Hitler was High During Most of World War II Says Norman Ohler (HBO)

Summary

The bestseller 'Blitzed' reveals Adolf Hitler's extensive drug use during WWII, supported by records from his physician, Theo Morell. Hitler's dependency on narcotics like Eukodal, a powerful opiate, and the widespread methamphetamine use by the German army are highlighted. Despite the drugs' influence on their actions, the author argues that it doesn't absolve the Nazis of their responsibilities for their heinous acts.

Takeaways

• 📚 Hitler was known to be a vegetarian, fond of the toothbrush mustache, and a failed artist.
• 💊 The book 'Blitzed' details that Hitler was a heavy drug user, consuming narcotics throughout much of World War II.
• 🏥 Records from Hitler's personal physician, Theo Morell, provide evidence of Hitler's drug use.
• 🧪 Morell was a celebrity doctor known for vitamin treatments and was also a pioneer in their use.
• 🤔 The interviewee suggests that their background as a novelist and familiarity with drugs may have influenced their interpretation of the historical evidence.
• 🚫 Hitler's image was carefully crafted to show him as a teetotaler, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and meat.
• 🤒 In 1941, Hitler fell ill, and Morell began administering drugs, including opiates.
• 💉 By 1943, Hitler was using Eukodal, a powerful opiate with strong euphoric effects, now known as oxycodone.
• ⚔️ The German army also widely used methamphetamine to reduce the need for sleep and fear, particularly before the attack on France.
• 💥 The success of methamphetamine in early campaigns eventually declined, and the bombing of drug factories by the British in 1944 impacted drug supply.
• 🔥 Hitler's reliance on drugs and the eventual shortage led to conflicts with Morell, who was eventually fired.

Q & A

What does the book 'Blitzed' reveal about Adolf Hitler's drug use?

The book 'Blitzed' details that Adolf Hitler was a heavy user of narcotics, including methamphetamine and opiates like Eukodal, which is stronger than heroin, throughout much of World War II.

How did the author of 'Blitzed' gain access to information about Hitler's drug use?

The author was able to access records and notes of Theo Morell, Hitler's personal physician, which provided evidence of Hitler's drug use.

What was Theo Morell's profession and how does it relate to Hitler's drug use?

Theo Morell was a well-paid celebrity doctor of the 1930s who was a pioneer in treating people with vitamins. He became Hitler's personal physician and administered various drugs to him, including narcotics.

What was the significance of Eukodal in Hitler's drug regimen?

Eukodal, which is now known as oxycodone, was a powerful opiate that Hitler was given for its strong euphoric effects.

How did the German army's use of methamphetamine impact their warfare strategy?

Methamphetamine was used by the German army to reduce the need for sleep and to diminish fear, which allowed them to carry out operations, such as the attack on France, without the usual need for rest.

What was the role of drugs in the early success of the German army during World War II?

Drugs like methamphetamine were used to enhance the performance of the German army, enabling them to fight without the need for sleep and with reduced fear, contributing to their early victories.

How did the bombing of drug factories by the British affect Hitler's access to drugs?

When the British bombed the factories producing drugs, Hitler and his doctor faced difficulties in obtaining the drugs they needed, leading to a crisis in Hitler's drug supply.

What was the consequence for Theo Morell when he couldn't provide drugs to Hitler?

When Morell could not provide Hitler with strong drugs, including on Hitler's birthday, Hitler fired him a few days later.

Does the revelation of Hitler's drug use humanize the Nazis in any way?

The author of 'Blitzed' argues that while drugs were used and had an impact on the war effort, they do not lessen the responsibility for the political decisions and actions taken by the Nazis.

How did the portrayal of Hitler as a teetotaler align with his actual drug use?

Despite being portrayed as a teetotaler who abstained from alcohol, cigarettes, and meat, Hitler's actual drug use, as revealed in the records, contradicts this image.

What was the ultimate conclusion of the author regarding the impact of drugs on the Nazis' responsibility for their actions?

The author concludes that the use of drugs by Hitler and the Nazis does not mitigate their responsibility for the atrocities committed during the war.

Outlines

00:00

💉 Hitler's Secret Drug Use Revealed

The script discusses the revelation from the book 'Blitzed' that Adolf Hitler was a heavy drug user during World War II, as were many in the Third Reich. Evidence comes from records of Hitler's personal physician, Theo Morell, who was known for pioneering vitamin treatments. Hitler's drug use began with a hormone injection and opiate in 1941 when he fell ill, escalating to the use of Eukodal, a powerful opiate stronger than heroin, by 1943. The script also touches on the broader context of drug use within the German army, highlighting the distribution of methamphetamine to troops to reduce the need for sleep and fear, which was particularly significant before the attack on France. The narrative suggests that while drugs may have been prevalent, they did not absolve those involved of their political and military responsibilities.

Keywords

💡Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party and the Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945. His decisions and actions during this period led to World War II and the Holocaust. In the context of the video, Hitler is revealed to have been a user of various drugs, which the author suggests may have influenced his behavior and decisions during the war. The script mentions that Hitler's drug use started with a hormone injection and an opiate in 1941 and escalated to the use of Eukodal, a powerful opioid.

💡Theo Morell

Theo Morell was Hitler's personal physician who played a significant role in administering drugs to Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials. Morell's records and notes, which the author discovered, provide evidence of the drugs used by Hitler. Morell was known for his unconventional treatments and was a pioneer in using vitamins for therapy. His methods and the drugs he prescribed are central to the video's exploration of drug use among the Nazi leadership.

💡Blitzed

'Blitzed' is the title of the book by Norman Ohler that details the extensive drug use within the Third Reich, including Hitler's personal drug use. The book is based on extensive research, including records from Theo Morell, and presents a perspective on World War II that suggests drugs may have played a role in the decisions and actions of the Nazi regime.

💡Drugs

The term 'drugs' in the video refers to the various narcotics and pharmaceuticals ingested by Hitler and the Third Reich. These include hormones, opiates like Eukodal (oxycodone), and methamphetamine, which was distributed to German troops to reduce the need for sleep and fear. The video suggests that drug use was widespread and had significant effects on the behavior and decisions of those involved.

💡Eukodal

Eukodal, known as oxycodone in the United States, is a powerful synthetic opiate mentioned in the video as one of the drugs regularly administered to Hitler by Dr. Morell. It was used for its strong euphoric effects and was part of Hitler's drug regimen that the author suggests may have influenced his actions and health during the war.

💡Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, was a drug widely used by the German military, as mentioned in the video. It was distributed in large quantities to troops to enhance their performance by reducing the need for sleep and fear. The video discusses the role of methamphetamine in the German army's early successes and later challenges, including the bombing of drug factories by the British.

💡Drug addiction

Drug addiction is a recurring theme in the video, as it discusses Hitler's dependency on various drugs and the eventual impact on his health and behavior. The author explores the possibility that Hitler's addiction to drugs like Eukodal may have influenced his decision-making and contributed to his erratic behavior in the later stages of the war.

💡World War II

World War II serves as the historical backdrop for the video's discussion of drug use. The author connects the widespread use of drugs, particularly among military personnel and the Nazi leadership, to the events and outcomes of the war. The video suggests that drug use may have had a more significant impact on the war effort than previously recognized.

💡Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany refers to the period of German history when the country was under the control of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. The video discusses the paradox of a regime that promoted physical and mental purity while being heavily involved in the use and distribution of drugs. It also touches on how the drug use by the Nazi leadership, including Hitler, contrasts with their public image and the ideology they promoted.

💡Responsibility

The concept of responsibility is addressed in the video in relation to whether Hitler's drug use could have lessened his culpability for the actions of the Nazi regime. The author concludes that the use of drugs does not absolve Hitler or the Nazis of their political decisions and the atrocities committed during the war.

Highlights

Adolf Hitler was a closet drug user, consuming narcotics extensively during World War II.

The records and notes of Hitler's personal physician, Theo Morell, reveal his drug use.

The author's background as a novelist and experience in Berlin influenced their perspective on Hitler's drug use.

Dr. Morell was a celebrity doctor known for vitamin treatments and was involved in Hitler's care.

Hitler's image was carefully crafted to be a teetotaler, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and meat.

Hitler's first recorded drug use was in 1941 when he fell ill, and Morell administered an opiate.

In 1943, Hitler was given Eukodal, a powerful opiate stronger than heroin, for its euphoric effects.

Eukodal is now known as oxycodone, which Hitler was heavily dependent on.

The German army also widely used methamphetamine to reduce the need for sleep and fear.

35-million dosages of methamphetamine were shipped to German tank troops for the campaign in the west.

The German army's use of methamphetamine was a strategic advantage in early campaigns.

The methamphetamine supply was disrupted in 1944 when British bombing targeted drug factories.

Dr. Morell's desperation to find drugs for Hitler is illustrated by his actions in war-torn Berlin.

Hitler fired Dr. Morell in 1945 when he could not provide strong drugs, including on Hitler's birthday.

The author argues that drug use does not humanize the Nazis or lessen their political responsibility.

Transcripts

Much is known about Adolf Hitler.

He was vegetarian, partial to the toothbrush mustache, and a failed artist.

But as the new bestseller "Blitzed" reports in incredible detail,

Hitler was also a hardcore closet junkie,

ingesting mass amounts of narcotics for much of World War II,

as was most of the Third Reich.

— How do you know that Hitler was on drugs?

— In Germany, we keep records of everything,

and I was fortunate enough to find the records and notes of Theo Morell,

who was the personal physician of Hitler.

— Is there a certain aspect of it that's like a Rorschach test?

What does it say about you, that you looked at that evidence and you're like,

“Oh, it's totally drugs”?

— As a novelist, and as someone being partly socialized in Berlin in the ‘90s...

— [LAUGHS]

Go on.

— Drugs certainly are not as alien to me, in my field of work, or life, or research,

as they might be for a tweed-wearing historian in a small German or British town.

So, maybe it had to be an out-of-the-box person to approach it that way.

— Dr. Morell was a well-paid celebrity doctor of the ‘30s,

who was a pioneer in treating people with vitamins.

He was the sort of man who, when the war started,

designed himself a fantasy uniform, with a lavish SS belt buckle,

that the SS forced him to remove.

— It was an important part of the Führer cult to portray Hitler as a teetotaler

who wouldn't even drink coffee,

who wouldn't smoke cigarettes, no alcohol, no meat.

The problem started in 1941, in August,

when Hitler, for the first time, became sick.

And Morell gives him a hormone injection,

and gives him an opiate for the first time.

In ‘43, when he gets an opiate called Eukodal,

which is very strong, stronger than heroin,

with a very strong euphoric-making effect.

— We now know Eukodal as oxycodone, which Hitler was mainlining.

But the Führer wasn’t the only one who was high during the war.

— There's a lot to be found on the meth abuse by the German army.

Methamphetamine reduces your need to sleep, and also reduces your fear.

This actually happened before the attack on France.

For the campaign in the west, 35-million dosages of methamphetamine

were being shipped to the tank troops.

The west was sure that any army in the world,

this is just what human nature is,

has to rest at night, which the Germans just didn't do.

— The meth that was so successful in early campaigns would eventually fail them later,

and, in 1944, when the Brits bombed the factories that made the drugs,

Hitler and his doctor found themselves at odds.

— So we all know what happened to Hitler,

but what actually happened to Hitler's doctor?

— Morrell, at one point, writes, in ‘45, that he’s sending two of his aides on motorcycles

through bombed out Berlin in order to find pharmacies that still had drugs, in vain.

When he cannot even give Hitler a strong drug on Hitler's birthday, April 20th, 1945,

Hitler fires him a few days later.

— But does painting Hitler and his cronies as drug addicts humanize the Nazis?

— It's very important to realize that

that the politics, the planning,

has nothing to do with drugs.

Drugs were used later on in the war effort,

but would drugs lessen the responsibility?

My conclusion is no.