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 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-sc [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep481-sc] See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/norman-ohler-transcript [https://lexfridman.com/norman-ohler-transcript] CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey [https://lexfridman.com/survey] AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama [https://lexfridman.com/ama] Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring [https://lexfridman.com/hiring] Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact [https://lexfridman.com/contact] EPISODE LINKS: Stoned Sapiens Substack: https://substack.com/@stonedsapiens [https://substack.com/@stonedsapiens] Norman’s X: https://x.com/normanohler [https://x.com/normanohler] Norman’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normanohler [https://www.instagram.com/normanohler] Norman’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Norman-Ohler [https://www.youtube.com/@Norman-Ohler] Norman’s Website: https://www.normanohler.de [https://www.normanohler.de] Norman’s books: https://amzn.to/46uNS18 [https://amzn.to/46uNS18] Blitzed: https://amzn.to/4mmY2XC [https://amzn.to/4mmY2XC] The Bohemians: https://amzn.to/3KubPhK [https://amzn.to/3KubPhK] Tripped: https://amzn.to/4nEy7eX [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://upliftdesk.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep481-sc] Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep481-sc] Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to https://shopify.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep481-sc] LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep481-sc] Hampton: Community for high-growth founders and CEOs. Go to https://joinhampton.com/lex [https://lexfridman.com/s/hampton-ep481-sc] OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (01:09) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (09:00) – Drugs in post-WWI Germany (19:18) – Nazi rise to power (23:45) – Hitler’s drug use (29:37) – Response to historian criticism (46:16) – Pervitin (1:00:15) – Blitzkrieg and meth (1:18:52) – Erwin Rommel (Crystal Fox) (1:23:02) – Dunkirk (1:31:06) – Hitler’s drug addiction (1:47:03) – Methamphetamine (1:48:57) – Invasion of Soviet Union (2:07:54) – Cocaine (2:16:49) – Hitler’s last days (2:36:48) – German resistance against Nazis (2:58:59) – Totalitarianism (3:04:09) – Stoned Sapiens – Drugs in human history (3:19:20) – Religion (3:30:09) – LSD, CIA, and MKUltra (3:55:39) – Writing on drugs (4:08:40) – Berlin night clubs (4:19:14) – Greatest book ever written