London, July 11 (IANS) Adolf Hitler ordered the Nazis to develop sex dolls for his soldiers so that they would not be affected with diseases after having sex with prostitutes, says a new book.
The synthetic sex dolls - that were smaller than life-size and called 'gynoids' - were made from silicone and designed to prevent soldiers from being hit by diseases like syphilis, the Daily Mail reported.
Hungarian actress Kathe von Nagy was reportedly asked if the doll could be modelled on her but she refused.
The doll was later 'left bland' with only blonde hair and blue eyes so that 'soldiers could apply their own fantasy', the book said.
Author Graeme Donald uncovered the sex doll 'Borghild Project' while researching the history of the Barbie doll.
He wrote the sex doll story in his book, 'Mussolini's Barber', a compilation of bizarre tales.
The doll project began in 1940 after Hitler's SS chief Henrich Himmler wrote: 'The greatest danger in Paris is the widespread and uncontrolled presence of whores, picking up clients in bars, dance halls, and other places. It is our duty to prevent soldiers from risking their health just for the sake of a quick adventure.'
A trial of the dolls was conducted at the German barracks in St. Hellier. Himmler was reportedly so impressed that he immediately ordered 50 of them.However, in 1942 he changed his mind and the whole project was axed. All evidence was destroyed in the bombing of Dresden, says the daily.
German sculptor Arthur Rink - one of the team members who designed the doll at the Racial Hygiene and Demographic Biology Research Unit - revealed the truth about the doll.
Graeme Donald said: 'I was looking at the weird things on the periphery of major events when I came across this story. I was actually researching the history of the Barbie doll that was based on a German sex doll of the 1950s.'
'Ruth and Elliot Handler from America visited Germany in 1956 and saw the Lilli dolls that were sold in barbers' shops and nightclubs - and were not for children.'
'Ruth didn't realise this and bought one and realised later they were not toys. But Ruth and her husband used the doll as a foundation for what became Barbie.'
