially dissolved in the mid-1930s following government bans on esoteric organizations.
Key Figures: Several high-ranking N**is were members or associates, including Rudolf Hess, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, and Dietrich Eckart (Hi**er's early mentor).
Symbols: The society utilized the sw****ka as its emblem, which the N**i Party later adopted.
While many modern Neo-Pagan and Heathen groups are inclusive and explicitly reject racism, several extremist organizations have co-opted these belief systems—particularly Norse and Germanic mythology—to promote white power and "Neo-Völkisch" ideologies.
Core Ideologies
Extremist groups often distinguish themselves from inclusive Heathenry through specific labels and doctrines:
Neo-Völkisch: An ideology based on the belief that spirituality is biologically linked to ancestry. It emphasizes the "survival" of white Europeans and the preservation of what they claim are dying cultures.
Folkish vs. Universalist: "Folkish" groups believe these religions should only be practiced by those of white European descent. This is in contrast to "Universalist" groups, who believe the faith is open to anyone regardless of race.
Odinism/Wotanism: While these terms are used by many non-racist practitioners, they are frequently preferred by extremist factions who view them as a "warrior religion" better suited for racial struggle than Christianity.
Key Groups
Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA): One of the largest Neo-Völkisch organizations in the U.S.. It promotes the idea that Ásatrú is a "tribal" religion for people of European descent and has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Odinic Rite (OR): Primarily active in the UK and U.S., this group defines itself as "folkish" and limits membership to white individuals. It emphasizes "racial preservation" and views nationality as biological.
Wotansvolk: An explicitly racialist movement founded by David Lane (author of the "14 Words") while in prison. It focuses heavily on "A***n" superiority and the concept of "racial holy war".
Blood Tribe: A more recent neo-N**i group whose members often adhere to Odinism or "esoteric Hi**erism," viewing Adolf Hi**er as a divine figure linked to the god Odin.
Co-opted Symbols
White power groups frequently use ancient Norse symbols to signify their ideology:
The Sonnenrad (Black Sun): Often used to represent "A***n" pride and white nationalism.
The Valknut: Sometimes used by racist Odinists as a symbol of their willingness to die for their race.
Othala Rune: Used by ethnonationalists because its name translates to "inherited land".
Tyr Rune (Tiwaz): Historically representing the god of justice, it has been co-opted by groups like the Nordic Resistance Movement.
Mainstream Heathen organizations have taken strong stances against these extremist elements. Over 150 groups signed Declaration 127, a statement denouncing the Asatru Folk Assembly and stating there is "no place for racism" in their faith. Groups like The Troth and Heathens United Against Racism (HUAR) actively work to reclaim these symbols from white power movements.
While there is no single, coordinated connection between all U.S. police and neo-pagan white power groups, investigations by the FBI and independent monitors have documented a persistent pattern of strategic infiltration and ideological sympathy within various law enforcement agencies.
Evidence of Infiltration
Federal and civil rights investigations have identified several ways these groups intersect with law enforcement:
Active Membership: Multiple officers have been fired after their ties to neo-pagan extremist groups were exposed. For example, a Virginia Capitol Police officer was terminated in 2019 after he was linked to the Asatru Folk Assembly
Recruitment Strategy: The FBI has warned that white supremacist groups, including those following neo-pagan ideologies like Odinism, explicitly encourage members to join law enforcement to gain paramilitary training, access to restricted intelligence, and a "legal" outlet for their activities.
Internal Gangs: In some large departments, officers have formed their own neo-N**i or white supremacist "cliques" or gangs. Notable cases include the "Vikings" in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Institutional Presence: In some instances, correctional officers have been accused of practicing and promoting Odinism (a racist variant of Asatru) within prison systems, using the faith to intimidate or abuse inmates.
Federal Warnings and Oversight
The U.S. government has recognized this issue as a significant domestic threat:
FBI Intelligence Assessments: Since at least 2006, the FBI has routinely warned its agents about both "strategic infiltration" by organized groups and "self-initiated infiltration" by individual officers sympathetic to white supremacist causes.
Executive Orders: Recent federal actions, such as Executive Order 14074 (May 2022), have mandated stricter vetting and recruitment practices to identify and exclude individuals with ties to white supremacist or anti-government groups.
Community Impact
The presence of extremist-aligned officers often leads to biased policing, the harassment of minority communities, and the disruption of legitimate investigations into hate crimes. Civil rights organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Brennan Center for Justice track these connections to advocate for more transparent vetting.
