Last Podcast On The Left Episode 638: Heinrich Himmler Part II - The Reich Stuff
Oct 10, 2025
Dive into the tumultuous journey of Heinrich Himmler from a failed chicken farmer to a key Nazi architect. Explore his bizarre interests in the occult and how Hitler's ideologies reinforced his extremist beliefs. Discover the chilling evolution of the SS into a force steeped in mysticism and terror, alongside the logistical machinery that enabled the Holocaust. The episode also highlights Himmler's personal dramas and ambitious rise within the Nazi ranks, reflecting on the dark turning points in history.
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Failed Chicken Farm Before The SS
- Himmler briefly quit Nazi work to start a chicken farm and failed at agriculture despite his degree.
- The farm collapse pushed him back toward party bureaucracy where his talents for paperwork shone.
Paperwork Enabled Industrial Murder
- Himmler's talent for meticulous administration proved decisive: genocide required bureaucracy as much as violence.
- His obsession with paperwork enabled planning, record-keeping, and the scale of the Holocaust.
SS As Mythic Knightly Order
- Himmler transformed the tiny Schutzstaffel into a disciplined elite meant to be 'knights' for Nazi mythmaking.
- He infused the SS with occult symbolism and ritual to create a distinct, obedient caste within the party.
