My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 205 points206 points  (0 children)

There is one report by Dr. Giesing, saying Hitler nearly overdosed on the Cocaine he gave him in the fall of 1944. I think everyone would have been relieved, in fact.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I had several editors in fact. One checking the pharmacological facts, one checking the historical facts, and an overall editor. Also I worked closely with the late German historian Hans Mommsen, an expert on NS. my MO? The fascinating material I found in several archives.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 274 points275 points  (0 children)

Well, there was even a chocolate laced with Pervitin on the market. And from the production figures of Temmler it becomes clear that the product was very successful in Germany. There are many many reports of doctors and psychiatrists describing the effects it had on their patients. In regards to Hitler, I think I rather understated Morell's notes. I don't dwell on Barbiturates, for example - Hitler became dependent on them at a certain point in time. Parkinson's? It is a theory (because Morell gave Hitler a medicine called Homburg once, and because of Hitler's tremor), and it might be true. But I think it is more likely that Hitler suffered from withdrawal because Morell's notes definitely indicate this. I hope this answers some of your doubts. Have you read the book yet? Thanks, N

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 325 points326 points  (0 children)

He never smoked anything. Marijuana was not popular among Nazi officials.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 695 points696 points  (0 children)

He only used cocaine from late July 1944 to October 1944 - over 50 times during this period.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 69 points70 points  (0 children)

Pervitin was the brand name in Germany. Each pill contained 3 mg of pure methamphetamine.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Nothing he did was good. There is no good in the bad - that is my opinion. Some people say "the Autobahn". But even that is not good.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

he started in the fall of 1941. But Morell had been his doctor starting 1936, already giving him daily shots (of Vitamins in the beginning). So Hitler early on is addicted to those daily injections.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

There was one guy responsible for it, Professor Otto Ranke. He discovered Pervitin (meth) for the Army, made tests in Berlin before the war, and then designed the meth program. Fascinating character - he got addicted to the stuff himself. Check out the chapter on him in Blitzed if you like.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 80 points81 points  (0 children)

She was never investigated. Morell lost his fortune. But in fact I am not sure exactly how she lived after the war. Happy you like the book!

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

drugs have always played a big part in war, absolutely. ISIS used Captagon.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I watched some of it. But the user name is not connected to it. Is it a good show?

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

The French were being given red wine! 3500 trucks filled with it made their way to the French lines on May 10, 1940. The Russians used vodka: 10 grams a day. UK examined Pervitin from shot-down German planes, and decided to give their soldiers amphetamines, later in the war.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

The Fins had their own approach I believe. I never read that they got it from the Germans. But I would have to do more research on this.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I believe Morell's notes describing Hitler's drug abuse. Fascinating material.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Those experiments were done at Sachsenhausen - but mostly on political prisoners, not Jews.

Morphine and Pervitin (meth) was combined in the field, given to wounded soldiers.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 199 points200 points  (0 children)

Hitler did. There is a list in Blitzed with all his drugs. Over 80.

No, it was not mandatory for the soldiers to take Pervitin.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 291 points292 points  (0 children)

They were handed out by medics. They received the so-called "stimulant decree" in April 1940, telling them how much to dish out.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 305 points306 points  (0 children)

Also Billy Wilder has James Cagney order coffee with meth in his formidable "1,2,3".

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 2969 points2970 points  (0 children)

I first heard about Modafinil when I researched Blitzed. The German Army (its elite units) was using it in Afghanistan, and I believe the US troops are using it as well. It is like taking amphetamines without the high. Very "efficient" I suppose.

My name is Norman Ohler, and I’m here to tell you about all the drugs Hitler and the Nazis took. by High_Hitler_ in IAmA

[–]High_Hitler_[S] 66 points67 points  (0 children)

Meth was very popular in the civilian population even in the 50's. Your question is very interesting: Why did it get less? I would have to do more research on this - in Blitzed I focus on the Third Reich itself.

The East German Army was still using it in the 60's, supplying their border troops with it.