Secret Nazi Science

During the Nazi era, scientists were tasked with readying the natural environment for the regime’s rule. Their programmes included large‑scale culls of both flora and fauna, attempts to bring back ancient species, and the creation of deliberately crafted, idyllic landscapes meant to reflect Nazi ideals.

Reshaping Nature is a programme presented as an episode within its genre, focusing on a particular historical moment. It offers a concise look at how a regime attempted to mould the environment to match its political ambitions, framing the narrative around scientific activity carried out under Nazi authority. The episode centres on the work of Nazi‑era researchers who set out to ready the natural world for the coming regime. Their agenda involved a systematic reduction of selected plants and animals, attempts to bring back species that had vanished long ago, and the design of picturesque, almost pastoral, settings meant to embody the ideal they envisioned. One strand of the story follows the deliberate culling of both flora and fauna. Scientists identified species they deemed unsuitable or undesirable and carried out organised removals, reshaping ecosystems to fit a prescribed aesthetic and ideological blueprint. This process was portrayed as a calculated effort to control the landscape at its most basic level. Another focus is the revival of ancient species and the construction of idyllic scenery. The programme outlines experiments aimed at resurrecting extinct creatures, alongside projects that sought to sculpt harmonious, bucolic vistas. These endeavours were presented as part of a broader scheme to craft a natural world that would appear both timeless and perfectly aligned with Nazi aspirations.