In 1933, Himmler accompanied Hitler on a tour of the country when he came to the town of Schwarenberg. He not only developed a great interest in the town, but also fell in love with the Castle of Viviers near the town. At that time the castle was a local cultural center, with a small local museum and a youth hostel for the homeless. Therefore, Himmler negotiated with the town government to buy the castle, but was unsuccessful.
Himmler, who was indispensable for the castle, soon found the municipal government. In 1934, the town government reluctantly signed a lease contract with him for the castle for a period of 100 years, for a total of 100 marks, that is, a symbolic mark per year. Himmler was particularly interested in the castle because it was not only once owned by the King of Prussia whom he revered, but was also built near the battlefield of Teutoburg's Lingshan Mountain, overlooking the valley of the same name.
In the 9th century, it was at Teutonburg That german tribes united to defeat three Roman legions. Although the war lasted for 7 years, the Germans fought the Romans back to the other side of the Rhine. Another, more important reason is that the castle is triangular in shape. Himmler believed that beneath the triangular castle, the triangular "Spear of Destiny" was permanently buried. According to legend, whoever possesses the "Spear of Destiny" is invincible and conquers the world.
Not only that, but after studying with his group of astrologers and magic masters, Himmler believed that the castle itself had a mysterious and supernatural power. Many of the high-ranking officials of the Third Reich were passionate about magic and astrology, and Himmler was one of them. The SS logo evolved from a Nordic version of the Rooney script, which is considered mysterious. After renting the castle, he personally drew up a blueprint for renovation and expansion.
Initially, Himmler wanted to make the castle an SS school and research center. Himmler studied German prehistory, early history, medieval history, folklore, Germanic ethnographic history, and ethnography. All of this is to prove that the SS is the elite of the elite, the spire of the ethnographic pyramid. Schools, on the other hand, must firmly imprint these values on the consciousness of future SS leaders. In the syllabus drawn up by Himmler himself, the school also taught black magic and how to use supernatural powers.
Of course, as Himmler's interest shifted, the teaching of black magic and supernatural forces did not last long. By 1938, Himmler had placed greater expectations on the castle. He was thrilled to concoct a whole new myth for the castle, making it the spiritual center of the SS. After 1940, he was even more arrogant in wanting to make the castle "the center of the future world", "a new Jerusalem, the peoples will come to the dynasty." He was convinced that Germany would win the war and that the Aryans would rule the world.
In addition to personally drawing up plans for renovation and expansion, Himmler also decided on the decoration of the castle, ranging from the pattern of the dome to the color of the hall to the pattern of the tablecloth. Unlike other castles, buildings, and villas in Himmler, the names of every room and corridor here are circled by Himmler, taken from famous kings, military leaders, legendary heroes, or organizations that made history in German and European history.
The dining rooms, ballrooms, courts, gymnasiums, chess and card rooms, libraries, classrooms, clubs, dormitories, and offices in the castle are called the Holy Grail, King Arthur, Heinrich I, Henry the Lionheart, Christopher Columbus, Aryan, Mystic Symbol, Teutonic Knights, Imperial Leader, King of Prussia, and so on.
Himmler, who loved the legend of King Arthurian, also built a hall with 12 columns, each of which was guarded by a long flame. His SS had 12 branches, and his favorite cronies were the leaders of those 12 departments. He said he was King Arthur himself, the head of the 12 departments, his 12 Knights of the Round Table. When a knight dies, he is buried under the base of the hall's columns. The burial ground that Himmler had arranged for himself was the dome of king Arthur's hall in The Castle of Viviers. Of course, he failed to do so.
Although the details are unknown, it is certain that whenever the Nazi Party or SS celebrated an important celebration, or before a major battle, Himmler would hold a religious ceremony at the castle. The 12 SS officers, who symbolize the Knights of the Round Table, perform special performances in water and fire, in the shadow of swords and lightsabers. Himmler said that this was the center of mysterious power, and in this way the SS could acquire extraordinary powers.
Himmler did not allow his men to have Christian weddings, and the officers who were particularly fond of or favored by him had them go to the castle for weddings and were themselves the main marriages. He felt that it was up to himself, rather than the priest, to announce the union of a new couple, which would bring them luck and happiness. Himmler advocated that SS officials could have more than one woman, each with at least 4 children.
Within the SS, there is its own system of honor, namely the "SS Sword", the "SS Dagger" and the "Skull Ring". The "Skull Ring", also known as the "Himmler Ring", is named after a skull pattern in the middle of the ring. The ring was originally awarded only to older senior officials, and later anyone who had served in the SS for more than 3 years could become a candidate. The ring is inscribed in Rune script with the winner's name, the time of his ordination, and Himmler's signature. Himmler, like Hitler, believed that the mysterious writing itself carried a supernatural power.
According to the rules, the ring can only be worn on the ring finger of the left hand. If an SS member who was given the ring is fired, he must return the ring before leaving. At its peak, it became fashionable to wear "skull rings" in the SS. Since the "skull ring" could not be sold or bought, SS officers and men who did not have the ring often asked local silversmiths to imitate one for themselves. In 1938, Himmler ordered that if the owner of the "Skull Ring" died, the Ring must return to Viviers Castle.
These were returned to the rings of the castle and were uniformly stored in a room in the basement. The researchers believe that Himmler is trying to show that even if the lives of SS members are terminated, their identity and mission will never change. According to statistics, in the basement of the castle, 11,500 skull rings were once stored. When Himmler knew that Germany's defeat was irreparable, he ordered the castle to be blown up.
Before giving the order, he had successfully transferred the supposedly $93 million treasure hidden in the castle, along with the 11,500 skull rings. These treasures and rings are said to be hidden in the mountains near The Castle of Viviers. However, more than 70 years later, countless treasure hunters have worked hard and have not found them.