The Muslim Nazis I: Early Adventures with Imperial German Islamophilia

"The peoples of Islam will always be closer to us than, for example, France. ... Had Charles Martel not been victorious at Poiters, then we should in all probability have been converted to Mohammedanism, that cult which glorifies the heroism and which opens up the seventh Heaven to the bold warrior alone. Then the Germanic races would have conquered the world."-Adolf Hitler The first episode of History Impossible's first series introduces one of the most controversial aspects of Nazi Germany's strategy in the Second World War: its implementation of Muslims. Where one could simply write it off as mere opportunism--a claim that isn't without some truth--there was a much deeper connection between the two cultures fabricated by figures operating within them. In this series premiere, the Islamic soldiers who would fight for Hitler's army and even begin to develop a reputation are introduced and then the early days of Imperial German-Islamic allyship is explored. There are visits to the tomb of Saladin by the Kaiser, frantic diplomatic trips full of mishaps undertaken by German Orientalists during the First World War, and the introduction of probably one of the most underappreciated figures in both the Second World War and in the history of Israel and Palestine. This is the history of the so-called "Muslim Nazis." History Impossible has been made possible by the following generous supporters on Patreon and PayPal:Benjamin BernierElias BorotaMiklos BuksaMatthew DakusKyle DillonGavin EdwardsPeter HauckDevin HrehaMike KalninsBenjamin Lee Jose MartinezMike MaylebenJudy McCoidMonicaKostas MorosMolly PanEdmund PlamowskiBrian PritzlPJ RaderGleb RadutskySailusAlison SaloSamEmily SchmidtCameron SmithJared Cole TempleSteve UhlerRicky WortheyF. You