The Felix Kersten Files Podcast Insights

Felix Kersten was the mysterious, personal physical therapist of SS commander Heinrich Himmler. He said he saved the lives of tens of thousands of concentration camp prisoners. Was he a saint or a devil in disguise — or both at once? Who was this Himmler’s janus-faced Finnish masseur and why can’t documentary filmmaker Arto Koskinen stop following him?

The Felix Kersten Files podcast is based on Arto Koskinen’s experiences in making the film ‘Who was Felix Kersten?’ in the late 1990s. The film was meant to tell the story of a good and forgotten Finnish masseur, but the filmmakers soon found out forgeries and secrets in Felix Kersten’s story.

Now, more than 20 years later, Koskinen wants to answer questions that never stopped bothering him. Why doesn’t Felix Kersten’s story fall neatly into place? What is the truth about this talented man who could meld into any environment? Did European nations protect Nazi Germany’s core even after the war ended?

Appearances: John Bernstein, Toby Bernstein, Andrea Kersten, Kerstin Kersten, Arto Koskinen, Antti Matikkala, Werner Neuss, Hannu Rautkallio, Freek van Rijsinge, Sune Sahlstedt, Boris Salomon, Pauline Taubach, Tapio Tamminen, Jos Verlaan, Jan Wellmann ja Lars Westerlund.

Interview excerpts from the film ‘Who was Felix Kersten?’ are featured from: Yehuda Bauer, Ulf Brandell, Louis De Jong, Arno Kersten, Irmgard Kersten, Friedrich Klingenberg ja Sir Hugh Trevor-Roper.

Directed by Arto KoskinenScript: Arto Koskinen and John BernsteinRecordings: Arto Koskinen and Ville VälimäkiNarrator: Trent PancySound design and original music: Kimmo VänttinenAudio mixing: Kimmo Vänttinen and Juuso HeikkiläWeb producer: Suvi Sinervo, Yle DramaProducers: Elina Ylä-Mononen and Juha-Pekka Hotinen, Yle Drama