Dignidad: A Nazi Cult in Chile

Dignidad: A Nazi Cult in Chile

Deep in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, a cult run by former Nazis perpetuated a cycle of horror and destruction. In operation for decades under the leadership of Paul Shafer and influenced by Evangelical Revivalist Christianity, Colonia Dignidad was endorsed by the military dictatorship in Chile.Like many cults, it began with a promise of living off the land and being closer to nature, and far from potential convictions of Nazi crimes. For Paul Shafer, Colonia Dignidad became a pedophile’s paradise, and haven for torture.

Episodes

October 26, 2021 19 mins
What happened to the former leaders of Colonia Dignidad? What happened to the members of the colony? What happened to the Colony itself? Today, there are guided tours of the place where Shafer abused and raped dozens and dozens of boys. Beers are poured above the floorboards where hundreds of enemies of Pinochet, and members of the colony to stay subservient were tortured in the bunkers. Only one small plaque on a potato c...
Mark as Played
When the coupe led by Pinochet overthrew the democratic government in 1973, the bonds between the colony and the government deepened. Each needed something from the other - Colonia Dignidad needed protection to do what it wanted, and Pinochet’s military dictatorship needed a place to carry out unspeakable deeds against enemies of the state. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...
Mark as Played
October 7, 2021 19 mins
Located 220 miles south of Santiago in the Province of Linares, Colonia Dignidad is separated and secluded from any major city. The location was chosen and constructed so that even if anyone managed to escape the barbed wire fence that surrounded the compound, the armed guards and dogs, there was nowhere to run. What else is hiding within the walls of the commune? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...
Mark as Played
September 29, 2021 15 mins

Subscribe here and your favorite pod apps: https://jonny.hopp.to/dignidad

In operation for decades under the leadership of Paul Shafer and influenced by Evangelical Revivalist Christianity, Colonia Dignidad was endorsed by the military dictatorship in Chile. Like many cults, it began with a promise of living off the land and being closer to nature, and far from potential convictions of Nazi crimes.

Listen and subscribe: htt...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.