For many years, historians from all around the world have been trying to figure out the cause of the Nazis defeat in World War II. Recently, they’ve uncovered a surprising potential factor that may have contributed to Hitler’s downfall: meth addiction.
Yes, you read that right — it turns out that a whole lot of Nazi soldiers and leaders were popping meth like it was candy. This new revelation has sparked a lot of interest in the historical community, with experts exploring how widespread drug use may have impacted the Nazi war effort.
Adolf Hitler’s Obsession With His Own Health
Hitler was very focused on maintaining his health, and he was very particular about what he consumed.
He was a genuine teetotaler who completely abstained from all alcoholic beverages, smoking and even coffee.
He was so obsessed with his health that he began taking special vitamin shots from his doctor, Morell. He believed that by appearing healthy and pure, he could maintain the public’s support.
But despite his outwardly healthy lifestyle, Hitler had a secret addiction to drugs. Morell was constantly injecting him with different experimental drugs and keeping detailed records of his treatments.
It’s possible that Hitler didn’t even realize how much he was relying on these drugs. As resources became scarce during the war, Morell even injected him with steroids that contained animal heart and liver extracts, despite Hitler’s vegetarian diet.
In Their Attempt To Outlaw Cocaine, They Replaced It With Pervitin
Following World War I, the use of narcotics like cocaine and heroin increased massively and also gained a lot in popularity, but it quickly began to show signs of drastically declining after the Nazis took over the government.
The Nazis even used narcotics to support their anti-Semitic agendas, claiming that Jews were the main drug users and that their addiction was a sign of being a social outcast. Drug users were either executed or sent to concentration camps because they were regarded as mentally ill.
However, public health concern was not the primary reason behind the Nazi crackdown on drugs. They were also driven by a desire to control the population’s sources of intoxication and promote the swastika as the only legitimate symbol of inebriation.
Nevertheless, the invention of Pervitin, a performance-enhancing drug, proved irresistible to both the public and the Nazi leadership.
Norman Ohler, in his book “Blitzed: Drugs In Nazi Germany,” explains that the Nazis embraced Pervitin in their pursuit to create a “superhuman” capable of extraordinary feats.
The drug became a powerful tool for the Nazi military, who used it to keep soldiers awake and enhance their performance during invasions.
The rise of Pervitin exemplifies the dangers of drug use, especially when they are embraced by totalitarian regimes for their own sinister purposes.
Germany’s Post-World War I Drug Epidemic
The physical devastation and psychological suffering caused by World War I left a devastating legacy for Germany and its people.
The impacts of the war were felt by every German citizen, and the majority of them were unable to deal with the anguish, depression, and suffering they were experiencing.
To solve this issue of psychological pain and mental problems — scientists and doctors from all around Germany were summoned, and the solution they came up with was cocaine and heroin.
By 1926, Germany became a leading producer and distributor of both these drugs and many others that had the same effect as these.
Soon Berlin became the capital for drug experimentation in Europe. The high number of war veterans addicted to morphine further fueled the demand for alternative drugs, and the relatively low cost of cocaine and heroin made them accessible to a wider population.
It is crucial to remember that the Germans’ addiction to drugs was caused by war and a variety of complicated and diverse circumstances, including social unrest, economic instability, and political turmoil.
Cocaine Like Drug Was Sold In Chocolate Like Wrappers
Due to its accessibility without a prescription, the drug Pervitin, which was initially promoted as a cure-all for a variety of problems like weight gain and mood disorders, became very well-known.
In fact, it became so easily accessible that it was even sold in boxes of chocolates! These chocolates were particularly recommended to women who were told that consuming two to three pieces a day would not only help them breeze through their daily housework but also lead to weight loss.
One reason for this was that Pervitin had appetite-depleting properties. It’s no wonder that the German army relied on this wonder drug to combat fatigue during battles.
Pervitin A Drug Needed By Every Soldier On The Front line
On the front lines of World War II, soldiers battled tiredness constantly. Heinrich Böll, a teenage soldier, begged his parents for Pervitin in a short letter which he wrote home in 1939 — because he thought it was the only thing that could keep him energetic all through the war.
Dr Otto Ranke, a physician in Berlin, also recognized the potential benefits of Pervitin in combating the exhausting effects of battle.
He thought the drug may make a soldier feel better, give them more energy, and even make them eat less, which was just what they were looking for in their soldiers serving on the front line.
As more soldiers began to use Pervitin, the German armies decided to officially sanction its use in pill form as a way to combat fatigue on the battlefield.
The drug was distributed to soldiers with the intention of keeping them alert and focused during long stretches of fighting.
However, Pervitin had a dark side: it was highly addictive, and it had some severe side effects, such as aggression, hallucinations, and paranoia. Some soldiers became so addicted to Pervitin that it became impossible for them to function without it.
Pervitin was taken by many soldiers throughout the war despite all of its bad effects; it is estimated that tens of millions of pills were being given out to the troops at one point.
Its ability to raise a soldier’s morale, freshen up the mood, and raise energy levels contributed to its appeal and made it a particularly attractive choice for soldiers fighting the battle on the front lines.
Unfortunately, Pervitin use had significant long-term effects, leaving many soldiers with addiction and mental health problems years after the war had ended.
It Was Pervitin To Thank For The Successful French Invasion
In 1940, as Germany was preparing to invade France, their soldiers were popping Pervitin pills in massive quantities, giving them an unrelenting edge on the battlefield.
The army doctors received a decree suggesting soldiers take up to three pills a day, and even more if necessary, to stay awake and uninhibited during the conflict.
To meet the demand, a staggering 35 million tablets were ordered exclusively for the army — enough to get the soldiers through the treacherous Ardennes mountains in France.
The effects of Pervitin were truly staggering. German soldiers seemed to possess superhuman strength and endless energy, leaving even Winston Churchill dumbfounded by their relentless vigor. And it wasn’t just a mere anecdote either — some German soldiers were able to remain awake for a mind-boggling 17 days straight!
As a result, the successful invasion of France was largely attributed to the effects of Pervitin. German tanks, driven by soldiers under the influence of the drug, plowed through French defenses and secured victory.
The Infamous Drug And The Success Of Blitzkrieg Tactics
The most infamous German Blitzkrieg tactics were a force to be reckoned with throughout the Second World War.
The ferocity and speed of the German forces left their enemy perplexed; no one else had the ability to keep up with the German buildup or the strategies to counter the might of the Blitzkrieg attack.
It is said that the success of these lightning-fast assaults was in part due to the soldiers being so high on Pervitin pills that they went without sleep for three days.
As the Germans were planning to invade France, their leaders were skeptical at first because such a feat would be impossible to accomplish without rest. However, Pervitin proved to be the solution they were looking for.
The drug kept the soldiers awake and alert for days on end, becoming a precious weapon in the German arsenal.
It wouldn’t be exaggerating slightly to suggest that Pervitin was vital to the Blitzkrieg’s success. The Germans were able to take more land in just 100 hours during the invasion of France than they had during the entirety of WWI.
The drug had an incredibly extraordinary effect on the troops — the infamous drug allowed them to complete their mission with fierce efficiency.
Hitler’s Becoming Serious Drug Addict During Period Of World War II
Amidst the chaos of WWII, Hitler spiraled down a dark path of addiction that ultimately consumed him. It all began with a fateful dose of opiates in 1941, which had a seemingly miraculous effect on his body and mind, allowing him to attend a crucial military meeting.
Little did he know that taking just one dose would be the beginning of a catastrophic spiral of drug consumption that would follow him until the end of the war.
As the war raged on, Hitler’s dependence on drugs grew stronger, and he became utterly enslaved by their grip. Between 1941 and 1944, his addiction consumed him, rendering him helpless and powerless in the face of his inner demons.
Hitler chose to bury his head in the soil and cling to the false notion that his personal doctor, Morell, was his saviour despite the fact that medications were wreaking havoc on both his health and psyche.
However, ultimately, everything he did was for nothing — Hitler’s drug addiction took a serious toll on him, turning him into a shadow of the man he had once been and hastening his plunge into madness.
Drugs Behind Allies Successful Escape From Dunkirk
As history tells us, the Allies narrowly escaped the battle of Dunkirk, and the reason behind their miraculous escape is rather shocking.
Hitler’s drug addiction was on the next level during the Second World War — which began to take a toll on his decision-making abilities.
His judgment was impaired, and his military strategy suffered as a result. He ordered his soldiers to split their forces between Caucasus and Leningrad instead of prioritizing the capture of Moscow, a move that ultimately cost him victory.
However, it wasn’t just Hitler who was affected by using drugs. Even his top military officials were high on morphine and making poor decisions.
The head of the air force, Hermann Goering, decided to attack Dunkirk without the army while under the influence, and when bad weather disrupted their plans, Hitler halted the advance, allowing the Allies to escape.
Hitler Going Mad Towards The End Of WWII
It has been believed that Adolf Hitler suffered from acute withdrawal symptoms towards the final days of the Second World War.
According to historical records, Hitler had a hand tremor around this time that had led many to think that he may have been suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Medical records kept by his physician, Dr Morell, contain notes on treatments for Parkinson’s disease, further fueling these speculations.
However, an intriguing detail also found in Dr Morell’s records sheds light on a possible alternative explanation for Hitler’s tremors.
It appears that by the time the tremor surfaced, Hitler’s supply of the drugs he had been taking heavily was quickly dwindling. In 1944, British bombing raids destroyed the factory that produced Hitler’s favored drug of the time, Eukodal.
Hitler was no longer able to procure the medications on which he had been reliant, particularly the oxycodone on which he had been overdependent for a very long time.
Conclusion
It was the extensive use of meth in particular which contributed significantly to the downfall of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The military’s capacity to perform at its best was hampered by Hitler’s own drug addiction as well as the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs like Pervitin.
The rise of Pervitin exemplifies the dangers of drug use, especially when they are embraced by totalitarian regimes for their own sinister purposes.
Drug abuse in Germany was an outcome of complicated circumstances, such as civil unrest, economic chaos, and political turbulence, and it ultimately led to the Nazis’ downfall.
