Atlantis. The legendary continent that sank to the bottom of the sea with origins that can be traced back as far as Plato's writings. Cursed by the gods, the mythical remnants of this lost civilization are believed to guard treasures and powers that have captured imaginations for centuries. Many have searched for it in vain, but as the Nazis rose to power, Himmler and the SS were convinced Atlantis could be found and instigated a series of archeological expeditions determined to uncover and exploit its secrets. So convinced in the existence of the lost mythical land, they even built a temple to house the relics they were certain they'd locate. From the ruins of an ancient south American city, to strange rock carvings in Sweden, the Ahnenerbe scoured the globe to find clues to the whereabouts of Atlantis.
Witchcraft has been practiced for centuries around the world, persevering as sinister forces attempted to wipe it out or warp it into something evil. In Nazi Germany, mysterious questions about witchcraft swirled among SS leaders. Could these ancient practices restore Germany to their Aryan roots? Himmler's dedication to cultivating an Aryan super-race, even creating chemically-injected super soldiers to conquer their enemies and expand the Reich, bordered on madness. Convinced the medieval witch trials were an attempt by a Jewish-Christian alliance to exterminate the Aryans, Himmler established a Special Assignment research team led by Reinhard Heydrich to build a database of medieval German witchcraft practices. Dogged determination unveils a shocking truth about Himmler's very own 15th century ancestor, as the impending war threatens to render their research irrelevant.
The Holy Grail, an ancient relic shrouded in mystique and lore. Many have quested after it, some even claiming to have found it. Throughout history, the Grail has been subject to many interpretations, from the chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper to a stone with miraculous youth-preserving virtue, its true form remaining a mystery. As the Third Reich rises to power, Himmler and other members of the SS become fixated on the Grail, interpreting much of the myth surrounding it as fact, and the quest for it as attainable. Whether as a trophy for display or a magical weapon that would ensure victory in war, the Nazis were desperate to secure this relic as their own.
The Himalayas, the world's highest mountain range, are believed to be home to a host of mythical powers and creatures. A pseudoscientific theory embraced by the Nazis claimed their Aryan ancestors had sought refuge here during a mythical cataclysmic ice age. This episode uncovers the details of this astonishing expedition led by Zoologist Ernst Schaefer who had encountered a mysterious Tibetan beast on a prior expedition, perhaps the infamous Yeti. Himmler's unwavering belief in this theory pushed this secret SS mission to the roof of the world hunting for traces of the lost Aryan bloodline, while Germany was teetering on the brink of war.
Over centuries, researchers have come closer to understanding the true origins of humanity, but there are still fundamental questions up for debate. There is power in this debate and it becomes the fixation of a nefarious power as Heinrich Himmler, leader of the Nazi's SS, turns his attention to proving the Paleolithic past of Germany's Aryan race.
Runes are the letters of an ancient Germanic writing system that harkens back to a mythological age filled with heroes, magic, and mystery. To the Nazis, runes were about power, and represented proof of Aryan dominance. Himmler made rune studies obligatory for SS officers as he believed they held mystical power and even placed protective runes on SS uniforms and buildings.