Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA | Lex Fridman Podcast #481
Lex Fridman
Sep 19, 2025
Norman Ohler reveals that the Nazi military systematically utilized methamphetamine, known as Pervitin, to sustain soldiers during the Blitzkrieg. This drug use was not merely a side effect but a strategic tool that enabled the rapid, relentless pace of the invasion of France, fundamentally altering the course of early World War II.
Key insight: The German Navy conducted human experiments in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, testing drug combinations on prisoners in a 'shoe-walking unit' to develop a wonder drug that would keep soldiers combat-ready for seven days without sleep.
