Hitler's successes as Nazi dictator have given way to a number
of occult theories. One of the most common of these is the story of
the Spear of Destiny. Also called the Holy Lance, this spear was
believed to have been the weapon used to pierce the side of Jesus
Christ at the Crucifixion.
The Spear subsequently passed through a multitude of hands, coming
into the possession of many of Europes most important political
and military leaders, including Constantine I, Alaric (the Visigoth
king who sacked Rome in the year 410), Frankish general Charles
Martel, Charlemagne, Frederick of Barbarossa, and Frederick
II.
A leader who possessed the Spear was said to be invincible;
Charlemagne and Frederick of Barbarossa were undefeated in battle
until they let the Spear fall from their hands. A legend arose that
whoever claimed the Spear holds the destiny of the world in his
hands for good or evil.
The Spear of Destiny
As a young man Adolf Hitler was fascinated by the Spear of Destiny,
which he first saw displayed in the Hofsburg museum in Vienna,
Austria in 1909. Hitler was familiar with the legend of the Spear.
His interest in the relic was further amplified by its role in the
1882 opera Parsifal by Hitlers favorite composer, Richard Wagner
which concerned a group of ninth-century knights and their quest
for the Holy Grail.
Hitlers fascination with the Spear was pivotal in sparking his
interest in the occult, which gave birth to his ideas on the
origins and purpose of the Germanic race and contributed to his
belief in his own destiny as a world conqueror.
On October 12, 1938, not long after the German annexation of
Austria, Hitler ordered the S.S. to seize the Spear and other
artifacts from Vienna. They were taken by train to Nuremberg, where
they were stored in St. Katherines Church. The Spear remained in
St. Katherines until 1944, when it was moved to a specially
constructed vault beneath the church, built in secret and at great
expense, intended to protect it and the other stolen relics from
Allied bombs.
Nuremberg was captured by Allied troops in April of the following
year. The vault was subsequently discovered by American Army
officers. The Spear was confiscated by American forces on the
afternoon of April 30, 1945, less than two hours before Hitlers
suicide in his underground bunker in Berlin. Like the Spears
previous owners, Hitler perished after the relic was taken from
him.
