J.K. Rowling has hinted in an interview that the duel between Grindenwald and Dumbledore in 1945 was connected to the end of World War II.

But what could be the nature of the connection between Grindenwald and Adolf Hitler?

Many Slavic wizards who studied in Durmstrang also appear to be committed to Grindenwald's ideals despite the fact that Hitler disliked Slavs. (Antonin Dolohov, for example) Grindenwald also killed Viktor Krum's grandparents although Bulgaria was an Axis nation during the war.

So why would Grindenwald support Muggle Adolf Hitler? Would it be possible that there are no pure-blooded Jewish wizards? Grindenwald would have certainly taken the side of a pure-blooded Jewish wizard against Muggles.

Also, English pure-blood fanatics and later Death Eaters appear to be devoid of racial prejudice. Even the aristocratic and Aryan Draco Malfoy has a black pure-blood friend, Blaise Zabini, who calls Ginny Weasley "a filthy little blood-traitor" although he finds her pretty.

There are foreign Death Eaters, and black slytherins.

Racial prejudice is not absent in the Harry Potter books, it merely has taken on a different form.

In these books, racial prejudice is directed against Muggles (and by Muggles against wizards, for that matter). It's a way of looking at racial prejudice in a different light; I'm quite surprised that so many people don't see it.

Many Slavic wizards who studied in Durmstrang also appear to be committed to Grindenwald's ideals despite the fact that Hitler disliked Slavs. (Antonin Dolohov, for example)

Though it may sound strange, I've heard that there's quite a Neo-Nazi scene in Russia. They even have a party: the Russian National Socialist party [real creative name, guys.. 9_9] Remember that whole thing about the execution of migrant workers on videotape a few weeks ago?


Grindenwald also killed Viktor Krum's grandparents although Bulgaria was an Axis nation during the war.

Maybe Viktor Krum's grandparents were part of a resistance movement.


But like Eleonore said above me, I've always imagined that the connection was more of a symbolic one.

Right, I'm going to do some deduction based on what we know and what can logically be deduced about wizards and Nazis. Some of this I warn you will 'reach' a little!

JKR said she liked the idea, forgive if its not the exact phrasing, she said that she 'liked the idea that at the same time conflict was raging in the muggle world, it was also raging in the wizarding world' or words to that effect. So in other words, a parallel conflict, an example of simultaneity or whatever you call it!

However, against this is the fact that we know at least the British government at the highet level has always been aware of wizards (so probably the German one too).

Churchill then, knew that the magica; world existed, probably from the first night he spent in his office. Someone with as dominant a personality and pragmatic outlook as Churchill, his country in desperate circumstances at the time he came to power (the darkest days of the war when the Nazis were closest to victory) imagine his reaction when the minister for magic popped out of his fireplace! He would have seen it as a gift from God. He would have, very forcefully, tried to recruit them to the British cause instantly.

This may have been easier than it sounded if the then Magical Minister may well have known that Grindelwald was already working with the Nazis, their fascination with the occult is common knowledge, and Grindelwald intended to bring the Wizards out of hiding, so the statute of secrecy meant nothing to him.

If Hitler knew about Grindelwald, he would have seen him as a kindred spirit (GW was an essentially fascist ideologist) and more importantly as a powerful ally. Grindelwald would have played down the fact that he wanted to subjugate all muggles, blond haired or not, and aidied the Germans with the intention of imperiusing Herr Hitler once the messy business of WW2 was over with, as a conflict that big would undoubtedly interefere with his own plans for continental Europe. Hitler, as a dictator in total command of Europe and the British Isles, would have done Grindelwald's job for him! With JUST ONE IMPERIUS CURSE, GRINDELWALD WOULD HAVE BECOME MASTER OF EUROPE. If such a relationship existed, The Ministry would have no choice but to become involved in WW2 IMMEDIATELY, if only by recruiting a small task force (e.g. Dumbledore, a few Ministry aurors, some Muggle commandos and a liaison officer to go in and take out Grindelwald).

This theory would tie in with the WOMBAT question about a crack force of wizards and muggles helping bring about the end of the war. And the timing of Grindelwald's and Dumbeldore's duel being at the same point as the invasion of Germany IS TOO PERFECT FOR COINCIDENCE.

The thing about WW2 is that no matter who tried to stay out, The Americans, The Russians, EVERYONE got sucked in. A conflict this big was bound to involve the wizarding world at some point if world leaders knew about them and rogue elements (Grindelwald) were at large.

So, directly via the Wombat's and Dumbledore'd chocolate frog card, and indirectly via the process we see in The Other Minister (HBP chapter 1) JKR has if not suggested, insinuated that wizards may have been involved in WW2. Its kind of hard to see how they wouldn't be, if one appeared in Churchill's office.

Will this backstory appear in portions of the HP encyclopaedia relating to Dumbeldore? Absolutely not. Jo will not want to open THAT can of worms, but she has put in enough information for people like me to deduce the possibilities!