Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant [Hardcover]

Jan Erik Hanussen was a con man. But was he also a true clairvoyant? This hair-raisingly sensational biography draws no conclusions on that point, but raises some compelling evidence. There has been very little printed in English about the enigmatic Hanussen; and some of the German sources are suspect, as Hanussen himself altered documents and the Nazis destroyed as much evidence about him as possible. But Mel Gordon has nonetheless come through with a splendid book. On one level it's a rag-to-riches tale of a poor Jewish boy named Herman Steinschneider who re-invents himself as Danish royalty and develops an act that makes him one of the biggest stars of the era. But it becomes a kind of political thriller when the closet Jew attracts the admiration of up-and-coming politician Adolf Hitler. Not only that: the star has made enemies on his climb to the top who now see an opportunity to exact revenge. The life of Steinschneider/Hanussen was every bit as dramatic as fiction.

Parts of this book are disturbing, especially the harrowing scenes of his "training" a woman for a circus act that involved being run over and having a rock crushed on her. There are also scenes of Nazi sex orgies in which some of the participants are hypnotized. One of the most shocking things in the book is the plausible suggestion that Hanussen himself was responsible for the burning of the Reichstag by hypnotizing the ne'er-do-well communist Marinus van der Lubbe and commanding him to set the fire. This was the event that brought Hitler to power, resulting in World War II and the mass extinction of perhaps as many as six million Jews (with one of the first to go being Hanussen nee Steinschneider).

This is a dynamite book. Its sensational story is supported by more than a hundred black-and-white photographs as well as translated reprints of contemporary newspaper and magazine articles. The book includes an index, bibliography and notes. Gordon's thought-provoking book is a formidable accomplishment in the literature about World War II. Outstanding.

Jan Hanussen used simple conjuring tricks and an uncanny understanding of human nature to become the most celebrated and equally reviled psychic of the 1920-30's. Hanussen was the subject of numerous scandals and court cases, yet nevertheless managed to become so entrenched within the Nazi circle of political power that there was only one way out, his execution. Mel Gordon chronicles the life of this fascinating character. Though not the easiest read in the world, the players become so engaging that one truly wants to see how everything plays out. Did Hanussen have a latent gift? That will never be answered. The more interesting question, I think, is how did someone using his limited knowledge and informal training manage to capture the attention of an entire culture. I enjoyed the time I spent with this book and would like to have seen more of the "source materials" from which the author derived his conclusions. Those that were presented, I felt, were the gems of the book.

It's amazing the lengths a person will go in order to seem more important and "special" than they really are, Erik Jan Hanussen, a Jew, not only denounced his easily argued Jewish roots and converted to Catholicism, he likewise joined the NAZI party. . . because the highest ranking, most influential of members to said order, liked him and even promoted him; in return he poured donations to the fledgling cult and served as a chief loan source. Then again, he hosted very quietly set "Orgies" alongside his many "Séances" -- demonstrations of his uncanny gifts of Telepathy and Precognition coupled with Hypnosis, not the whole speaking to dead people idea most think of when hearing that word -- "Séance" (a gathering and seating of people).

Jan Hanussen was a man torn and tormented; on one hand he has an amazing success story as the abandoned teen that caught-on to the carnival-circus styles of entertainment -- the Side show. He had a natural propensity for Hypnosis and what was known in the day as "Contact Telepathy" (Dowsing) and with little other, managed to literally go from rags to riches. . . several different times in his life, the apex of which came in the late 1930s as he predicted the uncanny and "outrageous" rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the NAZI Party; how they would be the Saviour of the German people, but simultaneously bring calamity to all of Europe, the crescendo to which being the death of one and all in the upper-echelons of the Reich.

Unfortunately the documentations, photos and newspaper accounts on Hanussen are few and far between due to the Reich's attempt to distance itself with the "Hebrew" and, due to certain other events, all of the Occult when it came to public exhibit.

Though composed for the general public, every magic enthusiast should read this tome; especially those curious about the world of Mentalism/Psychic Entertainment. The book shows both, the old way (the "right" way) of doing Mentalism alongside the many questionable antics done by the cynics that sought to "expose" Hanussen, attempted to employ with the judicial system. His ultimate decline resulting in vengeance-based betrayal by past associates and foe alike, coupled by Hitler's paranoia when it came to having a Jewish Mystic as his primary counselor and guide.

Generally easy to read though it can be a challenge in some areas where the Germanic terms and perspectives come off as a bit "heavy", but I give it a big thumbs up.