Relations between Spanish Archaeologists and Nazi Germany (1939–1945): A preliminary examination of the influence of Das Ahnenerbe in Spain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5334/bha.18102Keywords:
facism, nazism, nazi, himmler, olallaAbstract
Julio Martínez Santa Olalla, appointed Commissioner-General for Archaeological Excavations at the Spanish Ministry of National Education and Fine Arts in 1939, established, with the support of the Falange (Spain’s fascist political organisation), relations with the Third Reich’s Das Ahnenerbe, a research institute that formed part of the Allgemeine SS commanded by Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. The first collaboration between the two institutions comprised the excavation of the Visigothic necropolis of Castiltierra (Segovia).
In October 1940, during Himmler’s official visit to Spain, the personal relationship established between Himmler and Martínez Santa Olalla resulted in a plan to set up a Falange-sponsored institution for archaeological research modelled on that of Das Ahnenerbe. Political, academic and personal relations were maintained between Martínez Santa Olalla and SS members Sievers, Wüst, Langsdorff and Jankuhn, and also with the Amt Rosenberg directed by Reichsminister Alfred Rosenberg, until the fall of the Nazi regime. This study analyses these and other relations between Spanish archaeologists and Nazi Germany between 1939 and 1945.
[Julio Martínez Santa Olalla, Comisario General de Excavaciones Arqueológicas del Ministerio de Educación Nacional y Bellas Artes desde 1939, estableció, con el apoyo de Falange, relaciones científicas y personales con la sociedad Das Ahnenerbe, una de las instituciones de investigación englobadas en la Allgemeine-SS dirigida por el Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. La primera colaboración entre ambas instituciones se centró en la excavación de la necrópolis visigoda de Castiltierra (Segovia).
En el mes de octubre de 1940, durante la visita oficial de Himmler a España, la relación personal entre Himmler y Martínez Santa Olalla se tradujo en un proyecto de desarrollo de una institución de investigación arqueológica copiada de Das Ahnenerbe y dependiente de Falange que substituyera a la Comisaría General. Las relaciones políticas, personales y científicas de Martínez Santa Olalla con los miembros de las SS Sievers, Wüst, Langsdorff y Jankuhn continuaron hasta la caída del régimen nazi, así como también con el Amt Rosenberg, dirigido por el Reichsminister Alfred Rosenberg. El estudio analiza también las relaciones entre otros arqueólogos españoles y la investigación nazi entre 1939 y 1945.]
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