SCHÄFER, Ernst. Köln 14.3.1910 — Bad Bevensen, Niedersachsen 21.7.1992.German Zoologist and Explorer. Son of Albert Schäfer (1881–1971), an industrialist and politician, and Margarete Imdahl. Matriculated 1928 from Mannheim, then studied zoology, botany and geology at Göttingen and from 1923 at Berlin, Ph.D. 1938. In 1930-31 visited China, 1934-36 Tibetan borderlands. In 1938-39 an expedition to Tibet, officially for zoological fieldwork, but in fact also as agent of German secret service. PD 1942 Munich. In 1945-49 interned by Allied Military Government. In 1949-54 Professor in Caracas, Venezuela, then an adviser of Belgian king. In 1960-70 curator of the Department of Natural History at Lower Saxony State Museum. Married 1936 Herta Völz, but soon lost his wife in a hunting accident, and 1945 Ursula von Gartzen (1920–2002), three daughters.
Schäfer was a Nazi. After war he published wholly revised versions of his books. Some have read much in his relation to Lamaism, but Zotz emphasized that he was mainly interested in zoology and hunting. In Tibet he also sought for snowman and possible Aryan vestiges. Of Buddhism he knew little, but strongly despised it and compared it to the Roman Catholic Church. Although his expedition was supported by Ahnenerbe, the supposed close ties of Lamas and Nazis are clearly unfounded.
Publications: Berge, Buddhas und Bären. Forschung und Jagd im geheimnisvollen Tibet. 10+316 p. 32 pl. B. 1933.
– Unbekanntes Tibet. Durch die Wildnisse Osttibets zum Dach der Erde. 294 p. B. 1937.
– Dach der Erde. Durch das Wunderland Hochtibet. B. 1938, rev. ed. Tibet ruft. B. 1942.
– Diss. Ornithologische Ergebnisse zweier Forschungsreisen nach Tibet. B. 1939.
– Hab.diss. Geographie, Ökologie und Tiergeographie des tibetischen Hochlandes. 1942.
– Geheimnis Tibet. Erster Bericht der Deutschen Tibet-Expedition Ernst Schäfer 1938/39. Munich 1943.–
– Fest der weißen Schleier. Eine Forscherfahrt durch Tibet nach Lhasa, der heiligen Stadt des Gottkönigtums. 199 p. 31 ill. Braunschweig 1949, 2nd ed. 1950.
– Über den Himalaja ins Land der Götter. Auf Forscherfahrt von Indien nach Tibet. 200 p. 32 ill. Braunschweig 1950; Unter Räubern in Tibet. Gefahren und Freuden eines Forscherlebens. 240 p. Braunschweig 1951.
– Auf einsamen Wechseln und Wegen. Jagd und Forschung in drei Erdteilen. B. 1961.
Sources: I. Engelhardt, N.D.B. 22, 2005, 503f.; B. Zotz, “‘So herrscht der Lama über die Menschen Tibets!’ Ernst Schäfer, Alfred Rosenberg und der katholische Lamaismus”, Zeitschrift für Religionswiss. 25, 2017, 71-89; Wikipedia with two photos (more in German version).
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