Astrologer tried to predict Axis leaders' wartime fortunes

LONDON - The British government used an astrologer to predict the fortunes of leading figures during World War II, including Emperor Hirohito and German leader Adolf Hitler, according to previously classified documents released Tuesday.

Capt. Louis de Wohl used his "special powers" to prepare the horoscopes of Axis chiefs as well as to predict what would happen during the war. He achieved varying degrees of success.

But many in the government did not take his predictions seriously and his charts were used primarily for propaganda purposes, say the files released at the National Archives in London.

De Wohl, who was born in Berlin and a Hungarian national, came to Britain in 1935. He became a prominent astrologer and gave advice to members of the Establishment in London before being recruited by the government.

The government thought it a good idea to employ de Wohl because it was believed by some -- wrongly, in fact -- that Hitler was very much guided by the positions of celestial bodies.

Officials thought de Wohl could provide them with the same advice being given to Hitler, allowing them a better grasp of what the German leader was planning.

There are indications that some officials did take his forecasts seriously and, at one point, de Wohl was asked to predict when Hitler would invade England.

In one document, de Wohl lists the predictions he made for the War Office in 1941 and 1942 alongside actual "events." This self-serving letter was used by the astrologer to justify his role as many officials dismissed him as nothing more than a "charlatan."

A lot of the predictions seemed to have materialized, but officials thought he was probably being selective in his choice of inclusions.

On Emperor Hirohito's (and Japan's) fate, de Wohl seemed to be pretty much on the money.

In his report for April 1942, de Wohl predicted, "April 1-7 are bad for Hirohito." And in "events" he noted that the Japanese lost planes in the attack on Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

However, de Wohl's powers seemed to evade him the following week.

"April 8-12 are bad (for Japan) especially at sea," he forecast. The astrologer concedes, "This seems an error, as in that period the Japanese sank two British cruisers and the aircraft carrier Hermes."

But he was back on form later on.

For May, de Wohl predicted, "Hirohito: bad basic tendency, again especially at sea, and in connection with secret activities bad for planning." And in events, "The British forestalled the Japanese on May 5 at Madagascar. May 8: Battle of the Coral Sea. (where there was no clear victor.)"

And he predicted, "June is not good for Hirohito especially around the 8th." The Battle of Midway Island took place June 4-7 and led to an American victory.

De Wohl told his bosses that his predictions for Hitler's moves were reliable and it was important that they took his forecasts on board, whether they believed them or not, as Hitler was being guided by a team of astrologers.

De Wohl made predictions for all of the world's leaders for 1943, with Emperor Hirohito having several "bad" and "good" months but -- conveniently -- provided very little in the way of specifics for any of his predictions.

He urged his bosses to consider attacks on Hitler when his "aspects" were bad and he was prone to defeatism.

There is little in the files to suggest that the British government ever used any of the information from de Wohl, but this colorful character seemed to stick out among the rather gray and sober officials.

Prior to Pearl Harbor, Britain sent de Wohl to the United States as part of a black propaganda campaign to convince the American public that Hitler could be beaten. His visit gained a lot of publicity with his predictions that Hitler was "doomed."

After the war, de Wohl became something of a minor celebrity and published several books on astrology and his wartime experiences.