The Nazi Magician Who Deceived the Whole World

In post-war Germany Kalanag’s revue was a show business sensation. Kalanag was a magician who toured the world with his beautiful assistant and made whole cars disappear. But his biggest trick was to make his entire Nazi past disappear.
His real name was Helmut Schreiber and he had previously enchanted guests with his conjuring tricks at parties hosted by Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and entertained the masses at Nazi events. He was also a successful film producer responsible for several Nazi propaganda films.
After the war, he was no longer allowed to work in the film industry but managed to launch an international career as Kalanag. This film is about a master manipulator who used his charm, chutzpah and a whole artillery of smokescreens to always end up on life’s winning side. One of many former Nazis who reinvented themselves and went back to business as usual in the new Germany.
00:00 Intro
05:55 Kalanag's career starts - The Weimar Republic
10:20 Propaganda and Opportunism - The Nazi Regime
23:00 The Magician that made his past disappear - The Post-War Period
43:25 The end of his career - The 1960s and the Rise of the Television
49:39 Conclusion
#dwhistoryandculture
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[@EndingSimple]

I have been a young man and I am now a old man, and one statement I heard early on has stood the test of time ever since: "never underestimate the power of BS."

[@bobbart4198]

... ALSO an old man (having been a zygote, an infant, a toddler, kid, teen, young man ... and here we are at last) I agree with you 100% ... there is NO power in the Universe that can hold a candle to BS !

[@spodge1233]

If it gets you a wife like that who are we to argue. Jeez the guy must have been Arthur Miller's mentor.

[@HJ-yg4bp]

Terrific line. Tremendously pithy. Thanks for hearty good advice.

[@robertmusacchio3088]

Mastering BS you can even become US President

[@georgebrown8312]

This is the very first time I have ever heard of a Nazi magician known as Kalanag. You learn something new on this channel every day it seems. Thank you for this eye-opening video.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you! We're glad you liked the documentary. Subscribe to our channel for the latest uploads.

[@den264]

Same here !

[@deewesthill1213]

@@den264 I too knew nothing of Kalanag. This video started up seemingly out of thin air! 😃

[@calhun1567]

😆😆 a magician called Kalanag??? Why? Why lie about ww2?

[@read7641]

Kala Nag means Kala - Black Nag - Serpent In Hindi as well as Urdu. Very interesting, especially the esoterica that Nazis were involved in. Theosophy in India et cetera… Obviously theres wayyy more to this story and the man.

[@john-ic5pz]

thank you...his stage name poked at my subconscious, that it means something in another language. I agree there's more to this man than this story conveys; I'd like to know more about his journey to that stage name. namasakar, friend🙏🏼

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DaveSCameron]

Nice information but again no evidence!

[@healthyself7941]

@@DaveSCameron Evidence? How about hundreds of millions people in India speak the language, and that's exactly what it means, black serpent. The famous WWII female spy Matahari similarly took a name from an Indian language.

[@DaveSCameron]

@@healthyself7941 Take a step back from your device and listen to me, I don't know how you've taken anything I've said as a cause to get smart but I assure you that I have no axe held here and whilst I appreciate your information I could have done without the extra... 🙏

[@beatapogorzelska1241]

I couldn't believe that in 1963 he was 60! He looked over 50 before the war.

[@doyoulikeduckmeat]

The deal with the devil included prolonged youth. It's a pretty standard rider in such contracts. However age can't be reversed just current age prolonged.

[@beatapogorzelska1241]

The devil is called better life conditions.@@doyoulikeduckmeat

[@jstelzner]

Thank you for dubbing spoken English and not just using subtitles😊

[@danditto6145]

So basically he was guilty of living through the most turbulent time in German history and trying to stay on the good side of powerful men who might destroy you. That sounds practical not cynical. He sounds like a smart businessman nothing more.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@spiritusmundi70]

Sounds like a weasel to me.

[@raymondparnell439]

Survive 😂 why is survival the only objective . I dont want to lay on my death bed cursing myself dying the death of cowards ( natural causes) 😂 Natural causes can be the worse way to die , actually.

[@spiritusmundi70]

@@michaelmcclure3383 sometimes all that is required for evil to win is for good men to say nothing. I personally have no problem shouting at the devil.

[@jewels3895]

Well we all just through the bio weapon c19 . Where did you all stand? I never fell for the Lie and tried to reveal the truth. Only to be met with such human ugliness

[@johnwright291]

Blooper alert. It was eva Bruans sister Gretl who was married to Herman Fegelien. She did have a sister named Marguerite though. I love these kinds of documentaries. Its stuff like this that brings history to life for me.

[@joepalooka2145]

Great documentary. There are so many untold stories in Germany about people like Kalanag and their support and close association with Adolf Hitler and his inner circle. Kalanag was able to hide all the questions about his extensive Nazi past. He obviously knew a lot more than he ever revealed. While millions were being murdered and tortured in the concentration camps, Kalanag was partying with Hitler and his friends at Obersalzberg. After the war much of this history was deliberately buried. It's a great thing to see a new generation in Germany exploring and revealing this history.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@johnsmith-mq4eq]

The same as western bankers who lent billions to soviet Russia while 10 million plus were murdered in the Gulags

[@SueDohman]

Love the jazz drums & horns, playing in the background music!

[@vereyafrequency]

im 8 minutes in and im hooked already. thanks DW

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@BigElCat]

"The cat was somehow unbalanced". If your sitting in a restaurant, and there's a cheetah sitting at the next table, it's comforting to know that it's not a normal cheetah.

[@ZER0--]

How is it unbalanced, and how did they find out?

[@BigElCat]

@@ZER0-- It was just their personal description of the cheetah. 'That ain't right. That cat is not right'.

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what/whom the orator was describing. Special thanks to guest speakers sharing personal information & knowledge on the life & career of Magician Helmut Schreiber. Making this documentary more authentic and possible.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you! We're glad you liked the documentary. Subscribe to our channel for the latest uploads.

[@williamkoscielniak7871]

He looks like Dick Cheney.

[@jivanvasant]

Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book The story Kala Nag (Black Snake), a wise old elephant, has been taken up to the Garo hills to help in the yearly drive to catch wild elephants and break them in. Helmut Schreiber chose the stage name cleverly. He was both a Black Snake and a wise old elephant.

[@dawnemile7499]

I never heard of Kalanag so he is not in the same league as Houdini.

[@user-em2pe3rf4h]

The algorithm just introduced me to your channel and after watching the episode about the Nazi Magician I am subscribed. I fall in with the notion of the past being prologue, so I am always looking for new (to me at least) outlets to indulge my greatest interest, history of all sorts.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you liked it. Welcome to the channel! 😊

[@albertenriquecrowleybeastc217]

He wasnt guilty of any crimes other than trying to survive it sounds like.

[@salsheikh4508]

DW... Awesome documentary

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@MotDoiAnLac258]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this.

[@chris.asi_romeo]

Excellent documentary 👏💯

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you enjoyed it. Make sure to follow us for the latest uploads 😊

[@Brochnick]

34:59- "Kalanag never talked about the past; he was very secretive." Yes, any of the naz¡ jerks with even a ¼ ounce of sense were the same way... And as far as what many people have commented regarding 'him just getting by', no! He was a despicable bigot, regardless of how talented he was. There was a reason why he rose up the ranks of the naz¡ party as high as he did & a reason why he had the funds he did after the war ended.

[@dominicdmello7531]

Kalanag can be translated to Black Cobra in Asia

[@andrefiset3569]

32:10 Strange to see stars of David used by an ex-Nazi.

[@1MrAngel1]

Not strange at all.

[@tvrtkoceric5681]

Wasn't he an inspiration for a movie called "Mephisto" with Klaus Maria Brandauer ?

[@jeromealexandre4162]

Love that film !

[@MsVanorak]

25.51 - so the choice of background colours for the poster? blue and white with stars?

[@anarchorepublican5954]

🎩🪄Hate the Game...not the Player🍾🥂..Zim-salah-bin🐇🐇✨👯‍♀

[@turnthepage867]

True narcissist behavior. Ashamed of the daughter he created, instead of being ashamed of himself. Hides his money from those who love him and depend on him.

[@jbrobertson6052]

This was very good and really interesting and it is the first time I have heard of Kalanag but I have to believe that he did what he had to to survive the war and in a way you can't fault a person for that just as long as you can live with yourself

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing your opinion with us and our community

[@DanielWayShadow]

"Dreamers often lie." "Great liars are also great magicians."

[@Diesel13136]

@DanielWayShadow what do u know!?

[@dEAthlikEstAtic]

Who said this& what is the context? What do dreamers often lie about that's any different than non dreamers who often lie? Is there anyone who's never had a dream, either in sleep state or meditative? &Is there anyone who's dreamed who hasn't lied about something in their life even if they believed it to be true? Magicians are usually great liars though, magic is usually about deception of the senses.

[@DaveSCameron]

Hahaha I don't see any evidence he was a devout natsi with any blood on his hands at all? 😂

[@theeastfromthebeastburton2787]

Dude kinda looks like Chevy chase lmao

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

Interesting Man. Gloria was a rare Beauty!

[@samkohen4589]

There was an episode of Columbo 'Now You See Him' which is incredible similar to this story

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing!

[@GriefTourist]

Sergeant Muller!

[@jeffreyval9665]

The great Santini!!! Jack Cassidy was always a great villain on Columbo.

[@birhan2006]

He is a magician after all

[@erindunebuggy9772]

Wow, This guy was Las Vegas before Vegas existed......yet the ghosts of his past hounded him.....till the final act. 👈😎

[@CarlosGutierrez-ef2pd]

12:58 ah just like the old timey evil german villian cartoon characters from America 🇺🇸 bahahaha

[@elizabethbrauer1118]

19:47 - girl in center of frame appears to be Eva Braun Edit: Thank you DW for the excellent documentaries. Vielen Danke!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe.

[@DynaCatlovesme]

I remember hearing "simsalabim!" as a young child, but not the context.

[@evanlevitan6835]

Go to 38:08..did that old German lady really say "Kalanag was off the hook"?, or did the translator not really know how to translate it after previously translating for Method Man?

[@tikvision]

Funny... a tv magician from my childhood used to say "sim sala bim" never thought it had any meaning or use until now

[@MiroslavJanjic]

It is true this is great❤❤❤

[@D_isco_D_ancer]

He was the ultimate opportunist.

[@countjack333]

The "devils" magician. He was just a bloke surviving as best he could. Nothing wrong with that.

[@D_isco_D_ancer]

"Zimzalbin" I remember this word from y childhood in South America. When I was a child adults use to use it I never know where did it came from, no I know.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@genustinca5565]

I still call waitresses in Germany 'fräulein'. Not a problem at all.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

‘Fräulein’ is indeed a very outdated term and is hardly used anymore. Maybe you don't have an issue with it, but the waitresses (and other women) do.

[@genustinca5565]

Nonsense. There is nothing derogatory about 'fräulein'.@@DWHistoryandCulture

[@tycobb2580]

49:03 wow he's wife sounds like a piece of work

[@longiusaescius2537]

DW when you ask them not to make Hitler a devil stand in:

[@jessecockrum5273]

Bei made his wife dissappear and had a brand new hottie .lol do funny 😅😅

[@thaitom6410]

He never accomplished his greatest trick, though -- make the Nazis disappear.

[@den264]

Splendid reply !

[@fransheuvelmans45]

Didn't Klaus Maria Brandauer acting him?

[@canwetradenownetwork1241]

The German equivalent of Bob Hope…but on the losing side of the war.

[@satanicpanicattheddtable2604]

Perhaps zero hour as they point out is do able in this time perhaps not but who can say

[@den264]

There are many elements of his shows seen on Benny Hill , David Copperfield, and the two guys in Vegas with the white Tigers. Like art and music, nothing is really original anymore.

[@Cedric20781]

His wife Gloria was a smoke show....whatta rocket

[@user-mf7pu5xl7j]

He must have had a lot of stress . . .being an entertainer during dark days . . .how many people could do it?

[@MrBumpy2013]

Reminds me of a German Benny Hill.

[@Johnconno]

I remember Caramac. Delicious, like his wife.❤

[@ZER0--]

Caramacs. Takes me back.

[@user-xb5pq8fh9r]

🎉🎉🎉❤

[@kratoleaf7619]

A propaganda master class on how to use propaganda masterfully.

[@douglasjohnson4382]

"Sim sala bim."

[@jessecockrum5273]

Old lady i swear i don't know where the money came from. 😅😅😅😅gold bars melted down from all the dead people. Thstd were it came from duh...

[@samspencer582]

Greatest magician ever!

[@Catquick1957]

I never heard of the guy before this. I wonder what became of his first wife?

[@raymota4515]

A stage illusionist. Nothing more.

[@vasylbilatchuk]

What the NSDAP 😊😂has to do with that?

[@DanMarksman]

I have never heard about magicians in the 3rd reich, but i have seen a lots of videos about Hitlers escape from Berlin to Argentina, and then be thinking that a magician would easy make the trick to make him disapear from the bunker. Add to that that the nazis had endles acces to prisoners they could use as doobles, people they could sacrifise and change there teeth and what ever. And now i learn that they had the goat of magic. Make me think.......

[@phantom8700]

Sir, please see the material on hitlers last day's and death. I know there are multiple witness testimonies (primary sources) on the details of the aforementioned subject. I recommend Dr. Mark Felton on KZbin for learning.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We appreciate your comments on our KZbin channel DW History and Culture. We want our audience to be able to engage in constructive debates, share stories and discuss our content. To achieve that, we kindly remind you that any comment containing conspiracy theories and/or deliberately misleading information is not allowed. Please also ensure that quotes - if used - are cited accordingly in your comments, if possible. In the event of violations of these guidelines, comments will be edited, hidden or completely deleted by our community managers without prior agreement. In the event of persistent or serious violations, we reserve the right to block users from our channels temporarily or permanently. By choosing to comment on our DW social media platforms, you agree to abide by these DW netiquette guidelines. You can find DW netiquette linked in the info box of every video as well as by following this link: p.dw.com/p/MF1G We look forward to stimulating discussions and a lively exchange of views.

[@renataheiberg7534]

He loved his profession. Would you punish every person for working during "wrong" government?

[@den264]

Perhaps we should deride men like Biden and Blinken for doing their best in a government which supports Genocidal revenge missions.

[@dEAthlikEstAtic]

All governments are wrong & a lot of the time those people involved love their professions for the reasons they do as well. Everyone does get a punishment, most people like life &living & everyone ceases to do so after an amount of time. It may not be the punishment that some deserve by other people's standards of punishment&judgement but it is a punishment that everyone rightfully receives.

[@glennmcdonald2028]

Better than the Russian Front...

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Sorry, we may not be following along yet. Could you please elaborate on your point?

[@den264]

Splendid response !

[@patriayvida6850]

Was his name Bibi Netanyahoo by any chance?

[@philltaylor8442]

Funny how things change NOW THE German government is on ITS HAND AND KNEES TO A PRESIDENT WITH THE MENTALITY OF A SIX MONTHS CHIELD IN THE AMERICAN WHITE HOUSE !AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NEW NORMS TOO RUN THE WORLD !?.

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Trump is no longer in the White House

[@lablackzed]

Not forgetting the clowns in Brussels .😠

[@den264]

I think the BRICS nations will have a say in that.

[@williamhiles7404]

Learn how to spell, brainiac. LedHed Pb 207.20 🎶 🎸 🎹

[@jessecockrum5273]

You talking about your new king in Norway because that side of the world is going back in time to find a working government. Not using the usa

[@clovergrass9439]

No he didn't.

[@damonmelendez856]

Nothing wrong with staying productive and getting on in life. What’s he supposed to do, lock himself in his house all day and collect welfare?

[@phantom8700]

Exactly, he played the game like us all

[@marycleary-qe5ou]

How about serve a prison term ?

[@mauhau3839]

Why ? He didn't commit any crimes​@@marycleary-qe5ou

[@EDDGC]

DW expected the man to raise weapons or pull a gun and shot at the regime men! Totally nonsense, you attempt that, you just think that and you would be sent to prison camps

[@dennykeaton9701]

@@marycleary-qe5ou Any particular reason?

[@ednorton47]

The guy looks like Dr. Morell.

[@phantom8700]

They both are magicians that dazzle their audiences no?

[@widescreennavel]

wHEN DID HE MEET bURNS?

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Sorry, we may not be following along yet. Could you please elaborate on your point?

[@ysaacwichmannantinao3502]

The Devil's Putin today .

[@spaceytracey1237]

Lol.

[@inferno0020]

I think about Martin Heidegger.

[@nickcirillo6191]

Fatherland

[@grimmertwin2148]

Did Trump read this before or after someone read Mein Kampf to him!😂

[@jessecockrum5273]

Nice try you obviously have a copy I'm sure 😅

[@thermionic1234567]

How about going one whole calendar year without mentioning 1933-1945? Stop beating yourselves up!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We believe that history should not be forgotten and must be continually revisited. This has nothing to do with wanting to 'beat up' ourselves but is rather a critical engagement with the past. And no, we will not stop doing that.

[@marrz8244]

Trumps predecessor 🤔

[@samlazar1053]

U just got to love the American propaganda. Approaching the germans whit such moral convictions. It's the same whit Russians.But the Soviet made sure nobody will do that to Thate why communism lasted till 1990.When they are all dead. The most genocidal state in worlds history calls nazis and Soviets genocidal. Mekinder Thesis and the True reason why nazism and communism rose up

[@shadowreveled5107]

It's called Graco roman Catholicism. That's the mage.

[@paulparker8298]

Oh look It’s zelenskys grandfather