Norman Ohler is a historian and author of “Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich,” a book that investigates the role of psychoactive drugs, particularly stimulants such as methamphetamine, in the military history of World War II. It is a book that two legendary historians Ian Kershaw and Antony Beevor give very high praise for its depth of research. Norman also wrote “Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age”, and he is working on a new book “Stoned Sapiens” looking at the history of human civilization through the lens of drugs.

Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep481-sc

See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:

https://lexfridman.com/norman-ohler-transcript

CONTACT LEX:

Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey

AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama

Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring

Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:

Stoned Sapiens Substack: https://substack.com/@stonedsapiens

Norman’s X: https://x.com/normanohler

Norman’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normanohler

Norman’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Norman-Ohler

Norman’s Website: https://www.normanohler.de

Norman’s books: https://amzn.to/46uNS18

Blitzed: https://amzn.to/4mmY2XC

The Bohemians: https://amzn.to/3KubPhK

Tripped: https://amzn.to/4nEy7eX

SPONSORS:

To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:

UPLIFT Desk: Standing desks and office ergonomics.

Go to https://upliftdesk.com/lex

Fin: AI agent for customer service.

Go to https://fin.ai/lex

Shopify: Sell stuff online.

Go to https://shopify.com/lex

LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.

Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex

Hampton: Community for high-growth founders and CEOs.

Go to https://joinhampton.com/lex

OUTLINE:

(00:00 ) – Introduction

(01:09 ) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections

(09:00 ) – Drugs in post-WWI Germany

(19:18 ) – Nazi rise to power

(23:45 ) – Hitler’s drug use

(29:37 ) – Response to historian criticism

(46:16 ) – Pervitin

(1:00:15 ) – Blitzkrieg and meth

(1:18:52 ) – Erwin Rommel (Crystal Fox)

(1:23:02 ) – Dunkirk

(1:31:06 ) – Hitler’s drug addiction

(1:47:03 ) – Methamphetamine

(1:48:57 ) – Invasion of Soviet Union

(2:07:54 ) – Cocaine

(2:16:49 ) – Hitler’s last days

(2:36:48 ) – German resistance against Nazis

(2:58:59 ) – Totalitarianism

(3:04:09 ) – Stoned Sapiens – Drugs in human history

(3:19:20 ) – Religion

(3:30:09 ) – LSD, CIA, and MKUltra

(3:55:39 ) – Writing on drugs

(4:08:40 ) – Berlin night clubs

(4:19:14 ) – Greatest book ever written