Was this Adolf Hitler’s strangest scheme?

A rare colour photo of Adolf Hitler
A rare colour photo of Adolf Hitler

One of the more peculiar Nazi plots of World War II involved Hitler’s quest to resurrect prehistoric animals. Admired by Julius Caesar for their strength and size, Hitler wished to bring back the wild auroch, a species of cattle.

The huge horned beasts were approximately 210-centimetre (seven-foot) tall and roamed the forests of prehistoric Europe. Herman Goering was also in support of the plan, believing the conquered territories of Eastern Europe provided the perfect environment for the resurrected beasts.

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A painting of the auroch by German artist Heinrich Harder

The main purpose of this plan was to create a massive hunting reserve where Hitler and his officers could hunt them for sport. Another factor was the fact that the animals had ties to the ancient Germanic civilization Hitler was trying to create.

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