High Hitler: how Nazi drug abuse steered the course of history

High Hitler: how Nazi drug abuse steered the course of history

The book in question is The Total Rush – or, to use its superior English title, Blitzed – which reveals the astonishing and hitherto largely untold story of the Third Reich’s relationship with drugs, including coc aine, heroin, morphine and, above all, methamphetamines (aka crystal meth), and of their effect not only on Hitler’s final days – the Führer, by Ohler’s account, was an absolute junkie with ruined veins by the time he retreated to the last of his bunkers – but on the Wehrmacht’s successful invasion of France in 1940.

Some drugs, however, had their uses, particularly in a society hell bent on keeping up with the energetic Hitler (“Germany awake!” the Nazis ordered, and the nation had no choice but to snap to attention). A substance that could “integrate shirkers, malingerers, defeatists and whiners” into the labour market might even be sanctioned. At a company called Temmler in Berlin, Dr Fritz Hauschild, its head chemist, inspired by the successful use of the American amphetamine Benzedrine at the 1936 Olympic Games, began trying to develop his own wonder drug – and a year later, he patented the first German methyl-amphetamine. Pervitin, as it was known, quickly became a sensation, used as a confidence booster and performance enhancer by everyone from secretaries to actors to train drivers (initially, it could be bought without prescription). It even made its way into confectionery. “Hildebrand chocolates are always a delight,” went the slogan. Women were recommended to eat two or three, after which they would be able to get through their housework in no time at all – with the added bonus that they would also lose weight, given the deleterious effect Pervitin had on the appetite. Ohler describes it as National Socialism in pill form.

www.theguardian.com... =GU+Today+main+NEW+H+categories&utm_term=192030&subid=12661800&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

This was posted on a Reddit forum I visit and since I couldn't find it searching here, thought others might find it interesting...if it has and I missed it, sorry!

There was a recent documentary on the BBC, part of the Storyville series, about Himmler, and in that too, frequent mentions are made by Himmler and to him, in correspondence, about the extent of opium addiction amongt the front-line death squads. I've read a lot of books about all aspects of the second world war but I don't recall much mention of substance abuse beyond alcohol. In retrospect, it makes sense, but it sort of makes it all the more surprising that it has taken all this time for it to come to the surface.

Interesting review and interview.

the Führer, by Ohler’s account, was an absolute junkie with ruined veins by the time he retreated to the last of his bunkers – but on the Wehrmacht’s successful invasion of France in 1940.

What a pile of junk propaganda.

Have you checked the leaders of the world's med cabinets lately? Drugs + political actions = Zero correlation. If anything wasn't Hitler's doctor implicated in spying rumours? Maybe that's the real conspiracy. He who administers has a wide range of influence over the "patient".

Reddit is basically an establishment arm now also, anything that challenges mainstream or establishment thought it buried or removed. The only subreddits which vary are private or small, but public subs are open to hostile takeovers. I participated in trying to block one, then helped open a new sub without the control of the 'supermods'. Open / free thought is not favoured on that site.

a reply to: boncho

What a pile of junk propaganda.

Actually, its not. Hitlers troops conquered the great expanses of Russia hi on speed. But then the RAF pilots stayed awake to defend Britain on the same speed.

a reply to: Anaana

Last night I watched this (interesting) documentary about Hitler-- drug use isn't discussed (unless I missed it), but what was interesting (to me, at least), was how ritual was used to "turn off the mind", and the ways that media was used to change how Hitler was perceived. For example, he was filmed from a low angle against the sky to increase his stature. There is some disturbing footage of corpses, so please don't watch this if you are sensitive or eating.

originally posted by: boncho
Reddit is basically an establishment arm now also, anything that challenges mainstream or establishment thought it buried or removed. The only subreddits which vary are private or small, but public subs are open to hostile takeovers. I participated in trying to block one, then helped open a new sub without the control of the 'supermods'. Open / free thought is not favoured on that site.

Bless. Did you click the link...read the article...it is in The Guardian newspaper. Not saying that it is not biased, but I was just giving credit to the reddit poster, indirectly, who directed it to my attention. That's all.

On another note, it occurred to me, back in the day, that speed was the drug of choice of the skin heads. Not sure if that is relevant. It just occurred to me.

Given that Bayer was part of the IG Farben group, I should imagine the SS got all sorts of drugs tested on them, once those experimental drugs had been found to be safe through inmate testing. Not having to worry about test subjects dying enabled Bayer to gain all sorts of edges in the drug industry post war.

Damn was about to post on this subject. I see others spotted the release of the latest book on this little discussed subject. The book also deals with how the same doctor also treated puppet dictator Mussolini too. Its fairly common knowledge that most troops around that era and before were often dosed with various heroine derivatives together with speed. The Reich even advocated the use of drugs for the population to make them work faster and longer and adverts were regularly seen for Pervitin and other drugs. It was said that the Reich wanted to rival coca cola but many drugs were classed as for Jewish use only and condemned so Pervitin was the answer. People went to work out of their heads! Here's another article telling a similar story and how the stormtroopers were often dosed with methamphetamines!
Independent

The Pervitin label actual read "awareness aid" and over 35million tablets were sent to the Wermacht for soldiers at the front with no regard for the side effects and addictive nature of the drug. As more and more older German soldiers died, many very young soldiers relied on the drug for courage and confidence

Der Spiegel

Even as late as 1944 the Nazis were still working on a wonder pill to help them turn the war around and the Head of the German Defence Committee made a request for a drug "that can keep soldiers ready for battle when they are asked to continue fighting beyond a period considered normal, while at the same time boosting their self-esteem"

Although I am not aware of (but will look into) whether or not the Allies were also drug users, I would think they probably were

a reply to: PhyllidaDavenport

Yeah, I am not really sure how much it did effect the "course of the war", in itself, and by all accounts, the von Stauffenberg bomb left Hitler in quite a mess, as well as pissing him off a great deal so I wouldn't have thought that him being drugged up was probably just to keep him as a figure-head anyway. The crucial turning point remains the failed bomb plot in that instance I think after which Hitler withdrew completely from the public eye.

I think when morphine is easily available to people experiencing pain and trauma you are going to get addiction if there are no controls, as well as abuse, in those using it for pain. The mental trauma of some of the atrocities witnessed and committed certainly led to widespread alcohol abuse and mental breakdowns, but until the Himmler documentary I mentioned, I hadn't heard about opium being used with the knowledge of Himmler.

It is really surprising only in that I hadn't heard more of it before.

It also wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't taking or being administered something for all those speeches and rallies in the early days of the party. He just revs up and goes. Quite impressive, in a way. And Dietrich Eckart, his mentor/drama coach and writer, was himself a heroin addict.

a reply to: Anaana

There is a very scholarly researched book coming out about this. I was riveted by the article. Thanks for posting.

The part I found particularly interesting was that the German people in cities were drugged with the Pervitin in their chocolates. Makes it easier to not care about atrocities when you are buzzed.

a reply to: katfish

Makes it easier to not care about atrocities when you are buzzed.

Dunno... I find myself seeking "buzzes" precisely because of what I perceive as (daily) atrocities. Remember, life's a "B" without a buzz.

And The Guardian article about the new book was good, though it's well known the troops were deluged with speed during WWII.

Though even the worst speed-freak I know would balk at genocide... just sayin'.

originally posted by: Anaana
a reply to: PhyllidaDavenport
It also wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't taking or being administered something for all those speeches and rallies in the early days of the party. He just revs up and goes. Quite impressive, in a way.

Oh dude... Hitler was hardcore tweaking on meth during some of those speeches. You'd have to be blind not to see it.

a reply to: boncho

Interesting to note- There is/was an actual method for the manufacturing of methamphetamine that is named "The Nazi Method".

There is more info at Google™ but after having been in over 70 meth. labs to which the majority of costs associated w/the labs and the clean-up of same, are paid by the taxpayer in a money grubbing scheme that goes w/the name "War on Drugs" (a real boondoggle which rivals that of the US Presidential elections) I won't propagate the poison..

Proud member of LEAP- Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

a reply to: Anaana

I think when morphine is easily available to people experiencing pain and trauma you are going to get addiction if there are no controls, as well as abuse, in those using it for pain.

That’s how Göring got hooked. Got shot in the leg in the Beer Hall Putsch, had to flee Germany for his safety despite the injury, spent a lot of time on morphine and the rest is history.

originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: Anaana

I think when morphine is easily available to people experiencing pain and trauma you are going to get addiction if there are no controls, as well as abuse, in those using it for pain.

That’s how Göring got hooked. Got shot in the leg in the Beer Hall Putsch, had to flee Germany for his safety despite the injury, spent a lot of time on morphine and the rest is history.

I completely forgot about Goering! Of course, that is why he looked so dreadful at Nuremberg because he'd had to go cold turkey, and the weight just sweated off him, leaving him drowned in those ridiculous hand made uniforms of his.

It's all so obvious now!

Some of the footage of the Nazi rallies. The whole events looked like some sort of mystical experience with strange characters in very camp outfits sort of reminds me of the Village People or Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The whole lot were obviously tripping on something. Even the day to day bpeople in the stadiums appear high/enlightened by the experience beyond normal emotions.

The truth is Germans like their drugs. They still do

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter
The truth is Germans like their drugs. They still do

To be fair, there probably not all that unique in that regard.

But they do seem to be uniquely proficient chemists. It'd be a far shorter list to name what (now illegal) active substance's 'weren't' first synthesized by a German chemist, than to name the ones that were.

I think there might be an interesting conspiracy theory there within itself.

What's the big deal, Hitler was just treating his ADHD(hyperactive type)

Lots of young people are on amphetamines these days for work and school, depends on the dosage if they are high or not.