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

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-t...

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:   / normanohler  
Norman's YouTube:    / @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-...
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-ep48...
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-ep48...

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:    • Lex Fridman Podcast  
Clips Channel:    / lexclips  

SOCIAL LINKS:
X: https://x.com/lexfridman
Instagram:   / lexfridman  
TikTok:   / lexfridman  
LinkedIn:   / lexfridman  
Facebook:   / lexfridman  
Patreon:   / lexfridman  
Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman
Reddit:   / lexfridman