Flowers and Moynihan have published here "the real documents of Nazi Occultism". Weird, man. I picked this book up because I started making my own Elder Futhark runes, and like Tolkien, I have an interest in Norse and Germanic traditions and myths (remember those runes on the Lord of the Rings map?, not to mention his character names).

Karl Maria Wiligut was a fascinating historical character. Within the Austrian army he rose to colonel and saw much action in WW1. He was active in several secret societies and somewhat of a conspiracy theorist when it came to the Jesuits, Jews, and Freemasons. His wife eventually stuck him in an insane asylum. After he got out of the nut house he became active within small circles of National Socialists (Nazi party) and eventually Himmler initiated Wiligut into the SS, where it is said he created the SS ring, the SS ceremonies, and the ritualistic interior design of the Wewelsburg Castle (home to the SS before the arrival of US troops—it was blown up before the Americans ascertained the secrets within). In other words, Karl Maria Wiligut—Lord of the Runes and Secret King—was a highly influential man within the Third Reich.

Within Appendix E is a most enlightening interview with Frau Gabriele Winckler-Dechend, which was extracted from correspondence with Manfred Lenz. This woman and her mother had much personal experience in matters. She bears much light on Wiligut, her personal acquaintance.

Does it get any better than a brief and bizarre biography of Wiligut? YES! After learning that the highly charismatic Wiligut believed himself to be the "Secret King" and heir of the ancient holy clan Ueiskuning, we come to the man's own published esoteric writings (which were mostly published in the journal "Hagal" through the 1930s)!

The Wiligut tradition is not presented as a clear and pristine picture—Wiligut didn't publish much of his writings or didn't write much. However, his disciples are many and his name is known alongside those such as Julius Evola, Ernst Lauterer (Tarnhari), Guido von List, Gunther Kirchoff, Otto Rahn, Jörg Lanz von Liebenfels, Rudolf John Gorsleben, and even Helena Blavatsky.

As you can see, we are falling head first into esoteric ideologies and the religious workings which Nazism embraced (at least Himmler, the SS, and small esoteric circles within the party, anyway).

"The Secret King" contains a lot of reference info in a small space. For an overview of some of what the book entails I suggest this wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariosophy

Karl Maria Wiligut certainly did not consider himself a Wotanist, which is somewhat of a paradox to me. He at times sounds like a protestant preacher. At times not (expressing his views on original sin, and the gods and goddesses of a distant Northerly past). He proclaims monotheism. Got.

In the wonderful appendices of this book is an article entitled "The Wiligut Saga" by Adolf Schleipfer (Irminsul, No. 5, 1982). Schleipfer is a Wotanist who blasts Wiligut for his Christian (be they Irmin) views. He even hints at Wiligut's middle name—Maria—as proof of his and his family's Catholicism. Nevertheless, he states emphatically that the Wiligut tradition is important and not quite flawed, just something else, akin to wrong in its K(Ch?)ristian nature... More paradox.

There is a lot here to digest even though the book is only 155 pages long. I feel as if I've just broken the surface on a very large subject. I couldn't help but think of Brian Lumley's "Psycomech Trilogy" throughout reading.

Culture and Hollywood (e.g. Indiana Jones) have forever married National Socialism with devious Occultism. Mayhaps with good reason.

Most interesting to me was Wiligut's runic digressions. Short, but intriguing. Also, within Wiligut's Halgarita-sayings was an eldritch Baphomet mantra.

Truth is definitely stranger than fiction.

P.S.
This book came with an awesome bind-rune bookmark! ( )