 |
Hans HorbigerGerman engineer
Date of Birth: 29.11.1860
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Hannes Hörbiger: Pioneer of Pseudo-Scientific Cosmology
- Industrial Career and Business Ventures
- Loss and Legacy
- Cosmology of Cosmic Ice
- Influence on Nazi Ideology
Hannes Hörbiger: Pioneer of Pseudo-Scientific Cosmology
Early Life and EducationHannes Hörbiger, an Austrian-born German engineer, was the brains behind the pseudoscientific cosmological doctrine of eternal ice. His foundational work, "The Doctrine of World Ice," would shape his legacy. Born in 1860, Hörbiger spent his early years in Carinthia, where his mother's family resided. He pursued his passion for engineering at the Machine Building School of the Vienna Polytechnic Institute.
Industrial Career and Business Ventures
Following mandatory military service, Hörbiger worked as a draftsman at a precision valve manufacturing plant, supplementing his income with performances on the zither. He subsequently held several engineering positions before establishing his own company, Hörbiger-Ventil, in 1896. His innovative introduction of a metal valve working plate revolutionized the industry, significantly accelerating production processes. In 1900, he opened a design office in Budapest, Hungary.
Loss and Legacy
Financial ruin struck Hörbiger after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the ensuing inflation. Undeterred, he founded the Hoerbiger & Co. firm, which continues to operate today. Despite his business acumen, Hörbiger's wealth dwindled.
Cosmology of Cosmic Ice
Hörbiger's enduring legacy lies in his theory of eternal ice. He proposed that the universe originated from a vast mass of ice and asserted that Earth was once encircled by four moons. The theory held that, as the moons spiraled closer to Earth, their gravitational pull allegedly created a race of giants. While lacking scientific substantiation, Hörbiger's theory drew heavily on ancient German mythology and the concept of an eternal battle between fire and ice.
Influence on Nazi Ideology
Hörbiger's ideas had a profound impact on Nazi racial doctrine. The Nazi regime actively promoted his teachings in Germany, aligning them with its own racist ideologies. His sons, Paul and Attila, who gained prominence as actors, collaborated with the Nazis after the Anschluss in 1938. However, Paul's efforts to protect Jewish colleagues resulted in a treason charge and a death sentence in 1945, from which he narrowly escaped.
