Norman Oler to N1: Drugs are a perfect way to control society – the Nazis understood this first

In an insightful interview with N1, acclaimed writer, historian, and filmmaker Norman Oler sheds light on his groundbreaking research into the pervasive use of drugs within Nazi Germany. Oler's seminal work, "Der totale Rausch" (translated as "High Hitler" or "Blitzed"), meticulously details how chemical substances influenced the Third Reich, a perspective largely ignored by traditional historiography until his work emerged.

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We historians know nothing about drugs.

Oler recounts his surprise and the validation he received from leading historians like Hans Mommsen, who admitted that the field had overlooked the chemical dimension of history. This oversight, Oler suggests, stemmed from a disconnect between academic historians and the everyday human experience of interacting with substances. His research, conducted across archives in Europe and the US, involved examining original documents, including the medical records of Hitler's personal physician, Theodor Morell. The sheer volume of these records, and the fact they had been consulted so infrequently since World War II, underscored the novelty and importance of his findings.

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We are not machines. We are human beings, and human beings are always in contact with plants, medicines. So that was something that was not on the radar of historians.

Oler's work challenges conventional historical narratives by emphasizing the 'chemical being' aspect of human history. He argues that understanding the role of drugs and pharmacology is crucial for a more complete comprehension of historical events, including the motivations and actions of key figures like Hitler. This perspective offers a vital corrective to purely political or military analyses, integrating a biological and psychological dimension that profoundly impacts our understanding of the past and its implications for the present.

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I saw that these were real documents, I had the real documents in my hands.