Intellectual History Commons^™

Letter From Dr. Spengler To Wolfram Sievers, December 3, 1941, Wilhelm Spengler

Dowsing Research

In a letter to Obersturmbannführer Sievers, Dr. Spengler notes that dowsing rod researchers/users were not targeted in action taken against occult groups, but some may have been arrested if they were active in other occult activities. The letter states that the head of the security police and the SD want to meet with these groups to discuss scientific problems related to the occult. It was not expected that research of dowsing rods would be included in the planned work.

Letter From The Personal Staff Of The Reichsführer Ss To Wolfram Sievers, April 10, 1941, Personal Staff Of The Reichsführer-Ss

Dowsing Research

A letter from the office of the Reichsführer-SS to Wolfram Sievers regarding dowsing rods. The letter states that a report from the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD is attached and expresses the wish of the Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler, to continue discussing the reorganization of dowsing rod research in conjunction with the Reich Main Security Office. It is asked that certain points be clarified and the document returned.

Letter From Reinhard Heydrich To Heinrich Himmler, March 29, 1941, Reinhard Heydrich

Dowsing Research

In this letter from Reinhard Heydrich to Heinrich Himmler, Heydrich summarizes the books confiscated from the publisher J. Huber and lists his recommendations based on the petition by the Reich Association for Dowsing and the assessment conducted by Josef Wimmer. The document includes notes on the side in response to the recommendations. It is also noted the Dr. Lutz of the Propaganda Ministry does not need to be involved in these discussions as a middleman.

Letter From The Ahnenerbe To Rudolf Brandt, November 25, 1940, Ahnenerbe

Dowsing Research

In this letter to Rudolf Brandt of the Reichsführer-SS's personal staff, the writer states that Ahnenerbe Curator Walther Wüst has spoken to Dr. Lutz regarding dowsing rods and pendula and therefore it is not necessary for Brandt to reply to Lutz himself. Additionally, it is stated that the attachment includes the Ahnenerbe position on the prohibition of documents on dowsing and pendula in a letter from 11/20/40 which was sent to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD.

Letter From Wolfram Sievers To Reinhard Heydrich, November 20, 1940, Wolfram Sievers

Dowsing Research

This letter from Wolfram Sievers to Reinhard Heydrich summarized the assessment of confiscated documents related to dowsing, pendula, and astrology by Josef Wimmer of the Department for Applied Geology. Sievers notes the principles used for assessment: first, that recent research has led to great progress on the dowsing question and physical causes related to the sidereal pendulum may also soon be understandable; second, the dowsing literature does contain false reports and mistakes, but also much that has been scientifically proven - the task at hand, therefore, is to sift the literature and separate out that which is valuable and prevent …

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Wolfram Sievers, November 1, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Memo to Sievers from Wimmer stating that he is sending his opinions on a paper by Dr. Beyer and asking that the report be forwarded to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD, Reinhard Heydrich.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Wolfram Sievers, November 1, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Note from Josef Wimmer to Wolfram Sievers accompanying Wimmer's commentary on a paper from the Reich Association for Dowsing and a report from the SD. Wimmer asks that his assessment be forwarded to the Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Wolfram Sievers, November 1, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Note from Josef Wimmer to Wolfram Sievers accompanying an assessment of 14 documents, with the request that the assessment be forwarded to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei, Reinhard Heydrich.

Letter From The Head Of The Sicherheits Polizei And The Sd To The Ahnenerbe, October 31, 1940, Head Of The Sicherheitspolizei And The Sd

Dowsing Research

A request from a representative of the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD (Reinhard Heydrich) to the Ahnenerbe for an update on the review of dowsing and pendulum documents expressing the hope that this activity can be completed shortly, as they must report to the Reichsführer-SS (Heinrich Himmler).

Assessment Of Confiscated Astrology Literature By Josef Wimmer For Reinhard Heydrich, October 30, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

In a document sent to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD, Josef Wimmer provides an assessment of confiscated documents related to astrology. He recommends the release of two documents, Astronomical Ephemeris for the year 1940 and Abdias Trew's Layout plan for reformed astrology. The sequestration is recommended to be upheld for Planet Signatures by Thomas Ring and The New Planet Pluto by Fritz Brunhübner. Wimmer remained undecided about a final document, The Dynamics of the Cosmos by H.H. Reinsch.

Report By Josef Wimmer On The Position Paper By The Reich Association For Dowsing And The S.D. Report, October 30, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

In this report, Josef Wimmer adds his opinion on first, the position paper by the Reich Association for Dowsing which defends dowsing and proposes official measures to protect the practice and empower the association and second, a report from the SD in response to the Reich Association petition. Wimmer responds to criticism of dowsing included in the SD report while also recognizing sources of error that the Reich Association training fails to address. He concludes with proposals that would reorganize the association and strengthen the training and oversight capacities, placing the association within the oversight of the Ahnenerbe and encouraging …

Assessment Of Confiscated Dowsing And Pendulum Literature By Josef Wimmer For Reinhard Heydrich, October 30, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

In a document sent to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD, Josef Wimmer provides an assessment of confiscated documents related to dowsing rods and pendula. He describes nine documents and provides his own opinion on their value. He recommends the release of seven documents, the classification of one (Baron von Pohl's Earthly Radiations as Pathogen) and the sequestration of one (F. Kallenberg's "Revelations of the Sidereal Pendulum". He additionally comments on the state of dowsing rod research and the principles he used to assess the documents. Finally, he states that the Ahnenerbe should be consulted on all cases …

Letter From The Ahnenerbe To Walther Wüst, September 25, 1940, Ahnenerbe

Dowsing Research

In a letter written on behalf of Wolfram Sievers, it is requested that the requested assessment of dowsing rod documents be completed as soon as possible as the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD Reinhard Heydrich is eager to find a solution.

Letter From The Head Of The Sicherheits Polizei And The Sd To The Ahnenerbe, August 13, 1940, Head Of The Sicherheitspolizei And The Sd

Dowsing Research

This letter accompanies documents seized during the sequestration of occult literature. It is noted that the Reich Association for Dowsing requested the release of the books and the letter writer asks that the Ahnenerbe provide a statement of opinion on the documents in question.

Letter From Josef Wimmer To Reinhard Heydrich, August 5, 1940, Josef Wimmer

Dowsing Research

Writing to Reinhard Heydrich, Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and of the SD, Josef Wimmer summarizes a letter from Paul Beyer of the Reich Association for Dowsing, in which Beyer states that dowsing is useful in many areas and offers examples from his own experience. Wimmer references his own response to a prior document. He states that the regulation of dowsing is planned for the period following the end of the war, but transitional provisions could be made in agreement with the Ahnenerbe for the time being to allow the use of dowsers for economic and military purposes.

Note From Rudolf Brandt Representing The Reichsführer-Ss Himmler To Reinhard Heydrich And The Ahnenerbe, July 23, 1940, Rudolf Brandt

Dowsing Research

In this note sent to the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD and to the Ahnenerbe, Rudolf Brandt as a representative of the Reichsführer-SS states that he is sending to the recipients copies of a paper from the Reich Association for Dowsing regarding the confiscation of literature on dowsing and pendula. He mentions in particular works published by J. Huber in Diessen vor München as well as a book from Baron von Pohl on earth radiation as a pathogen. He conveys the opinion of the Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler, that the works should be released and the Ahnenerbe consulted on …

Letter From Wolfram Sievers To Walther Wüst, June 4, 1940, Wolfram Sievers

Dowsing Research

A letter from Wolfram Sievers, managing director of the Ahnenerbe, to Walther Wüst, curator of the Ahnenerbe. Sievers states that he is forwarding a letter from the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD as well as a letter from Dr. Paul Beyer which includes the document "My Successes with Dowsing Rods". Sievers asks that Wüst take action in forwarding the documents to Josef Wimmer, as the meeting they had planned had not yet taken place. A handwritten note from Wüst confirms this transaction.

Letter From The Head Of The Sicherheits Polizei And The Sd To The Ahnenerbe, May 31, 1940, Head Of The Sicherheitspolizei And The Sd

Dowsing Research

This letter, composed on behalf of the Head of the Sicherheitspolizei and the SD Reinhard Heydrich, was written to accompany a document forwarded to the Ahnenerbe. The document in question is Paul Beyer's "My Successes with Dowsing Rods". The writer notes that nothing is known of Baron von Leesen and the Ahnenerbe should deal with the document as circumstances require.

Report Of The Sd Directed At Reichsführer Ss Heinrich Himmler, May 26, 1939, Sicherheitsdienst

Dowsing Research

This report from the SD responds to the petition by the Reich Association for Dowsing which defends dowsing and asks for measures to regulate dowsing and empower the association in its oversight capacities.

The SD response begins with a summary of the arguments made by the Reich Association for Dowsing which refers to dowsing successes and outlines obstacles in the form of hostility from the science community, lack of resources, and the detrimental effect of "wild dowsers" on the overall reputation of the practice.

The paper then explores the organization itself, noting that it is based on a system of …