Exploring the Myth of Vril Society

May 7, 2025

Vril Society

Overview

  • Vril Society is a fictitious secret society, reportedly existing in Germany in the early to mid-20th century.
  • Linked to conspiracy theories about its involvement in Nazi rise, using supernatural energies for technology advancement, notably flying machines (Reichsflugscheiben).
  • No concrete evidence supports the existence of this society or its attributed achievements.

The Novel The Coming Race and the Term Vril

  • Origin: The term Vril originates from the novel The Coming Race (1871) by Edward Bulwer-Lytton.
  • Concept: In the novel, Vril is a powerful psychic energy used by a subterranean race, Vril-Ya, enabling telepathy, telekinesis, and influencing both animate/inanimate matter.
  • Impact: The novel portrays Vril as a force that could pose a threat to humanity if Vril-Ya return to the surface.

Vril in Theosophy and Popular Theories

  • The Coming Race was interpreted as satire and occult literature.
  • Occultists like Helena Blavatsky used Vril as a synonym for secret natural forces.
  • The term Vril was incorporated into theories about Atlantis and esoteric movements.

The Further Reception

  • The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a surge in occultism and mysticism.
  • Vril concept spread among German occult circles, influencing the idea of a "magic technique" uniting science and religion.

Development and Content of the Legends About Vril Societies

  • Historical Templates: Willy Ley’s 1947 article cited a pre-WWII Berlin group interested in Vril, forming a basis for later legends.
  • Alleged Groups and Publications: Publications like Weltdynamismus and Vril. Die kosmische Urkraft claimed technological advances using Vril, though these were largely deemed pseudo-scientific.

Summary of the Research Situation

  • Research suggests the "Truth Society" and the "Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft" may have been the same short-lived group.
  • Post-WWII, the Vril Society concept was resurrected in conspiracy literature, with no factual basis.

Notable Authors and Theories

  • Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier: Introduced Vril Society in the 1960s, linking it to Nazi efforts to ally with supernatural powers.
  • Norbert Jürgen-Ratthofer and Ralf Ettl: In the 1990s, linked Vril to Nazi flying saucers and esoteric studies.
  • Jan Udo Holey: Popularized Vril-related conspiracies in esoteric and neo-Nazi literature in the 1990s.

Variations of the Legend

  • Maria Orsic: A medium allegedly involved with Vril Society, central to some legends.
  • Nazi UFOs: A separate but related myth, with no verifiable evidence, involves alleged Nazi flying saucers.

Cultural Impact

  • Vril and associated myths have influenced right-wing esotericism and have been featured in popular culture, like video games.

Conclusion

  • No substantial evidence supports the claims about the Vril Society.
  • The myth continues to attract interest within esoteric and conspiracy theory circles, often linked to right-wing extremism.