Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich

By Norman Ohler.

 

The Nazi's used lots of drugs. What surprised me is that todays big German drug companies (Merek, Bayer) produced high many high demand drugs (Heroin, Methamphetamine, OxyContin, etc) at that time.

 

The book follows four paths…

 

1. The use of Pervitin (Methamphetamine in pill form) by soldiers and pilots. This drug would allow the military to stay awake for days and was important part of how the Blitz over France succeeded. Of course there were the long term problems—addiction, psychosis, cardiac problems.
2. Hitler's use of drugs, starting with injections of vitamins and glucose and working his way up to many other drugs to help manage his illnesses. Hitler wanted to be strong and healthy at all times. This meant his personal doctor had to give him the right drugs to help him power through life's ups and downs. Eventually and unknowingly he became and addict. He experienced severe withdrawal symptoms when his supply ran out as Germany was collapsing.   
3. Experimenting with next generation super drugs on prisoners of war. The Nazi's would give Jews various combinations of cocaine, meth, OxyContin and other drugs then observe them over a 60 mile 2 day march.
4. The last desperate attempts to attack England using many two person mini subs. The plan required the soldiers to stay awake for four days using the best combinations of stimulants that the Germans knew of. Many of the soldiers got so disoriented from the drugs that they became disoriented, drown, or surrendered.