Norman Ohler: The Dark History of Drugs in Nazi Germany
The Hidden Influence of Drugs in the Third Reich
In this deeply researched and thought-provoking discussion, Norman Ohler, author of Blitzed, explores the largely ignored role that psychoactive drugs played in the military successes and ultimate failures of the Third Reich. The conversation challenges the traditional view of Nazi Germany as a bastion of "law and order" by revealing a society deeply affected by substance abuse at every level, from the high command to the average infantryman.
The Role of Psychoactive Substances
• Methamphetamine and Blitzkrieg: Ohler details how Pervitin (the brand name for methamphetamine) was utilized to enhance soldier performance, arguably enabling the speed and intensity of the German military's initial victories in France.
• Hitler and the "Dr. Feelgood": The episode sheds light on Hitler's personal physician, Theodor Morell, and his long-term treatment of the Führer with a cocktail of vitamins, hormones, and potent opioids (specifically Eukodal). Hitler’s transition from a teetotaler to a polytoxicomanic is presented as a critical factor in his cognitive decline and erratic decision-making during the latter stages of the war.
• Historical Revisionism: While some historians have criticized this perspective as "monocausal," Ohler argues that understanding the physiological state of leadership is essential for a complete historical record.
The Human Aspect of Resistance
"Everything I have done, I’m totally fine with it and I know it’s very hard for you... I did what I could to stop this madness."
Beyond military history, the episode highlights the story of the Bohemians—a diverse group of resilient individuals, led by Haro Schulze-Boysen and Libertas Schulze-Boysen, who resisted the Nazi regime from within Berlin. Their courage serves as a profound reminder of the power of individual conscience in the face of systemic evil and propaganda.
Expanding History
Ohler discusses his current research, Stone Sapiens, which attempts to view human history through the lens of psychoactive plant use. He suggests that consciousness and religion may be intrinsically linked to the consumption of substances that allowed early humans to expand their cognitive and imaginative capacities, fundamentally separating them from their ancestors.