Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA | Lex Fridman Podcast #481

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 to 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-sb 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://lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep481-sb *Fin:* AI agent for customer service. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep481-sb *Shopify:* Sell stuff online. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep481-sb *LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep481-sb *Hampton:* Community for high-growth founders and CEOs. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/hampton-ep481-sb *OUTLINE:* 0:00 - Episode highlight 2:09 - Introduction 3:31 - Drugs in post-WWI Germany 13:49 - Nazi rise to power 18:16 - Hitler's drug use 24:08 - Response to historian criticism 40:47 - Pervitin 54:46 - Blitzkrieg and meth 1:13:23 - Erwin Rommel (Crystal Fox) 1:17:34 - Dunkirk 1:25:37 - Hitler's drug addiction 1:41:34 - Methamphetamine 1:43:29 - Invasion of Soviet Union 2:02:26 - Cocaine 2:11:21 - Hitler's last days 2:31:20 - German resistance against Nazis 2:53:31 - Totalitarianism 2:58:40 - Stoned Sapiens - Drugs in human history 3:13:52 - Religion 3:24:41 - LSD, CIA, and MKUltra 3:50:10 - Writing on drugs 4:03:12 - Berlin night clubs 4:13:45 - Greatest book ever written *PODCAST LINKS:* - Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 - RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ - Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 - Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips *SOCIAL LINKS:* - X: https://x.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://instagram.com/lexfridman - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://facebook.com/lexfridman - Patreon: https://patreon.com/lexfridman - Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman