Key Moments
German author and novelist Norman Ohler Address at the Oxford Union
Oxford UnionKey Moments
Nazi Germany systematically used methamphetamine in its military and civilian population, a fact largely overlooked by historians, and this widespread drug use may have influenced key strategic decisions, including the invasion of France.
Key Insights
The German army ordered 35 million doses of methamphetamine before the invasion of the West in May 1940, a significant but under-documented aspect of their military strategy.
Hitler became addicted to opioids, particularly Oxycontin (Odal), by 1943-1944, a detail revealed through his personal physician's meticulous notes, which may explain his declining decision-making capabilities.
The US CIA co-opted LSD research in the late 1940s and 1950s through programs like MK Ultra, preventing its market introduction and securing it as a potential 'pharmacological weapon'.
LSD, discovered by Sandoz in 1943, was initially intended as a potential pharmaceutical and therapeutic agent, but its development for public use was halted due to its perceived potential as a truth serum and its eventual acquisition by the CIA.
Prohibition of drugs is presented not as a health measure, but as a tool for citizen control, hindering neuroplasticity and contributing to societal conformity and a crisis of democracy.
Psychedelics increase neuroplasticity, which governments may find undesirable in citizens who are more likely to be creative and less obedient; this can lead to conformity and extremism.
The overlooked role of methamphetamine in Nazi Germany
Norman Ohler, an author who is not a historian, shared his journey of uncovering significant, yet largely overlooked, drug use within Nazi Germany. His research began with a personal anecdote from his grandfather, who worked for the German railway and witnessed a child's hand reaching out of a cattle car. This sparked a lifelong curiosity about the era. Ohler stumbled upon the idea that Nazis might have used drugs when a DJ suggested writing about 'Nazis and drugs.' Initially skeptical, as Nazi ideology promoted a clean image, Ohler discovered through investigations into the Temmler company that methamphetamine (Pervatin) was widely available and even marketed in chocolate bars and as a morning stimulant for housewives. This suggests that methamphetamine use permeated civilian life, making daily chores more bearable and enhancing performance in a performance-driven society. The discovery transformed his idea for a novel into a non-fiction exploration of a hidden history.
The Wehrmacht's methamphetamine program
Ohler's research extended to military archives, revealing a vast methamphetamine program within the German army (Wehrmacht). He found evidence of a methodical approach to combating soldier fatigue, a critical factor in prolonged combat. A key figure was a professor responsible for performance enhancement, who conducted tests showing that young medical officers could remain functional all night on methamphetamine. Before the invasion of the West on May 10, 1940, the German army ordered an astounding 35 million doses of methamphetamine. This stimulant was crucial for the success of the 'sickle cut' strategy, which involved a rapid, non-stop advance through the Ardennes mountain range into France. This physiological advantage, contrasted with French soldiers fighting on their allowed daily ration of red wine, created what Ohler termed 'pharmacological asymmetrical warfare.' This widespread use of stimulants significantly contributed to the unprecedented speed of the German advance, a fact that surprised even Hitler himself. The ubiquity of methamphetamine in both civilian and military spheres fundamentally challenges the idealized image of a drug-free Nazi regime and highlights how pharmacological enhancement integrated into the fabric of their society.
Hitler's descent into drug addiction
Contrary to the Nazi propaganda that portrayed Hitler as a teetotaler, vegetarian, and tea drinker, Ohler's investigation into the notes of his personal physician, Theodor Morell, revealed Hitler's significant reliance on drugs. Morell, who spent nearly daily with Hitler from 1936 to 1945, meticulously recorded the numerous injections administered to the Führer. While initially these were vitamins and supplements, by 1941, and especially in 1943-1944 when the war turned difficult, Hitler's intake shifted towards opioids. His favorite drug was Oxycontin, known as 'Odal' in Germany, (a drug now notorious for its role in the U.S. opioid crisis). Ohler discovered that Hitler was intravenously receiving 20 mg of Odal every second day, a high dosage that led to a dependency. This addiction, coupled with other drug use, is suggested by historian Hans Mommsen to explain Hitler's declining decision-making and retreat from reality, a phenomenon that may have indirectly aided the Allied war effort by leading to catastrophic strategic errors. This personal dependency painted a stark contrast to the public image of unwavering leadership and revealed a profound vulnerability at the heart of the regime.
From Nazi experiments to American mind control: the LSD connection
Ohler's research into LSD began with a curious link to Nazi Germany. He discovered a two-page report from the SS at the Dachau concentration camp detailing experiments with hallucinogenic substances, including mescaline, to develop a 'truth drug.' This occurred in 1943-1944, the same period when LSD was accidentally discovered by the Swiss company Sandoz. While LSD is popularly associated with the hippie movement, Ohler hypothesized a possible Nazi connection. His investigation led him to the Sandoz archives (later acquired by Novartis), where he found extensive documentation of early LSD research. He discovered that Sandoz employees experienced profound effects from LSD, reporting enhanced well-being and self-understanding. However, despite this initial promise, Sandoz never marketed LSD. Ohler's breakthrough came when he uncovered correspondence between Sandoz's CEO and Dr. Hellmuth Kun, a Nobel Prize winner who was also Hitler's leading biochemist and oversaw the truth drug experiments at Dachau. Kun confirmed receiving half a gram of LSD from Sandoz in October 1943. Following the American liberation of Dachau, researchers found evidence of the SS's psychedelic experiments and interrogated Kun. Faced with a choice between cooperating with the Americans or facing war crimes trials, Kun revealed information about LSD to American intelligence. This directly linked to the CIA's MK Ultra program, established in 1947, which focused on mind control and used LSD as a core component, testing it on unwitting American citizens. The CIA effectively secured LSD for its own purposes, making a pact with Sandoz that allowed the company to introduce other medications into the U.S. market without issue, effectively blocking LSD's public availability.
The politics of prohibition and neuroplasticity
Ohler posits that drug prohibition, particularly for substances like LSD, is not primarily about health but about control. He argues that governments prefer citizens who are not overly 'neuroplastic' – meaning their brains are less adaptable and less prone to novel ideas or independent thought. He states that psychedelics increase neuroplasticity, allowing for new neural connections and a reconfiguration of the brain. However, a highly neuroplastic citizen may be less obedient, less predictable, and might not conform to societal expectations of daily work and productivity. Therefore, systems that penalize 'vision' and neuroplasticity tend to foster conformity. This suppression of transcendence, Ohler suggests, can ultimately lead to extremism. He draws a parallel between the 'walls' erected by political regimes and the 'biochemical walls' that drug prohibitions can create in our minds, hindering our potential and contributing to a crisis in democratic societies. He calls for this wall to be torn down, advocating for the liberalization of psychedelic research.
Reframing human evolution and consciousness
In his current project, 'Stone Sapiens,' Ohler explores the ancient and ongoing role of psychoactive substances in human history and evolution. He muses that drugs, particularly psychoactive plants, may have played a crucial role in human development, citing the ancient Iboga cult in Gabon. He suggests that rituals surrounding drug use historically formed culture and established societal norms. These rituals created roles for controllers such as shamans and priests. While rituals have the capacity to embrace neuroplasticity and foster cultural development, they can become problematic when hierarchies rigidify, leading to prohibitionist regimes. Ohler contrasts this with modern societies, which he largely views as prohibitionist. He concludes by urging a move away from a prohibitionist path towards a more 'neuroplastic' future, which he sees as the direction of evolution. He warns against 'power without awareness' and suggests that contemporary fascism manifests not in overt totalitarianism but in subtler forms like exhaustion, chemical comfort, and algorithmic rage. Resistance, he argues, begins with refusing to be numbed, embracing our innate neuroplasticity, and making the 'free world truly free.'
Mentioned in This Episode
●Supplements
●Companies
●Books
●Drugs & Medications
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
Norman Ohler used 'out of the box' research methods, including spending time in Berlin's underground techno clubs and speaking with DJs and illicit substance dealers, which helped him uncover information overlooked by traditional historians.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Mentioned as one of the two previous German solo speakers at the Oxford Union, lauded as the greatest genius of all time.
Referred to as a childhood hero and a figure the speaker modeled his life on, and the second German solo speaker at the Oxford Union.
A leading historian on National Socialism in Germany, who initially stated that historians lacked knowledge about drugs, influencing the speaker's approach.
Mentioned as having given a solo address at the Oxford Union and for coining the term 'sickle cut' strategy used by Germany in its attack on the West.
Hitler's personal physician from 1936 to 1945, who meticulously documented Hitler's daily injections, revealing his addiction to opioids like Oodal.
The author of a formidable biography on Hitler, who only mentioned Theodor Morell briefly, highlighting the overlooked nature of Morell's records in the Federal Archives.
Referred to as Rishad Kun, the Swiss chemist and Nobel Prize winner who was Hitler's leading biochemist and developed the truth drug, and who initially shared LSD research with Sandoz.
Mentioned for declaring the war on drugs, which blocked psychedelic research for a long time.
Mentioned for his speech in Berlin about 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall,' used as an analogy for removing the 'wall' around psychedelic research.
The historical era discussed, which the speaker notes was extensively studied but still contained overlooked information, particularly regarding drug use.
The speaker's current research project and the title of his upcoming book and substack, exploring the historical role of psychoactive substances in human evolution and culture.
The movie by Nolan is mentioned as lacking the German perspective, specifically regarding the halting order that allowed the British evacuation.
The speaker's book which provides a biography of Hitler's drug use and its impact on his decision-making, referred to by historian Hans Mommsen as the 'missing piece'.
The published title of the speaker's second book, which was initially intended to be called 'LSD for Mom', exploring similar themes to his previous work 'Blitzed'.
An American startup company that conducted clinical trials with LSD, finding its potential to regenerate brain receptors, which the speaker encountered during his research.
A major pharmaceutical company that purchased Sandoz, holding the archives where the speaker researched the history of LSD.
The Swiss company that developed LSD in 1943 and later had its archives, including correspondence about LSD, held by Novartis.
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