Blitzed

Drugs in the Third Reich

By: Norman Ohler, Shaun Whiteside - translator, Claire Bloom - director

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The Nazi regime preached an ideology of physical, mental, and moral purity. But as Norman Ohler reveals in this gripping new history, the Third Reich was saturated with drugs. On the eve of World War II, Germany was a pharmaceutical powerhouse, and companies such as Merck and Bayer cooked up cocaine, opiates, and, most of all, methamphetamines, to be consumed by everyone from factory workers to housewives to millions of German soldiers. In fact, troops regularly took rations of a form of crystal meth - the elevated energy and feelings of invincibility associated with the high even help to explain certain German military victories.

Drugs seeped all the way up to the Nazi high command and, especially, to Hitler himself. Over the course of the war, Hitler became increasingly dependent on injections of a cocktail of drugs - including a form of heroin - administered by his personal doctor. While drugs alone cannot explain the Nazis' toxic racial theories or the events of World War II, Ohler's investigation makes an overwhelming case that, if drugs are not taken into account, our understanding of the Third Reich is fundamentally incomplete. Carefully researched and rivetingly listenable, Blitzed throws surprising light on a history that, until now, has remained in the shadows.

©2017 Norman Ohler (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Well written, Well narrated

Everyone , including historians have opinions and biases, once you get past that, you can get a lot out of a book. The author clearly has a bias. Once you accept that, then you can listen and enjoy this very different look at Hitler and the third reich. And the narration is perfect for this type of book. If you are history buff, you'll enjoy this book..

good info but with an extreme bias

the writer takes a lot of pleasure in smearing Nazi Germany clearly. I was hope for strictly information without opinions rather than his emotional input on the subject.
The information is great aside from that.

Astonishing, fascinating & very relevant to C21st

Seriously, anyone interested in WWII needs to get the information in this book.

For the opioid crisis in America, for the military men and women who are being experimented on whether they know or not. For those who need a better understanding of reality on this crazy planet, you'll want to read this book too.

incredible stuff.

I'm no history buff

I'm a very, very casual historian, but this was very good. I work in the medical field, so I think that played a roll in my enjoyment of the book. In any case, I loved it and am going to recommend it to my family and friends.

Makes sense and seems very well researched!

Lightning strikes, overrun positions, blitz krieg, unstoppable assaults in WW2. Wonder how the Nazis did it? All doped up, 2-3 day binges with no sleep or food required will get things done in war. Also Hitler's crazed decisions through out the war all lead back to his drug use as well. Did not know how anything about this aspect of WW2; suspected some drug use by Hitler but not to what was documented in his private doctors notes. Heard about this on "stuff you should know" podcast and bought the audiobook on Audible the same day.

Interesting Book

While this is a very interesting book. It feels like it was two books. A more general history of drugs in Germany during the Prewar and Battle in 1940 in the western front. Then secondly about Hitler and his personal doctor. The personal doctor part dragged a little but still worth checking out.

Fascinating and thought provoking

This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I see the similarities with our current military, specifically the U.S. Army. While our leaders may not be telling us to take performance enhancers, there is uncanny parallel to the constant push for "readiness" and "lethality" at the expense of taking care of Soliders to achieve "victory."

A truly fascinating story that keeps me wondering if the outcome for WWII would have been different. I bought this book to go on my book case; it is that good.

Opiates were used by Germany for advantage in war.

Explained the rampant use of drugs by governments to control the population. These same criminals were brought to America in Operation Paperclip.

Mind blowing

With all that I have read about WW2 I don’t k is how all the drug use escaped me. Absolutely insane. Now I understand all the callus behavior.

loved it

I was engulfed and listened in one session... excellent read. would definitely recommend... a bit focused on Adolf, but it was good.