Uranias Children: The Strange World of the Astrologers
URANIA'S CHILDREN is Ellic Howe's memoir of his employment in the British Government's covert operations to undermine German morale in World War II. The Allies were aware of the Nazis' interest in the occult (which to their way of thinking included astrology). Although neither side truly gave much credence to astrology, both were aware of its value as a propaganda tool. Both sides published phony "translations" of the prophecies of Nostradamus and included interpretations indicating success for their side and doom for their enemy. Howe was recruited to create fake horoscopes predicting dire consequences for Hitler and the Axis. Among the projects Howe created was a spurious German astrology magazine called "Der Zenit," full of bad omens for the Nazis, and had it smuggled into Germany. There had at one time been a genuine German astrological publication called "Zenit" whose design and layout were copied by "Der Zenit" in hopes of being mistaken for the genuine article. However, the Nazis discovered the phony publication and immediately recognized it for what it was because its alleged publisher had already died in a German concentration camp.
The British also hired astrologers to second guess what Hitler's astrologers might counsel based on his horoscope and to predict what the Nazis would do based on that advice. The allies would then have some idea of what the Nazis were planning and would be ready to counteract those plans. So alongside the real war, there was a theoretical one based solely on the interpretation of astrological symbols and guesses as to how the enemy would interpret those symbols and what actions they might take based on that interpretation.
This story is a fascinating one and is probably best enjoyed if read in conjunction with ZODIAC AND SWASTIKA by German astrologer Wilhelm Wulff, who was recruited by Himmler to work for the Nazis. Howe's book was not as interesting to me as Wulff's, probably because Howe lacked Wulff's emotional motivation for writing his book. I also think that even in translation, Wulff was a better writer. Nonetheless, those interested in World War II and astrology will find URANIA'S CHILDREN very much worth reading.
URANIA'S CHILDREN is Ellic Howe's memoir of his employment in the British Government's covert operations to undermine German morale in World War II. The Allies were aware of the Nazis' interest in the occult (which to their way of thinking included astrology). Although neither side truly gave much credence to astrology, both were aware of its value as a propaganda tool. Both sides published phony "translations" of the prophecies of Nostradamus and included interpretations indicating success for their side and doom for their enemy. Howe was recruited to create fake horoscopes predicting dire consequences for Hitler and the Axis. Among the projects Howe created was a spurious German astrology magazine called "Der Zenit," full of bad omens for the Nazis, and had it smuggled into Germany. There had at one time been a genuine German astrological publication called "Zenit" whose design and layout were copied by "Der Zenit" in hopes of being mistaken for the genuine article. However, the Nazis discovered the phony publication and immediately recognized it for what it was because its alleged publisher had already died in a German concentration camp.
The British also hired astrologers to second guess what Hitler's astrologers might counsel based on his horoscope and to predict what the Nazis would do based on that advice. The allies would then have some idea of what the Nazis were planning and would be ready to counteract those plans. So alongside the real war, there was a theoretical one based solely on the interpretation of astrological symbols and guesses as to how the enemy would interpret those symbols and what actions they might take based on that interpretation.
This story is a fascinating one and is probably best enjoyed if read in conjunction with ZODIAC AND SWASTIKA by German astrologer Wilhelm Wulff, who was recruited by Himmler to work for the Nazis. Howe's book was not as interesting to me as Wulff's, probably because Howe lacked Wulff's emotional motivation for writing his book. I also think that even in translation, Wulff was a better writer. Nonetheless, those interested in World War II and astrology will find URANIA'S CHILDREN very much worth reading.
URANIA'S CHILDREN is Ellic Howe's memoir of his employment in the British Government's covert operations to undermine German morale in World War II. The Allies were aware of the Nazis' interest in the occult (which to their way of thinking included astrology). Although neither side truly gave much credence to astrology, both were aware of its value as a propaganda tool. Both sides published phony "translations" of the prophecies of Nostradamus and included interpretations indicating success for their side and doom for their enemy. Howe was recruited to create fake horoscopes predicting dire consequences for Hitler and the Axis. Among the projects Howe created was a spurious German astrology magazine called "Der Zenit," full of bad omens for the Nazis, and had it smuggled into Germany. There had at one time been a genuine German astrological publication called "Zenit" whose design and layout were copied by "Der Zenit" in hopes of being mistaken for the genuine article. However, the Nazis discovered the phony publication and immediately recognized it for what it was because its alleged publisher had already died in a German concentration camp.
The British also hired astrologers to second guess what Hitler's astrologers might counsel based on his horoscope and to predict what the Nazis would do based on that advice. The allies would then have some idea of what the Nazis were planning and would be ready to counteract those plans. So alongside the real war, there was a theoretical one based solely on the interpretation of astrological symbols and guesses as to how the enemy would interpret those symbols and what actions they might take based on that interpretation.
This story is a fascinating one and is probably best enjoyed if read in conjunction with ZODIAC AND SWASTIKA by German astrologer Wilhelm Wulff, who was recruited by Himmler to work for the Nazis. Howe's book was not as interesting to me as Wulff's, probably because Howe lacked Wulff's emotional motivation for writing his book. I also think that even in translation, Wulff was a better writer. Nonetheless, those interested in World War II and astrology will find URANIA'S CHILDREN very much worth reading.