The Nazi Party has long been associated with the looting and hoarding of historical artifacts, pseudoscientific research, and the occult. This was especially true of Heinrich Himmler and his SS.

Himmler, who had a personal occultist, created a chapter of his elite SS known as the Ahnenerbe as a form of think tank and research unit.

One objective of the Ahnenerbe was to unearth or establish a strong historical identity of the Nazis’ predecessors through the study of archeology.

One of the most precious artifacts sought by the Nazis was the Spear of Destiny (also known as the Holy Lance or the Lance of Longinus), which is alleged to be the spear that pierced Christ's abdomen.

As a child, Hitler had seen the Spear in a museum, and he had become enamored with it, believing it to be a key to untold power. He is supposed to have later stated that the Spear of Destiny had given him a vision of the future, which had informed his own political and ideological beliefs.

One reason that high-ranking Nazis were willing to chase this artifact, besides its cultural significance, was that the Spear of Destiny is said to bestow upon its possessor magical powers, including immortality and the ability to conquer one’s enemies.

Legend has it that the first Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, had wielded the Spear of Destiny for 47 consecutive military victories and that - on the very day that he finally dropped it - he fell dead. Hitler and his officers believed that the Spear would aid them in the same way as they waged war in Europe. As part of the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Emperor, Hitler also believed that possessing the spear would legitimize his right to rule in victory.