World War Two Tours

Himmler’s SS

Wewelsburg Castle Tour Prices: 3 day tour £549 per guest Low Single Rooms Supplements £40 per night Deposit just £100 per person

Next Trip Dates: April 11-13 2014 SOLD OUT April 9-11 2015 PLACES AVAILABLE

What’s included: Bed & Breakfast Accommodation All transport from the official overseas start point Accompanied for the trip duration All Museum entrances All Expert Talks & Guidance Himmler’s SS Mystical castle: Wewelsburg Low Group Numbers

It is said that the Wewelsburg was going to be the “Grail Castle” of the Nazi regime, once it had “I just wanted to thank you for the established itself as rulers of the world. Is this true, and, if so, what was their ambition in this trip, it was a great experience & vast building project? both Nicky and I enjoyed it very much. Your depth of knowledge on It is clear that any Grail Castle to be built would have a geometrical design, and in the case of the subject certainly brought the the Wewelsburg, that is a triangle. For Himmler, the Wewelsburg was not so much the location past alive.” where the Grail was hidden, but where his Grail Order – the SS, the – and its sacred treasures – rumoured to be the Spear of Destiny – would be brought, and from which the magical power of the Nazi regime would radiate out.

Military History Tours is all about the ‘experience’. Naturally we take care of The castle was not built by the Nazi regime; its history started several centuries before the all local accommodation, transport and National Socialists came to power in 1933. In its current form, the castle was built from 1603 to entrances but what sets us aside is our on the ground knowledge and contacts, 1609, as a secondary residence for Fürstbischof Theodor von Fürstenberg, the prince-bishop of established over many, many years , whose primary residence was the castle at Neuhaus. However, there existed a castle that enable you to really get under the surface of your chosen subject matter. on the site from the 9th century onwards. By guiding guests around these historic locations we feel we are contributing greatly towards ‘keeping the spirit alive’ of some of the most memorable events in human history.

Let their sacrifice not be in vain.

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Heinrich Himmler Village of Wewelsburg

SS Blueprint for planned construction Model for SS expansion plans for the area

At the time, it withheld an invasion of the Huns, its location German unity and a demonstration that a united Germany could near what was believed to be the site where the Battle of the conquer all – as it was, of course, felt it would do again…. Teutoburg Forest occurred. This battle occurred in 9 AD, when various Germanic tribes made an alliance and ambushed and It meant that the estate had the shape of a spear, underlining destroyed three Roman legions. the unconfirmed belief that the site would become the location where the Spear of Destiny would be held. One story goes that The battle was the start of a seven year long war, whereby the Hitler saw his future when he visited the Museum in Vienna Rhine became the boundary of the Roman Empire. It should where the Spear was on display, and that he became convinced therefore not come as a surprise that it was seen as a symbol of that whoever possessed it, controlled the fate of the world.

Castle forms the tip of the spear The Spear of Destiny

Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory World War Two Tours

SS-Gruppenführer Karl Wolff Wewelsburg SS badge and Himmler Himmler inspects development plans

Top level invasion meeting SS weddings at the castle

That the Wewelsburg was going to be the New Jerusalem and the centre of Germany is in evidence as from 1941 onwards, the architects called the complex the “Centre of the World”. In line with sacred mythology, the design would sit on a mountain, surrounded by a lake, as there were plans to flood the valley.

Guests fly to Dortmund where they are met by the MHT Team. After collecting the mini bus the group sets off for the Castle driving through the Ruhr Valley and passing the mighty Dams “busted” by the RAF back in ’43. After the hour long journey we arrive at our hotel where we get checked in before heading off to

the Castle itself. Here we get our first impressions and discover Obergruppenführersaal: SS Generals’ Hall the lie of the land before heading back for a rest then dinner.

Crypt in North Tower Eternal flame in floor adorns the ceiling

Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory World War Two Tours

Castle East Wing Castle Inner Courtyard

Concentration Camp Guards Camp inmates The Quarry Camp

Day Two sees us at the Castle going through it’s history and tying the story into the ideological/mysticism of the Nazis. By reference to various alternative theories we are able to piece together what Himmler and his SS were seeking to achieve not just architecturally but also what the symbolism represented. We explore the history of the SS and their rise throughout the 1930s and the role they played during the war. We also visit the museum and see how the Nazis used slave labour to go about achieving this purpose as well as how the camp structure existed

in WW2. Returned to Wewelsburg: Death’s Head Rings of dead SS men Day Three we are back at the castle and discuss its capture by the Americans, and use it as a back drop to explain the wider story of how Himmler sought to bargain with the Western Allies towards the end of the war, and his ultimate fate. We then head back to Dortmund for our evening flights back to the UK.

For more information on this, or any other MHT tour, or to make a booking please call us on 0845 835 0644. Alternatively you can email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory