Swastikas in Shangri La: The Strange Story of the Nazi Expedition to Tibet
A frigid wind whips down into the valley from the towering peaks of the Himalayas. A small group of five European men and a dozen pack-laden sherpas squint into the wintry sunlight to see straight ahead. They pull the fur lined hoods of their parkas even tighter around their faces. For the last nine months these men have journeyed over halfway around the world by ship, train and on foot--mostly on foot--to get here. All of the men are exhausted. But as they proudly march through the ancient gates of the city of Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, and the Buddhist prayer flags flutter in the wind they feel exhilarated. Cheering crowds greet these military men as they walk through the city. Bands play “Deutschland uber Alles” and Swastika banners are held high. The date is January 19, 1939 and this is the high point of the Nazi pseudo-scientific expedition to Tibet. The titular leader of the expedition is an ...