... Even before the war began, Hitler had a fascination with power and the occult. Upon visiting the Hofsburg Hapsburg Treasure Museum in Austria, he noted an ancient spear on display, the Spear of Longinvus, or the Spear of Destiny. The story behind the spear, as with many relics is as old as the spear. It is rumored to have been the Spear which was used at the Crucifixion to pierce Jesus's side after He had died, at which water and blood flowed out. The Legend of the Spear grew into the Spear having a sort of 'black' power and while it is sometimes called the "Sacred" or Holy spear, there have through history been those vying for international power who have believed the legends, most notably that whoever is in possession of the spear, will conquer successfully and stay in power. The first reported owner was Herod, other owners have included Otto, Charlemagne, Napoleon and most recently, Hitler. While the Spear, like the Shroud of Turin is probably only in the realm of legend, the beliefs about it are very real: national leaders throughout centuries have believed that the Spear makes one invincible: while Hitler had the Spear, he was in power, as the Spear and other art treasures were confiscated by Allied troops and it fell out of his possession, he also lost power. Sequences of events such as this lend to the legend.