
Oberarbeitsleiter Magnus Voller, the branch's director
Verteidigung Germanisches Altertum, the "Defense of German Antiquities", was a branch of the Nazi SS that dealt with the defense of German antiquities. University of Dresden graduate and archaeologist Magnus Völler was placed by Heinrich Himmler as the branch's Oberarbeitsleiter after inheriting the late French mercenary René Emile Belloq's position within the Nazi ranks in charge of researching the occult for Adolf Hitler, particularly Biblical artifacts like those Völler sought. Under Völler's control, the branch had become one of the SS's most powerful departments within, their director being able to report directly to Himmler and draw on resources of the Waffen-SS or the Gestapo.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The Verteidigung Germanisches Altertum was only mentioned in Rob MacGregor's unpublished novelization of the Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings video game, as a means to expand on the background of Magnus Völler.[1] The game itself has no references to what Nazi organization Völler works for other than the party overall,[2] and given how Indycron keeper Leland Chee stated during an interview with TheRaider.net in 2010 that a copy of MacGregor's completed manuscript never reached him,[3] it's unclear how much, if any, information about the Verteidigung Germanisches Altertum is part of the Indiana Jones canon.
Appearances[]
- Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings novel (Cancelled)