Norman Ohler

Who is Norman Ohler?

Norman Ohler is an author and screenwriter whose books include "Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany," "The Bohemians: The Lovers Who Led Germany's Resistance Against the Nazis," and "Tripped: Nazi Germany, The CIA and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age."

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Norman Ohler discusses his research into drug use in Nazi Germany and how it shaped military strategy and leadership decisions
• 02Hitler's personal physician prescribed him various substances including methamphetamine, which affected his judgment and decision-making
• 03The Nazi regime used drugs to enhance soldier performance, particularly amphetamines to keep troops alert during extended operations
• 04Ohler explores the connection between psychedelic research, Nazi experiments, and the CIA's later interest in mind-altering substances
• 05The book 'Blitzed' reveals how chemical dependency may have influenced major Nazi military campaigns and strategic failures
• 06Ohler discusses his other works including 'The Bohemians' about German resistance figures and 'Tripped' covering psychedelic history
• ▶Introduction to Ohler's research on drugs in Nazi Germany0:00:00
• ▶Discussion of Hitler's personal physician and prescribed medications0:05:30
• ▶How amphetamines were used to enhance military performance during Blitzkrieg0:18:45
• ▶Connection between Nazi drug research and CIA psychedelic programs0:35:20
• ▶Overview of 'The Bohemians' and German resistance figures0:52:10

The Show

Norman Ohler sits down with Joe to discuss his groundbreaking research into one of history's darkest and most overlooked topics: drug use in Nazi Germany. Ohler, an author and screenwriter, has spent years investigating how chemical substances shaped the decisions and actions of Nazi leadership, with his most famous work being 'Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany.'

The conversation centers around Hitler's personal physician and the various substances he was prescribed. Rather than being the picture of health, Hitler was actually heavily medicated, receiving injections and pills that included amphetamines and other compounds. This wasn't some fringe conspiracy theory either. Ohler bases his work on medical records, testimonies, and historical documentation that clearly show the extent of drug use within the Nazi hierarchy.

What makes this research particularly important is understanding how these substances may have influenced major historical decisions. When you're dealing with a leader who's taking amphetamines and other drugs regularly, you have to consider how that affects judgment, impulsivity, and strategic thinking. Ohler explains how the Nazi military also systematically used drugs to enhance soldier performance, particularly during the Blitzkrieg campaigns where troops needed to stay awake and alert for extended periods.

The discussion also branches into Ohler's other work, 'Tripped: Nazi Germany, The CIA and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age,' which connects early psychedelic and mind-altering drug research conducted during the Nazi era to what the CIA later pursued. This creates a fascinating and disturbing historical thread showing how certain research areas survived the fall of the Third Reich and influenced Cold War intelligence operations.

Ohler brings the same rigorous historical approach to 'The Bohemians,' which focuses on German resistance figures and the people who actively worked against the Nazi regime from within. Throughout the conversation, Joe and Norman explore how understanding these hidden aspects of history helps us see beyond the official narratives and recognize the messy, complicated reality of what actually happened.

Best Quotes

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