Let me reiterate: this is not a clickbait title! As a history grad and aspiring historian myself, I jumped at the opportunity to screen a documentary that breaks new ground. Adolf Hitler and drugs? Opioids and occultism? Panzers and drug-chocolate? Nazi Junkies answers these questions, and breaks ground for new takes on a well-trodden historical path.
The world remembers the vegetarian Führer’s evil and despicable nature. Less remembered is his insistence on healthy living and family values. He has long been an enigma who was simplified down into an evil psychopath. He advocated for many progressive moves for the Fatherland, yet enacted twice as many policies rooted in lunacy and hatred. Hitler never shied away from talking about “the master race” and the need to be in good health and peak physical condition.
Would Hitler live in secret as a junkie?
Now, at first glance, it seemed too simple of an explanation. Hitler and the High Command were on drugs? Okay, sure. They probably were to some extent. Does that explain for their failures? Possibly. Maybe some of them. The whole Nazi army using drugs throughout the war? Sounded like a stretch…at first.
Nazi Junkies: Rooted in Research
The documentary stems from the groundwork and source material of a New York Times Bestselling book, Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich. Author Norman Ohler discovered some overlooked firsthand documents from Hitler’s personal physician. The result was a rabbit hole lost to historians and biographers.
Hitler’s personal physician, Théodore Morell, was giving him a mix of “vitamins” for strength. One of the “vitamins” included in that concoction was Pervitin, which was methamphetamine in a handy tablet form.
Vitamin Meth – “Your Doctors (and dealers) hate it!”
Now, I don’t know about your pharmacist, but I definitely wouldn’t call Meth a vitamin. Yet, in 1930’s Germany, pervitin was sold over the counter. Just like you’re buying Tums in an easy to chew tablet form, Mr. and Mrs. Deutchpeople purchased meth in an easy to chew tablet form. The drug was allocated for military purposes as the Third Reich began invading neighboring countries in 1939.
The documentary asserts, convincingly I might add, that it was drugs that gave the Nazi force superhuman-like military advantages. They point out that the tank divisions had a thing called “Panzerschokolade,” literally translated as “tank chocolate.” What’s in this tank chocolate? None other than pervitin! Meth chocolate! And we think edibles are creative…
Pervitin has the ability to keep the body running at high functioning levels for extended periods of time. What’s that mean? Wakefulness. More awake for longer than a non-drugged human being. How did the Blitzkrieg work so well and how did the Nazis move so quickly? They could be awake for 18+ hours a day driving tanks through the night while they conquered sleeping populations.
Don’t take my word for it…
Now, since Blitzed was published out, many, many, many, many articles have been written on the surprising findings. You could read each one and get a little piece of the story. The documentary does a great job of providing visuals and factual information from the book, in addition to early footage from the period. I really enjoyed it, and feel like the pacing and information keep the viewer involved and interested in what’s coming next. If you’re a WWII buff, a lover of all things history like myself, or want to watch a doc tonight, check out Nazi Junkies!
Nazi Junkies has a 104-minute run time, and is being distributed by Film Movement. You can watch it on Amazon Prime, purchase it on Amazon or a little cheaper through Film Movement, and check out the full film details here.
Check out more of Tristan’s articles while you’re at it.
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