# New book debunks myths about Himmler’s masseur, the SS chief’s ‘magic Buddha’

A Guardian Culture piece examines a new account of Felix Kersten, Heinrich Himmler’s personal masseur, who was long portrayed as a humanitarian who softened the SS leader’s policies. The article exposes Kersten’s self-serving fabrications and the fantasies surrounding his influence on Nazi decisions. It matters because it corrects a persistent historical narrative about the inner workings of the Nazi hierarchy.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [The Guardian Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/05/himmlers-anti-nazi-masseur-exposing-the-lies-and-fantasies-of-the-ss-chiefs-magic-buddha) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:11 GMT