Continuing my analysis of Peter Staudenmaier's
first footnote in Anthroposophy and Ecofascism.
Peter Staudenmaier's writes in his first footnote:
The "Nordic spirit" of Scandinavia continues to fascinate German anthroposophists; see, for example, Hans Mändl, Vom Geist des Nordens, Stuttgart 1966.
Yes, "'Nordic spirit' of Scandinavia" continued to fascinate at least one anthroposophist as late as 1966. The book Vom Geist des Nordens by Hans Mändl is the work of an Austrian Jew who fled the Nazis in 1938 and lived in Sweden until his death in the 1970's. (So the implication that Mändl is German would be incorrect - see http://hem.passagen.se/thebee/comments/PS/Untruths-of-Staudenmaier-2.htm). For Staudenmaier's assertion that Hans Mändl's book is proof that "the 'Nordic spirit' of Scandinavia continues to fascinate German anthroposophists" there is scant evidence.
It appears that Staudenmaier has placed the footnote simply to appear scholarly and informed. It doesn't actually give sources for any of the facts that he claimed in the paragraph. Nor is it even accurate as it stands, which is typical of the entire piece. It's funny how the little details seem to persistently trip up Staudenmaier's thesis.
