Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich Hardcover – March 7, 2017

This book was INCREDIBLE! As a history major, I have always appreciated views of historical events through an unorthodox lens. I have read many books on WWII, but never have I come across one that discussed the role that drugs played in the Nazi wins and defeats. Whether it was the use of Pervitin during the Blitzkrieg or Hitler's utter dependence on Eukodal, I feel like I have a much better understanding of how the use of these drugs pushed them beyond any normal level of humanity before carrying out atrocious acts. This is no way takes away any level of accountability because Hitler and his Nazi regime were evil thinkers before drugs were introduced, but interesting how drugs became the fuel and the source of their fanatical and delusional plans for the future. They were able to maintain this way of thinking up until the very end even though all odds were stacked against them. Going into this high, administered by pill or injection, let them remain where they wanted to in their minds. It is sickening and fascinating all at the same time.Aside from the military being used as guinea pigs for drug experimentation, I was shocked at the rampant drug use of the general German population. The Germans were popping Pervitin like it was ibuprofen!"Outside of the military the addiction was also growing. In 1939 Pervitin fever was rife in the Third Reich, whether it was housewives going through menopause who 'wolfed down the stuff like sweets,' you mothers who took methamphetamine to ward off the baby blues, or widows who were looking for 'elite partners' through the marriage bureau and who took high doses to combat inhibitions during their first meeting. To help with childbirth, to fight seasickness, vertigo, hay fever, schizophrenia, anxiety neuroses, depressions, low drive, disturbances of the brain - wherever the Germans hurt, the blue, white, and red tube was at the ready."It was also interesting to see where the government played a role in this drug crisis and even compare on my own to the current opioid crisis in the US. I highly recommend reading this book and letting it make you curious about what medicine looks like today, how it is being distributed, and examining any lasting effects.

This author of fiction has a breezy style and this is his first attempt at history. With that in mind, I skimmed reviews by historians before buying it. True, it is a little too cute at times, and, equally true, it is more speculative than one likes in a history book, particularly regarding whatever it was that Morell was giving Hitler and its effects (or withdrawal effects) on him as opposed to say Parkinson's. Even so, the author does flag his own speculations, and that is important.With all that out of the way, the book provides interesting material on the history of drug invention and manufacture. I had a vague idea of some of this but the comprehensive presentation improved my understanding. I also had some idea of the use of Pervitin in the German armed forces of the period, but the author makes it much more concrete, quoting from letters and other sources.Overall, the book might not be serious enough in tone for some, but from what I have read elsewhere the author has actually contributed to our understanding of an aspect of WWII and indeed war in general. If he was underequipped to undertake the task (in being a writer of fiction), he nevertheless certainly did the footwork (going to archives in the US as well as Germany).By the way, this is not the first book on this subject, but I don't know if the other book I am aware of is still in print or was ever translated into English: Nazis on Speed, by Werner Pieper. I learned of this book by reading Evans' unfavorable review of Blitzed on the Guardian website. I think Evans misreads the thrust of this book: he seems to think Blitzed lets Hitler and Germany at large off the hook. I did not get that impression myself, not at all. I do think the Evans review is a good supplement to this book, though.Maybe this book will inspire another non-historian to attempt a history book as decently researched as this.

A well researched book and insight into the German War machine and how prevelant drug use was by soldiers and the top of the Nazi regime.

No wonder it became Bestseller! I learned a lot, which partly changed my perspective on WWII... Highly recommend!

Informative and entertaining read.

Un tema ya muy conocido anteriormente adquiere nuevos matices con este libro. El autor realizó investigación es muy seria y está muy bien documentado,me sorprendió la cantidad de referemcias. Es entretenido de leer si tienes gusto por la historia de la WWII.

I heard about this on the Armchair Expert podcast and while I knew Hitler used drugs but this book expands on drug use in the whole German military at the time. It at no point tries to paint the big players in the war as sympathetic in any way although I found myself learning about the giving of drugs to extremely young boys who I did feel for as some were abused children and some ended up effectively murdered when the Navy became desperate towards the end of the war. Anyway it’s a very detailed and fascinating book although it’s never pleasant to read about the way people like Hitler made their lives easier while committing atrocities. I think it’s an important part of history that shouldn’t be overlooked and this book is very educational