Germania: Why Were The Nazis Obsessed With This Ancient Roman Book?

In their search for proof of Aryan superiority, the Nazis turned to Germania, an ancient Roman text written by Tacitus nearly 2,000 years ago. Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, believed the manuscript described an idealized Germanic warrior society—pure, noble, and superior to all others. The Nazis used Germania to justify their racial policies, twisting its content to fit their propaganda and worldview. In this episode of Myth Hunters, they unravel how an ancient manuscript fueled a deadly myth, exposing the tragic consequences of distorting history for ideology. Welcome to The World History Channel. With new uploads every week, we break down the biggest stories that have shaped human history. From the dawn of ancient civilisations up to the modern age, these are the stories from our past that matter the most. 📺 Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world-renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis, and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code WORLDHISTORY 👉 https://historyhit.com/subscribe